chpter 6 : misunderstandings

"We did it! We did it!" Anna squealed as she walked away from the crowd listening to Mrs Geraldine's 20 minutes of lecturing.
"Did what, dear Anna?"

Although it had been nearly three days since Adam had begun the habit of calling Anna a dear, she still could not help but to blush with pleasure.

"Master Zeddy had sent a letter to the staff - the head staff, of course - & he had announced that our silk has managed to sell off its silk! All of it, thanks to an unknown donor! So, two nights later, we are going to have a banquet! All of us - even you, Adam!" she said & hugged him.

Adam's face turned red & hugged her awkwardly.


"Oh, is this a bad time?" Abby said as she walked nearer to the two.
Anna felt her face turning red due to embarrassment & said, "No, not at all. Did you hear the news, Abby? We're having a banquet! Greedy ol' Zeddy is actually going to throw a feast for us! Is that not wonderful?"
"Truly wonderful!" Abby said, hiding her neautral tone.

Anna's happiness was contagious. Abby felt the happiness rushing through her veins, although she had nothing to be happy about. Her friends were all with their lovers - except for Amy, of course. She was still lamenting in her room.
But Anna seemed happy with her brother. They both do.

Nobody had made Adam smile for a while & she blessed the (unofficial) couple in her heart to the Lord.

Abby was curious about the feeling - was love a disease for unhappiness, or a feeling for pleasure? What is it that made Anna seem truly glowing just by the prospect of it?

As Abby took note of all these mental discussions, she was so busy occupied with her thoughts, that suddenly, she walked right into someone.

"Oh! Goodness, I truly am sorry!" she gushed as she looked at the poor victim lying sprawled across the floor.
"Yes, well, next time, do be a little more aware of-" the angry voice of the victim trailed off as the said person got up & saw Abby.

Abby's tears were delayed immediately after glancing at the person who nearly swore at her.
He was dead gorgeous, in her opinion. His hair was dark, so dark that it looked black.
His eyes were in contrast - in between of a bright green & blue, shining.

His skin was a little tan, though. But golden tan.
It must've meant that he was a hard working boy who worked outside.

As the two got up - Abby had to grasp on the unknown boy's hand - she noticed that he was a head taller than her, which, really, was quite rare because she was a very tall person.
She had inherited her height from her father.

"I'm sorry for my outburst." he said, his voice deep & low.
His voice sent a wave of something that Abby did not recognize through her spine.

"No, it is not you who should be apologizing but I. Truly it is my fault." she giggled nervously.
"No, I." he insisted.
"No, I." she insisted, & pressed on even more.

"Ah, I see you've met my little sister, Abigail or Abby, for short." Adam interrupted as the unknown boy gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Your sister?" he said, not disguising his shock.
"Yes. Um, half-sister." Adam said awkwardly.

"James! Is that you?" Anna said as she approached the threesome.
"Anna! My, it has been quite awhile since I have met you." James said & gave Anna a deep hug.

Adam, Abby saw, was glaring at James.
Abby, Adam noticed, was glaring at Anna.

"Uh, Anna. How did you know James?" Adam asked, with a tone of restraint that only Abby heard.
"He is practically my blood-brother. No, we are not related. When I was a youngster of seven, we used to play games at the orphanage."

"Games?" Adam asked with polite interest.
"Yes, games. He used to pull my hair & throw cakes of mud at me." Anna said & feigned anger at James, who gave a mock look of an angel.

Abby & Adam pretended to throw fits of laughter & Anna & James laughed along.









Knock, knock

"Come in!" Amy said, nearly singing even.
Anna & Abby entered the room cautiously as they heard Amy's tone of voice & dared not make a move at the sight of her room - instead of its gloomy state as it usually was, the room was bright because of the opened windows & curtains.
Sashays of gold silk were sprawled across the room here & there, making Amy's room look fit for - pardon the pun - the Pharoah.

"Do you not envision the room in all its glory?" Amy sighed as she sat on her bed with a jolt.
Anna & Abby mutely nodded, not knowing what was going on.

"Why the celebration?" Anna asked.
Amy let out a mirthless laugh & said, "Oh. This? Is a rejoice of my resolution to give up the pshaw Pharoah! Why love a measly royal when one can marry a commonner like he is doing right now?"

"Are you sure you are handling it alright, my Mistress?" Abby asked with a mock curtsy.
"Yes, I am. In fact, celebrate with me! I think I have overdone with the wine but I only had half a dozen." Amy hiccuped. "Or two."

Abby & Anna exchanged worried glances. Everyone knew that for women, they were only supposed to drink at least a maximum of two glasses, not a dozen. Or two.

They both anonmyously called the house nurse to nurture Amy back to her sober status & sneaked out.





For the past two consecutive days, Abby started talking to James more often than she did to Anna & Amy.

“I think,” Anna said after Amy complaint, “that Abby is finally falling in love.”

Amy thought for a moment & finally, nodded her head in agreement.
“Yes, it seems you are right. We really should not stop her from her first love.” Amy sighed, resigned.
“But it still is no excuse for her to neglect friends, you realise. Even for our first love.” Anna voiced her thoughts & Amy nodded her head again.





At the mere mention of the word love, Amy shudder inwardly as the image of Jeffer appears in her mind.
‘He is not worth it, Amy. Hold on together. This is just a test from the Lord.’ Amy always encouraged herself when she felt her eyes water.



“What is the matter, Amy? The tone of your voice had indicated that this was a serious matter.” Abby said.

It had been a while since Anna & Amy had laid eyes on Abby - even though it had only been a mere day and a half of Abby’s absence.
But still, Abby’s presence looked different.

Her silky straight black hair was now decorated with either exotic flowers or jewellery whereas a layer - a thin one, but a layer nevertheless - was applied on her pale skinned face.

She looked prettier than usual, but to meet her friends, she had never dressed up eversince she had met James.
She was even wearing a silk kimono for the meeting! If she did not look so casual about the change, Anna would have made a joke but thought best to leave it be.

“Yes. What is the matter, Amy?” Anna said & reached out for her friend’s hand.
“It… It’s Jeffer.” Amy said in a small voice.
“What has he done this time?” Abby sad with a tint of impatience for the notorious man.
“He… Sent me a letter.” Amy mumbled in reply & passed another scroll of parchment to her two dearest friends.


“Amy,” it wrote.

“It has been a while since you have last replied to my letter. I miss the sound of your jokes. You know how badly the palace is - not even the bodyguards be natural around me but you are different! Which is why you are my friend. No one in this world have ever acted normal eversince I inherited the title of royalty from my late brother.

I do not know what I have done wrong for such silence from you, Amy. Eventhough I have not met you for eight moons, I still can sense that something is troubling you, our friendship. Please. Tell me what I have done wrong.

Is it your uncle, Amy? You were never fond of you uncle - no one is. Not even I. I always hear the tales of Master Zeddy - his cruel treatment towards the staff, his strict rules. Everything. Tell me, shall your uncle be whipped? What has he done to you to turn you mute?

As an extra measurement to find out the answers to all of my questions, I have decided to attend your uncle’s banquet. To catch up, as friends. I hope I shall see you soon.

Do not avoid me, Amy.

No one can.”

The Pharoah’s signature was scribbled in his spidery handwriting at the right-side of the bottom page.

“Oh, Amy!” Abby cried & enveloped her friend with her arms.
Abby could feel her sleeves getting wet - for reasons she knew. Which was why, the next minute, Anna enveloped both the girls & they stayed there in that position as if to pause the world for a while for a rest, to get things right.







“Does it not bother you that Anna is always near your brother?” James asked as they waited for the sun to set.
“No, it does not. I have noticed that only Anna could make Adam smile with just a glance!” Abby giggled. “I am truly glad for them - & blessed for meeting such a person who could make my brother smile.” she said in a quieter voice.

James gave a smile - a smile which looked rather sad but Abby decided that the smile was only for her. Just her.

“You know that I have been acquainted with Anna since my days in the orphanage, did she not tell you?” James said after a moment of silence.

Abby nodded mutely. She felt something bad coming up her throat. She just knew what was going to happen next.

“She was the only one who could make me smile, too.” he said with a smile - a smile which was happier & not for Abby.

‘What about me?!’ Abby wanted to scream but kept quiet.

“That day, when I finally found her - I had been searching for her all these years - I had wanted to tell her… How I felt about her.” James said in an even quieter voice.

“How do you feel about her?” Abby said softly, so soft that it was nearly a whisper.
She was amazed at the prospect that she could make sounds with her mouth when she was in shock. Utter shock.

“That… She could make me smile like no one else could.” He began to tug at the grass below his feet.
The wind suddenly blew a gust of wind & Abby wished that she was blown away with the dry leaves instead of listening to James anymore.

She should have known. All this time, she should have known.
The only thing they ever did talk about was Anna. Anna this, Anna that.

‘But it isn’t Anna’s fault…’ Abby thought grudgingly. ‘She did not do anything wrong. She is just a very nice person.’
I am nice too, a little voice said at the back of her head.

“I think I should tell her tonight.” James said & sat straighter.
Abby kept quiet & pretended not to hear James say, “Oh, look, Abby! The sun is setting.”








Finally, night had dawned upon them. Everyone under Master Zeddy’s business had dressed their best for that special night.
Women in woven clothes, gold, glittery, colourful. The men, of course, were looking more handsome than ever, as they had made an attempt to groom their hair.

Amy was still in her room, pacing up & down, not knowing what to do, let along what to wear.
‘Jeffer could arrive any minute! By damned, he could come later than the arranged time, even. He is the Pharoah.’ Amy thought & began to laugh, only that the laughter got caught stuck in her throat.

After worrying what to wear, Amy had decided on wearing something special. Something that her mother had given to her before she had left.




Anna, on the other hand, was busy talking to Adam, of course. She could have been mistaken to be attached by the hip with the young man, if not.
Anna was looking beautiful, with a simple gown that bared her shoulders & emphasised on her legs.
Or so in Adam’s opinion.

Adam, in Anna’s opinion, was looking strappingly handsome, even more handsome, if possible.
His hair was wet from the shower he had took with a hurry, his shirt was clean but not crisp.
It was a simple attire, but fashionable.

Adam & Anna kept talking to James & Abby, making dry jokes here & there. The foursome were eating at the same table, Abby & Anna together, Adam on Anna’s right, James on Abby’s left.

Abby & Anna were wondering where on Earth could Amy have gone - they knew that their friend always took the longest time to prepare but never this long.

The Pharoah had not arrived yet (‘Coward.’ Abby thought to herself) & just as the two girls were on the edge of their chairs, waiting to excuse themselves from dinner & barging into Amy’s room to check that she had not done anything suicidal, the noise level at the banquet hall turned into a decrescendo.

Everyone’s hearty laughs & loud voices decreased into murmurs & curious whispers.

There, they saw Amy, gliding through the way with the most stunning women’s attire in the entire banquet hall.
She was wearing her mother’s gown - an Egyptian traditional clothing. Spun gold, the gown hugged her every curves & clinged onto her upper-half of her body, especiAnna her delicate arms.

“Is that Amy?” a woman said. “Haven’t seen little un’ since she was a tot!” another said. “My, how she has grown into a woman.” “Some woman!” a man exclaimed.
The volume of the murmurs increased, men were giving small whistles but silenced by the killing glares by their wives.

Amy floated towards our table & suddenly, all eyes were on the foursome - fivesome, to be precise.
“Hello, all. Have I missed anything?” Amy said casually, gracefully, elegantly, like a swan.
“No. But some really good food, you’ve missed.” Anna said, her voice muffled with the food in her mouth.
Everyone laughed at their table & the boys said, “Here, here!”
Suddenly, a blanket of silence lapped over the people dining at the banquet hall. All heads turned as the trumpets blared - in presence of the Pharoah.

“Presenting… The Pharoah, Jeffer Rolf the fourth. Lord, exhile!” a man’s voice boomed.
A tall boy strided in & a pretty girl walking behind. They both resembled as a married couple, confident & handsome. Their attire reflected on their beauty & level of confidence.

Amy had nearly spat out her glass of salt water when she had saw the Pharoah coming in. Abby gently patted Amy on the back.
“I think I should be getting a glass of wine.” Amy said as she stood up & strided towards the serving table.
Amy had noticed that as Amy got up - no one dared move in the Pharoah’s presence & if anyone did, they were considered of behaving with insolence - the Pharoah had turned & watched her leave.


“Is Amy alright?” Adam whispered as Amy drank her twelfth glass of wine.
“It is doubtful.” Anna whispered back.
“Amy, I think that is enough of wine in your veins. One more & you shall turn purple!” Abby said.
Amy let out a shrieky laugh, as if she had never heard anything so hillarious her whole life.

The Pharoah had kept glancing back & forth at Amy’s direction but Amy kept her back to him.

Amy grabbed her glass of wine & placed it on her lips for another drop of wine but Abby said, “That is enough! Amy, I am wa-”
But Abby’s voice was drowned out as the same man who had announced the Pharoah’s presence announced that it was time for a dance.

The Pharoah had gotten up with the pretty girl - Shameeka, the girls were guessing - & had their first dance.
They moved slow towards the beat & swayed, left, right, left, right.
Tears were swelling at the corners of Amy’s eyes but she held them back & kept drinking down her glasses of wine.


“I better go stop her.” Anna said but Adam stopped her.
“I have heard that women become violent after too many numbers of wine.” Adam winked & trailed Amy.
A smile was plastered on Anna’s face & Abby noticed that James’ jaw was unusually clenched.


“Anna… I request your presence outside.” James said.
“Alright.” Anna said & walked dazedly behind, following him to the foyer.

Abby sighed & watched them until they had moulded with the rest of the crowd.

“Um… Hold on, let me tell Adam that we’d be out.” James nodded solemnly & walked towards the foyer whereas Anna walked towards the serving table.

Just in time, she caught the sight of a rather drunken-looking Amy, with her hands around Adam’s neck.
Adam, on the other hand, was holding her tightly against him.
She saw Amy smiling with unfazed eyes whereas Adam was red-faced.

“From pleasure, no doubt.” Anna said scathingly aloud.
The people who paassed by were shaking their heads in disaproval of the two’s behaviour.

Anna ran to the foyer, blinded by her tears.

She ignored the voice of a boy’s, which cried aloud, “Anna, no! It is not what you think! No!”

She did not apologize to the boy whom she had nearly knocked over - a tall boy, dressed in fashionable attire, armed with bodyguards on both sides, who did not even realised that he had got hit by a commoner.




Abby had seen the whole thing. The tipsy Amy holding onto her brother, her best friend catching her brother.
Her best friend crying & running at the same time.

‘Oh, no, Anna.’ Abby thought to herself & followed Amy behind.

But she caught another sight, the sight of Anna crying in the arms of a rather surprised-looking James, stroking Anna’s hair.
Then, it was Abby who ran off, crying to Lord knows where.
She nearly knocked over her brother, who was rooted to the position, staring.



It was then that it seemed that Hell had broken loose.