The Genius’ First Love - Chapter 639

Darryl was held captive in the par line’s camp for a while. The Guntas kept him in a decent room where there was a good view of the island on the other side. When the bridge was finished, the Ministry and the Manggan tribe drew a line on the bridge, marking off the boundaries. After that, Chieftain Enoch decided to build a camp that could host the Gunta’s that were guarding the par-line. This camp however  grew and after a few years a floating community was built.

Darryl was deeply amazed by these changes. The little huts that were floating, all connected to each other and the beautifully crafted boats being towed were beautiful to look at— that even when he had been held captive for two days already, there was never a time he felt bored just watching the view. Although he was then a prisoner, the Guntas had not been hostile with him and he understood that since he had been gone for a long time and he left without a sun stone like Xhemin have previously, his identity must be confirmed first before he could step into the island.

Mid afternoon the second day of his captivity, there was a sudden chaos in the camp and the room where Darryl was held flew open, revealing a muscular tall man with slanted eyes and the usual brownish hair that was rampant in the Manggan Tribe.

“Brother!” The man screamed at his lungs that Darryl found it funny. He does look so manly because of his build yet he screamed like a child.

“Oh Brother, it’s been years!” The man was so thrilled to see him that he immediately clung to Darryl as if they knew each other well. However because Darryl didn’t recognize him, all he could give him in return was a wry smile.

“Don’t you recognize me?” The man’s joyful words turned amused and proud then. If Darryl did not recognize him anymore then it must be because he had changed so much already as he then was already a man. “Its is I brother, your younger brother Baruk Tam,”

Darryl couldn’t believe his revelation. Baruk Tam was a little boy when he left, he was around the age of ten or eleven and this was the very first time he had seen him. There were few occasions he had indulged himself with the Manggan tribe the last few years specially when the ministry demanded his presence yet it was always Enoch whom he saw.

“Baruk Tam?” It was only then that Darryl’s smile turned big. “You have grown a lot,”

“Your words surely flattered his big ego,” A woman’s voice followed behind and Darryl saw a beautiful young woman who instantly gave him curtsy. “It’s been a long time hero, its me Maru,”

“Maru…” Darryl’s astonishment didn’t leave his face. Seeing the couple right then gave him a very warm feeling as his heart had leaped, overwhelmed. “You are a lady now,”

Maru’s smile turned timid as if the hero’s compliment made her shy. He blushed in front of Darryl then for it was rather a great honor for her to be called a lady by the Hero whom they all honor and respect.

“Hey why are you smiling like that?” Baruk Tam did notice the girl’s timid smile and blush. “You don’t smile to me that way,”

“You are not the Hero of Somer Isles,” She dismissed Baruk Tam’s comment and paced the room to accommodate Darryl. “Hero, we apologize that we came late. I hope the Gunta’s didn’t give you a hard time,”

“The Guntas had me well Maru, don’t worry,” Darryl assured them he was all taken care off.

“That’s good to hear,” Maru was relieved. She was informed a day prior that the Hero of Somer Isles was held in the Par-line camp but couldn’t go and welcome him alone as if it was inappropriate. So she sent an immediate word for Baruk Tam who was in the central village to come home right away so they could go and welcome Darryl together. “Our Baruk was in the central village when the news of your entrance came, I still have to wait for him as I am not worthy to welcome you alone,”

“Thank you. Sorry that I was of an inconvenience,”

“Oh noh Hero you are not,” Maru waved two hands in front of him. “We had been longing for you to come home and had made many songs and prayers for your safe return. In behalf of the Somer Isles I apologize for being coming late, it’s just our Baruk is a slowpoke,”

“Hey!” Baruk Tam was displeased at her words but couldn’t do anything then. Afterall Maru was his beloved but it seemed that the girl had forgotten about that the moment the hero came. “Your message to the capital was not accurate. You told me to come home without saying it was because the hero had arrived,”

Maru turned and rolled an eye at Baruk Tam. It was true that she purposely left out the news that Darryl had come home because if she did, many would flock and come to welcome him and she would miss her chance to welcome him intimately. Over the years, Darryl had been a greatly adored hero in their island and many had made tales about his greatness and how good looking he was. Therefore, he had been every royals and princess fantasy for a perfect husband on the island.

“If you had only mentioned in your letter that he arrived, the Chieftain should have rushed here with me,” Baruk Tam gently reprimanded her but was very cautious not to make her feel upset. These days, he was the one who had been pursuing Maru endlessly and gone were the days when the girl had all her attention and eyes on him. However the fact that they were engaged to each other had remained.

“Are you saying that it’s my mistake?” Maru shoots daggers at him.

“No no my love. Its not—”

His denial was cut off when he heard Darryl chuckling at his side. He turned to the hero helplessly and realized the hero had been laughing at his folly. He had seen outright that the tables had turned and now he was under Maru’s spell and mercy.  He instantly gave his brother a hard look but Darryl only laughed even more.

“Hero why don’t you come along with us now,” Maru clung to Darryl’s shoulder and led him out leaving Baruk Tam scratching his head. It was obvious Maru, like all the other young women in the Manggan Island, had been captivated by the tales and good looks of his brother. If only he could be half as good looking as him.

“Baruk Tam, what are you doing there?” Maru turned and gave him another hard look. “Go and prepare the horses, the hero must have been so tired already. We need to leave before the sun sets,”

“Yes my love,” Baruk Tam could do nothing but sigh, helplessly. It’s good that Darryl was his brother and that he knew how he loved the healer so much. If not, he surely would not be at peace knowing his beloved had taken some great likes of him. “Tsk..tsk..tsk…women these days,” he continued, shaking his head.