Chapter 4
“OH… I’m sorry about that. Did I startle you?”
Sybil moved away a little.
“Sort of.” She shook her head and smiled afterward. “However, I’m partly at fault.”
“And why would it be your fault?” he asked with furrowed brows.
“Nothing… just don’t mind what I said earlier.”
“Alright.” Ace shrugged with a smile.
“You should finish making your sandwich so we can eat.” She gestured in the direction of the table.
He did what he was told. Sybil waited for him to finish making his sandwich before she poured the hot chocolate she had made a while ago into their mugs. And just when she was about to go to the table, Ace suddenly spoke.
“Can we sit and eat outside?”
“E-eh?”
“I-it’s alright if you don’t want to. Let’s just eat here in the kitchen then—”
“Fine. Let’s eat this outside. I’m just gonna go get my shawl.”
Sybil went to her room, grabbed her shawl from the rack, and wrapped it around her shoulder. She also got her extra unisex cardigan for Ace. It was cold outside during the wee hours. She saw Ace heading to the door with a tray in his hands when she came back to the kitchen. Smiling, she pulled the door open for him.
They sat across from each other on the crazy-cut logs that served as stools just outside the cabin. And to make the temperature a little warm, Ace lit some logs.
“Do you like it here?” he asked after a few moments of silence.
“You mean this cabin or the entire place?” Sybil glanced at him.
Ace was staring blankly into the bonfire at that moment. The fire’s reflection looked good in his eyes, but it failed to hide the somberness in them. Perhaps he was feeling depressed about what had happened to him. No one would feel happy, anyway. He was assaulted in the middle of nowhere, left in a shameful state, and couldn’t remember a thing. That was very cruel indeed. Ah, she couldn’t help but see herself in him. There was no doubt that the two of them were almost the same.
“Both.” He turned to her with a faint smile plastered on his face.
“Well… this cabin and the whole place seemed sad for me at first. But after I’ve met the people and I got to explore the vicinity more… it started to grow on me.” She smiled sadly. “I just learned to adapt… since I had no choice, anyway.”
She picked up her sandwich and took a bite. Ace did the same, and that made her laugh because he seemed to be mimicking the things that she did.
“Why can’t you come home?”
“I haven’t regained my memories. I was hoping to remember even the little details as time went by, but I couldn’t. Sonja said I shouldn’t force myself to remember because that would only cause me a terrible headache.”
“She’s not your real sister?”
“I just assumed her sister’s identity. No one knows I’m a total stranger she helped many months ago.” Ace cupped his mouth and stared at her with wide eyes. “And now you know my secret.”
“How long before you gave up hoping your family would find you?”
“Was it after three months? Four? I don’t know. I don’t really remember because…” She let out a long sigh. “I don’t really wanna think about it. Perhaps I don’t really have a family.”
“You think you’re an orphan?”
“Yes.”
“What made you think like that?” he countered.
“Because no one’s looking for me.” She pressed her lips firmly.
“What if… you’re wrong?” Ace took a sip of his hot chocolate. “What if there are these circumstances that made them assume you’re dead?”
Her forehead creased. She didn’t think about that. Well, it never crossed her mind since she wasn’t fond of watching dramas. Sonja told her that some things were exaggerated and only happened in fiction. The reality was somewhat… scary. It was also the reason she gave up her hope that someday she would be found by her family or whomever she knew before she had amnesia.
“I wonder if I have amnesia as well…” Ace cupped his head and sighed. “I wonder why I couldn’t remember a thing.”
“I think you have. But since you were able to remember your name, I think your case isn’t as severe as mine.” Sybil raised her mug. “Let’s hope your family will find you soon, or you at least remember little details about where you are from.”
“Yeah, right.”
They tossed their mugs and drank their chocolate drink until the last drop.
“We should go back inside the cabin.” She rose to her feet. “Sonja usually wakes up at this hour to use the bathroom. She will throw a fit if she finds out we’re out here.”
“Is it dangerous to be out here at this hour?”
“Not really. This place is famous for campers because it’s safe here. But Sonja would definitely hate us for leaving her behind when we’re having a good time,” she said, chuckling.
He smiled and stood up as well.
“Well, we could’ve invited her to join us only if she was awake, right?”
“Hm.” She brushed her palm against each other. “Could you please put off the fire?”
“Yes, of course.”
She gathered the mugs and plates and put them into the tray. Sybil was about to pick up the tray when Ace suddenly got his hands on it first.
“Let me carry this inside the cabin. You should go to your room and rest. I’ll do the cleaning.”
She looked at him for a few seconds before nodding her head.
“Don’t forget to lock the doors,” she reminded him.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Ace…” she groaned. “Don’t address me that way, please. Sybil, that’s what you should call me.”
“Sybil…”
She swallowed hard upon hearing how her name rolled out of his tongue. There was something on it that made her heart feel warm.
What was that?
Why was she suddenly feeling that way?
Sybil adjusted her shawl.
“S-sleep well.”
She turned around and rushed to the door.
“Oh, God…” She palmed her chest. Her heart was suddenly beating fast. Sybil shook her head. “This is just my imagination.”
She and Ace just met a few hours ago. Why would she feel something for him instantly? Her heart must be malfunctioning…
“This is crazy.”
Shaking her head, she entered the bedroom.
“Where have you been?” Sonja asked with narrowed eyes the moment she opened the door.
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus!” she muttered out of shock.
“Amen,” Sonja countered.