Pirate Chronicles - Chapter 126

Pioneer DES is indeed an unfamiliar territory. I sighed as I walked to the starboard and leaned on the ledge of the ship. I’ve never been in such an embarrassing situation before. Humiliation, I am familiar with but embarrassment? I groaned inwardly and watched the ripples of the waves. I contemplated. The pirates do treat me meanly but they also treat me with kindness. It had been years since I experienced that.

I heard someone clearing his throat so I looked in that direction. Jeu smiled. He walked and leaned on the ledge as well. He inhaled the fresh breeze. He looked so peaceful… so serene… so genuine… so gentle.

He turned to me and said, “You have to excuse my crew. They do not mean any harm.”

I felt my cheeks flushed again so I turned away. What is going on with me? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before responding, “They must hate me for coming here uninvited and clashing with Waldo.”

Jeu laughed at my response. “Hate you? No way!!! Uninvited? They knew I gave you an invitation. As a matter of fact, they already accepted you as part of the crew. This is just a little initiation. Everyone experienced it when they were new. It’s  tradition. It will be over before you know it,” he beamed.

“Tradition? So you started it?” I asked.

Jeu shook his head, “No… my brain is not creative like that. Teresa did… when she joined us. She was the third member of the crew. She thought it would be funny to scare the fainthearted with her concoctions.”

“The third? Who was the second?” I asked again.

“Ohhhh right…. You haven’t been properly introduced,” Jeu said. “My first mate, Mik, was the second one. He was the quiet one sitting beside Teresa. But, don’t worry they will soon introduce themselves to you.”

“They would?” I asked again, confused.

“Uh-huh… part of the initiation,” Jeu answered.

“Should I be worried?” I asked again.

Jeu’s smile turned to a smirk, “If you are fainthearted, you should.”

I looked at him with widened eyes, “Will I get hurt?”

Jeu chuckled, “Maybe… but nothing you couldn’t handle.”

I looked away worriedly. He noticed.

“You looked worried… do you need me to intervene?” he offered.

“I just distaste surprises, that’s all. But as you said, I could handle myself,” I responded, not soliciting any help and rejecting his offer.

He chuckled, “Can I ask you three questions?”

I looked back at him again. “Three?”

“I’m the Captain of the ship. I am entitled to,” he said.

I looked at him unconvinced but he gazed at me with unwavering eyes so I decided to concede. After all, I was unfamiliar with the pirates’ code of conduct so I just nodded as a response. But I am already prepared not to divulge any personal information. My purpose and my secrets are mine alone!

“Why did you come?” he asked.

I arched my brow. That was an easy question to answer. “You invited me,” I quipped.

Jeu chuckled, “Acceptable.” He looked at me and his smile slowly disappeared. “What happened to you in Francua?” he inquired with a serious face.

I stared at him for a while wondering how I should answer. Then, I squinted my eyes before responding, “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Jeu gave me a faint smile and nodded. He crossed his arms and he tilted his head a bit trying to study me. I took a deep breath.

“You only have one more question left,” I sassed.

I could see curiosity in his eyes as he continued to give me a studying stare. He was quiet for a bit before asking, “How come you never smile?”

My eyes widened in surprise! I was caught off guard with his question. In these past few years, no one noticed… no one asked… no one knew that I was broken… that I was in so much pain that I had forgotten to smile. But this man… this man! I just met him yesterday and he noticed right away.

HOW DARE THIS MAN?! My chest went up and down as I took deep breaths. Suddenly, I felt emotional! Flashes of my traumatic experiences replayed in my mind and it was too late for me to notice the tear that slowly dropped from my eyes. Jeu caught it with his finger immediately and wiped it away. I froze and felt the gust of wind blow my hair away. I blinked quickly to stop all my tears from flowing down. Jeu smiled at me. The clouds gathered and dimmed the sunlight for a bit.

Jeu pointed up, “It got dark. Can you smile real quick to brighten it up?”

I do not know if I would feel annoyed or thankful that he said that pick up line. Pick up lines always annoy me but I’m relieved he said that so I could forget my melancholic memories.

I sighed, “You do know you sound mushy and foolish whenever you say one of your pick up lines, do you not?”

Jeu put his hands on his hips and laughed heartily, “You really are already a part of the crew. My crew is the only one who hates my pick up lines. Almost all ladies giggle and swoon over me when I say those.”

My right eyebrow arched in an instant, “Are you for certain that ALL ladies fell for it?”

He was quiet for a bit and was in thoughts, “Oh now that you mention it… Darling and Monika did not fall for them either!”

A small chuckle tried to escape my throat but I stopped it, “See? I bet those ladies have class.”

He shrugged. “True. But some of the ladies who swoon over me were also classy,” he said and waggled his brows.

“Well I doubt that it was because of your pick up lines. Maybe they just found you charming,” I answered casually. This was the first time in years that I am having a casual and normal conversation.

He smirked as a response, “You find me charming?”

My eyes widened again with his response. I drew my conclusions too early. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CONVERSATION BECAUSE JEU IS FAR FROM NORMAL!

“I said THEY,” I emphasized.

“But why would you infer that if you don’t find me charming?” he teased.

My cheeks became hot in an instant so I turned away. Do I find him charming? Jeu chuckled and leaned forward so his lips were almost to my ear. Then, he whispered, “Once again, welcome to Pioneer DES, Angela.”

His gesture caught me by surprise so I turned to him abruptly. However, I quickly regretted that I moved right away! I should’ve stayed still and frozen! AHHHH!!!! If I hadn’t moved then my lips would not have landed on his! The clouds moved away and the sun shone through.. I felt Jeu’s lips form a smile.