Chapter 25 : Sam's Strange Confession

There are many things in this world that can be ranked from the most ordinary to the most extraordinary. I once discussed this with my Dad when we came home from hunting. At that time my Dad got a boar cub and I got a Bluebird. My Dad said that the bird I got is one of the most sensitive birds. Once a Bluebird finds out that their partner has cheated on them, they feel betrayed. Not only that, Bluebirds feel betrayed. Not only that, the hurt Bluebirds will start attacking their mate's cheater and beat it until it breaks its beak.

I was amazed to hear that and started asking about the most sensitive plant. my father immediately mentioned a plant called Mimosa. I had never seen it because it grew in another region and my father had seen it as a child before his parents migrated to this kingdom.

He said the mimosa plant was similar to grass but had pretty pink flowers, similar to dandelions only smaller and less prone to flying when blown. If we touched its leaves which were patterned similar to ribs, my father said they would curl up, closing in on each other as if they didn't want to be seen. The strange thing was that the mimosa plant only reacted when touched by living things, like humans. My Dad once tried to touch it with a small branch and it didn't react at all. it was really sensitive.

When I asked him if humans were the most sensitive, my Dad said he didn't know because not all humans show what they feel and what's on their minds. humans are the most complicated creatures my great Dad said. I didn't really understand then but now I do. Humans are indeed the most complicated creatures.

But who would have thought that I would meet a human being who is not complicated but is very sensitive. That human being is named Gerard. To me, he doesn't talk much but he never hesitates to express what he feels and what he thinks. It's not complicated, right? He's just sensitive. Very sensitive.

The sensitivity that Gerard has sometimes makes him look so complicated. I don't understand how he can be a different person every time. In the morning he seems so friendly, but at night he can be the most annoying person you never want to meet in your life. Then the next morning he becomes the person you hate the most and then in the evening he becomes the person you need. all his sensitivities get complicated.

Just last night he said he wanted to help me improve my stamina to be on par with the other soldiers, but tonight he told me to stop. Is he really that fickle-minded? I don't think so. If he were that fickle-minded, there's no way that rigid and strict Mr. Wymond would have chosen him to be captain. So it's obvious he's only doing that to me.

I don't feel special being treated like that at all. I'd rather be treated the same as everyone else. It's easier for me. I'm sure I can become a captain like him if he's willing to cooperate.

Ah right. Could it be that he felt I was a potential rival for the captaincy, so he refused to teach me horseback riding. But then I remembered when he said my ability was very low. Even the lowest. It felt like the previous assumption was impossible.

The events of a few moments before were still vividly remembered in my mind. I tried to digest Gerard's last words before I left for throwing horse manure at him. Yes, because I didn't accept his rejection, I thoughtlessly picked up the horse manure that was almost dry and threw it straight at him. Who would have thought it would hit him right in the head. At that time I forgot that I was good at aiming things at their targets.

I vented my frustration by brushing my teeth vigorously. Even though Gerard had refused my request to practice riding, I still wanted to improve my stamina. It wouldn't be funny if I was panting on a horse while dodging werewolves, so I still needed his guidance.

" Are you still? My stomach hurts!", Sam yelled while banging on the bathroom door.

Although annoyed, I had no right to be angry. I'm the one who took too long in the bathroom just to prepare my face for the next time I see Gerard. I rush out and Sam rushes straight in.

Tonight I was alone with Sam. Gerard has the patrol schedule for the first shift tonight. Even so, I still sleep downstairs, worried that the owner of the throne will return when I'm already asleep.

"Sam, are you asleep?", I asked, breaking the silence in the room.

"Hm? No. I slept a lot this afternoon, now I'm really awake." , he replied.

"I can't sleep either. I keep thinking about something."

Then I heard the sound of Sam squirming on the bed, when I turned around, he was already lying on the side of the bed right next to me, which was Gerard's place.

"Tell me about it. My mom says a woman won't stop being upset if she hasn't told her worries. Even if she has to tell it to a statue."

My mind tingled at that, "Your mom was right. So," I turned to Sam, "are you ready to be my statue?"

Thanks to the reflected moonlight, I could see Sam's amused smile, "My pleasure, mam."

I looked back up at the ceiling, trying to string together the words I wanted to say, "I threw horse shit at Gerard earlier."

"For real?"

"Uh-hum. And now I can't stop thinking about it.", I groaned as I lifted my blanket high over my head in embarrassment.

"Wow, I thought I was the craziest one in this room. Turns out there's still you." , Sam commented.

I pulled back the covers, letting my nose breathe in the room air, "What should I do? How am I supposed to face him tomorrow? Hey, I heard you're Gerard's brother. What do you think Gerard would do if someone threw horse manure at him?" I swallowed, worried.

"I don't know where you got the fact that I'm Gerard's brother from, but I can't say it's entirely true. But I beg you not to ask why, I don't want to talk about it. It would make me very emotional." said Sam and I immediately clamped my newly opened lips tightly together.

"I got it. So? How?"

"I'm sure you know Gerard is a calm person," I nodded in agreement, "but he's actually a very vindictive person." Sam continued.

"Vindictive?", I asked worriedly.

"Yes. I've seen him beat up five people at once because they kept making fun of him for being a weird kid. Ha! He's so pretentious, I hate him."

"So you're saying that Gerard will definitely get back at me one day?"

"Most likely, yes." Sam said, "So I suggest you don't upset him again if you don't want to meet the fate of the five people I told you about earlier."

"Crap. I really have no face to meet him tomorrow. You're not lying with your story, are you?"

"No, but yes. I lied about the five people. Actually eight. Or ten? Or was it twelve? I can't remember. I could only count to five back then."

"Sam!", I groaned in both annoyance and fear. Afraid of my fate tomorrow.

Sam chuckled, enjoying my fear, "Don't worry. Gerard doesn't attack women."

"Really?"

Sam nodded as he turned to me, "But I'm not sure if she threw horse shit at him."

I let out a long breath. The wood had become charcoal. I just had no way out, so all I could do was face it. Like Gretel who had no choice but to face the witch to save her brother.

After revealing it to Sam, some of my worries completely disappeared. It felt like the boulder that I had originally imagined to be as big as a mountain was now just a hill. I turned my body to face Sam who was on the bed. My face was right up against the scratch lines on the wood of the side of the bed.

"Sam, do you remember what you saw in the infirmary that made you scream hysterically in fear?", I asked curiously.

Sam didn't answer right away. When I looked at him, he had a strained look on his face as he stared at the ceiling of the room. It seemed like he was having a hard time telling her.

"It's okay if you can't-"

"That night, they attacked us." , Sam revealed.

"They? The werewolves? Did you see them?"

Sam shook his head slowly, "No. I didn't see them. It all happened so fast."

I saw Sam again silently stare at the ceiling with open eyes, as if trying to see what had happened that night. I waited patiently. If I pressed him, there was a good chance he wouldn't close his memory of that night. So I tightly pressed the urgent words in my throat and pressed my lips together tightly, not letting them out.

"I managed to catch up with them quietly and joined the back of the line. When I got there, it was very quiet. It was a farm, but there was really no sound." , concluded Sam trying to describe it clearly and in detail.

I listened carefully and immediately projected it in my imagination based on the description told by Sam.

"Wait, I'm just realizing it now!", said Sam looking surprised until he got up and sat on his bed.

I sat up too, "What's wrong?"

Sam looked at me seriously, "I was captured by them. But there's something strange."

"Who are you talking about? The werewolves?"

"They're hairless. Anne, you know what I mean, right? They're hairless!"