564 Far Better* (1/2)

”Abigail…” he murmured as he watched her walked closer to him. She looked around the small meadow before she gave him a warm smile.

”This place is nice and quiet,” she commented as she climbed on top of the fine flat rock, sat next to Zeres, and then faced him. ”How are you?”

”I'm good,” he answered calmly. ”How about you? Is everything alright?” he added as he looked around, looking for someone.

”Alex's not here,” Abi told him. ”He went to look for Ezekiel.”

Zeres slowly turned to her, curious.

”Alex and I are doing great, Zeres.” She continued, making Zeres relax. With a smile, he casually threw his head back and gazed up at the dark sky. His silver hair tumbled then settled behind him.

”I'm surprised he left you here.” He said, seemingly amused.

Abi chuckled as she brushed away the hair that fell into her eyes. ”Alicia said the same thing,” Abi grinned at him, and for some reason, Zeres' smile slowly faded.

Then his eyes suddenly became direct. ”Did…” he hesitated. ”Did Alicia called you to come here?”

”Nope. I came here for a different reason, Zeres. I need Alicia's help to look for Kai's whereabouts.”

”Oh. I see,” he nodded, and before Zeres could speak again, Abi changed the topic.

”I hope you're not giving Alicia a hard time Zeres,” she tried her best to speak to him like she had no hidden agenda. A glint of tease even flashed in her eyes as she looked at him.

”I am well-behaved.”

”I know. But If you're too well-behaved, Alicia might worry. Especially if she always sees you just staring at the sky like this.”

He lifted a brow, but the next second, a humorous smile curved on his angel face. ”Okay, I'll try to misbehave sometimes.”

Abi chuckled again, but too soon, her smile faded because Zeres suddenly stood and jumped on the ground.

”Time for dinner, Abigail. And I believe you have an important mission so we better go and get it done,” he said as he offered his hand.

Abi could only place her hand in his, and she let him help her down. She felt Zeres' reluctance. Now she understood what Alicia was talking about. He seemed alright, but Abi felt that there's something he was trying to hide, and obviously, he didn't want to talk about it to anyone. And that's why he was cutting every conversation short.

They spoke very little on their way to Alicia's house. But once the house was in their view, Abi halted and faced him.

Zeres' expression was unreadable, but his lips curved into a half smile. She noticed him breathing out very slowly. It was apparent to Abi that something was bugging him. But Abi decided not to push him further. She thought about telling this to Alex first. She felt that it might be best if Alex would be the one to speak with him. Because despite Alex and Zeres' bickering and their cat and dog relationship back then, they were friends.

”Yes, I know,” was all he said, sending her an easy smile. And with that, they finally entered the house.

At dinner, Abi told Alicia about Kai, so as soon as dinner's over, Alicia brought out her crystal ball and searched for Kai. It wasn't hard to find him because it appeared that the man wasn't trying to hide.

Abi and Alicia asked Zeres to go with them and the man willingly obliged.

”I told you. He'd never say 'no'.” Alicia had said to Abi before they departed.