“He’s probably not even there, Brother.”

Icarus turned to his elder sister who was eyeing the window that faced the Solentine Manor. He was leaving for the palace to take up the job he has been training for, something his parents pushed for him to do to regain his confidence back. Icarus knew it wasn’t for his benefit but for theirs.

“What do you mean he’s not there?”

“I know you want to bid the human boy goodbye, but I don’t think he’s even in that house. I woke up at midnight to drink a glass of water when I spotted them. They left their house at midnight for some odd reason. Shouldn’t humans be asleep by then? It’s odd. Very odd. This isn't the first time they've done this. I have caught them four times now and it’s always on the first day of the month. I think they’re up to something.”

Icarus fought the urge to roll his eyes. “What are you even talking about? I’m sure they had something urgent to do. And you should mind your own business. Mother would be furious if you are too interested in them.”

“Why?” she snickered. “Because I might end up like you? I would rather kill him and feed him to those demons than ever dream of becoming close to him.”

Icarus narrowed his eyes at her.

“Stay away from Briar.”

“Whatever. He might have a face close to an angel, but he sure is wicked like the devil. I mean, he did cost you your wing—”

Stepped up in front of his giggling smug sister, Icarus clenched his fists. “Shut up or I’m going to—”

“What? What are you going to do, little brother?” Brushing past him, she yawned. “If you’re going to keep babbling about how that boy saved you and how he is so perfect, count me out.”

“He would never abandon me like our kind. He is better than any nephilim I have ever met, even if he is human.”

“You’re disgusting.”

Leaving the house without bidding his parents and sisters farewell, Icarus walked up to Lady Margareth who was waiting just outside the Solentine Manor. Her ash blonde hair was kept in a neat bun; the gray dress she wore fluttered in the wind. She was nothing like Briar, having no resemblance to the boy he liked other than the color of her eyes and her sweet personality. Then again, her eyes weren't a deep hue like Briar’s.

Speaking of Briar… “Is he still asleep?” Icarus inquired, wondering where the man was. He did inform the lady a few days ago that he would be leaving today and wanted to tell Briar himself before departing.

“Icarus, I do apologize about Briar. He refuses to come down despite telling him that it may take months before you can come home again. I tried to convince him…” Worried, Lady Margareth turned to look at the windows of Briar’s room. Following her gaze, Icarus stared at the curtains billowing with the wind. No sign of Briar peeking out or waving at him whenever he caught sight of Icarus. Yesterday’s event came back in full blast in Icarus’ head, now sure why he wasn’t here with his aunt.

I went too far yesterday…

“I must go up there and pull him out of his room—”

“No, it’s all right, Lady Margareth. You don’t have to. Besides, I’m sure Briar is tired and is still asleep. I already told him yesterday that I would be leaving over tea.”

“Oh… right, yesterday. Are you sure? You might not see him again until winter,” she mumbled to herself then. “No… probably not in winter. Maybe never again…”

This made Icarus raise a brow in concern. “Lady Margareth?”

“Oh, silly me! You shouldn’t be listening to me murmuring. I’ll make sure to tell the boy once he wakes up. Do be careful in your travels and I wish you luck!”

Nodding at the woman, Icarus glanced one last time at Briar’s window, hoping to see him peeking but alas, he wasn’t.

See you soon, Briar… 

༻❈༺

On the verge of screaming and thrashing around in sorrow, Briar Solentine kept his body still as he lay on his bed in silence—ignoring the pounding of his heart and the sound of the carriage that took Icarus away. No tears would fall from his eyes as he already cried them all out last night after receiving Icarus’ harsh words. It came as a shock, however, when he learned that the boy he loved wanted to see him before leaving. But instead of happiness… Briar’s sadness carved a hole deep into his soul and cemented itself there.

Why would he want to see me? To say that he was finally leaving me behind for good? Weren’t his words enough yesterday?

Eyeing the bandage wrapped around his hand, Briar exhaled aloud as he sat on the mattress. He had no time to be depressed, for he would turn twenty a few months from now. Torn between living and dying, Briar couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at his current predicament.

Icarus has left him and rejected the love he held for so long. Crossing him out as a partner for life. He did not want to impose on the man who did not love him any further. It would be too unbearable and embarrassing. However, if Briar had to choose between marrying someone he loves and someone who loves him… He would rather die than be in a loveless marriage.

Yet, the world would come to an end once he passes away. Leaving countless people and Icarus to die due to his own selfishness of closing his heart off due to unrequited love.

“Why was I even born…”

“Because your parents loved each other very much, Briar.”

A bit startled, Briar turned to his aunt, who came unannounced into his room. She smiled apologetically as she walked toward him. “The door was opened so I let myself in… I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No, it’s all right. This is your home, so it would be rude of me to chase you away,” Briar responded softly, brushing his mid-length hair away from his face. “Well, not that I want to.”

Maybe I should cut my hair… It’s pointless to grow it further.

“You know you can always let your frustrations out, I wouldn't mind. And what are you saying? This is your home too!” Sitting at the edge of his bed, Aunt Margareth patted his shoulder. “Don’t punish yourself, Briar. You can’t let your problems win over you. Remember what I told you when you were still a child? You were born into this world with love. Whatever problem the world throws at you, you can always depend on this love to guide you.”

“Yeah… The same love that caused death to befall my father, Aunt Marge.” Leaning back on his pillows, Briar clicked his tongue out of annoyance. “I don’t understand! Why was I born like this? Those suitors only see me for my appearance, but they don't actually see the real me. They only love the Briar Solentine they see now, but even with such looks, I can barely get Icarus to notice me. And yet, if I try to live honestly, those whom I love will end up leaving me and I am back to being all alone again… If I showed my real face… nobody will love me. Just why..?”

Why was I born like this? Why can’t Icarus love me? Why did my parents leave me? What is wrong with me?

Why do I die when I get no love?

“That isn’t true and you know that.” Sighing, the lady looked her nephew in the eye while offering a small sympathetic smile. “Briar, I may not be the same as you—I wish I was so I could share your pain—but I understand you. Your father entrusted me to take care of you as much as I can. He made me promise to do whatever it takes for you to live life to the fullest and never end up like him. I swore… I swore to give you the life they have always wanted to give their son. My sister may have lacked a few things, but she was indeed a good mother. Your father may have died, but trust me, he never wanted to leave you alone. They never wanted to. And I will never leave you until you are happy. I will make sure you are going to live the best life you deserve even if I have to escape the afterlife.”

“Aunt Marge…”

“You are not hideous, Briar. You are beautiful inside and out. Those who fail to see that, damn them. The time will come when someone will love you the way you love them. Probably even more.”

“That’s just it, Aunt Marge! I have no time… because of this curse…” Burying his face in his hands, Briar felt lost and helpless. He doesn't want to die, but was he really going to live with a person he doesn’t love just for the sake of living? “Ah, I give up! Maybe this is truly my fate… Maybe I should just die—”

A hand instantly covered his lips, confusing Briar. He turned to his aunt, whose face was flushed in slight anger.

“Don’t say that! You don’t deserve to die. No one does! You haven’t even gone out to see the world and everything it has to offer! Are you going to just keel over and let it happen? Who knows? Maybe the person destined for you is just out there waiting for you to walk by, and here you are talking about death!”

Giving his aunt a skeptical look, Briar chuckled. “Don’t tell me you want me to see another batch of suitors. I told you already. I don’t want to marry someone I just met or someone who is blindly attracted to my face alone—”

“They wouldn’t be a stranger if you get to know them better. Come on, my child! Don’t waste your precious time on Icarus and see other people. You give up so easily, but when it comes to Icarus, you wouldn’t mind standing outside under the heat of the sun!”

“Icarus is a different case for I loved him and I don’t feel the same way for those suitors!” Embarrassed, Briar groaned out in exhaustion from yesterday’s events, rolling to his side and stuffing his face into his pillow. He did not expect to get scolded by his aunt today. Let alone get called out. “What’s the point, anyway? I’m better off alone.”

“Briar, just please don’t give up on yourself so easily.” Then, as if she was hit by lightning, she stood up and snapped her finger. Concerned as to why she was acting that way, Briar glanced at her. “I know! Why don’t we go to that man’s museum? He sent us two tickets last week, saying we can come over anytime since he couldn’t come here due to the nature of his work.”

This piqued Briar’s interest.

“Museum? Whose museum?”

Seeing his enthusiasm, Lady Margareth continued. “Yes, owned by Mr. Castriel Persimore. I’m sure you’ll like it there! He’s a sorcerer who rose to fame when he was a teenager and received an award from the king himself due to his discoveries and medicine. I heard his museum stores a lot of strange objects he got from his many adventures. Would you like to go?”

“Of course! How did you get tickets from him, Aunt Marge? Is he a friend of yours? An old lover?”

“Um… No, actually…”

Suddenly, it was silent between them. Mostly because Lady Margareth just stood there, sweating with her mouth open, unable to say anything. Gauging from her expression, Briar’s excitement dropped as soon as he realized what she was about to do.

“Aunt Marge, I can’t believe you would try your sly tactics on your own nephew.”

“But Briar, this man seems nice, and he gave us tickets! Free tickets! Do you know how popular his museum is? A lot of people from all around the world travel miles and miles just to bear witness to his discoveries and conquests. Those tickets are definitely expensive. I’m sure you will come to like him and be interested in his work. You should have seen the way your face lit up at the mention of his museum—”

“Aunt Marge, as I said, I don’t want to see any more suitors. Additionally, you mentioned this man is a sorcerer—which is bad. Did you know a lot of sorcerers are evil? They are almost on the daily paper every month due to their fascination with the creatures of the dark. Have you ever met him? Have you seen a picture of him? He might be a pervy old man for all we know!”

“Briar, you just can’t assume a person’s way of life or how they look based on their work—”

“No, I don’t want to go and meet him. I’m sorry for assuming who he is, but even if he isn’t like the other sorcerers out there, I still won’t go.”

“Briar—”

“I don't want to. If I die and the world ends, so be it.”