Cloaked Heart

.·:*¨༺ Two ༻¨*:·.

As the afternoon shadows stretched long and thin, the lawyer Tay had left the premise after finalizing Win's departure. He will be staying in a hotel nearby and will be back tomorrow to pick him up with a service car. Sitting in his small room at the top of the dorm house, Win could hear the laughter and conversation of the new students at odds with the reproaches of the tutor. It made him feel more miserable, knowing how much he will miss the place. The camaraderie, the cheerful songs in the morning, and the chef's toasted meatloaf, even the café overlooking the tar pits. His life wouldn't be the same without them.

Shadows filled the room and even the murky corners were dark but Win made no attempt to light a lamp or a candle. Even the fire in the grate had been allowed to die down, leaving the whole area chilly.

When the door opened softly, Win didn't even have trouble looking up even when he realized that it was his best friend, Gulf, who had entered the room. They shared this space for ten years when they were both twelve years old. Both were first-timers and both were fearful of how the place would treat nobles like them. But their fear was useless for the place had brought nothing but hope in their life. Although their circumstances were different, Win and Gulf couldn't help being the best of friends. For the first time since arriving at the academy, they immediately felt an affinity to one another for being "unwanted" at the beau monde.

"Win, you did not come to eat supper this evening," Gulf started, knowing that his best friend wouldn't miss supper for he was a huge fan of the chef's cooking. "I was very concerned for you."

"Don't worry about me. I'm just not hungry."

"Well, do you feel like eating now? I brought you some ham and bread and butter."

Gulf proceeded to put the tray on the table. Win replied, "Thank you, Gulf, for the concern, but I really am not hungry."

When Gulf lit up the lamp, the room filled with light and all the shadows fled, but Gulf could see his friend more clearly. "You've been crying," he observed. "Please, do not make me sad."

All around the room Win's belongings were boxed and stacked, ready to be transported. It wasn't like he has that many possessions, apart from his luggage filled with clothes, there was one bandbox that contained books he accumulated over the years, which Win valued above anything else he owned.

Gulf came to sit on the nearby chair, "Stop being sad, Win. Who knows? After I've taken care of the matter here, I shall follow you back to the royal capital and you can invite me to live with you."

Win's smile was bitter. "I would love that, but I wouldn't want you to stay with me."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm pretty certain what kind of life awaits me with my aunt and uncle."

Gulf tsked hearing this from his friend. "Don't say that. Anyway, it can't be helped. We will surely miss you. Who knows you might return to us soon."

"As soon as it may be. This is my home after all."

"That's true for so many of us," Gulf agreed with a sigh, "but you of all people really do not belong here, and to be frank about it, you never did."

"How can you possibly say that?" Win asked in some surprise. "I have lived here for almost half of my life."

"Well, no one can boast such an illustrious line as yours."

Win laughed, although it was more out of bitterness than joy. "My papa, as much as I loved him, was a rake and a reckless gamester. When I was twelve years old before I was sent here, he lost everything he possessed to a man no better than himself." He drew a deep sigh, "I don't know what he was thinking. I know I have shared this story with you so many times, but each time I come back to it, I always harbored the notion that if he had not been in such despair over the state of his finances, he wouldn't be so careless of his safety or his decision to stake it all."