CHAPTER 36

       "I'll be right back," Erìhe laughed as she turned away from Níawi. The girl had convinced her to sit with her in the hut where the seamstress worked. Níawi knew how Erìhe struggled with making bracelets and just about anything that required artistic abilities, so she had begged for them to spend time with the seamstress - watching as the older woman worked.

Erìhe wanted to get the three of them some fruit so that they could be energized. They had already been in the hut for three hours more or less, and it was safe to say that they were growing restless.

The seamstress was a lovely older lady who actually enjoyed spending time with the two teenagers. Erìhe had been afraid of being a bother - but Níawi had assured her that the woman would enjoy their company.

The seamstress had no children of her own, and so she enjoyed sitting with the children and teenagers of the tribe - listening to their gossip and stories.

"Hurry back! She's about to add the shells!" Níawi called after Erìhe as she was already turning around the corner of the pod.

Erìhe smiled to herself as she walked through the village to collect the fruits. Spending time with Níawi was not only enjoyable - but it also helped distract her thoughts from Neteyam.

Níawi was a great friend. She would have no problem talking about Neteyam if Erìhe wished to - and she also never asked to hear about it.

Erìhe was not one who loved talking about her problems. Sure, she had a few moments where she burst and went on about her things - but she'd much rather ignore and keep them to herself. Perhaps it was not the best way to cope but this way she stayed happy.

Until shed inevitably burst again.

After picking up a small basket filled with a variation of different kinds of fruits, her eyes fell on something that she'd perhaps wished to not see.

By the shore stood Neteyam. He was accompanied by none other than Aluva.

Aluva. The girl who had been getting on Erìhe's nerves lately for absolutely no apparent reason whatsoever. Lately she had just found anything that the girl did to be extremely annoying.

Maybe it was due to the fact that Erìhe suspected Aluva to have feelings for Neteyam.

In her defense, who gave someone the bracelet that is meant for a crush if they have no interest in them whatsoever? Erìhe had found it fishy.

And what she saw before her just confirmed this all.

Neteyam stood in front of Aluva, their hands holding each other's. His back faced Erìhe but she knew for certain that it was him. She'd grown up around him after all. There was no mistaking his hair and the way he carried himself.

His shoulders were always pulled back confidently and he had a very certain way of standing.

Erìhe almost dropped her basket of fruits as her teeth ground together.

As she watched Aluva smiling up at Neteyam and taking a step closer - Erìhe decided to protect her feelings and turn around. She would not want to see what happened next.

The only thought that made a bitter smile come on her face in that moment was the fact that she had given Tuk the bracelet that Aluva had made Neteyam.

As soon as the boy had handed it over to Erìhe, she had considered tossing it in the ocean - but then she deemed it too rude and instead gifted it to Tuk, who had been thrilled to get a new piece of jewelry to add to her growing collection.

Before she even knew it, she was already walking back inside the seamstress' pod. Then she looked up to see Níawi and the woman looking up at her, she smiled. "Got the fruits," she announced as she stepped over the clutter that lay in the floor. She resumed her earlier seat and opened the basket, showcasing the colorful food within.

Níawi frowned. She had a way of reading people - and it seemed that she had sensed something wrong in Erìhe's expression, "Is something wrong?"

Erìhe shook her head, "No. All is good," she shrugged before offering the basket to the seamstress.

For a moment she had considered opening her mouth and completely shit-talking Aluva - but then sense had come over her. Níawi and Aluva had been friends for much longer, so she was probably loyal to her.

Níawi narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but decided not to push the topic, "If you say so."

₊˚.༄

"Are you upset?"

Erìhe glanced past her shoulder to see Neteyam approaching her. She turned her attention back to the direhorse figurine which she was currently painting. She had finally gotten her hands on some of that paint that Tuk had wished for.

She wondered how he'd figured to come looking for her there.

Erìhe sat at the base of the their tree on the ground, minding her own business. She had counted on the thought that Neteyam would not wish to look for her, and she had believed that he was not smart enough to come seeking her there of all places.

But to him it was an obvious hiding place. He had went there often to be alone, after all.

"No," Erìhe responded, "Why would I be?"

"You just seem like it," Neteyam crouched down beside her and tilted his head to the side to be able to see her face. She watched as she concentrated on painting - bringing the toy close to her face so she could better see the details she attempted to make.

She was using her fingers to spread the bright yellow paint onto the figurine. This paint was the kind that was used to do war paint and stuff like that - but they did not have anything else, so it would have to suffice.

Neteyam watched with a small smile as she did her very best to make it look good.

It was surprising that she could not sow or bead for the life of her - but was so skilled at carving wood. Neteyam found it rather amusing.

"And why would I seem like it?" Erìhe did not even spare him a glance.

Since Erìhe had kissed him, Neteyam had gained this confidence that took place only while around her. Yes, he was unsure of her intentions and yes, he did feel incredibly flustered while with her - but he also felt like he had the upper hand.

All this while it had been Neteyam who liked Erìhe. Up until she had kissed him and shown some kind of vulnerability, he had been lost. Unsure of what to do.

But now Erìhe was acting awkward and it weirdly pleased Neteyam.

Neteyam sighed as he looked around. It was past dinner time and he knew he was supposed to be back by the pod - but he could not go on without speaking to Erìhe for much longer.

He hated that she always ignored her problems.

Especially when that meant ignoring him.

"You seem like you're upset - I know you," Neteyam finally replied to her, "When something bothers you, you never face it."

Erìhe lowered the wooden figure and turned to look at him, "Now I'm facing you."

Neteyam's eyes widened. He seemed to be startled by her boldness. "I - What? I'm your problem?" He hesitantly pointed to his own chest.

In that moment Erìhe decided she would stop avoiding this certain problem. It was only embarrassment if she made it humiliating.

If she now confessed and he did not feel the same, she could just act indifferent and cool. It was no big deal.

"Not exactly you," Erìhe told him, "But you are a part of it."

Neteyam's brows furrowed. "What did I do?"

Instead of directly answering his question, Erìhe asked him a question of her own, "I thought you said there was nothing between you and Aluva? What's really going on there?" She inquired. Now she turned her torso toward him so that she could face him head on.

"Oh," Neteyam mumbled, "That."

"That."

"It's nothing," Neteyam told her, "On my part," he added as an afterthought.

To tell the truth, Aluva had confessed to having feelings for him.

It had happened earlier that day when Erìhe saw them on the beach. Aluva had noticed that Neteyam no longer wore the bracelet she had gifted him and she'd asked about it. One thing had led to another and then suddenly the girl had asked to kiss him.

"On your part?" Erìhe repeated.

Neteyam shrugged as if it was nothing, "She did mention having feelings for me.. but I rejected her," he spoke slowly and clearly, so that she would not misunderstand anything.

Erìhe blinked. "Oh."

"Oh?" Neteyam scoffed. That's all he got?

Erìhe rolled her eyes, "Well pardon me. I thought you had feelings for her."

"That's ridiculous," Neteyam waved her off as he chuckled lightly. "I mean - she's a nice girl and all but-" he felt as though the breath was knocked out of him once he looked back at Erìhe.

She was already looking at him, a small smile stretched on her perfect lips.

Even in the darkening atmosphere Neteyam could make out her features so clearly. He swore that even if it were pitch black, he could perfectly see her. He would be able to describe her features and smiles as if he were looking at an image of her.

Her face was just engraved in his mind so deep that he would never forget it.

"..I like you," Neteyam finished his sentence breathlessly.

-
A/n:
I forgot this chapter contained this 🤭

I think y'all will like the next chapter idk though