Chapter 17: The Connection

"They already know I'm here."

My eyebrows furrowed with his statement. "Who? What do you mean?"

He didn’t answer. Instead, he just leaned and kept his head resting on my shoulders. I kept caressing his hair, thinking it will calm him down. I think he likes it since he snuggled closer to me.

We stayed like that for a couple of more minutes. I looked at my wrist watch, it’s almost six. I looked at Vyl whose eyes are now closed. He probably fell asleep. I tried waking him up by gently tapping his shoulder.

"Hey." I nudged him lightly, moving the shoulder that he’s resting on. "Vyl, wake up."

"Hmm..." He moved a bit while groaning then he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes looked really tired. He was so energetic just a while ago.

"How are you feeling?"

He blinked a couple of times before answering my query. "I'm okay now." He said as he stood up from resting beside me. "I'm sorry I slept on your shoulder."

I gave him a small smile. “You slept on my chest last night and now you’re saying sorry for sleeping on my shoulders? I joked to lighten the mood. I'm actually worried about him.

I saw him smirk and shook his head. He stood up to stretch his limbs. He even massaged his head.

"Can you tell me what happened? Why did your head started aching?"

"I'll tell you later." He nodded his head before standing up. I just sighed before looking at him. "Let's go home. It's getting dark." I bid him. He agreed immediately and we walked out of the mall. We called a taxi at said to bring us to Ton Hall Condominiums.

I noticed that Vyl was silent throughout the whole ride. A stark contrast with the energetic self he had when we went to the mall. He looks like he's deep in thought while looking out the window. I gave him some space and gazed out on the window.

We reached the entrance of the condominium already but Vyl is still not himself yet. He still looks off. I'm not that dense. I know that what happened earlier must have something to do with his world.

I looked around and remembered that there's a park nearby. It's a good place to clear your mind. I thought it would be a good idea to bring him there.

"Hey," I said and nudged his shoulders to wake him up from his daze, making him look at me. "Let’s walk around for a bit at the park. Loosen up a bit."

I said with a wide grin. He didn't say anything but just looked at the direction where I'm pointing at then looked at the sky. I looked at the sky as well.

"It's already dark, Ven."

"So?" I asked confusedly. I know that it’s already dark but what's wrong? "And so, what if it’s dark already?"

"The moon is already out." I said with a raised eyebrow while looking at the moon. It's only a crescent moon tonight but it still looks beautiful.

"What's wrong with the moon? You don't like it?" I said, forehead creased, at him. He's acting weird. "Come on, Vyl. Just for a bit."

He sighed as in defeated. My smile widened and I pulled him to the park nearby the condo.

This park is big so you can jog and run around here. There are even some who likes to jog at this time of the day and Vyl and I passed a few of them along the way. The air around here is definitely fresh because of the numerous plants and trees planted in the vicinity. It feels very relaxing.

We're walking side by side. I think it's been months since I last went here. I used to jog frequently before but not anymore when I became too busy at the university.

I'm swaying my hands while feeling the air touching my skin. It’s as if they’re lulling me. It feels nice. The trees look lively because they are like dancing with the wind. I glanced at Vyl when he coughed suddenly. He held his chest as if in pain while still coughing.

"Hey, what’s happening to you?" He just kept on coughing. Why does it feel like he’s getting sickly lately? I saw him wipe something from the side of his lips. I looked at his face and it's very pale again. Now, what?

"You’re getting pale, Vyl." I helped him sit on the grass to ease him up. He can't stop coughing. The sound of his coughs is starting to sound different.

I cupped his face and forced him to look at me. It stunned him- and me as well. I stared at his enchanting emerald eyes. Still the same old feeling I feel every time I look at it. It seems that he can’t also pull his gaze away from my eyes. A couple of seconds passed that we’re staring at each other.

Until I saw his hair glowed faintly.

My eyes widened because of this. My hold on his face loosened, making him look at me in question.

From faint glowing, it started to glow brightly. It stood as well, as if floating. His skin as well, started to glow. I stared at him wide-eyed. His forehead was creased as well, as if confused by the expression painted on my face. Until he looked at his own skin. He gasped, surprised as well of what’s happening.

I'm not hallucinating, am I? He can see it too, right?

"Vyl, why the hell are you glowing?" I asked him as if I’m out of my mind. I still can’t peel my gaze at his glowing skin and hair.

"I don't know too! What the fuck, I'm surrounded with lights!" He's already panicking. So was I! Weird things just keep on happening. I don't know what to do!

His eyes glowed too for a second. I gasped in shock but my brows furrowed when he gasped too.

"Your eyes glowed!" He suddenly exclaimed.

Wait, what? My eyes did what?

"What do you mean? Your eyes are the ones glowing. It glowed, Vyl! Your eyes glowed!"

I’m so confused with what’s happening. And basing on our reactions, both of our eyes glowed at the same time before fading. It was just like a blink.

A few seconds passed and the glowing of his body started fading. My eyes never left him until the light became very faint. Until it finally dissipated. His skin returned to normal. So was his hair. It reverted back to normal, as if nothing happened, making us look at each other.

"I feel okay." He said as if feeling mesmerized. "In fact, I feel much stronger. Heavenly, I feel refreshed." He looked back at me, wide eyed.

I still don’t understand a thing. "W-What do you mean? W-What just happened, Vyl? Why did you glow?"

"I don't know exactly but I think it has something to do with us being connected."

Confusion was all over my face. I tried to understand what he said but it was not enough. What’s our connection gonna do with the glowing of his skin and hair? Add that both of our eyes glowed as well.

"You see, we Pluvenians can't stand the moon. We get weak every time we are exposed to moonlight."

What?! Why didn’t he tell me about those things? If so, I wouldn’t have to force him to walk around outside.

I hit his shoulder hard. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" He wasn’t even fazed with my hit. Instead, he just laughed at me! The nerve!

"You were too persistent." He said as he scratched his nape. "I mean, I tried telling you earlier but I just can't say no to you."

A wave of guilt suddenly surged in me. So, it's my fault?

"But why? Is it really your weakness?"

He shook his head before answering my question. "We've been cursed by our enemies. The one currently attacking us. We call them Lunarians, residents of the moon."

I was utterly speechless. What the hell? Lunarians? People who live on the moon? Well- There are people who live in another world, I shouldn’t be surprised that there are some who reside on the moon.

Vyl continued to explain to me. "We've been fighting them for years ever since their first attack that caused the death of my mother, the queen." He averted his gaze from me and stared into nothingness.

I saw a glimpse of sadness in his eyes but it faded. He's good at hiding his emotions. Just like me. My gaze was locked on him. Waiting for him to continue his explanations.

"We've been holding them off finely. Not until my father got seriously injured on their last attack to the point he can't fight anymore. I've been handling everything together with my brother ever since. I left the whole Pluvilia to my brother while I'm here on earth."

So, he has a brother. I wonder what he looks like. Do they have the same eyes? I'm pretty sure Vyl looks more handsome. I shook my head when I realized what I just said. What am I saying?

"Anyway, if you get weak if exposed to moonlight, why did you say earlier that you feel strong?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out right now. The glowing started when we looked each other in the eyes. I'm sure it has something to do with us being bounded."