Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

A dry chuckled escape from his perfect lip.

“No. I don’t want to but if you want me to, I will gladly join them in hating you” I rolled my eyes because of his cocky demeanor.

It was annoying that he kept replying to my question with another question. I could clearly see it in his eyes that he doesn’t want to be hated by me but seeing him using some cold demeanor with me is kind of irritating.

“Why have you come in today?” he asked, looking at his food. I glanced at his food and sighed deeply.

“I need an answer on…”

“On” he asked, raising his eyebrow. I took a second to admire his face before looking away.

Even though he looked malnourished, I still couldn’t deny how devastable handsome he is. His perfectly pointed nose and pale lip. I imagine how handsome he would be if he was not in this position. I guessed so many ladies would faint once they set their eyes on the incredibly attractive boy.

My blood boiled in anger at the thought of another lady gagging on him and I gritted my teeth, my hand clenching and unclenching at the same time.

I took a deep breath to quench my anger and sat next to him. That’s when I noticed the water dripping on him. It was a single drop but his cloth is soaked which means that it must have been dripping on him for a long time non-stop.

“Why did you come in today?” he questioned. Hearing his voice. I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at him without saying any words. Instead I found my hand going to his face. I cleaned his tears with my thumbs and smiles. Though I wonder why he keeps asking me the same question.

“Thank you for everything” he said, his voice dark and huskily but melodic that my heart skipped a beat. Heaven what is happening to me?. Why did I find myself getting relaxed with him at each passing second?.

“For the food and this warmth right now” he added. That’s when I realized his head was resting on my shoulder.

“You are so kind. You show compassion for a person like me, that everyone dreads. For a monster….”

“You aren’t a monster. You are just another special being that’s different from us”

He removed his head from my shoulder and looked up at me. His emotionless eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. And again tears found their way down his cheek, I cleaned his tears and pinched his nose before bringing his head back to my shoulder.

“How long have you been locked up here?” I questioned and he released a sigh.

“Since I was three years old.” He said and it was my turn to look at him.

Three years?. That’s a long time and looking at him now, if I should guess his age he must be up to sixteen or more than that.

“That must be hard.” I said and he looked at me waiting for me to elaborate.

“Enduring all that since you were young” I added and sighed sadly.

He smiles. A smile that shows his sad emotion. “You are right. There are many times I wished for death instead of this suffering”

All this was caused by my father. Your suffering and pain were all caused by my father, so how could I possibly let go of this guilt I am feeling. I deserve it.

Don’t I?.

I sniveled and cleaned my running nose.

“Are you crying? Because of me”

The boy said and tried to take his hand to my face but the hand refused to come out. I looked at his hand and noticed a bulge forming on his wrist. Just above the bulge is a tattoo. I squinted my eyes and locked my gaze with the tattoo. It was a snake tattoo displaying his tongue. A black huge python.

“I have had it since birth,” he said and I nodded.

“It’s beautiful” were the words that came out of my mouth and his lips curled into a smile. It was the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, bringing his dull eyes back to life. I would certainly pay any amount to see those smiles every day.

I unhook my bracelet and put his hand on my lap. I lock the bracelet on his hand exactly where the bulge was.

He stared at me in surprise and was about to say something when I beat him to it, by not allowing him to say a word. I am sure he wants to ask why I gave him the bracelet but I don’t even know the reason as well, I just feel the bracelet would cover the bulge.

“Eat your food”

Without another words he started eating and I stared at him as he ate. The rice ball lacks the nutrients it requires as I couldn’t see the appropriate ingredients in it. I didn’t expect them to add meat or vegetables to it but the sesame oil and sesame seeds that are required is lacking in it. It was just plain cold rice.

I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“You are beautiful”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

My eyes snapped open at the compliment. I feel butterflies dancing in my tummy and happiness leaps at me. I smile appreciatively at him.

He had finished eating and was just staring at me.

“You are a maid but your beauty will surely surpass all those noble lady out there”

That’s when the realization hit me. He must think I am a maid not knowing I am the daughter of the man who imprisoned him here.

Will he hate me if he found out my identity?

My heart ached at the thought of him hating me and it felt like a thousand dagger pierced my heart. There is no need to let him know, I will just let it remain as it was. He must think of me as a maid who helps him, not the daughter of the man who causes him pain.

What if I help him escape from here? It is cruel that he has been passing through pain in the hand of my father and so it is my duty to correct my father’s wrongdoing.

“Have you ever thought of Escaping from here?” I asked.

“Of course I have thought of doing that so many time but it just not possible for me”

He paused and bit his lips slightly and that riled up some feeling deep down my stomach. I suddenly wished I was the one biting those lips.

“I know it is impossible because of this” he pointed above his head and my eyes traced his hand and they landed on the water dripping at a drop.

“What did you mean?” I asked, my eyes still on the water.

“This water is keeping me weak. I can’t do anything with this water on my body, it’s my weakness” he explained.

Why is common water a weakness?. I glare hard at the water that if it was a thing I could get my hand on. I surely would have given it a good beating by now.

“I hope someone could get rid of the water but no one can,” he added.

“What if I do.” I joked and he looked up at me before chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief.

“I will be glad if you could but that is not possible” he answered.

I don’t know why I said those words but hearing him say he would be glad if I could do that suddenly made me wish for power. If only I had some hidden power in me I would have been able to get rid of this water. I looked at the water wishfully.

Suddenly my eyes started itching as if sand was pouring inside my eyes and before I concluded what was happening to me a bright white light shone brightly from my eyes toward the hole. It started circling the hole and it patches the hole close.

The water dripping from it also stopped.

“Are you okay?” I heard a distant voice asking but my mind was blank. I couldn’t understand anything going on around me.

My body was engulfed in a tight hug and that is what brings me back. My breath rising heavily and a hand patting my back gently drifts me to look at the owner’s face and a red eyes staring back at me in concern lessened down the pace of my breathing.

“What is going on?” I asked when I saw the look on the boy’s face.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded wondering why he looked ashen and scared.

He inhaled deeply. “You never told me you have a supernatural power,” he asked.

Supernatural power. What the hell is he talking about?. Wasn’t I just wishing I had or maybe it was not a wish in my mind, I must have said it out loud or else why would he have asked that question.

“What supernatural power are you talking about? I didn’t have anything of such”

“But you…”

He was talking when he suddenly stopped. He looked at me for a long time and nodded his head as if he just realized something.

“Don’t worry,” he said and looked at me one more time before removing his eyes from my face.

I shrugged my shoulders and adjusted my sitting.

“I really wish to help you escape but since you said you can’t go unless this water is gotten rid of” I looked up at the hole but gasped at what I saw.