Chapter 8

Hunter

Hunter sat with his friends on their checkered blanket. The dazzling sun shone down on them and they cherished the way it kissed their skin - reminding them of the outskirts of the town they lived in. Liana and Chase were deep in conversation and Hunter was gazing off into the distance - at the forest that surrounded the camp, going on for miles.

And as he stared off into the distance, the image of Cassia back at the free for all popped into his mind. He could still hear the way she declared she hated him, as if she really meant it, and he could still see the tears pooling in her eyes.

He never thought a girl could hurt him, but her words hurt. They were like an arrow to his heart and now, the arrow was lodged there and only Cassia could save him.

"I wonder why the princess hates me," Hunter said.

"Don't worry about her," Chase groaned. "There's something wrong with her. She has a few loose screws, so don't take what she says personally."

"I think we all have a few loose screws."

His voice was nearly a whisper and Chase frowned. Liana rolled her eyes.

"Hunter, I don't know why you're obsessed with the princess, but you need to move on," Liana said. For once, she wasn't snapping at him, so he paid attention. "She clearly despises you. What's the point of worrying about someone who doesn't like you?"

Hunter shrugged. He didn't understand it himself.

"Let's change the subject," Liana said. She touched Hunter's face gently, willing him to look at her. And to his surprise, she wore a gentle expression on her face - as if she was genuinely worried for him. "Let's think about how we're going to be rich one day. We grew up with nothing. Poor because of King Julius' ruling, but soon that will be over. So smile, Hunter. Things will get better."

Hunter sighed. He should be happy at the thought of that, but yet, he felt even more lost.

"I can't wait," Chase said. "I can finally become the knight I always wanted to be. With money and power, any job can be mine."

"Right!" Liana exclaimed. "I can't wait to pay off my mother's debts. She tried to give my sister and I a good life, even though we weren't financially secure. So to repay her, I will give her the world."

Hunter finally smiled. Liana wore a gentle expression, her eyes reminiscing abut the family they left back in the gritty neighbourhood they lived in. And for once, an ounce of excitement filled him.

"I hope my father will be happy," Hunter said. "I hope we all are."

Liana's eyes softened and so did Chase's. They knew Hunter's father. Unfortunately, a little too well.

"Yes, your father has been through a lot," Chase said. "And he will be happy. He will be proud of what you're doing."

Hunter smiled. His heart grew light at the thought of his father finally being proud of him.

"What are you going to do once we're no longer poor?" Liana asked. "I mean, for yourself."

"I want to leave Oflaria," Hunter said. "I want to travel the world and see what's out there. So many different towns and so many different kingdoms exist. But we are stuck here because we lack the money to leave."

His voice was low and wistful, and Chase smiled. Even Liana did because when they were kids, they would conjure up plans to run away and never look back. And with what they spoke about, Hunter smiled because maybe one day it would come true.

"I'll be joining," Chase said. "I'll be your knight in shining armour, my friend."

Hunter rolled his eyes and Liana laughed. No longer was there a tension among them. Now, they were back to who they really were - friends who had grown up struggling.

"I'd like that too," Liana said. "I hope to marry a prince one day. Have some royal babies and sculpt for the rest of my life. I yearn for a simple life."

"I do, too," Hunter confessed.

Liana smiled at him, her eyes gentle. One of the few things they had in common was their love for the arts. Hunter loved sketching and Liana loved sculpting. And they used to whisper about how they would start their own business one day - when they had the money to.

"Well, we're on our way to our happily ever afters. Who needs to be a prince or princess to have one," Chase said, picking up his glass of wine. "So here's to a good life."

Hunter and Liana picked up their glasses of wine and they clashed their cups together - in a form of cheers. All of them were smiling now and Hunter forgot about Cassia as they drank and laughed their worries away.

*****

Hunter could see Cassia seated next to the pond on the field. The sun was dipping below the horizon and everyone was in their cabin, and the field was bare of life. But, Cassia was kneeling in front of the pond, lit with an orange cast, her eyes wide with fascination as she peered down at it.

And Hunter couldn't help it.

Even though Liana told him to forget about her, even though it made no sense for him to want to speak to her, he marched towards her, feeling his heart stutter. And soon, he was standing next to her and Cassia's head flung up.

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she concealed her expression and sprung up. She shot him a look and Hunter ran his fingers through his hair, his hands shaking at the sight of her eyes darkening with the evenfall.

"Didn't I make it obvious that I want nothing to do with you," Cassia hissed.

Cassia was fuming. The mere sight of him always set her alight - as if he was a flame and she was a match.

"Why are you so obsessed with me anyways?" Cassia smirked. "Are you in awe of something you'll never be?"

Hunter's face darkened. Every time he thought Cassia wasn't so bad, she would do something to make him want to shout at her, to tell her she wasn't better than any of them.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Hunter demanded. "I don't get it."

"I just do."

"Is it because I'm poor? Is it because you can't imagine someone as worthless as me besting you?"

The coldness in Cassia's expression wavered, unmasking a look of surprise, but she briskly concealed it. She was still scowling, but she was muted for a moment, her teeth grinding as if she wished to hold back her words.

"You're appalling," Hunter spat. It was obvious what the answer was - yes. "I can't believe I ever thought you were worthy of my time. I'm an idiot. Blinded by-"

He caught himself. Before he could say those stupid brown eyes, he caught himself and wheeled around. His body trembled as he stalked off before he said anything he'd regret.

He hated her. Maybe not hate, but he strongly disliked her. And he hated himself more for thinking he could feel anything, but hate for the princess who was so arrogant.

"Wait," Cassia called out.

Hunter froze. Slowly, he turned around to see Cassia still in her spot, her eyes wide with panic. The sun was sneaking behind her head, casting her with a glow that made him falter.

"I hate you because you don't work for it," Cassia said. "I hate how you win with ease. I hate how I spent my entire life trying to be perfect and yet, you beat me at every contest. And I know you didn't work for it. I know unlike me, you weren't forced to be perfect because you don't have the expectations of your father and an entire kingdom on your shoulders. You have no idea how much you infuriate me."

Hunter's expression darkened. He couldn't believe her assumption.

"And who told you I don't work for it?" Hunter spat. "Huh? Clearly whoever your source is knows nothing about me."

Cassia was silent. There was nothing she could say.

"I grew up having to be perfect," Hunter said. "Because if I was anything less than perfect, I would be punished for it. So don't you dare act like I'm gifted and blessed because I'm far from lucky."

Cassia flinched. It was as if his words were lashing out at her, like whips cracking to whip her, and she recoiled. He only fumed some more.

"If anything, I should hate you because you're a princess. You're the real privileged one here," Hunter hissed. "I'm the poor boy who has nothing and you're the princess who has everything. You have the advantage, but yet I'm the one besting you."

Cassia gaped at him as if no one had ever spoken to her like that and he wheeled around and stormed off, and he could feel Cassia's eyes following him, even after he was long gone.

And the entire time, he thought. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you so much.

Because for a moment, he really did.