Chapter 3

Speaking of wife, he can't believe Edward slip from his tongue a words that almost dirty his image. That Soner is sure to be a headache. And what? His wife? 

He laughed to the thought. He never want a wife like that... Never!

“Where do you think she is?” he inquired anyway. But it's for his friend' sake, not for a disobedient woman he never want to be a wife. “Don't you think she escape or runaway from the town?” The thought makes him, somewhat, pleased. But he gritted his teeth to the thought, he feel like it's wrong for him to be pleased while someone is on the run. And it's not just anyone, it's a Soner, his soon-to-be wife! So what could be he have to feel at this situation?

But Edward suddenly in rage before he can take back his words. “You're being unreasonable, Ryeo!” He glared and feel so disappointed. “Don't think you know who and what really is your wife--No, your soon-to-be that only force for you, on what really had she think for the situation that maybe much heavy for her to decide than the way you think the situation was!” He sighed bitterly after then look away. Like he really know who and what a Soner made of, like not at all glared his eyes to a Coplete right now, Edward acting so strange that he find it unbelievable.

“How can you be so sure about that then?” He shouted to his face, his hand form a fist. “It's easy for you to assume that I am at fault. I thought you know very well where I coming from. Am I wrong?” 

Edward look blankly; bothered and regrets. Yet he didn't response and was anxious, shaken as he glance the way to the Slump.

He don't want to assume because he don't have any right to begin with. However, what's his relation to the Soner and he acting like that?

Whatever! He shove away thefrustration. He can't even decide for his own, so how can he really react to a baseless accusation? His friend, he maybe unusual and mystery, but he is the only person he can vent his frustration with,and show his sincerity and voice his truest opinion.

But he felt as if he is in pain, his heart burst in flame as he realize, that maybe, he is at fault. “Yeah,” he thought, “I am at fault. I didn't have the courage to do what a Soner have done. Run-away from this damn town!”

Edward gasp, looking as if he said something bizzare “That's not what I'm trying to say,” he said, trying to reaoned out. “I only thought you can h-help me find her...” He sighed in regrets.

“Runaway,” he whisper, “how eager I am to run, Edward...” He look at him with feeling conflicted, smile the bitter. “But I don't know where to run,” he murmured under his breathe. 

Edward face softened. “What are you talking about? Stop it, Ryeo,” he said, trying to joke around. He gasped Though after a second, his eyes widened, “Don't tell me...you are planning to run, bro?”

“N-no, I'm just saying-” He look away when he stuttered.

He tried to conceal his unpleasant opinion, tried to understand more about himself. He wont like the idea of angered Edward who lost in thought for a second. Worst, he will be a Coplete victim if ever. But he realized what he have done...

He fake a laughed, trying to hide the embarrassment. “So where are we going to start searching for a Soner?” 

Edward stopped, like remembering a place for a second. He don't even look surprise that he will agree to this nonsense of chasing the run away. He really know him...

“Right!” He faced the Slump with a longing eyes, but confused for a second, “Why I thought about that place? Why...” he shrugged. 

“Edward?” Ryeo manage to see through him, the suddennes change of his expression. Then suddenly it hit him. How Edward, his friend that never befriend anyone before but him, know a place where a Soner possibly run?

He nodded and start walking in a path that someone in their right mind will never take. Ryeo keep the thought inside, he choose not to think much. However his eyes gotten bigger when he realize where Edward pointed his hand, which the direction of the place that he never thought of revisiting since that day. 

“A-are you sure?” 

“I...felt it,” Edward conflicted voice filled the place, “she most likely visit the place!”

“No,” he gulped, unable to stop his panting, “anywhere but that place, Edward...” 

“Ryeo...”

“Are you really sure you will gonna cross the possibility of danger it may bring, that may tainted our name, Edward?” He growled in retreat, his eyes blooshot, face the place with too much hatred.

 “You can wait me here, then,” Edward said with bitterness, and continue in whisper, “Afterall I dont have a name to taint of.”

“And you really think I can just wait here?!” Ryeo growled, feel as if useless for a friend. “Yeah, I said that place is dangerous but doesn't mean I will let you walk on your own!” He can't let his friend walk in it, especially if alone.

He kind of conflicted and it's driving him mad.

But it only made Edward to be more furious, and for unknown reason, taking step much more faster while cursing in his breathe. “Then she's in danger!” 

Ryeo form a fist and whisper like delusional drunkard after cursing like a madman. 

“I give up!” He left with nothing but follow a friend, set-aside the pain inside and run to follow Edward to the place he trully despise. “Wait me, you hardheaded!”

But he wished as the sun heated the journey to the Slump, hoping that it's really the last time he have to be involve in the place that stole his sister away, to the place that abandoned for a reason of majority in the town. 

A place that bring misfortune to someone in power to love one from the slump. 

But the slump known for getting cocky to that fact, like how her sister fall in love to a man from the slump, and how her life change and never get back to where it used to be. And maybe he have never feel love before, because as he lead his eyes to a woman who he never expect to be in the slump, the kind of changes he despise the most starting to wrecked his heart and mind.

He hate it, especially when he saw how the woman tend to end her life, the pitiful of life. 

“Are you that tired to live in this place?!” His voice thundered in frustration after they landed at the rocky ground. He felt the hardness and the pointedness of the stone pierce through his flesh. “Fck!”

***

“Your favorite flower, sis!” Ward smile brightly as he show what he have in hands. It is a colorful flower that comfort an anxious heart. Its smell is taking you to a land faraway and free you to heaviness of having no choices to go beyond.

Maleya smile as she saw what her brother brought for her. “You're here,” she said, not at all bother if his brother once again trick the Soner guards and maids and left the grand Mansion without notice.

“Here!” He smile more. “Glad you like it, sis. Just tell me if you want it again,” he added as if sure she will want it again.

“Where do you get this flower, anyway?” She look around, hope to find the flower that she never have hold and smell since it dried out in the Soner's Grand Garden.

But her amusement dissipated, realized where his brother have go just to get the flower that she had long for so long.

“There,” he pointed the cliff at the edge of the slump, “I saw them grew beautifully there, like you, sis!”

Her smile fades like a wildwire in the snowy season. “Don't do that again,” she said in fury. She can't believe what he have done just to get that damn flower.

Ward confused and devastated to assumed that she don't like anymore the flower he brought. “But why...?” he cried out. “Don't you like the feeling of it brought you anymore? Don't you really give ups your dream, that's why you don't care anymore?”

“Just do what I said! Don't go there,” she said, trying for the last time to contained her anger. She left the Slump without explaining herself the very moment, the flower snatch away by the winds as it slip to her teemble of hands, flow away through the edge of the slump, to where it come from...