Meeting Nihena

by Ervin Agayan

  “With fake invitations!” exclaimed Parelia, interrupting him.

  “Right, I hold out for a few hours at best. All those endless receptions, manners, and crowds of strangers who envy your position; that’s not for me.”

  “What if you fall in love with the princess?” asked Parelia, smiling slyly. “Would you still turn your back to the throne?”

  “I’m not a fool to fall in love with the princess,” answered Arsy with an equally devious smile.

  “Everything is possible in this world.” Parelia shrugged her shoulders. “What if you fall in love by chance? You know, like they say, the heart wants what it wants.”

  “That’s impossible,” Arsy repeated self-confidently.

  “But why?” Parelia asked again, trying to understand why Arsy couldn’t fall in love with the princess.

  Because I am already in love with you, and I don’t need the princess, thought Arsy but didn’t say anything out loud. Parelia noticed how his eyes flared up; she read his thoughts through his expression and blushed. For a few seconds, they were looking at each other in silence, after which Parelia decided to change the topic.

  “You don't even know how happy I am to come here for a walk! I’ve been dreaming about such repose for a long time now.”

  “And you can’t imagine how happy I am to have come and seen …this tree,” said Arsy, smiling. He wanted to say “seen you” instead.

  “The tree?” asked Parelia, barely suppressing a smile. “Well, there are plenty such trees in our garden. You can come and see them at any time.”

  “I will surely come if there’s also such a beautiful flower among the trees…” Arsy said gently.

  Parelia dropped her eyes bashfully and added with a deal of sadness in her voice, “Eh, I’m afraid that flower will dry up, seeing a criminal like you!”

  “And what did you like most about our walk?” asked Arsy suddenly.

  Parelia looked at the flames of the fire, and Arsy noticed dancing flashes in her beautiful eyes.

  “Everything! I am extremely tired of my routine life. Imagine, sometimes I’m having to walk with a mask on my face, smiling even when I feel very sad. Here, I don’t need to pretend. I can do any kind of foolishness, for example, walk barefoot all day, and no one will give me a scolding. I like the local nature with its mysterious silence. After the noisy capital, it’s a true escape for me. I like the spirit of freedom here, where I can do what I want and not what I should. It’s like a fairy tale, and I am its main heroine.”

  “What about me?” Arsy asked playfully. “You forgot to mention me!”

  “Oh, what a crime! How could I forget about such an important hero like you?!” Parelia exclaimed jokingly. “Of course, you have a role in it. Every tale has its villain. But if I tell someone that a criminal was plaiting my hair, no one will believe me!”

  “You don’t even know yet what is in store for the heroine of the tale, thanks to me. There’s an interesting and enticing life ahead of her.” Arsy winked at Parelia.

  “Listen, for her entire life, the heroine of this tale has been waiting for a prince on a white horse,” the girl announced with important intonation. “A Prince, and not…a criminal! I’m begging you, don’t spoil this wonderful fairy tale,” Parelia joked playfully.

  “Spoil?” sneered Arsy. “I think, I’m only enriching it. They will kiss, and the young man will turn into a knight. And they will live happily ever after.”

  Parelia wasn’t able to hold back her smile. They were silent for a while, enjoying the silence of the night, after which Arsy asked, “Why aren’t you in bed at this hour, Arpy?”

  “I saw you sitting here alone, and I thought I should keep you company.” The girl shrugged her shoulders. “It’s more fun when you’re not alone, and you won’t fall asleep while on duty. Otherwise, your treasures will be stolen, and you won’t even notice it.”

  Suddenly, the girl realized she was really sleepy. Catching sight of a tin mug near the fire, she suggested. “Make some coffee so I don’t fall asleep.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Arsy yawned and nodded his head at the mug. “But you know what? Making coffee is not a man’s job.”

  Parelia’s eyebrows crawled up on her forehead. Did he just hint that she should be the one to make coffee? The worst thing about it was that Parelia had not made a single cup of coffee in her entire life. She simply didn’t know how to do it.

  “I’m not your servant.” She grinned. “What if you make a gesture of goodwill and treat the lady to a cup of coffee?”

  “I’d prefer to taste the coffee made by you.” Arsy’ voice became more insistent.

  “It’s an order!” Parelia broke down, raising his voice. Such impudence! How does he dare not comply with her orders?

  “You order me?” Arsy burst out laughing.

  Parelia remembered her secret, and deep in her heart, she was already reproving herself for giving it away. Commanding intonation is obviously inappropriate in a situation when the person in front of you doesn’t know you are the princess. The girl changed her strategy.

  “It was a joke.” His voice became softer. “I just thought you’d make amazingly delicious coffee.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s just coffee,” exclaimed Arsy blankly. “Why are you so stubborn?”

  “So, it’s me who is stubborn?” Parelia started raising her voice again. “You’re the one who is as stubborn as a mule.”

  “Well, that’s a matter of principle.” Arsy shook his head.

  They sat in silence for several seconds, frowning at each other. Parelia was the first to speak. “I know what can help us. Let’s play a game. The loser makes coffee.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” agreed Arsy. “What’s the game about?”

  “Take a seat next to me, and I will explain the rules to you,” Parelia said in a friendly voice.

  “I am already sitting.” Arsy smiled. “You’d better come here yourself and explain the rules.”

  Parelia frowned, disgruntled. He’s putting his foot down! Well, she wasn’t going to give way either!

  “No, you come. It’s better to sit here.”

  “And what makes it better?” sneered the young man. “For all I care, it’s exactly the same kind of log as mine.”

  “Good heavens! You are rock-solid!” Parelia broke down and screamed, “Is it really so hard simply to obey?”

  “Hush, silly girl, you’ll wake everyone up.” Arsy smiled.

  Parelia made a wry mouth, discontented, with her arms folded across her chest. She had completely forgotten they were not alone.

  “Oh!” whispered Parelia. “I totally forgot there are other people here.”

  “And above all, obeying is not my style, whereas you could make some concessions.”

  “Why would I do that?” Parelia’s voice started rising again, but she quickly collected herself and added in a spiteful whisper, “I prefer commanding, rather than obeying.”

  “Just like me!”

  “I like when my orders are executed without question,” rapped out Parelia.

  “Believe it or not, it’s after my heart too,” Arsy answered with a smile.

  “Can you imagine what kind of hardships we’d face in family life, Arsy, if we happened to get married… I mean, hypothetically speaking,” said Parelia.

  “Of course,” Arsy agreed willingly. “Family life requires compromise, which you are going to make. Trust me. I don’t mind it.”

  “Oh no, sweetheart, I am not the submissive kind,” argued Parelia, shaking her head.

  “You’ll be a goody-goody with me. I am a good instructor,” he answered with a sly smile.

  “Just like me!” Parelia smiled spitefully in response. “You’ll become a goody-goody before you know it.”

  “If you ever see me obedient, don’t believe your eyes.” Arsy laughed. “Then it’s just not me.”

  “Gods, is it really so difficult to make coffee at a girl’s request?” exclaimed Parelia. She woul
d have done it long ago if she knew how to do it.

  “Is it so difficult to do the same thing?” rapped Arsy.

  Parelia sighed heavily. It took her a few seconds to calm down; meanwhile, Arsy thought of a new game.

  “Let’s play a silent game. The one who speaks first makes a compromise.”

  “Such a silly game,” the girl pronounced haughtily. “Besides, you are going to lose!”

  “That’s unlikely.” Arsy grinned. “Girls can’t keep their mouths shut, even for two seconds.”

  “Well, then the game has started!”

  There was silence, interrupted only by the crackling of firewood at the wood fire. Balm-crickets were singing far off, and just a short distance away, a frog’s croaking was heard. The fire was dying out slowly, and Parelia made Arsy a gesture for him to add some wood. The young man’s gesture in its place suggested she should do the same. No one knew how much time had passed since the game started, but Parelia was the first to stand up and walk to Arsy. She took a seat next to Arsy and looked at him wrathfully.

  “I suppose you give in?” sneered Arsy and realized his mistake when it was too late.

  “Haha. I said you’d lose, didn’t I?” Parelia exclaimed cheerfully.

  “You are quite cunning!” Arsy shook his head with a certain degree of admiration that could be sensed in his voice.

  Parelia stood up, took a seat where she was sitting before, and ordered, “Come on, sit down next to me and add some wood on your way.”

  The fire started burning with new force when Arsy took a seat next to Parelia, trying not to pay attention to her triumphant glance.

  “Okay, you won this game,” he surrendered. “But I am not going to lose the next one! So, what are the rules?”

  “It’s simple: we are looking into each other’s eyes. The one who averts eyes first loses the game.”

  “Such a simple game,” said Arsy with a smile. “I can keep my eyes on you until morning. But is winking allowed?”

  “Yes, it’s only not allowed to close one’s eyes for a long period of time.”

  “Well, let’s start, shall we?” suggested Arsy. “But I suppose we’d better have a cup of coffee; personally, I will keep my eyes fixed on you until morning.”

  “Off we go! Give me your hand,” said Parelia.

  “Is that mandatory?” Arsy stretched his palm to her unwillingly. “If Erik sees us, he won’t get it right.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to him.” Parelia put him at ease, but immediately added with a certain deal of sadness in her voice, “But if you don’t like it…”

  “No, no, it’s okay, though it’s kind of weird,” Arsy hurried to assure her. “Shall we start?”

  Parelia was already looking him in the eye. In addition, the game was quite interesting. Arsy was ready to look into those beautiful eyes for ages. His heart started beating faster, and his respiration increased.

  She was so close, holding his hand, looking into his eyes. Suddenly, Arsy realized he was about to lose. In barely a minute, he averted his eyes.

  “Hooray! You didn’t even hold out a minute!” Parelia exclaimed triumphantly. “I was telling you, you are weak-willed.”

  Arsy still couldn’t believe he’d lost. Why did he avert his eyes? He didn’t know the answer to that question.

  Parelia was infinitely happy; she clutched Arsy’s nose with her fingers and whispered into his ear. “Extra sugar for my coffee.”

  “I don’t know how you did it, but you were definitely swindling,” he pronounced aggrievedly, rising from his seat. “You must be a witch…”

  “No, it’s just that you seem to be embarrassed.” Parelia smiled and gestured at the mug.

  “I’m sure you made the trick with your hands. I was even surprised when you voluntarily decided to hold my hand.”

  “Stop looking for excuses! You lost the game. Be so kind to make coffee!”

  Arsy stood up and started making coffee, murmuring something, while Parelia was obviously exulting over her victory. “How much longer should I wait? I will fall asleep with impatience. Are you sure you know how to make coffee?” Such and similar questions were heard behind Arsy’s back, while he was making a beverage, barely holding back the feeling of indignation and frustration. Why had he averted his eyes?

  “Take your coffee,” he grumbled at last, holding out the mug to her.

  However, Parelia didn’t hurry to take it.

  “Listen, I just thought,” she pronounced thoughtfully with a sly smile, “drinking coffee at such a late hour is absolutely pointless.”

  “What?” A wave of revolt started rising in Arsy’s soul.

  “I’m just thinking to myself, ‘Are you crazy? You’ll lose your sleep if you drink coffee at night. I’ll stay awake until morning and will be tired tomorrow. I don’t need it, do I?’”

  “I don’t understand. Do you mean you are not going to have coffee?” Arsy asked in surprise.

  “No, I am sorry to have bothered you. It’s really foolish to drink coffee at night.”

  “As you wish,” Arsy snapped crossly and turned her cup upside town, pouring its content on the grass.

  Parelia’s smile became even bigger.

  “But on the other hand, why do I need to sleep today?”

  Arsy did not have time to recover before she had already jumped to her feet and rushed to his mug.

  The young man evaded craftily, without spilling a single drop, but Parelia wouldn’t let up.

  A comic fight ensued, which Arsy deliberately lost—he was afraid of spilling the hot drink on her. The happy girl returned to her place and began to savor the drink, continually saying, “Very tasty! Just wonderful!”

  “Let’s play one more time,” suggested Arsy. “I won’t yield to your sorcery anymore, so you will be the next to make coffee.”

  “What if I win again?” inquired Parelia and added, raising the mug higher, “I won’t handle a second cup. What if we play for a wish? I mean, if you win, I’ll make you a coffee, and if I win, you’ll fulfill my wish.”

  “You know what? I’ve changed my mind,” Arsy said with a smile. “I don’t need any more coffee. A wish should be a decent reward. I can even tell you my wish in advance. It’s simple: I want a kiss.”

  He didn’t suppose she’d agree, but much to his surprise, Parelia nodded.

  “Okay, you may kiss my hand if you win.”

  “Oh, no,” Arsy laughed, “those are childish games. Only a kiss on the lips.”

  Arsy saw Parelia’s blush.

  “No way! You may kiss my hand at the very most.”

  “Your hand?”

  “Yup, and I should tell you honestly, it’s a very good deal. You can boast having kissed my hand for the rest of your life.”

  “Are you kidding me? It’s not a deal for me,” said Arsy, shaking his head. “If we agree on a kiss, it will be a kiss on the lips.”

  “Then forget it; we’re not playing at all,” rapped out Parelia.

  It seemed to Arsy that she blushed, though, quite possibly, the shades of flashing fire were reflected on her face. In any case, she kept silent for quite a long time, only sipping her coffee now and then. At last, she stood up and held out the mug to him.

  “I am going to bed. Take this. It’s more than half full. This will keep you awake to the end of your shift.”

  “Thanks.” Taking the mug from her hands, he touched her fingers, and his heart started beating faster again. He didn’t want her to leave. She might have read it in his eyes, for she froze for a second, and looking into his eyes, she finally pronounced: “Fine!”

  “Fine? So you agree to kiss me?”

  “Yes… I mean, we will kiss, if you win.”

  “Seriously?” Arsy asked, unable to believe his ears.

  “Yes, but don’t get too happy ahead of time; you can’t beat me,” Parelia said self-confidently.

  “This time, the victory will be mine. I am sure the secret is in your hands. This
time, I will be holding your hand.”

  “Fine, hold it.”

  “Shall we start?”

  “Enjoy your coffee while I get prepared.” Parelia took a seat next to Arsy and closed her eyes.

  “Get prepared? That’s not fair,” Arsy said resentfully.

  “You’d better get prepared yourself.”

  “Okay, if I only knew how… Are we only supposed to close our eyes?”

  “I won’t tell you; I have no desire to kiss you.”

  “This time, I will win no matter what. But let’s get back to the conditions one more time.”

  “Fine.”

  “If I win, we have a kiss.”

  “Right.”

  “What about the duration of the kiss?” asked Arsy.

  “Well, one second.”

  “I knew you wanted to cheat me. I don’t agree; the kiss should last one minute.”

  “Are you crazy? Two seconds at the very most.”

  “That’s too short. At least half a minute.”

  “Half a minute is too long. Okay, 5 seconds, only for the sake of your persistence.”

  “That’s too short; 20 seconds!”

  “No, five seconds,” Parelia insisted.

  “Okay, let’s stop at this point and get back to your wish. What am I supposed to do if you win?” asked Arsy.

  “Whatever I tell you to do.”

  “What if you tell me to eat a stone? Should I comply?”

  “Exactly! If I tell you to do it, you should!” answered Parelia.

  “I don’t think so!”

  Both of them obviously took pleasure in flirting. For a few seconds, they were silently looking into each other’s eyes, smiling. Arsy lowered the mug slowly and threw it on the ground. The remaining coffee was spilled on the grass; a few drops got into the fire, which caused an almost indignant hissing.

  “Okay, if you win, we will kiss, not for a minute, as you bargained for, but ten. But then, you will comply with my every single wish, as long as we are on this island. What would you say?” suggested Parelia.

  “It’s a deal!” said Arsy without a second of hesitation and grabbed her hand. “Shall we start?”

  “Not yet, I need time to get prepared,” answered Parelia and added, “Did you hug my waist or did it just seem that way to me?”