O’ milady sweet and tender,
The world is harsh for both of us,
We can never ever be together,
That we are bound with grudge’s crust,
But, milady shall not be worry,
Cause your summer knight is here and ready,
Our love may be forbidden by blood,
But by heart I vow to protect,
Forever and always.
“Poem by Summer Knight Fredrick,” I recited as I hugged the book and continued imaging his sturdy properties that made me blush. Actually I was kind of envy of Lilianna who had that kind of lover but then, I was just a ‘nobody’ to even start up with.
“Wow, you actually read that kind of book?” A voice rushed into my ears that made me jolt out of my bed in alert.
“Kn… Knock the door before entering a maiden’s room!” I shrieked.
“What’s wrong with that? The other crew didn’t bother me doing that and besides, this is my ship,” He frowned a bit.
“Your ship or not it is extremely rude to just barge in inside a maiden’s room without her permission and especially eaves-dropping what she’s reading,” I answered furiously.
“What a worrywart. You don’t even resemble a maiden at all. Look at what you’re wearing. Does a girl wear trousers?”
“In-case you’re plotting any harassment,” I answered.
“Yuck…” He then fled.
I halted like a statue for a while. What did he mean by ‘yuck’ and that’s very rude of him to even say that. If only I could punch him or pull his eye-balls out of his eyes. I was very angry for that offensive statement.
“Miss, enjoying your first sailing I presume?” Rio greeted me with a smiling face.
“Not really. ‘Something’ had just getting on my nerves so I’m not quite happy right now,” I replied in a shallow tone.
“Capt’n made you angry?” He asked that was really hitting the jackpot.
I nodded hastily and my expression kind of agreed with his statement.
“You see, he’s the discriminate type. He prefers men over women but it’s not that he’s gay. He’s kind of… How can I put it in words…? Anyhow, he’s not really comfortable being around a women,” He explained.
“Okay, I can see that. But, can’t he be a bit gentler with his words? How sharp-tongued can he be?” I asked.
“How sharp-tongued I can be has nothing to do with your work here. It’s almost lunch time and I suppose you’ve already prepared something for us have you, my lady?” Captain Kenny’s voice was heard from my back that made me startled.
“I’m done with the preparations and now is waiting for a ‘certain person’ to attend the dining room since without him, no one can grab a bite,” I replied sadistically.
“I see. Let’s go then,” He moved towards the dining room.
All the crew were seen on the dining room, the doctor in charge, the navigator, the one to repair the ship and so on. Everyone was staring at me like I was an outsider and of course, I was the only female there and I was still new. One of the crew which his hair was blond stood up and said, “Capt’n, it’s not fair for her to not being introduced as one of our members in this crew.”
Another crew who had ear piercings stood up to support the earlier crew’s statement, “Yeah, Capt’n. Can’t you just introduce her to us?”
He gave me a slight stare for a moment and continued consuming his meals without bothering for any more words. I was a bit agitated with his act of behaviours. Somehow I became weary of his words and such which I’d say I could never tolerate with it. Later, he abruptly stood up and said, “It’s better if she introduce herself upon every of us in this dining hall where every single crew is here to hear.”
Everyone’s attention turned to me. I stood up and said, “Hi, I’m Eleanor, just Eleanor. Is there anything that you want to know about me?”
“What about your family’s name?” Rio suddenly asked.
“Well, I… don’t remember any of it. Mammy took me in when I was still small to even remember. In my birth place, there was this unknown virus infecting every single peasants and I was left as the only survivor. The only thing I could remember about myself is my age, the day of my birth and my front name,” I explained briefly.
“Poor thing. Well then, I’m Thomas and how old are you?” The blond pirate uttered.
“I’m eighteen and five days,” I answered politely.
“Well, hi Eleanor, I’m Fredrick. Umm… A question won’t hurt isn’t it?” Hearing the name Fredrick made the hair behind my neck stand since it reminds me of the Summer Knight.
“Anything. Go on…” I answered.
“Have you any pair?” He bluntly asked.
The bold questions lighten up the atmosphere that all of the crew was having their full attention towards me and Captain Kenny seemed to be bothered by the question but still acting cool about it. I almost chocked myself but then I had to be brave to face such question.
“Well, no. I don’t have any,” I answered again.
The whole room was quite noisy with the answer, somehow, they were rejoicing over the matter that I was still available for any of them to check in. Captain Kenny had enough, so he stood up and left the dining hall at his own pace and headed up towards his room. His expression looked a bit in fatigue that he might have been suffered from insomnia I presumed since only those of the insomnia would have the same expression. Anxious of his state of health I quickly finished my works in the kitchen and brewed some herb tea for him. I was finally in front of his door and one thing left was to knock the door.
“Who is it?” A voice replied my knocks.
“I brought you some herb tea. If you don’t mind,” I retorted.
“Get lost. I don’t need any tea now and just so you know that I’m a busy person,” He replied furiously.
“Well, I thought that you must be tired since your expression doesn’t look promising to me. You better have a rest or you might get sick,” I tried to convince him.
“All right then, just enter and leave the tea on the table behind me and leave me in peace,” He finally gave his permission.
I entered his room and was quite astound to see it was very messy. I was frozen stiff to see that a person could ever live in such room.
“If you don’t mind, let me clean your room too. I can’t believe that you could survive living in this… room,” I muttered.
“Do whatever you like but don’t disturb me,” He who was still on his desk, writing something that I presumed a journal.
So here I was, making sure my captain’s room to be spick and span or should I say, not to look like those of the rats, cleaning was what appropriate to be done. His clothes were everywhere, scattered like pieces of papers being thorn up, engulfing the whole floor until not even an inch of the floor were exposed. The room was pitch-black due to the closed curtains that made the room look rather gloomy. And to my surprise, had he even concerned of his state of health and so on? I knew that there’s a doctor on board but to be careless about your very own state of health was just too far and exaggerating. Who did he think he is? A God? There’s no way he wouldn’t catch any illness in such state, ignoring what was best for his body.
“Umm, if you need anything, just tell me. My service is still available,” I uttered.
“The only service you are to serve me is to go out and leave me in peace,” His murmured sadistically.
“Well, ‘captain’... If you think you are so good then you’re wrong. Why do you have to act so high and mighty as if you’re far greater than the God himself? Can’t you just be nice to others when they’re being nice to you?” I burst up my anger straight to his face.
He did look quite astonished with my dictions.
“You should be grateful that if it wasn’t for me, the whole town might be migrating for now when the government wanted to turn your fishing village into one bloody factory!” He replied my anger with his own in a very high tone.
“Why do you have to even bother saving the villagers when you are a pirate and you have nothing to do with the village? Even if you were born there then that means that it’s your responsibility to protect your own birth place.”
“My responsibility? I protected the village just because the whole villagers were begging me to do so!” He threw off the words on my face.
“Fine, I’ve had enough!” I went out and slammed his door as hard as I could.
“Ha-ha, you sure are a tough one, my lady,” Fredrick’s voice was heard nearby.
“Fre… Fredrick!” I retorted half-shocked.
“Did I startle you?” Fredrick calmly stated.
“Well, I’m lying if I say no,” I replied.
I came to notice that I was a bit embarrassed that I could meet Fredrick whose character was completely the same as the virtual Fredrick and the exact opposite of that bloody ear irritator. He gestured his hand and scratched his head with his right hand while saying, “You’re free right now right?” I replied his question with a single nod as a reply. Later then he let out a shy grin. I was blushing a bit and my heart was throbbing like it was trying to explode.
“You see, what colour is very common around women?” He asked.
I paused for a while and gave a slight thought of it. Finally, my tongue let out an answer, “Well, a colour that is commonly among women is pink but, if you ask me, I’d say blue.”
“Ah, I see. Mind telling the reason?” He gave his gentle smile.
I could hear my heart pounding heavily that I myself could hear it thumping, “Well...” I paused, inhaling for some air while thinking for a reason for my last statement. “Blue looks so cold and mild and it can be bold sometimes. It shows a calm character and the unity of people around it. The sky, do you find the sky’s ugly?”
“No. I can’t see any flaw of that sky,” He answered confidently.
“Yes, because it does not have any flaw. What do you feel of the sea?” I asked.
“Calm and can be vigorous sometimes. Very gentle yet very bold, just like you,” He turned his gaze towards me.
My head was gazing towards the woody ship deck, not looking towards Fredrick who’s looking at me with that strange gaze of his. I stood up abruptly and had my excuse to flee. I could sense him giggling for my unexpected dismissal but anyhow, I felt so alive to know that I had a person
who I could love on this deck. I wonder what will happen next and was very excited about it.
