Theodore honestly couldn’t believe the words he’s hearing right now. There’s no way that would have been true… right? It just seems so impossible, especially since the words this woman has been spouting is entirely contradictory to the ones that him and everybody else knows.
And right now, the only thing that Theodore could do was stare at her with a bewildered look plastered on his face. “I’m sorry, what?”
Mirth shone in her eyes as she kept her gaze on the man standing in front of her before she put her outstretched arm down. “Was that too much of an introduction?”
“Not what we were expecting, that’s for sure.” Jake answered, his eyes still focused on the brown-haired woman. “Are you even really her?”
“I am.” Her amused smile grew. “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be that easy to make you believe I’m who I say I am. I did die five years ago.”
“But yet here you.” Colin responded dryly, visibly recovering from the initial shock he was in. “Come on, do you really think we’ll believe whatever nonsense it is you’re spouting?”
Theodore has always admired how calm and collected Colin gets whenever the situation calls for it. Of course, it’s something that is part of who Theodore is as well, but it just feels all so different when it comes from someone other than him—at least, between him and friends. After all, it’s something that he isn’t expecting them to do, especially since Colin and Evan are probably the most reckless people he knows.
While he’s well-aware that Colin only tends to get dragged on by Evan’s foolish tendencies, it still amazes him how easily he gets swept up by their friend’s enthusiasm about most things—well, when he’s not all cranky, that is.
And right now, Theodore is pretty sure that no matter what kind of mindless things Evan says (which he absolutely doubts would happen) to make the guy keep his cool, it wouldn’t work like it normally would.
“And like I’ve said before, I don’t blame you if you won’t.” Arabella replied. “It’s not like it really matters whether you believe me or not anyway.”
“Do you even have any proof to back your claim?” The seriousness that accompanied Evan’s voice was something that Theodore wasn’t expecting at all. And judging by the surprised looks that Jake, Natalie, and Colin sent his way, they didn’t either.
If Theodore was being honest, the guy looked kind of dignified at the moment.
The amusement in Arabella’s eyes only seemed to have heightened when she heard Evan’s query. “I think I have more than enough to back that up.”
Skeptically eyeing the woman, Evan told her, “Really? Because our friend Theo here likes that woman a lot and it would be a shame if it turns out he’s actually not meeting her in person right now.”
Theodore couldn’t help but face-palm himself as he released a sigh. The guy just had to go and ruin his good opinion of him, doesn’t he? It hasn’t even been a minute, and he just went and made a liar out of him.
Honestly, why couldn’t the guy just not spout all that stupid stuff for once in his life.
It seemed like Colin felt exactly the same he did at that moment, because he released a sigh of his own as he rested a hand against his hip while muttering, “And he was doing so good too. Damn it all.”
“I’m guessing you mean how Evan is never that skeptical on most things?” Jake asked, the mirth in his words too palpable to miss.
“The guy is as stupid as they come.” Colin glared at the enthusiastic-looking blonde, who is currently ignoring all the things that his friends are saying about him. “It was foolish of me to think that he has finally learned how to do things properly.”
“You’re not the only one.” Theodore muttered, still feeling kind of put out about what Evan just did.
“As amusing as all of this is,” Natalie started, her gaze now set on Theodore as she gave him a slight smirk. “Are we seriously just going to ignore the words that Evan just said?”
It took the group four, five seconds to actually comprehend what Natalie was implying. When they finally did, all Theodore wanted to do was bury himself six feet under so he could go and hide himself from all the teasing he doubts he would be able to avoid. However, since that just seemed impossible for him, he merely steeled himself for what was about to come.
“Oh?” Jake teased as he moved just a tad closer to where the stiff-looking Theodore currently stood. “So you like tall, beautiful brunettes better, huh?”
“No.” Theodore replied blandly, fully aware of how Arabella’s eyes seemed to cling just a bit tighter on him.
Natalie chuckled. “I doubt it. I feel like Jake nailed the guess.”
Could they not feel how awkward this whole thing is for him? Well, he’s positive that they’re definitely aware of that, but they merely decided to ignore the situation he was in. He was already expecting this from Evan and Colin, but it looks like Natalie and Jake got swept in way too fast with the duo’s pace as well.
Honestly, he didn’t know how to feel about that.
There goes his only chance of having people who aren’t infected by his friends’ idiotic ways.
“Because he did.” Evan smirked before looking at Theodore, who only gazed back at him with a bored look plastered on his face. “He was right, wasn’t he?”
“No.” Theodore replied through gritted teeth.
“Really?” Colin gave him a smirk. “Not what you told us.”
“I told you guys nothing.” Theodore told them exasperatedly, his eyes glancing at the silent woman they were with, and immediately looked away when he saw that her gaze was still focused on him. Somehow, it made him feel more awkward than he already did--which is definitely not a great feeling at all.
“I’m sorry to break this whole thing up,” Arabella interjected, effectively making the group look at her yet again. Theodore saw the mirth in her eyes never wavering even as she continued, “But the whole lot of you seem quite calm for people who just met someone who could possibly be dead five years ago.”
“Well obviously, you aren’t dead.” Theodore replied as he crossed his arms, ignoring how his friends just looked at him with knowing smirks. “You’re all flesh and blood, after all.”
“She doesn’t look dead as well.” Evan chorused as his eyes assessed her once more.
“Of course she doesn’t. Just look at her.” Natalie said as she gestured to the blonde woman. “Pretty sure she looks quite alive.”
“Only thing we should worry about is whether this woman is who she really says she is.” Colin crossed his arms against his chest, the smirk he had on his face now totally gone. The skeptical look he gave her before came back tenfold and Theodore couldn’t help but think about how fast Colin’s mood could turn around.
Arabella chuckled. “And I am, but I guess you will never believe that unless I really make you believe it, huh?”
“That’s common sense.” Came Colin’s instantaneous reply.
“I guess that’s reasonable.” She smiled. “But before that, why don’t you all come in? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to be stuck here with all this heat pouring down on you.”
— • — • —
As the group made their way towards the house, Theodore watched as Arabella guided them around, constantly looking back at them to ask them if they were fine and such. It was definitely kind of her to be so considerate of them, especially since she just met them and she isn’t even sure whether they’re fine to be around with or not.
It was silent though; too silent.
While silence was something that Theodore didn’t particularly mind, there was just something about it right now that didn’t seem to sit well with him. It just feels too hollow; like they’re all walking on eggshells—which they probably are.
Theodore cleared his throat. “So are you alone here?”
He immediately felt all of his friends’ stare burning a hole on both the back and the side of his head when he uttered those words. He didn’t need to look at them or ask them why the hell they were all looking at him like that because he already knew what those looks meant. Even though he’s only recently met Natalie and Jake, Theodore felt like he didn’t need to really wonder why they were included in the little teasing game that Colin and Evan had concocted.
Looks like he really just lost the people that were about to be his saving grace from Colin and Evan’s endless stupidity and rash antics.
As he continued ignoring them all, he saw Arabella look back at him before settling her gaze back to the front so she could open the glass door properly. Theodore has no idea how many glass doors they’ve already passed by, but he’s pretty sure it’s been a damn lot. “Most of the time.”
“Most of the time?” Evan chorused, his teasing gaze now lifted from his friend--which Theodore was grateful for. Curiosity took over those eyes of his as he looked at their guide with furrowed eyebrows. “So you have a companion here?”
It took her a moment to reply to Evan’s query. “I often get visitors.”
“What kind of visitors?” Colin asked, the underlying meaning in his words not lost on all of them.
From behind Theodore, he could hear a light slap followed by a very feminine voice exclaim, “Colin!”
“What? I was just asking.” Colin replied, totally unperturbed by the look of disbelief he saw from Natalie, and the look of suppressed amusement from Evan and Jake. Honestly, the latter had him smirking a little in his place, but it was gone all too soon when he felt Natalie’s glare slowly scorching him. “There’s no harm in asking that.”
“For you, maybe.” Natalie muttered before gazing at the slightly blushing Arabella. “I’m so sorry for these guys here; they’re a bunch of doofuses.”
“Oi.” Evan frowned at her. “Why are you bringing us down like that? I thought we were friends.”
“We are friends; that’s why I’m warning other people first before they get the wrong impression of all you being… I don’t know… kind?” Natalie replied.
At that, Theodore couldn’t help but scoff as he thought about how his friends could ever be kind people. Well, Jake may be kind, but what does he know? Maybe the guy is probably just as mischievous as the two of his friends. “I’m pretty sure that sort of impression is already out of the running way before we even stepped foot in this house.”
Arabella’s laughter surprised all of the people that walked with her inside the house. “I think there’s still a lot of room for them to work on that. Not that they really need to since I’m pretty sure that they don’t really mind what other people think about them.”
“Surprisingly, you got that right.” Theodore told her, ignoring once again how his friends are giving him teasing looks similar to the ones they gave him before.
Another chuckle escaped her lips. “Well, it is pretty obvious—given the personalities they’ve shown so far.”
As Arabella pushed another glass door open, the group was instantly greeted by a vast room that was designed with a minimalistic, yet extravagant looking interior that would surely capture the attention of each and every person that would step foot in this very room.
In the very center, the long L-shaped couch was sitting quite eye-catchingly, along with the glass center table that had a very intricate detail to it as well as a very large gray carpet. Instead of the typical entertainment set that could be seen in front of the couch, there stood a large bookshelf that was filled to the rim with books ranging from various titles and genres that would be enough to last someone a year or two.
A black lounge chair was placed facing the couch in the corner of the room, with a small round table and a small potted plant situated on the center of it. It was the most well-lit side of the room where the sunlight would hit the most (but not too much that it’s just straining to the eyes) and Theodore didn’t have to wonder why such an arrangement was placed there--it’s a part of the room that is obviously dedicated to someone who just wants to relax and enjoy a book or two.
The glass wall surrounding it made the view from outside extremely visible, that seeing everything with his very eyes for the first time since they arrived made Theodore wonder just how vast this whole island is. It may be smaller compared to others, but he’s pretty sure that it’s still large enough that trying to scout the entire place within three days wouldn’t be enough--although, there’s probably no need to since whatever they would see would just be the same wherever they go.
“Wow.” Colin breathed out. “Everything is flawless.”
Arabella chuckled as she moved further into the room, beckoning them closer so they could follow her. “I wanted nothing less, I guess. Don’t be shy; come inside.”
As Theodore and his friends heeded her words, Theodore took notice of the line of picture frames situated on the glass table pushed to the side of the room. He glanced at the woman merely watching them with amused eyes before asking, “Is it alright if I take a look at that?”
Her eyes followed his hand, a small smile slipping onto her lips when she saw where her gaze landed on. “Be my guest.”
He took that as his cue and made his way towards the picture frames that piqued his interest. As he picked one up, the sight that greeted his eyes was something that… didn’t surprise him all that much. All he could think about was how he finally figured out why this woman they were with looked so familiar to him.
It looks like the woman really wasn’t lying when she said that she’s the one and only Arabella Ellis.
A sigh escaped his lips, his eyes still on the picture he held in his hand before saying, “I guess this is proof enough?” He looked at her to find her smirking at him. “Along with how you were able to build a house this incredible in a place like this, of course.”
It didn’t even take his friends less than a second to be at his side, heads gathering together as they looked at the very same picture that made Theodore utter those words. Despite his eyes still on the smirking woman, he knows that his friends probably have differing expressions plastered on their faces right now. While that isn’t much of a surprise given the situation, it was still something that made him wonder what could possibly be the thoughts going through their heads right about now.
For one, this whole situation they’re in is just plain creepy and daunting--how couldn’t it when they were literally stranded in a place that they shouldn’t have? Theodore’s not stupid; he knows danger when he sees one and this right here, just happens to be one of those.
He watched as Arabella took a seat on the couch, crossing her legs right after. As she leaned back on her seat, she crossed her arms as well while saying, “Don’t you have questions for me?”
“Several, actually.” Came Colin’s response. Theodore looked at his friend, whose eyes are currently dancing with unsuppressed skepticism. “But first, aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
“Didn’t we just have this conversation earlier outside?” Natalie queried, now standing beside Theodore as she gazed at Colin with a raised eyebrow. “Is it really necessary to have this sort of exchange again? It’s kind of redundant, don’t you think?”
“I think…” Jake grabbed the picture frame from Theodore’s hold, effectively making the latter jump slightly in surprise because of the sudden action. He gave the guy an apologetic look before facing the smirking Arabella as well. “This conversation right here is really the start of the conversation.”
Truth be told, that’s exactly what Theodore felt as well. Despite all the talking they did earlier, it didn’t feel substantial at all; almost like it was merely a way to kill time--which he guesses isn’t a far off conjecture.
“I am--supposed to be dead, I mean.” Arabella replied. “But I’m not due to… several reasons.”
“I believe those reasons are something you can’t say?” Evan asked.
“No.” Almost instantly, Arabella’s smirk dropped as she gazed at Theodore and his friends with such a strong intensity. The aura around her visibly changed and he could tell that this situation they were in is certainly not any better than when they had first arrived here on this island. “Now, who are you?”
When Theodore felt an impending danger looming over them, he was already expecting that it would turn into something a bit like this. However, what he didn’t expect was the amount of hostility he was able to detect in her eyes, a look of pure dislike brewing in those eyes of hers.
He has no idea why she’s acting like this, nor what they could have possibly done, but answering recklessly right now would just prove to be more of a demerit than a merit.
“Well from the looks of it, we’re people who aren’t supposed to be here.” said Evan, his voice all too composed for someone like him.
Somehow, that unnerved Theodore in a way he didn’t like at all, but considering the situation they’re in, that isn’t that much of a surprise.
Arabella rolled her eyes and Theodore could feel that she was already thinking in her mind about how stupid they are. “Obviously. I wouldn’t be asking who you are if I knew I would have company.”
“We’re not bad people, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Natalie chorused, effectively making all eyes turn to her. “As we have mentioned earlier, we merely got stranded here.”
“Oh?” Arabella questioned. “And how did that happen?”
“It was a shipwreck.” Colin replied in a voice that seemed to silently tell the suspicious woman that he could absolutely care less about what she thinks.
“Let’s say that’s true.” Arabella said. “Shouldn’t you have just given up and decided that it was probably worth your while to not struggle more than you already have? I mean, you surviving that just means that there would be more hardships coming your way.”
Theodore was quick to narrow his eyes at her words. Forget what he said earlier and his usually rational and logical thinking. He’s too tired to think things through and right now, all he really wanted was for her to believe them and possibly offer them some pity help. Of course, that type of help would bother him, but what choice did they have right now?
Actually, forget that.
If this is the type of woman who is going to help them, he would rather not have her help them at all. Not only would she constantly remind them that they’re just a bother, but the way she so easily disregarded human life as though it were nothing is definitely someone who thinks of no one but herself.
Theodore let out a scoff. “Sorry for wanting to survive, Your Highness.”
Arabella merely rolled her eyes. “Take it how you want it, but I stand by my words. Seriously though, just who are you people? Who brought you here?”
“Are you hearing-impaired or something? We just said it was a shipwreck, didn’t we?” Theodore replied, the frustration lacing in his tone of voice too palpable to ignore.
“What a convenient story.” The hard smirk she gave him only made him want to smack some sense into her even more. “Did they have you dress the part as well so it would be more believable?”
Honestly, he just didn’t know what to do with her anymore. He just wanted to scream at the top of his lungs in order to get rid of these negative feelings that are constantly building up inside him.
“And again, just what the f**k are you talking about?” Theodore released a sigh. “You know what? Forget it.” He faced his friends, who jumped slightly in their places due to his sudden action. “Let’s go and get out of this place. The keeper is clearly a monstrous being who is as bitchy as they come. We’ll only waste our time by continuing to stay here.”
As the friends took their leave, Arabella was left there in her place, gobsmacked, and just wondering what the hell just happened.
Aksara