Chapter five:

As the days passed at school, I got to know Kento deeply and truly. I was wrong about him, he was a very soft person. But he was soft only to me, for some reason. We would often have lunch on the terrace alone in the quietness, and chat for hours after class. I came to know more about Grissisda. Grissisda was a kingdom, ruled my a noble king and his queen. It's way behind in technology than this world. But it was a very happy and prosperous country until, the Nedimors marched in. Many of the kids were born in the era od Nedimors and had not seen the outer land.

Kento had a great love for art .

But one thing that I hated about him was that, he was never happy with what I do. He always kept scolding me because my fighting skills were not good enough. I could not fight well because I had some dizziness of the after effects. Kento and I were at the Balgamore shrine, and he was teaching me to use strong moves, but I could not handle it because, my hand was injured, "When will you be strong. You are always slaking off. Do you think you can fight at my side with such poor skills?" he arrogantly mocked at me. The burden of school, the library, and upcoming Sword art championships was burying a deep hole for me. I could barely get in some rest. Each and every day, he would ridicule me and make fun of me. Until one day the anger turned into frustration, "Why do you do this to me? Who are you to badmouth me each and every day? I never wanted to be like this! Never wanted to be esteemed to save any one! You make me doubt the importance of my existence, Kento! Ever since I meet you I have only felt pain and suffering." I cried my heart out in front of him.

Today is the day of the championships and also the one week anniversary of me-not-talking-to-Kento-Day. Everyone was on the arena and the crowd were double in number than they were last time. Kento was participating in the Championships too. And I was ready to defeat him, as I was fully recovered. Emilia and Jacob were there to encourage me. I forgave Jacob, but promised myself to never associate myself with him. Cordelia had now moved her target on Kento. Yesterday, she vowed in front of the entire class that if Kento wins she would give him a kiss as a reward. He was in such an awkward situation then, it was hilarious.

Surprisingly Kento and I both reached the finals!! The fight was even tough now, because neither of us had seen each other fight before in the tournament. We faced each other. The sound of a shotgun rang in the air. The fight was started. Kento was the first one to attack. His moves were strong, but I trusted my skills as I was way faster than him.

I successfully dogged all his attacks. Now was my hurt to attack. Once more I managed to miss his blow, and jumped as high as I could, my right leg for support, smashed his face with my left. I didn't recognise myself that, that kick was too strong. Kento spit blood from his mouth and fell to the ground. "The fights over!! Zara Elliot wins the championships!" he judge screamed.

"Now you know my real strength, Kento." I said firmly. Proud of myself. He simply smirked. What a strange guy, spitting blood and laughing his heart out.

The competition was over long back. Kento and I were alone in the infirmary. Feeling guilty, helped him treat his wound.

His wound was still bleeding. "I am sorry." I apologised.

"No I should be the one who is sorry." He said in return.

"Why?"

"I was too rude, Zara. I said all those mean things to you. I should have known you were injured."

"Yeah you were a fool, too"

His face was shocked. "You are repeating my lines" He said with a smile.

"The truth is, when I heard you jumped in front of the truck to save a boy who you never meet before, I was shocked. I felt so much respect in my heart for you. If it were me I would never even imagine of doing it. These past weeks that I got to know you, I realised your hard work, but you never ever complain. You look so stiff, but you always carry that bright smile on your face. It made me feel ashamed that I am nothing compared to you. I was puzzled about the way I should act around you. The first day I saw you, I honestly felt so relieved that I found the one for me. And the next day, when those bandages slipped off your face, I too wanted to say that you were the most beautiful girl I had ever met. But I was too shy. Please, Zara forgive me. I am sorry for being 'foolish'. "

My head was spinning at a speed of 200km/hr. He was openly flirting with me, but his words were so pure and true.

I flicked my hand back. "It's alright!!" I said in a gush. "We can start practising from tomorrow as usual."

"Woah, Zara. Let my wound heal first." he laughed off.

"Well it was left leg that hit you, I wonder what would have happened if it were the right one. "

The day ended with a lot of surprises and confessions. And I even got to know what a romantic guy he was. My face was red all throughout the night. That I hardly got in any sleep. Even grandpa was worried about me, as I kept smiling while eating my least favourite dish as the celebration at home. I broke one glass plate while washing the utensils, and fell off the bed in the morning, spent 30 minutes just brushing my eat! And remembering that hand-kiss scene again and again. You have made a wreck of me Kento!!!!

I was at the library the next day, doing my daily job, Jacob was around too. But I did not want to talk to that aristocrat, who called me a 'Low Born'. Today was our salary day, Mr. Gibbs had already placed the wages in our drawers.

"Here Zara. This is for your Granddad's medicines." He said while handing me his bundle. "Thank you, but don’t need it anymore." I said at once.

"You don't need it? Why?"

"I can handle the cost on my own."

"But I always hel----"

"I just don't want your help anymore." I interrupted with a raise in my volume.

"Jacob, let go of my hand!!!" I tried to flick my hand, but he kept on coming closer to me.

"What happened Zara? You have not talked to me since weeks."

I said nothing, my only goal was to get out of there.

"Zara, I like you!" I wanted to hear these words for so long, but know it meant nothing to me. I still struggled to move out.

Just as he was going to do that. He was punched out of the way.

"Don't touch her!!" Kento said. "Are you an idiot! Who gave you permission to kiss her?" There was furry in his eyes. Kento raised his hand to punch him a second time, but I stopped him.

"Kento don't! He has a weak body. Won't be able to take a second blow." I knew about Jacob's weakness disorder. And I did not want Kento to be in trouble too.

"But why Zara? Don't you like me too?" Jacob asked me with tears I his eyes. "I am afraid I'll end up making you look bad in the eyes of others, if you have a low born by your side." Those words were pretty clear enough to make him understand the whole situation.

Kento and I moved out of the library, explaining the whole situation to Mr. Gibbs. "Hey Zara" he called me. "Yes?"

"Promise me you won't meet with that guy again"

"I was going to do that myself."

"Then it's a pinky promise?" I was surprised he knew what’s a pinky promise.

"Oh come onnnnnnnn~ I have learned at least this much staying in this world."

Jacob may have learned his lesson. And Kento and I moved one step closer to each other. The school next day, was pretty much the same, but the library….

"Mr. Gibbs, why is Jacob not here?" I questioned the lazy old man.

"Today morning his submitted his resignation letter", he said and, handed me over a packet, "This is his salary of this month. He left it as a donation for the library."

"Looks like it'll be a tougher job for me."

"Who says?" he stood up, "Your new partner will be…"

He pointed behind me, "Kento??" I exclaimed.

"Please take care of me senior." he exaggerated.

I was more than happy to see him as an employee with me. Now we can spend more time together. And plan our mission to save Grissisda.

"Now no one can harm you." he said as we sat on the working desk upstairs. I simply smiled.

I turned pink when he did that. Maybe he is THE ONE for me.

Because I am sure of one feeling, that I am in love with him, truly, strongly and eternally. I will choose you, even when you make me mad. My love for you won't fade simply because we are angry. I know we will fight, we will be frustrated, we will be human. Still, I will got to battle for you. Still, I will choose you. I will choose you. And keep choosing you, every single day.