Chapter 14: Chapter 14

C13

CAELUM

“That’s called—Lu-Le...L”

I rolled my eyes before saying, “Lorry.”

“Yeah! I know that it’s called lorry. You don’t have to say it for me.” I nodded my head once again, my head pounding as I felt another rush of annoyance corrupting my mood – I shouldn’t have insisted for her to read those books.

“Where are we going anyways? We’ve been walking for the past hour and I am tired.”

“ Do you think I’m not?” I sarcastically said, glaring up at the cobblestones that leads out of town. I have decided that we should trek a little way out of town for I wanted to show her the country side before heading at the farm outside the town. It seems that it was a terrible idea considering how sweaty we ended up with as the sun glared down at us.

“That’s a scarecrow, am I correct?” I nodded, noticing the river that runs out of town by the town entrance, a few kilometres from where we are. The great oak tree looms over us and I smiled, it seems that we are a little bit closer than I thought.

“Caelum?”

“What?”

“Why is it that you call Missy, Missy-san and her calling you – what’s that again, Saro – Sato –?“

“Sora-sama you mean?” I raised an eyebrow and she nodded enthusiastically, “Missy-san was born a Japanese, yet I trained her early on. She learnt about English but still insisted to call me by my Japanese name and certain honorifics.”

“So we were in Japan an hour ago and you didn’t inform me? I would have love to see the blossom cherries,” I chuckled at her wrong terms and exasperated expression, striding past the grape vines and heading down the humble cottage that houses a large wine cellar underground.

“Signore! Bongiorno.” I notice the large form of Carlos emerging from the cellar, barrelling at me before he yanked my hand and shakes it wildly. He gave Rubin a curious glance and smiled wide, leaning down so he can capture her in his famous bone crushing hug. “Well, I ought to hear an explanation as to why a beautiful Rufina is your company for this trip and not Signore Wyndfort! You never brought a woman before, Signore, and to see that she’s such a beauty, bella, trully bella!” His Italian accent is still heavily apparent even if he fakes his British accent, while I cringed at his chosen Italian words.

I gave him a tight smile, pouting at him as I headed down the cellar, “Don’t bother with her, Carlos, she holds no importance with my life. She merely accompanied me to see how vast the grape field has grown, and how sweet the grapes are when it is fresh out of farm.”

“Of course, signore, of course!” I glanced up to see Carlos leaning close to Rubin, attempting to engage her to a conversation but Rubin was too occupied of what she sees, ignoring him completely. I smirked, continuing down the stairs and in the depth of the cellar that is dimly lit with yellow artificial light. I took one of the bottles, blowing dust off of it before opening it with the screw I always bring in my pocket.

The scent of sweet tangy smell overwhelmed my senses and I smiled, leaning in to sniff more, enjoying the smell of heaven. This bottle probably cost me more in the future, best save for certain occasions though, I thought otherwise. I turned around, noticing that Carlos has dragged a still occupied Rubin down the stairs. “You have mentioned, Carlos, that the grapes are ready for harvest, are they really?”

“Yes, signore. It was ready – they are beautiful and ripe and full. We are just waiting for you to say go and we’ll proceed. If you should, stomping on them is fun too! Them supple and plump, stains your clothes just alright, grande!” He ended, energetically smacking his lips, waving his hands about so as to prove his point.

“I should tell Zita to bring the best bunch of all and prepare them for stomping, or better yet, I should go and do it myself,” Carlos slides a rather small hat on top of his balding head and marched up the stairs, leaving me alone with Rubin who busied herself with the cellar by crouching down, pulling the hood of her jacket off, which made her hair explode. I snickered.

“Stop making fun of my hair! I do not know how it keeps getting worse than before, I can barely tame them now.” Rubin pats her hair back which only made them stick out. She huffed. “I should’ve braid them, if I only know we will be going this far.” She turns around and started exploring further, making me pull at her hood. “Where do you think you are going, cupid? Let’s go.”

Rubin pouted her lips as I directed the both of us up the stairs, pushing her in front. We reached the opening and she happily bounded off, asking, “So, you are the owner of all of these, too?” I nodded, breathing in the fresh air and revelling the feeling of being back here, “Everything you show me is exquisite, grand and beautiful! Where are we exactly?”

“Piedmont.”

“Piedmont? Where on earth is that?”

“Italy. We are in Piedmont, Italy. Barolo town, to be exact.”

“Really? Then, we are near the fountains and—”

“Nope. I have specifically chosen this place for the vineyard because it’s far from the crowd. Would you rather prefer—?” I bit my lip, replaying what I just said – Did I just ask her about her preference?

Oh Zeus, I’m really getting weirder just like Aeon mention days ago.

“Nope, this place is amazing. Can we walk further down? I am excited of what I might see.”

“Alright,” I trudged down the hill with her, scowling down at on my feet. She giggled and I glanced up to see her running after a butterfly – I sighed. I kind of like materializing from place to place but walking with her is much better, seeing as she was enjoying herself, not having a care of her wild curls viciously flying about. The view was beautiful especially now that she’s with me. I stopped on my tracks and furrowed my brows – what am I even thinking?

“Caelum, look, the Gaeans! They are all coming down here. Why is that?”

“They have finished harvesting the grapes and now prepare them for stomping. Would you like to try that with me?” I blink. Did I just say that? What’s wrong with me? Rubin blushed and nodded, averting her eyes from me while I walked next to her.

“Signore!”

I squinted my eyes and noticed Carlos, pulling his trousers up from his waist as he struggled with the basket of grapes, balancing it on his hips, “Mon signore! Grande. Migliore uve – very very supple!” He said between huff and puff, stumbling as he beckon us down at the bench, facing the stomping place. Rubin sat and her eyes widened when Carlos put the basket of grapes down at her feet, “This are the best harvest so far, try it, rufina!” Carlos held out a piece in front of her face and Rubin takes it, popping the grape in her mouth.

“Hmm,” She takes another piece and Carlos claps his hand, “This is like our grapes back in Eros. How did—”

“Eros? Where is that place, signore?” Carlos looks at me, his sweaty face full of curiousity. Shaking my head, I asked for him to direct us to the stomping place. The ladies are already there, cheering while Zita held out some clothes for us to wear. I threw the shirt and shorts at an unsuspecting Rubin who sneered as it hit her on the face, “How rude!”

I smirked at her, pulling my shirt off while she is looking at me. I can hear the ladies cheering and the men whopping around us, egging me on while Rubin stands there, gobsmacked and stunned to silence. I have to stop myself from laughing at her face as she blushes, her face the colour of her hair.

I bet it was her first time to see a half naked man.

After a minute or two of enjoying her shocked face, she was shaken back to earth by Zita who summoned her and accompany her to the back where she can change. I washed my feet and wait patiently for her to emerge from the back of the farm house, listening to Carlos as he talks about making a gazeebo next to the stomping place.

“Mama mia!” Carlos exclaimed suddenly that I turn around my seat, following his gaze only to gasp.

Rubin’s hair was neatly plaited on her head, with only a few of the vicious curls escaping it. She is wearing a pale yellow dress and a bright smile, almost the equal to the sun above. “The shirt is so big on me, it looks like I am prancing down wearing elephant’s skin which is why Zita lend me this.” I couldn’t think of anything to say as I sat there – frozen in place, looking at her as she stands in front of me, a reflection of someone I have only seen in my dreams. Even her hair was fashioned the same, a tangle of wild curls, tumbling down her shoulders and on her chest. My breath was knocked out of my lungs as I catched her eyes, full of expectation like hers used to be.

Why must the heavens be so cruel to make the cupid look like her, the girl of my dreams?

I closed my mouth and frowned down at my hands, trying to control my emotions before I said, “Wash your feet and together we will step on the grapes here.” She nodded, following my instructions without complain. Rubin’s green eyes widen as she put one foot down on the grapes, gasping while she looks at me. I nodded in encouragement, “It’s alright, put your other foot inside,” She bit her lip and held her breath as her other foot followed the first one.

Slowly, I move around, stomping on the grapes while I regarded Rubin, who stands frozen with her eyes wide. Sighing, I took her hand on mine which made her eyes widen even more while I tried to make her move, “Go on, stomp on them. It’s essential that you should do it hard!” She raised her head to check my expression before she slowly lifts her feet and stompdd on the grapes. Gingerly, she stomps on them, still a bit nervous but after a while, a smile graced her features as she furiously stomped, laughing. I couldn’t help but smile as I gaze at her – so careless and free.

She tighten her grip on my hand and then she started dancing. The crowd that has gathered began to cheer – men started playing their guitar and violins; the women joining in and at that moment, the whole farm is bursting with joy for the very first time.

I sensed Rubin’s excitement as she slowly removes her hand on my grip and clapped her hands, moving in circles as she smiled. The crowd sang louder, a mixture of English and Italian words that blends together into a song, so pleasant to the ears that I found myself, clapping with them.

This has never occurred before – me being a part of all the fun and happiness and love. I always resigned myself to the confines of my flat, feeding on jealousy and hate. I didn’t realize that happiness can also sustained me, much better than my previous sources as I happily glanced at my watch, fully charged and beating against my wrist.

My chest tighten and I marvelled at her, realizing that she was also staring at me. She moves closer, her hands still moving as she claps them. She slipped on a grape and at that instant, I was prepared, catching her before she falls – her chest is on mine making me feel how furious her heart is beating.

A memory suddenly flashed before my eyes and I held my breath as I see the woman from my dreams – looking at me with eyes full of love and joy, bursting with happiness that it pains me to look away. Rubin tightens her hold on mine as we straightened up, clothes stained while we sat in the middle of the singing crowd.

We are both caught in our own world, wrapped up in a tiny bubble as the real world fades into nothing but blurred faces and muted sounds.

I blinked, leaning in closer, studying her face – how petite her nose is, the spatter of freckles spreading out on her cheeks that are flushed of excitement and her eyes, how the green irises lingered at me as though she’s only seeing me for the first time. Rubin opens her mouth as though she will say something but closed it again after a while, my eyes still trained on her face, afraid that she will fade, too.

She bows her head and that breaks the connection.

I stopped stomping and watched her as she pulled her hands from mine. She began clapping her hands and waves them at the crowd, swaying her hips before she started jumping up and down the grapes, throwing bits of it on me.

I snorted.

“Come on, Caelum.” She pulls at me and slips her hand on mine, swaying slowly as though we’re the only ones here. After a while, I twisted her around which she giggled, taking her on my arms and twirling around in circles while I looked down at her exuberant face. I put her down on her feet as the music stops, the crowd slowly dispersing, back to their job and before I knew it, Rubin pulls away from me.

This time, as she put a distance between her and me, I felt like I am lost, like I was suddenly blown off course – with no purpose, no destination, no sense.

Rubin looks up at me through her eyelashes and inquired, “What’s wrong? What’s with the face?” I shrugged, not answering her as I stepped out of the crushed grapes, my body trembling a bit.

As the hours pass by, I noticed how each moment seems to add on what I am feeling – like Rubin was trying to prove a feeling I have long forgotten but, have I really forgotten? I scratched the back of my head as I swiftly walked away from Rubin, finding the need to tell Aeon about all this – about what I feel and about my visions. Aeon will know what we should do.

I wash my feet, avoiding Carlos who bolted up from where he sits, asking me about my wine preference and what he should prepare for lunch. I headed up the hill, confused of what I am feeling. I should hurry us back to the manor to tell Aeon about all this.

The entrance to the cellar underground was lit, so I sneak down, pulling my hair, trying to find some comfort as I calm my nerves down.

I needed some space.

I tried searching for the bottle of wine Carlos has offered me, walking deeper in the cellar. I found the bottle resting on top of one of the barrel at the corner. I took it, uncorking it before emptying half of it in my mouth, gulping it down as I tried to forget Rubin’s face. Wiping the sides of my mouth, I turned around to see her there: ginger hair illuminated by the sun, giving her the impression like she was on fire, her green eyes crinkled on the sides with mirth.

“There you are! Carlos and I was looking for you for the last ten minutes. He said—”

“It’s you.” I put the bottle of wine down on the barrel before pulling her in my arms, “You’re her...”

“What?” She pulled away and put her hands on the sides of my face, whispering, “Caelum, tell me clearly, what’s bothering you? Are you unwell? That’s probably the effect of the sun exposure.” I looked down at her vivid green eyes, feeling like I am in a trance. Not being able to hold myself, I leaned down on her, hovering a few centimetres from her face.

She leans closer as I did – like both of us were magnets to metal. The attraction is so strong that I couldn’t look away from her, like she was the centre of my universe. My lips brushed hers – it was so warm that all I wanted to do is sink deeper and be consumed by her fire. Rubin closed her eyes while I settled my hands on the back of her head, making her whimper slightly. I ran my tongue on her lips, trying to urge her to open it though all of this was halted when the wind pick up around us.

The wine cellar dissolves and we found ourselves being observed by no other than the stupid wind god who happens to be my friend, looking smug at us as he sits on top of the table, with various papers spread around him.

“Well, well...if it isn’t a house warming party.”

I glared at him, pulling my hands off Rubin and turning my back at her so I could snatch back his coat, “Hey!” Aeon protested as I put my hand over his neck and pushed him down on the table. He tried to yank himself off my grip but I am much more powerful than him if it comes to strength.

“Caelum! Stop it, he might die,” Rubin says as she hovered beside me, my hand still tight on Aeon’s neck. “Cae – lum, mate!” Aeon gritted out, his face turning purple as he put his hand on mine. Only then did I notice the scroll he was holding.

I let him go, his face a bright colour of red as he sputtered, huffing and puffing before swearing loudly at me. Rubin sighs as she settled on the sofa, muttering, “Boys!” I looked at Aeon and he nodded his head, still rubbing his neck that has a red mark, before he looks up to meet my gaze – It seems that he is going to confirm my assumptions from awhile ago.

With a flick of my hand, the study slowly dissolves back to reveal the Field of Forgotten.

“I haven’t seen something so chilling to the bone – you have to see this,” he pushed the scroll on my hand, his eyebrows furrowed with concern. With shaking hands, I hastily opened the scroll only to be stunned to silence.

“For he who fell on earth because of love, will suffer the same fate once again; an endless life only to be ended by the wielder of the arrow whom he greatly defended against heaven and hell—”

“See how accurate this is! You who fell on earth, who was asked to refrained from love met her – the wielder of the arrow. The last sentences are, of course, doesn’t make sense but I will research further on it – so, what do you think?”

I glared at Aeon, hating how giddy and excited he appears to be. I sighed, understanding his curiousity and his desire to help me. Nodding at him, I took the scroll and said, “This seems likely. I’ll just go up to my room and think about it, for a while.”

계속