"I don't know what you're talking about." Sardius turned his face away.
"Sardius, you've never hide anything from me before." She noticed.
"Just because you heard something from Mary, you want to delve into that?"
She gasped then laughed. "Aren't we friends? I'm just want to know, I'm curious."
"She's just a normal girl. Different in her own way." He smiled back at her, his feet dancing in the water.
"What's her name?" Chrysolite had never seen him smile so hard over a girl. She must be that special.
"Why do you care?" He smirked making a funny face as he poured his lips at her that she gaffawed again.
"It's not a crime to like a person," Chrysolite pointed out to him explaining. "I'm just surprised at how you hid it so well that I didn't even get a hint."
Someone was racing to them, shouting Chrysolite's name at the top of his voice. He was bare chested, his shirt was in his right hand. His shorts were stained with sand from the field. It was Michael, immediately he saw Chrysolite by the pool, he grabbed her pulling her away from the pool. The act shocked Chrysolite but never Sardius.
"What's wrong with you goddess. You know too well that you're allergic to the pool. Why do you always come here?" He held both of her hands that she faced him, her hair which was tied in a band cascaded down her shoulders in slow motions. Over Michael's shoulders, Chrysolite could see the rest of their friends racing in as well.
"You've seen her.....a...already?" Ashley tried to catch her breath, bending slightly on her knees.
Chrysolite pushed back Michael's hands from her arms. "I really appreciate you looking out for me. But I'm not a baby anymore." She said to him.
"Chrys....," He tried to call but he was quickly interrupted.
"Stop being like this with me Michael. You're hurting Jasmine, she's the one into you." Jasmine looked up at the mention of her name. She hide a smile when she heard that from Chrysolite.
"I didn't say anything about her. Why are you bringing her into this?" Michael asked.
Chrysolite pushed Michael aside picking up her socks and shoes. Sardius stood up finally from where he sat. "You guys should just stop this. Can you?" Sardius said.
"I'm leaving." Chrysolite announced. She didn't like the fact that Michael was beginning to get on her nerves. Everyone was going too forward just for her safety, can't she have a life? She turned again to Michael and said, "And don't try to follow me Michael. And wear your shirt already, stop looking like one of those street urchins."
Ashley gawked hearing that from her friend but she restrained herself trying not to say a word. The silence that stretched out could infact deafen one. Ashley, followed by Jasmine slowly walked out of the swimming hall saying nothing as they left.
"Why does she always tend to hurt me this way?" Michael asked rhetorically, hands akimbo after he had worn his shirt. He recalled the last time when their school football team won a friendly match against their opponent, he had mustered up the courage and had asked Chrysolite out in front of the rest of their friends. That had hurt Jasmine deeply although she was glad that Chrysolite turned him down. Chrysolite had clearly told him that Michael was more like her brother to him, she didn't think she would reciprocate his feelings even if he waited for her. That had also hurt Michael's feelings. How could he like Jasmine just because she liked him? Does it work that way?
"Stop waiting on her, Chrysolite will never like you. Atleast I do." Jasmine had told him that day.
Michael turned to Sardius who was staring intently at him. "Why does it feel right yet at the same time wrong?" Michael asked his friend as he ruffled his hair.
Sardius didn't know what to say to that. He had begged Michael severally to see reasons not to pester Chrysolite with his talks about his feelings for her. She didn't want that and he should respect that. But that wouldn't deter Michael, he wouldn't dare give up on Chrysolite that easily! With time, she would definitely grow to love him, he hoped so.
"Tell me Sardius, what does she really like in a guy? You told me you know her to go for class and taste. Am I not classy enough?" Michael shuddered at the thought.
"I guess I barely even know her." Sardius added to which Michael scoffed.
Sardius noticed how down casted Michael was feeling. "Girls like me Sardius, they all do. But why can't the one I like like me in return?"
"I don't know what to say to that."
"Just talk to her. She always listen to you. If it's you, she will always listen. I feel as if you're what she ever might like though I keep fighting the intuition." He tottered as he turned away walking to the door then stopped himself to say something.
"Sardius?"
"Yes?" Sardius answered.
"Can you believe that Mary-Jane likes me? I only helped her out of pity for her. I find it funny that she would take that as me liking her." He nodded his head like he was slightly tipsy, saluted at his friend then sauntered off.
Sardius stood still for a moment, digesting what just happened by the pool. He shut his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply as a thousand thoughts crossed his mind. It was Chrysolite's choice to choose whatever she wanted, no one has the right to persuade her to do something against her very wish.
Michael liking her might change the direction of their friendship. Did Michael really like Chrysolite? Sardius snickered as the the thought washed over him. Of Michael knew of Chrysolite's ancestral powers, would he still like her? Would he not be afraid and despised her?
Sardius had often wondered how Marcus had married Onyx even when he knew Onyx was the child of a goddess. The consequences of their love was showing its fruits already. It was only a matter of time before the world get to hear another tale.
Chrysolite?
What would then happen to her? Would she be accepted? Would she even get to know of her abilities and powers? Who would blame her? Onyx had succeeded for the main time from concealing the truth from Chrysolite but would that really protect Chrysolite? Anything could happen to the necklace which Chrysolite wore. Chrysolite would then be in greater danger if and only if that happened.
Sardius folded his hand into a fist. Could he really protect her? He had found to his distaste that he had been quite close to her in order to protect her. He thought he might grow a liking towards Ashley but it turned out to be the other story.
It was Chrysolite afterall.
He inhaled, exhaled then tried to put his nerves at rest. He reminded himself never to be swayed by the feelings he had for Chrysolite, that would betray his friendship with Michael. He cared about Michael to jeopardize his relationship with him. Yet the strong emotion to protect Chrysolite persisted, what was he to do then?
Chrysolite was at the center of these all. She was infact an innocent soul who barely knew her very own life. He opened his eyes, took a pose then dived into the pool once more.