Masked Love

by Samolu Pearl

  On seeing, the guys, some of the ladies sobbed harder and Venus couldn’t help but blink back tears.

  Rey and the others walked towards the cemetery were all the flood victims were buried. Mia was tired of crying and was leaning against Peter’s shoulder, sniffling occasionally.

  They reached the tombstones and everyone gathered around, crying and sobbing for their losses. Venus stared at the tombstone, trying to swallow her sobs that seemed to be hurting her insides.

  Someone from the village brought some flowers and placed them on the tombstones. Mia broke into a heart melting sob as she stood there, staring at the scene. Peter immediately held her shoulders and pulled her to his chest, crying silently.

  Venus looked at Lilly who was standing near Rey without any emotions… But when Rey held her shoulder, she turned around and threw herself into his arms… crying and whimpering.

  Venus couldn’t control her tears as it fell and roll down her cheeks. She turned around, trying to hide her tear stained face but then someone held her hand, stopping her from walking away. She turned to her side to see Rey looking at her with tearful eyes.

  Lilly was still crying over his shoulder. Venus just wanted to throw herself into his arms as well… to cry her eyes and heart out… to ease her pain that she’d carried through years.

  But she just stood there, feeling his hand grip hers tightly as if saying… ‘I’m here… with you!’

  They spent their entire day at the village, mourning for their losses. Everyone barely ate or talked as they sat near each other, consoling and soothing… trying to ease the other’s pain. Mia was resting on Peter’s shoulder and Lilly was still sitting near Rey.

  Venus just sat under a tree, leaning against it, her mind drifting along the memories of her village… her home… her parents… and friends… before the flood ruined them all!

  They walked home, in the evening. Peter and Mia retreated to their room and Rey walked to Lilly’s room to put her to sleep.

  Venus changed into her night robe and sat on her bed staring at her hands which were shivering slightly. A drop of tear fell on them and Venus smiled sadly. “You’re pathetic…” she whispered. “You can’t even act strong, can you…? I wish you’d taken me with you, father…”

  Suddenly, the door opened and Venus noticed Rey walk in, closing the door behind him. She immediately turned away, hiding her face and her tear filled eyes, trying to wipe them away.

  “You alright…?” he asked and she nodded without looking at him. But he walked towards her and held her chin, slowly raising it to meet his distressed ones. “You don’t have to lie to me, Venus…”

  “Rey… I-I’m alright…” she tried, dropping her face again. “It’s just…” But he cupped her face and made her face him again. “Please Rey… Leave me alone… I- I can’t let you see me like this…”

  “Why?” he asked and she just turned away. “I’m not leaving you like this…”

  “Rey, please…”

  “I know you need me here, Venus… I can feel your pain…” he sat beside her, holding her hand.

  ‘We’ve been through the same fate…’ Venus sniffled as she squeezed his hand. He put his hand around her shoulder, making her rest on his shoulder gently. She closed her eyes, blinking back tears.

  Suddenly, Venus gave out a snort and Rey turned to look at her. “I just wanted to stay strong… fight my way through all these alone… without facing the pathetic looks of other people… But-” she smirked and Rey saw the sarcasm on her face. “-Guess I’m not that good at it… Father used to tell me to stay strong… for my people… for my village… and for myself… But, it’s really hard, Rey…”

  “Shh… It’s alright…” he tried, holding her hand and resting his chin on her head.

  She shook her head, a sad smile lingering over her face as she talked about her village and her parents and their life… Rey sat there, listening to her patiently… His hand stroking her hair gently and comforting her when she sobbed…

  “I used to annoy my father so much… asking him to take me with him wherever he went… Insisting on helping with him with his works… But…” she smiled. “Even if I was just a nuisance to his work, he’d never show it out… Just carries me along with him with a smile and patience. One day he left to the hills to collect some herbs without me… and, I threw a riot about it when he got back… didn’t talk to him for about a week… He begged me to talk to him and promised that he’d never do that again… But-” she broke off, her voice shaking with her sobs. “Then, he left me forever… He didn’t take me with him… I begged him to come back to me… but he didn’t…” she looked up at the ceiling. Venus didn’t know why she was blabbering all those things to Rey, but it seemed that her heart wanted to share it with the only person who’d understand them… “I cannot go on like this, Rey… I should’ve gone with him… I don’t think I can go on anymore-”

  But before she could complete it, Rey held her mouth with his fingers. “Then what will I do, Venus…?” he breathed, his eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t have a reason to fight for my life until you came along… I can never go on without seeing your beautiful face Venus…” he gently kissed her temple.

  Venus squeezed her eyes shut for a minute before standing up and walking towards her window. Rey followed her and held her from behind. “If there is anything we could do to erase that day from our lives…” she breathed, sniffling.

  Rey gently kissed her cheek, kissing away the tear rolling down. “I’m afraid I can’t help you with it, Venus…” he breathed. “But… I can always be with you to share your distress and fight our way through it… I can help you ease the pain…”

  Venus leaned back on him. “Rey…?” she called and he hummed in reply. “Why are you doing all this…? I’m not worthy of any of these…” There was silence for a few seconds and Venus was about to turn around to look at him, but suddenly Rey turned her around and kissed her hard on her lips… his hands entangled in her long dark hair. Venus just stood there shocked as he trailed his lips over her face, kissing away the tears as he moved down… dragging his lips across her throat… chest… stomach… waist… until he was on his knees before her… “I’m doing all these because… I care about you Venus…” he growled, staring into her eyes and the emotions and sincerity in his eyes made her eyes fill again. “I have never said this to anyone before… And, I could never say this to anyone else either… I’m in love with you… I love you with all my heart Venus… I cannot live without you.”

  Venus stood there, her mouth parted. ‘He’d said he wanted her to stay with him… but never once brought up anything about loving her until now…’ Venus looked at his distressed face…

  “Rey…” she breathed and he was instantly on his feet, hugging her to his heart.

  “Shh… Just think about it and let me know your reply tomorrow…” he scooped her up into his hands and walked to her bed, placing her on it gently before joining her.

  Venus was staring at his blue eyes as it neared her and she met his mouth halfway, fusing them in frenzy.

  Before they both knew, Rey was on top of her… kissing her wildly. Venus matched him equally with passion as she kissed him back, pulling him closer… The both even forgot they weren’t breathing as they devoured each other’s mouth with all their might…

  “Venus…” Rey whispered in between kisses. “Venus…”

  She fisted her one hand in his hair while the other moved over his chest and gripped his shirt. Rey moaned as he felt her finger brush his chest gently. He tilted his head to kiss her deeply as he ran his hand over her arm… gently brushing her sides.

  Venus arched her back as she felt his hand brush her curves… making her moan and the sound of it just drove him to the edge. Rey, in an instant, raised her upper body off the bed, sucking and nibbling her lips as he pulled her close against his body. Then, he dragged his lips over her cheeks to her throat, licking and sucking at the smooth skin there, making her squeez
e her eyes shut and moan, all the while gripping his shirt… The buttons from his shirt were flying as she tugged at it, unconsciously.

  Rey’s hands slowly made its way to her shoulders gently pushing the robe down as he kissed and licked the exposed skin. The robe fell down her shoulders, exposing half of ‘her’ to his admiring view. “You’re beautiful, Venus!” Rey gave out a groan before stooping low and kissing her curves.

  Venus gasped as she felt his warm mouth kissing her in her most sensitive spot, and her hands fisted more tightly on his hair and shirt…

  Rey’s hand ran up her leg… gently stroking and feeling her smooth skin as it moved inside her robe. Her moan made him bite into her lower neck, all the while squeezing her.

  Venus pulled him by his head to her awaited mouth and he obliged, kissing her furiously, grounding against each other as their desire got the better of them.

  Rey looked into her eyes deeply and for a minute, he squeezed his eyes shut… He gently leaned closer to her, stroking her cheek and kissing her lips again.

  “You’re not ready…” he breathed at her lips. Venus looked at him shocked, her eyes reflecting the desire and passion for him. “I want to make it really special for you… for us!” Rey knew he has to wait… just until tomorrow, so he could make sure she’s going to be with him forever… So he could put his burning heart at ease. “Tomorrow… The minute you confess your feelings… I promise...” he whispered, staring into her eyes. Venus’ hold on his shirt loosened and she struggled to regulate her breathing…

  Rey smiled at her and then stooped again to kiss the corner of her mouth. “Just know I’ll be there with you… always.”

  She nodded and then slowly turned around, allowing him to spoon her gently with his hand wrapped around her possessively. “Mine!” he whispered before closing his eyes.

  ***

  The next day, Venus turned around feeling the warm rays across her face, and her eyes met with a pair of sparkling blue ones. She couldn’t help but admire the most handsome face in the whole world and as he smiled down at her, she felt her heart flutter. “Good morning…” he whispered and Venus dropped her eyes to his chest, blushing. She was feeling really embarrassed about her behavior the previous night… like a desperate teen-ager.

  Rey read her mind clearly and raised her chin to look up at him. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, Venus… I…” Rey smiled and Venus couldn’t help but smile at the sudden shyness on his face. “-I want it too… More than you could ever imagine… But I don’t really want to freak you out…” Venus looked up at him angrily, about to retort something and he smirked making her blush. “You look really beautiful when you blush like that you know… It’s totally opposite to your normal fierce nature…” He leaned forwards, kissing her softly, making her moan. Venus waited for a few seconds staring at his blue eyes that shone with intensity, and then gently kissed him back.

  “I-” he breathed. “I’ll be at the backyard… when you’re ready to talk to me…” he smirked and Venus licked her lips nervously biting back a shy smile. And, with another swift kiss, he stood up and walked out of her room.

  Venus sat on her bed, running her fingers along her hair and sighing dreamily. ‘She could finally confess her feelings to him…’ She walked into the bathroom and freshened up with a bath, then walked into the kitchen to find Mia working there as usual.

  “You look really happy today…” Mia smirked on seeing Venus’ glowing face.

  “Just feeling good… Er… Where are the guys?” she asked and Mia shook her head with a knowing smile.

  “Peter has gone to the village… And, Rey… he’s in the backyard…” Mia smiled and Venus wondered if she could read her mind or something as she walked towards the living room to hand Lilly her cup of coffee.

  “Good morning…” said Venus to Lilly, who was sitting on the chair beside a window and she looked up… with distressed face, her eyes filled with tears.

  “What’s wrong Lilly…?” asked Venus in panic. “Are you alright…?”

  “Just… mind your own business, and leave me alone…” she snapped, but Venus held her shoulder and made her look at her.

  “I’m just trying to help… Lilly. So, do me a favor and tell me what the hell is your problem…?” Venus growled, her anger getting the better of her.

  “You want to know what my problem is…?” Lilly asked facing her, her eyes spitting fire. “It’s you!”

  “What…?” Venus whispered, staring back at her… Her eyes reflecting shock, and confusion.

  ***

  After a while, Venus walked into the backyard to find Rey sitting on a bench. He turned around sensing her, as she walked towards him and smiled at her. “Hey…”

  Venus smiled at him before taking a seat beside him.

  “So…” Rey stroked her cheek, gently pushing away a strand of hair. “Ready to tell me your feelings…?” he asked and Venus looked at her.

  She nodded, breathing deeply as if deciding something and then looked into his eyes. “Rey… I want you to let me go back to my village…”

  Rey looked at her shocked, feeling the whole world crashing down upon him. “Why…?” he breathed. He stared at her face trying to believe that she was just kidding him… But her face was serious… Her eyes, cold and emotionless, as she looked into his distressed and defeated ones. “Why Venus…?”

  Chapter 13

  Venus just sat there. As if, she hasn’t said anything odd… as if, what she said was not shattering his heart into pieces…

  “Why…? Tell me why, Venus?” Rey looked at her and she noticed his eyes as confusion filled in them. “I thought you loved me too…”

  “I didn’t say anything like that… Rey, please understand… I’ve never…” Venus tried, but Rey cut her off.

  “Don’t… Don’t lie to me…” he said looking into her eyes. “Is it because we’re bandits…? Is it because the village leaders are after us…?” he asked, as it suddenly dawned on him. “Venus, I assure you… everything will be fine in a few more days… I’ll stop everything… I’ll give up-anything… if… if you’d stay with me forever… Please…” he pleaded, making her bite back her heart breaking pain. “We could move away… Leave this village… Once everything is settled… once the villagers are provided with what they need to survive, we can move away from here to settle down with our own life…” he held her hand and looked at her.

  Venus sat there for a while, as if lost in thoughts. Her head was dropped and Rey couldn’t see the tears threatening to fall down from her eyes. “Venus…” He leaned closer and kissed her temple. “I need you with me… Please.”

  “Rey…” Venus took a deep breath and Rey looked at her hopefully. But she just shocked him again by pulling her hand away from his grip. “I-I’m really sorry… But I don’t think this could work out… We-” She swallowed before continuing. “We don’t belong together…”

  Rey snorted angrily. “We don’t belong together…?” he said and Venus startled at the rage in his voice. “You know very well that you love me… What else do you need to understand that we’re meant to be together…?”

  “Rey… You’re getting it wrong… I’ve never said anything about loving-” She started but he cut her off again.

  “So, what we did together…” he looked into her eyes and Venus turned away to hide her discomfort. “It was just physical then…?” There was an open sarcasm in his voice. “Was I just someone who could use when you need some-”

  “Rey…” She stood up, her voice trembling in both distress and anger. But then, she let out a sigh. “There is no use talking to you right now… I’m leaving to my village… before night falls…”

  “So, you’ve decided to go back to him…?” he sneered and Venus turned to look at him in confusion. “You’ve decided to marry Jellal?”

  She stood there, shocked as it suddenly dawned on her. But then, she turned and walked away. “Just-just look around you Rey…” she said over her shoulder.
“You’ll notice who deserves and needs you the most…”

  Rey just sat there, confusion, anger and grief filling his insides. ‘He couldn’t understand her… Even though he thought he did… He never really understood her at all…’

  ***

  In the evening, Venus stepped out of the house, with Peter and Mia following her with worried expressions.

  “Venus… You don’t really have to leave, you know…” Peter tried, his voice reflecting distress.

  “Come on, Peter…” Venus smiled a sad smile. “You know I don’t have any reason to be staying here… It would only bring you guys more trouble if my village founds out about me being here...”

  “But-but what about the other bandits?” asked Mia, looking at Venus with worried eyes.

  “Don’t worry Mia… I don’t think they are after me anymore… And, even if they are, I can take care of myself…” she smiled. “Alright then… I think I should leave now, so I could reach my village before night…”

  Suddenly, they heard a small giggling noise and everyone turned around to see Rey and Lilly step in through the back door. Lilly was laughing about something, but Rey’s face was a bit dull. His sparkling blue eyes pierced Venus’ black ones as his gaze fell upon her.

  “Rey… Rey stop her…” said Mia, hurrying towards Rey and Lilly. Rey looked at Venus with fuming eyes and then looked away.

  “She doesn’t belong here, Mia…” said Rey and Mia stared at him. “She said it herself… She says she doesn’t deserve to be with us… but I think she feels degraded to be staying with a bandit group like us… Don’t forget who we are… Mere criminals…” Rey scathed the last words. Venus looked at him shocked but the wrath in his eyes made her drop her gaze.

  “Er… Good bye then, guys.” said Venus, dejectedly and stepped out.

  “Wait… Venus…” Venus was shocked to hear Lilly call her by her name and her face reflected it. “I… I’m sorry…”

  “Hey… You don’t have to apologize, Lilly… I would’ve been the same way if er… Just forget it alright… Let’s be friends…” she walked towards Lilly and hugged her. “Take care of him… please…” she whispered, and before Lilly could reply anything, Venus was out of the door… hurrying from their place… and lives…