I have to admit that I missed eating meat.
Eating fruits does make me feel satiated and satisfied but I missed eating cooked food.
There are many ways to cook bbq meat back on earth. You may use a grill or you can cook it over a campfire or underground pit oven. But one thing in common is that I hated the smell of charcoal when it's burned. I loved the cooked meat though.
I drew a design on my notebook and a miniature version of what I drawn materialized. I took it out and went to one of the workrooms where Lion usually worked. I didn't see him.
Disappointed, I tried looking for him in the other two workrooms. Nothing.
Even Ghost is not there.
Due to my haste in my excitement to show Lion, I forgot to bring Pinky with me.
Now that I'm aware that I'm very much alone, I'm beginning to feel paranoid.
I don't trust Sly yet somehow.
I went to the garden and didn't saw anyone. It's night time and the moons are out. The planet looked very much visible tonight. It looks a bit bigger.
I kept looking over my shoulder. Everytime I hear some kind of sound, I turned around. I am getting more and more paranoid to the point I'm starting to panic. I kept thinking all sorts of stuff like how I am getting eaten or is he going to play with me before eating me.
I kept looking over my shoulder that I didn't pay any attention to where I'm walking.
Of course you can guess what happened next.
I fell off the wall.
Remember that this castle is a floating one.
And yes, I screamed.
I'm such a dummy.
I'm falling a bit slower than what I've been expecting. In the movies, when you fell off from a very high building or cliff, it happens very fast. Unless it's a romance movie.
But the way I'm falling is like I'm in a dream where I could vividly see my surroundings. I could see the moons, the night sky with stars that seemed to shine brighter than usual and the planet that seemed bigger and brilliant than before. I clutched the miniature grill tightly and closed my eyes. I feel queezy. I heard someone calling my name.
I opened my eyes. It's Lion.
I smiled at him as he flew towards me. I feel so many butterflies in my stomach. Now I can understand why so many people on earth loved watching romance dramas.
My chest felt warm. I want to kiss him. But I won't do that. I don't want to kiss someone without knowing and understanding my current feelings for him. Yes I know that there might be something that Lion feels about me but I'm not ready yet to hear it. There are so many things I'm not yet sure about and one is my feelings towards him. I am attracted to him. But I want to make sure if I loved him or not.
Back on earth, I always hear all kinds of horrible love stories. I don't want to experience the kind of love where it will end up draining both of the person's character and personality. I remembered my parents that are very proud of staying together for 37 years yet I can see they are unhappy in their marriage and my mother's personality growth stagnated.
I am a stranger on this world. There are so many things I have yet to learn and experience. If I ended up in a relationship somehow, what will happen to me? I would end up very dependent on him. I want to bring more to the relationship and not be a burden. I don't want to end up being hated and I especially don't want any regrets.
I also wanted to learn and observe on how they form bonds. Lion and Ghost are treating me kindly but I don't know the depth of their affection to me. It could be that they are intrigued that I am different from them or it could be something else.
Everyone wants to feel like they are wanted, so it is scary if someone no longer wants you.
My chest suddenly hurt.
....
Lion caught me while I was deep in thought. He exhaled a long, deep breath and his eyes looked relieved. Now that I could see him up close, I noticed that the color of his eyes seemed more brilliant. The color of his eyes are much more shiny than usual. My hand unconsciously tried touch his hair but I managed to stop. His hair though caressed my face while he continued to look at me with a certain look.
I know that look and for now, I don't want to encourage it.
I showed him the miniature grill that I made and started to talk gibberish nonsense while Lion's face looked crestfallen. He just smiled sadly while I continued to divert his attention to the miniature grill.
I get the feeling that I just hurt his feelings.
I'm sorry, I'm not ready yet and I don't want to assume anything, I thought to myself.
Let's just go back, Lion mumbled as he flew back towards the castle while carrying me.
....
It turns out that Sly finally opened the ice cream shop at quite a far distance from the castle. That's why I didn't see him.
Ghost just came back from somewhere and was puzzled when he saw Lion and me not talking. I am still embarrassed about what happened and though I'm a bit regretful of what I did, just imagine what would happen if I blurted out of the blue, Lion I don't want to start something now. Or worse, if he kissed me and I'm not even sure about my feelings yet.
Now that I think about it, how do they start a relationship or confess their feelings? I better ask someone in the future. I don't want to ask Ghost or even Sly. Pinky don't count since he never talks.
The three of us went to one of the workrooms and there I explained the concept of the grill. Even though Lion is clearly moody, he managed to act businesslike which I appreciated silently.
After a bit of explanation, Lion looked interested at the grill though he was not that enthusiastic unlike before. He suggested some things and managed to make a magic grill that don't need any charcoal or even fire. We took some of the meat Sly had in his room and put it on the grill. It magically began to cook on its own, with sizzling sounds and began to smell quite good. Though Ghost don't like meat, he suggested on putting some of the fruits, which I forgot the taste , and squeeze the juice on the meat. I tried it and it smelled even better. I noticed Lion getting excited and his mood improved when he tasted the meat.
He loved it.
By then, Sly came back and went inside the room. He tasted the meat and joyfully let out a giant ROAR.
The grill is a huge success.