Chapter 53

In front of a tree, Havila.

"How soothing it is to feel the caress of cruel nature again," Ja praised, his face washed by the bellowing breeze sent by the wandering winds. He had his left hand in Lailah's right. Both of them were standing before that tree.

"You never left the comfort of nature. You only travelled through channels," she corrected, squeezing his palm gently. She looked at him, and he brought his face close. He kissed her, a brief one.

"Comes the time to know of few of my arts when I was gone from the tree. Your cherished question," she said. He felt excited at that. But soon, concern splattered across his face. He didn't leave her wondering,

"What of the people of Havila? They sure know the both of us and wouldn't be pleased seeing us together."

She smiled. Her face glowed under the caresses of the feeling. The rays from her eyes could illuminate the world.

"You worry about base things."

She held firmly onto his hand and began to pull him with her. He gave in finally, and they walked side by side towards Havila.

Ja Lia was jumpy. Twas more fear than excitement; he was very much acquainted with the art of Lailah. Yet he couldn't help but ask, "Won't you change us? Change yourself to some other girl and me to some other guy?"

She didn't look at him at that. He looked down her neck to her cleavages. He remembered how he had wounded the nipples with his ruthless tongue. He couldn't wait to have her in his arms again.

"The only thing that needs to be changed is this."

She pointed at her pregnant belly, and at once, it disappeared. Ja gasped and held her by the shoulders, spinning her to face him.

"What did you do to my baby?"

She chuckled. There was joy tracing a track down her chin. He didn't know what was funny to her.

She pushed her head closer, lips keen to meet his. He knew she was going to kiss him, and that wouldn't answer the question, yet he let her.

He would even accept if she said they should both return to the tree for round 2.

"You fear too much," she challenged as she took her face down. He kept his gaze on her.

"It's a baby's life in question," he corrected, his voice firm and unwavering.

"Yes! My Ja Lia is back."

She hit him on the chest. He still didn't take that.

"Stop avoiding the question, Lailah."

She sighed in frustration and explained, "You always need to respect the fact that I'm a Nymph. And shifting pregnancy is one of the qualities of such."

He thought for a while but didn't get the gist of it, "Shifting pregnancy? Shifted to who?"

She looked away from him to the broad path which led to Havila. She looked back at him.

"To a safer place. Or do you want it shifted to you?"

She asked, swiping her hand towards his stomach. And immediately, his belly became protruded; he was pregnant.

"Ahhhh!!!!!" he screamed as he chanted, "Get it out, get it out of me now, bitch!"

She laughed to stupor before attending to him. He looked so childish and dramatic while protesting.

"Kiss me or remain like that," she dared. He went for her lips immediately. Twas what he wanted. He kissed in a long drag and would not let go of her lips.

She fought it free and chuckled,

"I wasn't sure who needed that kiss more."

He smiled and looked down at his stomach. The pregnancy was gone. He sighed.

"Lailah!" he called at her, looking in the direction they intended to walk to. There were few men walking towards them. Their faces from a distance were determined and fierce. They had spears and logs in their hands.

"Come, let's go. They won't stop searching for the both of us."

As soon she said that, she held unto his two hands with hers. They were facing each other as the fellows hurried towards them.

"Hey, you two!" one of the men called, but Lailah said to Ja instead, "Kiss me."

Ja wondered for a while why she kept repeating that phrase. He kissed her. Twas his pleasure.

They disappeared at that and met themselves at the market square of Havila. The gate that led into the village was a few metres away. There was no way they would make it to the gate without being noticed.

Ja Lia complained after calculating the odds, "Of all places, Lailah. The market square?"

She didn't say a word to him yet. He continued, "What do I have to do now? Kiss you, carry you, or run?"

She looked around for a while then looked back at him. She smiled as usual, "Hold my hand."

He held her hand immediately, and they began to walk through the market.

"Are you serious now?"

He fidgeted, doing a stealthy look around if he was being watched.

"I see no reason why you should be scared."

He didn't say a word anymore. He said at last, "Let's hurry up then."

They kept walking towards the gate as he would look around occasionally to be sure they were in safe hands.

"Lailah," he called as he looked around again. People were beginning to notice them. He removed his hand from Lailah's and held onto her waist tightly.

She looked at him and chuckled. He felt like punching her in the face.

"Is this funny to you?" he said as they drew nearer to the gate. The gatekeepers didn't ask them a question. They opened the gate for them. Ja still wasn't satisfied.

He looked back again and saw the people coming behind them, as though they had seen magic happen.

Many of the men with the group had batons and sticks in their hands. Ja could pee in his pants.

Lailah noticed that he was getting really tensed as they walked through the path which led to the palace. Many people had joined, and they were keen on catching up with them.

Lailah turned at once and saw the hatred and readiness splattered on the faces of the lot.

"There she is, Lailah!!!" one of the men called as he saw her face. Then the group gave a chase.

"Hug me," Lailah ordered him. Her gaze stern and long, devoid of the regular smile. Though she still looked cute.

He did as she said immediately, and they found themselves in the palace of Havila.

Before the throne, Jim and Tzu were kneeling. There were five chiefs seated before Jim and Tzu. They seemed to be passing a judgment on them.

Nobody was seated on the throne. Jim and Tzu had their backs to the throne, facing the chiefs.

The seven noticed Lailah and Ja Lia at once, and Jim was the first to call, "Lailah!!! You bitch!"

He stood up immediately and charged at Lailah. But Ja Lia stood in his way.