"If only we could choose our family members." Sophia shook her head.
"That would make black sheep like me go extinct." Josh chuckled and led Sophia to an empty table.
"How are you preparing for the duel?" Sophia asked worried Josh would get humiliated.
She wondered why she was feeling so attached to this boy, who had just his looks that even rivalled hers, this said a lot as she was considered one of the most beautiful second year.
Was it his humour? Sophia wondered. She still didn't know what to make of her feelings for Josh. When her eyes met him, she immediately started getting attracted to him.
Perhaps Josh was right after all, what she felt for him was just infatuation. How could a girl as talented and beautiful as her settle for him? Although she was never one to take pride in her looks she saw her looks as a curse.
"Beautiful people never know who to trust." All the guys Sophia had come across in her few years of living, had all looked at her with a perverted gaze, as though she was some piece of meat.
Josh was different, whenever she looked into his eyes, all she saw was genuine interest. Perhaps she was just imagining things?
The thought of her last relationship came to her mind, and a drop of tears dropped from her eyelids.
"You're crying?" Josh used his finger to wipe her tears.
"Am I so ugly that I make girls cry?" Josh asked smiling.
Although he had been reincarnated into another world, strangely, he still retained the same face and body structure as before.
Sophia chuckled, "I just remembered something."
"It must have been a really painful experience to make a girl as strong as you drop a tear," Josh said.
"Sometimes, pain is relative. We subconsciously feel comforted, knowing that a person shares the same pain as us. Care to share?" Josh asked.
Sophia pondered on Josh's words. Should she reveal such a thing to a guy she just met? Even though she had complicated feelings for him, some things should be kept secret right?
Perhaps if she shared her pain with Josh, it would help to ease it. She strengthened her resolve and decided to be open with Josh.
Maybe even he had a similar experience to share. Perhaps his love life was as sad as hers, You never know.
"Why don't we order some food first." Josh beckoned to the waiter.
The waiter took both their orders and left.
"My boyfriend died," Sophia revealed.
Josh looked at her and felt an immense amount of pain. He looked into her now not-so-bright blue eyes and wondered if his eyes had the same appearance.
He too just like her, had lost the love of his life to the cold hands of death. Perhaps he was still in denial, and that was the reason he put his heart under lock and key, unwilling to fall in love.
Perhaps this was the reason Sophia was falling in love with him. Maybe she was subconsciously searching for a replacement for her lost love.
The waiter returned with their food and left.
"How did he die?" Josh asked, although this might seem like an insensitive question, Josh felt it best to let Sophia pour her heart out.
"He was killed by a beast," Sophia replied, dabbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
"How did you feel when they happened?" Josh asked.
"I don't know, I just- I felt dead," Sophia replied.
"Like it would be better if you just joined him on the other side?" Josh asked.
Sophia merely nodded in reply. She recalled the way she reacted when she first heard the news. Her mind immediately went as though her brain suddenly stopped working.
For the next few days, she moved like a walking corpse. Merely moving but without any sole purpose or direction.
She felt like her whole world had crumbled before her eyes. What would happen to all the plans they had made together?
What would happen to their dream of exploring all the continent's in the world?
What would happen to their plans of visiting the forbidden continent when they got strong enough?
The reality was cruel for Sophia. Although she had gotten over the loss, this did not mean that she had forgotten about it.
In life, some experiences can never be forgotten. No matter how hard you try, you will surely remember it. It might be while lying in your bed on a cold chilling evening, or when having fun at the park. These memories always come back to haunt us.
"It's funny how the both of us have similar experiences." Josh sighed.
"Your girlfriend died?" Sophia asked surprised.
Josh nodded.
"How did it happen?" Sophia asked, looking at him with eyes filled with pity.
"Same thing. Got killed by a beast." Josh lied.
"What was her name?" Sophia asked.
"Zoe." As Josh said the name, a wave of pain flooded his mind.
He recalled the anger he felt when he heard that Zoe had been murdered by unknown gunmen.
He knew exactly who committed the murder and made it his duty to kill the man who killed the love of his life with his own hands. Even though that would mean staining his hand with blood and becoming a murderer, what did it matter?
Everyone is the hero and villain of their own story. Life is never black and white, there are different shades of grey.
"How about we let out some anger on some beasts one of these days?" Sophia suggest
"I would probably be ripped to shreds with my current strength." Josh chuckled, although he did not know exactly how strong beasts were, since beings like dragons and phoenixes exist, there should also be beasts of equal or slightly less power.
"Besides, I'm setting my eyes on that forbidden continent." Josh continued.
"No one who has ever ventured deep into the continent has lived to tell the tale." Sophia reminded.
"Rules don't apply to the strong. As long as you're strong enough, even death can't stop you." Josh said.
"True." Sophia agreed with Josh's philosophy.
"Would be cool to place a flag on the forbidden continent. Maybe even give it a new name."
"What would you name it?" Sophia asked curiously.
"I don't know." Josh shrugged, "Maybe Joshlandia."
Sophia chuckled at Josh's poor attempt at naming.
"Pass me that cup." Sophia requested.
"This one?" Josh asked, pointing to a cup on the table.
"Yes," Sophia affirmed.
Josh took the cup and stretched his hand to Sophia, when she was about to take it from him, he raised it beyond her reach and said with a playful smile, "you're forgetting the magic word."
"You're so annoying." Sophia pouted cutely.
"Wrong answer." Josh shook his head.
"Okay, please." Sophia compromised.
"Good girl." Josh praised, giving her the cup.
"I'm a year older you know?" Sophia said.
"Yeah, it would never work between us," Josh said sarcastically, and Sophia chuckled.
And so they laughed off their pain. Instantly forgetting that just minutes ago they were both talking about the deaths of their lovers.
"What do you do for fun?" Josh asked Sophia.
"Mostly just training," Sophia replied.
"A training junkie I see." Josh smiled.
"Not really," Sophia shook her head, "it s more like a habit." Sophia sighed.
Ever since she was born and her parents discovered her talents. Almost as soon as she could walk, they commenced her training. Training her on the basics of hand-to-hand combat first, as her little body could not handle expending a large amount of mana.
All through her childhood, she was trained day after day, night after night, in the sunny afternoon or the snowy morning.
When she first heard about the son of the Zhane family patriarch who was sent to the four seasons academy instead of his family's academy. She felt sorry for him. Having a child without a magic affinity to the Zhane family was akin to not having a child at all. It was even surprised that they didn't outright kick him out of the family.
Still, she saw him as just being lazy. If she were in his shoes, she would've strived to become the best warrior she could be. But the fact remained that she was not in his shoes. Things are not usually as they seem, maybe he was going through a lot more than what appeared on the surface. She had never been one to judge a person before meeting them.
"You do quite a lot of physical training," Josh stated in his observation.
"I'm quite good with the sword." Sophia nodded.
"Are you also good with this sword?" Josh pointed at his crotch area.
"You're unbelievable." Sophia shook her head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"It seems I'll be going to your place earlier than planned. I would like to see if you can train while using my sword." Josh teased further.
"How can one person be this shameless?" Sophia sighed exasperatedly.
Josh merely grinned, "I think this date has lasted for long enough. We might as well get married and go on a honeymoon at this point." Josh said, getting up.
Sophia beckoned to the waiter and footed the bill.
'Who knew there was such a thing as bad popularity?' Josh sighed, as the waiter looked at Josh in a disgusted manner.
Josh and Sophia walked hand in hand out of the restaurant.
"I guess this is goodbye for now," Josh said.
"Don't forget to come to visit when you're free." Sophia reminded.
"How on earth can I forget such a thing?" Josh grinned.
"I'll get going then." Sophia turned to leave awkwardly.
"Wait." Josh held her hand and turned her around
"Here's something to think about till we meet again." Josh kissed Sophia on the cheek, to the surprise of the students, who had also been confused seeing them together, and walked away, a new spring in his step.