I also had the similarity while creating my own hypothesis about the world. About the world my life was leading me to. I wanted to look at the only golden side of my life where happiness lay on. Would that the time, circumstance or the orientation let me reach the aftermath of my theory being true. My heart was broken from the very start when I began to see the bitterness with my own eyes after stepping into my fresh teenage era. It should've been a timeline where I would feel like a princess or might be a main character of a fantasy movie but the brutal part of my life is I never got a teenage time. Certainly I had been a teenager but I had to act like an adult since then. Being the spotlight was never in my bucket list rather it was first on my 'most-hated' list. The audience, the people, the public made a beautiful family go in vain. The scream in my grandma's tears was only seen by me which was once but spoke a lot. It was when she thought I didn't know how to comprehend situations in an elderly way though my parents forced me to become mature while I wanted to at least become childish for one time and be taken care of. Now that I am wise enough to go through a side of life, a part of me still wants to believe in perspectives but after the conversation with Sweven, I think that part of me has bitten the dust long ago but it was yet to realize. It was to happen sooner or later therefore there shouldn't be any remorseful feelings for the changes.
"When did you become so certain about this…notion?", he asked me.
"Situations. You won't figure it out, Sweven." I looked at the sky while it was taking time to turn dark with stars, "Let's go home. It's going to be late."
He was about to obey but a sudden realization hit him and he said, "Not yet. We still have time. Come with me."
"Where-"
"You'll see when we reach. Follow me."
He pulled my hand without giving me a second to comprehend the situation and started leading me to a way I am unaware about. He is running at such a speed,# which is not really possible for me to keep up with but if I wasn't in sneakers then I would've tripped and broken a bone. I was almost ready to fall but he pulled me and slowed down the speed we were in.
"Careful, Ms. Perfect. I don't want to be blamed for giving the only tourist a bad experience about this Island.", he said.
Only? Well, Alena has also come with me to this Island which means she is also a tourist but I can figure out that Sweven doesn't know about her existence at all for why he thinks I am the only tourist.
We went deep into the forest and it's almost dark which is the reason I am afraid Alena would be looking for me. I don't know what is going on inside this man's mind and where he is taking me but what I want to be sure is not getting lost.
Soon we came across a giant tree and there was a ladder attached to it. I followed my gaze with the ladder and saw a wooden tree house on the top of it.
It seemed to be old since there are vines around the house but it looks oddly beautiful to me. Living in this place must be divine.
Sweven started to climb up the ladder and then before getting to the halfway, he looked down at me, "the ladder is not broken. Climb it up, Riley."
I wanted to be surer but who has the energy to go on a debate with him?
"If I break a bone, you're going to be responsible for it.", saying that I started to climb up the ladder right behind him.
It took us time to reach the tree house because even though the ladder was strong and the tree house was big, the tree was tall and giant. I can realize the reason for it being so unusual since it is in an Island, not in a normal small forest or park.
Sweven reached the top and then within a minute I also reached gradually at the top. He gave me a hand to help me to get on the porch of the tree house.
I took the hand to get on the porch and sit for a minute so that I could look down and it was high enough that if I jumped over then I would ten to one kick the bucket without any single delay.
"Are you scared of heights?" Sweven asked when he noticed me looking down.
"Not really someone who has acrophobia.", I looked at him, "What might be the reason for taking me here?"
He looked at the sky and then me, "Come inside the house."
I am clueless by what he is doing but I also have no other option rather than following him.
He opened the door which was unlocked surprisingly but who knows? I have never honestly been to a tree house before so I assume that doors of tree houses stay unlocked. I went inside the house after him and it was dark. Not a single ray of light. I would've told him to switch on the light but does a tree house this deep inside a mountain and this high of a tree have the source of electricity? I doubt so.
He pulled out a lighter from his pocket and out of nowhere he lit up a lantern.
I almost forgot that every single place on this island has a lantern but from where did he get it where we are inside a house which is old enough to collapse right away in my opinion.
"This place hasn't changed at all.", he said to himself and smiled slightly looking at me. The small tiny smile he gives always suits him so well.
He didn't say anything to me but his eyes spoke to me to follow him.
He walked towards the dark inside with the lantern in his hand and I kept following him. I looked at the surroundings and there were portraits of little boys, the Entice Garden, a big red tree and many more. There were also many old candles lying on wooden tables.
I was so lost at noticing the habitat that I didn't even detect where I was going with him. He suddenly stopped and held the knob of the last door but before opening it, he looked at me.
"We have reached, Riley.", he smiled and opened the door.
I was perplexed by what he meant but when I looked at the other end of the door, I was flabbergasted. It is the balcony of the tree house where I can see the whole Entice garden and the beautiful sky. It was also on one of the portraits I have seen inside the house. I stepped out of the door and walked towards the railing. It is a tremendous view of a place I never came before.
"How about staying for a little longer? We are able to see the abendrot from here now.", he also came to the barrier and stood beside me.
I looked at him, "I can consider that." and then my gaze went to the magnificent sky. It was night and the sun had already set but the red shadow was still there, fading slowly. When I was down at the garden, I thought the reddishness of the sky was gone but now that I can get a clear view, I can say that not everything is like how you think it is.
We both are in a comfortable wordless situation doing nothing but savoring the moment. A breathtaking moment. I might go away soon and forget about this man but I will for sure have the remembrance of this time. A time where all of a sudden, everything stopped and I was blinded by the beauty of a place that is to be seen by everyone. I am doing the right thing to set up a branch in Island Elysian. The people need it more than I do and I don't contain any wicked plan to demolish the sweet behavior of the resident by taking the whole credit and ruining the beauty by setting up construction stuff. I want the world to see Island Elysian by its own stunning scenery along with natural sights.
"How long are you staying in Elysian, Riley?" Sweven broke the silence between us by asking me the question.
"I-" I can't tell him the truth about the branch and stuff either or else who knows if he started treating me differently. I don't want to be known as a person from a noble family anymore. I am glad to be appreciated as an unknown ordinary tourist to him. I'm afraid his judgement towards me will change if he gets to know about who I really am, which I don't want at all.
"I will consider it later. I haven't really looked forward to leaving this Island yet. Maybe I will stay for weeks.", I replied to him.
"That's great then," he replied back to my reply.
The sky has turned dark and the only light I can come across is the lantern's glow. I didn't understand why the point of me staying here was great from his point of view.
"Pardon?" I looked at him.
"You told me that I am your tourist guide. I have to show you every single gorgeous location, so, the longer you stay, the better it will be for me.", he replied.
I nodded after hearing his statement.
"Are we going somewhere tomorrow?", I asked him.
He smiled slightly again before answering, "Certainly. I will tell you about it tomorrow. It's going to be late and I don't think a tourist should be out in the wilderness this late at night."
I looked at the sky. And then my watch. It is 7:30 and Alena must be in the log cabin by now. I can't carry on being in the tree house where the bewitching view has approximately ended.
I looked at Sweven, "Indeed. Let's start moving on then."
He gave me a nod for approval and took the lantern which he hung around the barrier while enjoying the view. We both gave a last look at the landscape and then began to make our way to the habitation. I again walked behind him and recognized the portrait once again. I couldn't stop myself but to ask him about this place and the portraits that are hanging on the wall. This house looks so old and none seemed to be living here so how does he know the address and so familiar with the way. Is there any story behind it that I am unknown to? I am well informed that this matter is none of my business as well as that people should oil their own machine but curiosity has its own path to choose even though I am not sure if he is comfortable enough to talk about it. Why am I thinking about it in that way? Maybe this place is a nostalgic part of him for why he has tenderness for this place. I have to grasp that not everything is about melancholy.
"You look to be distracted by something, Riley. Is there something you found incomprehensible?" He noticed me before I noticed how quiet I was.
"How do you know this place? I mean it is so hidden in the depth of the forest and the look you gave when you first saw the house when we reached denoted you came here after a long time." I asked him.
He was stunned for a while so I felt uneasy by asking this stupid question. I shouldn't have let curiosity take over me.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it." I didn't want to but there seemed to be a nervous look on my face. "Let's just keep going."
I tried to walk away since I didn't want the situation to get worse but he stopped me by getting on my way. I was astonished by the sudden movement but when I looked at him, he gave me a strange gaze which had a kind of effortlessness I have yet to fathom.
"It is a house I made with my father when I was young. It was my hiding spot. A place where I was always happy. I stopped coming here when I was sent to another country for erudition. After a long time, I nearly forgot about this place but then today with you, I got the sudden reminder and ran here. This is my first time coming to this tree house after a long time." He explained every single word in a calm voice to help me get the circumstances.
I looked around, "You made it with your father? It is so big that families can live here for decades. It must've taken a long time to finish. This must be one of your favorite memories."
Then when I looked at him, he was quiet but his eyes didn't move an inch from me. I am not the mind reader to see what is going inside his head but the look was intense. My expression on his look was enough to question the reason why he is so silent. He took a step closer and spoke, " I didn't know you noted the small detail on my expression. I have to say you are very observant."
I am speechless for a while. I also haven't noticed that I have noted his small details where I don't take any headache about people. Well, I will take it as me being a hawk-eyed person. I looked around to evade the gaze and then I noticed the portraits.
"Who drew those portraits?" I asked him.
He looked in the same direction where I pointed and his gaze softened with a slight radiant. "That's my painting. My father also painted some. I didn't know it was still in good condition."
He went there and tried to take some pictures of it but it was dark enough to make the picture blur which made him disappointed.
"Awh. I better come another morning to collect some pictures of these portraits. It's too dark right now therefore my pictures are all dark shadows and nothing else." He pouted slightly after the statement.
He looked at me and smiled, " Let's move on."
We started to climb down the ladder and I was too careful lest I might fall and come up with a new headline in the newspaper. It was quite an experience I had. The long trees and the dark greenery were so vigorous and concerned with beauty. The roads are made of old stone which is barely seen in cities. These look so much of an era which went extinct long ago. After reaching the ground, I noticed he was taking the lantern with us. It was a smart move I would say because it's night-time and the moonlight won't be the only thing to help us reach the log cabin in time. One of us might stumble in the darkness but I assume it wouldn't be me. I went after him only to get to know the path more carefully.
"So, you came alone to the island? Or with someone else?" he asked me as we kept walking at a steady speed.
"I'm not alone. I came with a fellow to visit the island." I replied to him.
I called Alena a fellow because I can't say my assistant, otherwise the question will take a turn to what I do or my lifestyle and I am also tired of lying about one certain thing over and over again, furthermore, Alena is also my companion rather than only being an assistant.
He frowned slightly, "Where is he then?"
"She might be at the log cabin by now." I replied.
He tightened his lips together making a shy smile, "Pardon me for the small mistake."
It made me smile also.
Sometimes, you find enthusiasm in small things which last for not more than a minute but stay inside your mind forever.
I haven't been really this independent with my emotions ever since I was burdened with many responsibilities to satiate my parents but failed all the time. I never discerned how it is like to be an ordinary person with a life of simplicity only. The voyage I took to this Island has been the most wonderful decision I have ever made till now. I should give Alena a raise for the effort she put into getting us here and there might be more employees who are also looking forward to the new and first ever branch of Trouvaille. They all deserve a raise therefore after setting but the first ever branch, I will consider the matter to promote the employees who are devoting themselves in this long run.
I better let my grandfather see how good I am doing on my own because I am not a kid anymore or whatever he calls me every time. That old man only knows to color his hair black to avoid the aging. I needn't think of him to ruin the complete mood.
We came across the floral shop and I noticed it was closed. I wonder why Sweven went inside the shop for a few minutes if he came out without anything. It's not that I want a flower or anything from him, but it seemed odd to me.
"Why did you go to the floral shop earlier?" I asked him.
He looked behind at the shop and realized, "Oh that. It was for…um…guidance."
I frowned a little, "Guidance? Aren't you a local?"
"I am but I came from Germany lately so I almost forgot the direction. That's why I had to ask for the way." He was so awkward while saying it that the words he said were more like a mumble than a clear sentence.
"And you are going to be my tourist guide? What's the difference between you and me then? You are not more than a tourist." I replied to him with a surprised expression.
He looked at me with sincerity, "The difference is, you know nothing about this place and I know everything about this place even with faded memories."
"What if we get lost again?" I asked him.
He shrugs nonchalantly, "Then we will act like a witted person and ask for guidance from the nearby people."
I let out a scoff because I don't know if I am doing it right to let him guide me the way but I have no other option also. "It is said that something is better than nothing. I have to put my belief in it.", I replied to him.
He let out a laugh, "As you say but I am not a blind person. In spite of being away from this place for a few years, I was born and raised on this island so save some faith in me also. Not only in the sayings."
"Certainly." I didn't say much, and he also didn't reply or initiate any conversation. We keep up our pace in the dark cold night. For once I felt like I am in a fairytale who is finding the way back home. This is what is preferable by me.
A quiet night and a time where no one will ask me about my next move or where I have to think about what kind of occurrence the upcoming is holding onto. All I am doing is walking with a man I don't even know, sharing not a single experience or a single mindset. We are so different from each other yet so similar in a way I can't make head or tail of.
Honestly, he is looking like a knight from the Victorian era holding a lantern and showing the path to the lady. I should capture it since there are possibilities that after I return back to the place I came from, all of these will feel like a chapter of a closed book. I picked my phone and opened the camera, "Sweven." I didn't say another word but his name to gain attention.
He looked back, dumbfounded and there goes the click. He looked bewildered by the action I had taken. The glow of the lantern, the effect it put on his face and the look he gave which was a surprised face only, but it looks like a nice picture. I appreciate the photo I have taken, "Mhm. It's perfect."
"Have you just taken a picture of me?", he asked me.
I looked at him and shoved the phone back to its place, "Yeah. Don't worry, I am not going to post it or anything but keeping a memory."
"Seriously? Me? Like this?" He looked at him from up to down.
I rolled my eyes, "You're looking attractive, so you don't have to be tense about how the picture is."
He gave a slight smirk, "You think I am attractive?"
I was caught off guard by what he said, "I mean-"
"You don't think I am attractive? Am I that bad looking?", he trapped me with words.
"No. Not bad looking-" I tried to finish my sentence.
"So, you think of me as an attractive man.", he didn't let me finish my sentence.
Oh, now I get it how he is caging me with his words. That is so wrongfully brilliant of him, but it is making me frustrated currently.
"Whatever. Let's just move.", I started to walk alone. He called me from behind after giving a sly smirk and said, "I just wanted to know." Then he began to match up with my pace.
It took us hours to reach the log cabin. I don't have any complaints about today as it has gone in a fine way. I stood before the doorway of the log cabin and moved to Sweven , looking at him I said, "I appreciate that you took the effort to accompany me to the log cabin. Thank you for a beautiful day also. It was unforgettable."
He became happy, "I should also be thankful. I had fun after a long time. I should be going now."
I gave him a nod that I understood his leaving but he didn't leave. Does he have any question he is fighting to ask? Like I did?
"How can I contact you?", he asked me, "I mean, I am going to be your tourist guide and have to show you places but if I can't have your contact then it might be the last time we are meeting."
I see he has a point, so I took a notepad and a pen from my bag and wrote down my number there. It is my personal number which I don't share with any media.
"Do you have any social media accounts I can follow?", he asked me.
"Do you want to follow?", I asked.
He hesitated before saying "Yeah… I mean…Just to keep a connection. If you would like to."
I thought about it for a moment then wrote down my social media account on the same page and gave it to him, "Better not stalk me."
He gave a wide smile, "We will talk about that later. I will give you a message about tomorrow's plan. For now, Goodnight."
I looked at the time and it's pretty late actually. Alena might be sleeping by now so I should better go inside otherwise if Alena wakes up, I have to give her every reason for my late return.
I looked at Sweven, "Goodbye then. Be safe while going home."
He gave me a nod and held my hand which made me surprised but no longer after he gave me a flower. A red beautiful flower. It is not a rose or tulip but a red gardenia. I saw him getting something from the bushes while coming to the log cabin, but I couldn't see properly due to the darkness and the swift movement of him but now I get it that he picked up a red gardenia from the bushes.
"Flowers contain meanings sometimes.", he gave me a smile and then he went away after giving me a wave.
Does the flower contain meaning? What does he mean by it?
He is so strangely impressive and surprisingly lovable.
I opened the door and went inside the log cabin but the smile on my face seems to make a permanent place there as it is not going off.
I found you attractive, Sweven.