Chapter 22: A Start of Something Called …

“Captain Maru..” Zed calls Marlon.

“What is it? Zed?” Marlon turned to face Zed, who was walking behind him.

“Do you, perhaps, have a crush on Ms Serena?”

“WHAT?” Marlon startled as his face reddened. “Stop saying that kind of nonsense, Zed!” He continues lightly smacking at Zed’s head.

“Ouch! I only ever ask this once! What do you mean stop saying!”

“Just… don’t say that again,” Marlon replied, touching his neck. “I am kind of worried, though. She’s my childhood friend after all,” he said.

“Aren’t you like 30ish?” Zed said.

“Well, you aren’t wrong. I will soon be 30,” Marlon closed his eyes while releasing a breath of insecurity.

“Doesn’t that…?”

“Doesn’t that what?”

“Um… So when Ms Serena was 7 years old. You were like…19?”

“Yeah…”

“How does that a childhood friend? Weren’t you an adult already?”

“Um…”

***

Xaviel and Serena were trekking through the corridors of The Great Mylenia Labyrinth. On their way, a thought occurred in Xaviel’s head.

“Hey, Serena, mind if I ask