CHAPTER 41: OUTSIDE THE GARDEN

Immediately I and Adam stepped out of the garden, we came face to face with his clique, or rather circle of friends, and Noami.

Oh my God! This was not good!

Noami was by the far end of the terrace.

Her eyes widened when she saw I and Adam walking toward them, our fingers entangled with each other. I know that she must be wondering when I and the king’s son had gotten so close. I knew that I was in for a gist-drilling soon. Very soon.

I looked around the vicinity, but everywhere was dry and empty. No teachers or students loitering around.

Was school over? Just how long had I and Adam spent inside the cave? I wondered, aware that Adam still hadn’t let go of my hands despite the growls that had emanated from Claire, and the surprised looks on the faces of his brothers.

"Where have you two been? In the garden? Since lunch break?" That was Timothy, his voice drowning in incredulity. He just couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Well, I wouldn’t blame them. If I were in their shoes, I would have thought that the end of the world had come.

Adam nodded to the statement, returning back to his cool as cucumber self, withdrawing back into his shell, his smile composed and dimly lit.

Seeing that, I wished I could drag him back to the cave where his soul had been so lifted and free, and his worries forgotten. But then if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. We were back to reality.

"Well, school is over. We should be going so that we can prepare for the party." Daniel stated, trying to divert attention from the stiff topic to a casual one, still darting glances between I and Adam. He shook his head afterward, then started walking away.

I knew that the two brothers, Noah and Daniel, knew where I and Adam had been all this while. It was written all over their faces, but of course they couldn’t question Adam on the sanity of his decision, because they wouldn’t want to risk the whereabouts of their hideout. It was supposed to be a secret within themselves.

Not that the others would ever find the cave without the guidance of any of the brothers though. It was just grass upfront. You can never tell that there is a cave door behind all that thickness of grass. I still pondered on how it had gotten there.

Noami waved at me from her not so near location, probably not wanting to infuse herself in the circle of friends which she usually called dumb, and I waved back, trying to extricate my palm from Adam’s but failing considerably well, and sadly, I wasn’t the only one to notice that.

"Let her go, Adam! What do you think you are doing? Did she bewitch you or something?" Claire shouted, obviously unable to hold on to the anger that has been boiling inside her since she had seen Adam and I stroll out of the garden together.

But Adam never said a word in reply to her. Rather, he bent down and whispered a statement to my left ear.

"Should I go home with you? Do you need my company?"

I was touched by his question cum disguised request. My insides fluttered in happiness. I wanted to tell him that I would love that. I wanted to tell him that it would be most appreciated. I wanted to irk Claire the most, but then I thought of Naomi. She might be uncomfortable with Adam around, and might not express herself as properly as she used to.

And so, because of my friend, I whispered that it was okay if he didn’t follow me, even though I wanted otherwise.

A flash of disappointment flashed across his eyes, and I swallowed, chanting that I was sorry the next second, twice actually or was it thrice? till Adam held his index finger over my lips, not minding we were not alone.

"Shhh" He hummed, the upper part of his sparkling white teeth glowing at me. "It’s okay. I will see you later then." He whispered, before dropping a kiss on my forehead, and gesturing me to walk ahead, toward Naomi while he watched.

I was nervous in the faces of the others, my shyness returning back to me. My cheeks red from blushing, I stalked my way toward Naomi, unable to maintain a steady gait.

My steps faltered at some point, for I knew that the others were still staring. Even Daniel who had been walking away earlier, in part anger I suppose, had stopped in his movements when Adam had stooped to whisper into my ears.

Something tells me that the two brothers must have heard what Adam had said, and it had shocked them the most.

Noah especially was staring at me with a "what have you done with my brother’ stare.

But I think the question should be reversed. What had Adam done to me? I couldn’t even keep a direct line of thought, without him sauntering into it.

His kisses, the love we made in the cave, his joy, his laughter, his chaste kisses, his voice.

Gosh, am I willing to let that go? I thought to myself as I walked up to Naomi who hadn’t managed to get rid of the surprise on her face despite the number of minutes I had spent between conversing with Adam and walking up to her.

I knew she was going to pound me up with a lot of questions, concerning what I and Adam had been doing all this while, but I was also ready to tell her all that had happened, including the sex part. She was my friend after all, and I could trust her with these things.

But of course, I couldn’t tell her about the location of the cave. That was different. I had given my word to Adam and I intend on keeping it to him, and away from my best friend.