LUCEM
LXXI Chapter

I can now confirm clearly that the noodles are real. Without a doubt I ran with the remnants of the energy that was approaching the noodles with joy. Sitting without excuse, I grabbed the plate and hugged her. Marbella threw a bottle of water at me, and I gulped straight at her. Freshness is back in my body.

"How's it?" Ask Magenta.

I nodded without words. Tired still makes me not want to make a sound. I pulled my body to lean against the tree trunk. Stay there for a moment.

Venus approached. I glanced over and found her grim face. I took a deep breath before I started asking her."Hey, what's up?"

The man is silent. He put both his hands on his bent knees. Distant view.

"Is the noodle over?" I asked with a thump.

Venus turned to look at me and snorted. "Do you like noodles so much?"

I smiled awkwardly. "Yes, if you're hungry" I replied.

I again grabbed my plate, and glanced at the noodles. I smiled with relief. I left Venus to meet my seductive noodles. Scoop and place it on the plate carefully, then add a fork without a spoon on its side. I sat down next to Venus. He still looks lethargic.

I made the first bribe before I asked back. "Come on, tell me what's going on?"

He just took a deep breath and glanced at me lazily.

"Follow me to the tree over there," I pointed at another tree not too far away. He nodded in agreement.

"Can't you look too interested in Magenta, Mars?" Venus made me stop the bribe and coughed. He handed the bottle to my hand.

I wiped the remaining water from my chin. And turned the direction of my sitting, looking seriously at the man.

"Listen," I said, trying to soften my voice. “I know what you have is special. I know that I can't really understand that kind of love. I mean, I know you might be thinking of proposing to her someday, and—"

"I did propose to her," cut Venus.

I was suddenly stiff.

I could tell just from his voice that he wasn't kidding. And I knew from the look on his face, the tiny radiance of misery in his eyes, that this was my gap. This is the data I missed. This is the source of the suffering that drowned him.

I scanned the area as if someone else would eavesdrop on our conversation. "Are you jealous of me?" My whisper.

Venus jerks. "Umm..you look like a man and pretty.., so I guess it can indeed make me—," Venus looks annoyed.

Without continuing his words he turned his face away from me and looked at the girls who were eating noodles. I followed his view.

"Magenta is beautiful" I said.

Venus turned around, her look increased.

"Come on," I said to him. "I'll take you to lunch."

Venus blinked, confusion temporarily dispelling her anger. And then, sharply. "I'm not hungry."

That's obviously bullshit." I looked at him from top to bottom. He looks good, he always looks good, but he also looks hungry. Not only the usual hunger, but also the hunger with the additional impression of despair.

"And you'd know better than I do that you wouldn't be of any use in a rescue mission if you passed out before you even got there. Magenta probably won't like that" I told him.

She glared at me.

“Come, friend. It's not a good look. All these muscles need to eat.” I poke his biceps. “Feed them.”

Venus flinched away from me and took a long, annoyed breath. I almost made her smile.

I think I'm making progress.

"Mars, I'm sorry. You're right, I'm jealous, but, it's just because he's too attached to you. Don't take my grievances for heart, I'm relieved to have vented them on you in person and you're much more mature than I thought."

"Apardon is accepted" I said.

"Thank you, buddy. Venus patted my shoulder. You know what, man? I never expected more from him because I knew he had accepted my love and I had accepted his friendship, we both knew how small the difference between one and the other was."

"You look satisfied with that" I smiled.

"Umm. yeah, it's like being grateful and hoping at the same time, you must understand what I mean, right?" Venus flashing.

"Well... Men are men, we certainly understand each other," I reciprocated his blink. We laughed off.

The sound of our laughter caught the attention of the two girls, Marbella called out to us with a gesture of her hand. We went back under the big tree, with the girls eating noodles.

Hmmmmm. I couldn't even afford to glance at Magenta's beauty while noodling with me, not at all.

The meal I guessed as lunch was over. I had a little conversation with Marbella before doing the rehearsal again.

"Did you see what I saw, Marbi?" My toot.

"No, but I get it," replied Marbella.

"Magenta is waiting for you, brother. Marbella pushed me slowly.

"Don't hesitate, I'm here," Marbella gently rubbed my arm. Instantly a feeling of confidence and calm flowed over me.

❄️

❄️

Finally, Magenta sighed, dragging a hand to his perfectly arranged hair. He looked at me without blinking.

The observation scared me.

I turned sharply and glanced the other way.wondering inwardly, suddenly, whether I would be allowed to urinate.

"Mars."

The timbre of his angry voice made my heart thump. I straightened my eyes on him in an instant. 

"Yes, Magenta," I said, sounding a little breathless.

I then realized that he didn't even see me. He checked something he held in his hand as he said, calmly, "Are you daydreaming?"

"No." Reply quickly.

He looked up.

"It's getting tiring" he said slowly. "I've lost my temper with you, and we haven't even reached the end of your first day." He hesitated. "Do you want to know what happens when I lose my temper with you, Mars?"

My fingers are shaking. I answered briefly again. "No."

He extended his hand. “Then give me what is mine.”

I took an uncertain step forward and her outstretched hand lifted, her palm facing out, stopping me on the spot.

"My question refers to your thoughts," he said. “I want to know what you think when you lose focus long enough to stare in any direction. I want to know what you're thinking right now. I will always want to know what you think,” he said sharply. 

"I want every word, every detail, every emotion. Every loose and fluttering thought that passes through your head, I want it, ” he said, walking towards me. "Do you understand? This mine. You're mine."

Magenta stopped just a few inches from my face. Why does he always have to make these clumsy moves?

"Understanding" I replied, my voice seemed lost.

"I'll just ask you this one more time" he said, trying to calm his voice. “And if you make me work this hard again to get the answers I need, you will know the consequences. Is that clear?"

"Very clear" I replied firmly.

Eyes squinting. "What are you daydreaming about?"

I swallow. "Ah, that..., do you allow me to go urinate? A moment."

Magenta's face suddenly became empty.

He looks stunned. He looked at me longer before saying, flatly: "You ask? You're wondering if you can go to do that?"

"Umm. yeah..." My face's warming.

Magenta crossed his arms in front of his chest. "That's it?"

Suddenly I felt compelled to tell her what I thought of her hair, but I resisted that desire. Guilt flooded over me for a moment.

"Yes, that's all, that's all" I replied.

"I understand," he said.

i'm staring.

Magenta took a deep breath and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. She pushed both hands through her hair. Start pacing.

He became confused, I realized, and I didn't know what to do about it.

"Go, just pee, right?" He's convincing.

I'm nodding.

"I saw you eat a lot" he said softly.

Holy hooch!

Slowly I could see Marbella and Venus talking under a big tree. I looked around, looking for the best hiding place to do that.