Ablackwing 45 Pandora's Box

"I feel so curious about what deed I might have done in the past to gain such favour from you."

He didn't reply. He kept looking at the stars silently. I was hoping to get a hint at least. Sometimes, I regret that I allowed him to keep those things with himself till he's fine with sharing them. I didn't know at that time that it'll turn out to be this mysterious.

"Oh. I almost forgot," Black murmured. He then raised his head towards me.

"I want you to meet someone."

"Okay."

I wondered who he remembered all of a sudden. I felt a tinge of jealousy that he was thinking about someone else even though he was with me. But then, I saw a diamond shaped symbol appeared on his forehead, right at the center. That strange symbol was emitting light blue light, in contrast with his pale skin.

In the next instant, an object slowly came out from his glowing skin. The intensity of light was increasing gradually but my eyes refused to blink while watching that surreal sight. They were very interested in that mystical object. But my body, instinctively, retreated a bit backwards.

That object stopped a foot away from his face. That object was emitting blue light, similar to the light of stars from far away. It appeared as if two pyramids were joined from their base.

"What... Is this...?"

"This is Pandora's box. It contains your memories."

Before I could ask him more questions, the blue light dots started coming out of that object. The light from that object dimmed as those dots flew out. The light dots flew around the room as if they were fireflies and after a short moment, they started to gather in front of me. That was such a breathtaking scene.

The bunch of light dots gathered in the form of an illusory silhouette of a little girl and that blueish light vanished. That figure was like a statue standing on Black's abdomen. When I looked closely, I realized that that little girl was really a beauty. She was about twelve years old but she appeared a little mature. Her eyes were closed but her facial features were out of this world. Her skin was too pale, even paler than my Black's skin. It looked like she didn't have blood but mercury in her veins. Her white hair was long and straight. A few short strands of her hair fell on her face while other few fell on her shoulder. That girl was wearing something like a silver sundress with beautiful patterns.

The silhouette of that girl was so realistic that it appeared she would just open her eyes and come to life. I would have believed it to be a real human if it wasn't transparent like.

I raised my hand to touch her but my hand just immersed itself inside that figure's body. It felt like I was trying to touch air.

"You can't touch me." A soft girly voice called out and it wasn't my Black. Aside from me and Black, there was that statue. My heartbeat almost stopped when I heard that voice. That voice was sweet but as it came out of nowhere, it frightened me.

As I was sitting, I had to raise my head to look above. I slowly raised my head to see her beautiful violet eyes and realized her lips had moved. I was shocked. I felt like I was dreaming. I wanted to pinch myself to make sure that it was a reality when the girl lowered her head and spoke up again.

"Long time no see, Emerald."

"It's been a while, Angie," Black replied with a smile.

"Did you get bored of me? If I remember correctly, you yourself said forever. You are such a liar!"

That girl said in a slightly loud voice as if she was throwing a tantrum. Her eyes were open wide as she stared at my Black angrily. She appeared so cute.

"It was because of her," Black replied. He raised his head and pointed at me with his eyes.

"Who is she?" That girl and I said in unison as if we had practised it before.

"What exactly is she?" I asked.

"Allow me to introduce... Angel eve, she's Angelheart."

"You are such a liar... I thought I was the angel heart." I pinched his cheeks again. Didn't that name belong to me? Why did he lie to me!? I felt special whenever he called me Angelheart. When I heard him call someone else Angelheart, I felt that he s.n.a.t.c.hed that something special from me.

"You are angelheart. I didn't lie, alright. I never lie."

"Then who is she."

"I told you already." He looked at me as if I was asking something obvious. It felt like my mind had started working again. If that girl standing in front of me was Angelheart and if that nickname belonged to me, then that meant...

"She's me?"

He nodded.

"But... How?"

"Don't ask how. Because I can't tell. This Angelheart in front of you is the manifestation of your memories inside Pandora's box."

In front of me, the strange object was still floating and glowing. I realized that this object must be called Pandora's box.

That girl bent forward. Her face was a few inches away from me. My mind hadn't digested all of the information properly. I didn't know what to do. I just sat there without saying anything while her eyes roamed on my body. I felt so nervous when the past me looked at myself.

"You hit quite a jackpot, huh... I grew up to be a beauty." It felt weird to get a compliment from myself. I was still a bit happy that I didn't disappoint the past me.

"Not surprising to me. I always knew."

"Emerald, when did you meet her?"

"Um... A couple of months ago."

Little Eve stood straight again. She was angry with the reply. She started jumping up on my Black. Her bare feet made thump sound when they hit his abdomen. While jumping, she spoke up, "You meanie... You didn't... Let me out... All this while..."

"I'm sorry," Black apologized sincerely. But she continued jumping upon him. Black's expressions showed that he was in a little pain but he was still withstanding it. It was cruel. If it was me, I wouldn't have been able to endure it.

"Stop it," I shouted and Little Eve really stopped.

"He deserves a beating once a while... And I know he's just playing. I'm sure he barely felt it. Am I right?"

Black just smiled in response like a kid who was caught stealing cookies.

"You should stop spoiling him," Little Eve said to me in a little harsh tone. But I think she can't see how cute Black is. Whenever I look at my Black, this desire to spoil him sprouts in my heart.

"And you mean one, give her the Pandora's box."

Black's expressions turned serious. He sighed and shook his head.

"Not today," he said and turned his eyes to me. "I'm not yet ready."

"I understand. I told you I'll be waiting for you." I replied.

We both looked at Little Eve. He had my full support. The past me couldn't force him in front of me. I dare her to.

"Close your eyes and ears, Emerald." Little Eve told Black.

"My name is Black now!" Black replied and then he placed his palms over his ears. Her words had a great deal of authority in them. My Black closed his eyes and the Little Eve's gaze locked into me as she spoke up.

"Do you want your memories back?"

I nodded in response.

"You just have to steal the Pandora's box," Little Eve said. Her hand appeared below that box as if she was offering it to me. I didn't need any time to make a decision. I had already promised him I'll wait.

"What are you waiting for? It's right in front of you."

"Can't steal. I have promised him." I helplessly replied.

"Emerald will never know. Take it. This is your last chance. If you deny right now, I will erase your memories."

"Go on... Black will tell it to me later."

"Emerald has never used Pandora's box to take a peek at your memories. He doesn't know much about your past. So what do you choose now?"

I knew she was trying to intimidate me. I had no idea why so. I had started to dislike her for trying to make me break my promise. Her words weren't enough to shake me but they were enough to anger me.

"His name is Black. If my memories are to disappear, then let them disappear. He's... He's more important."

She again looked at me with stern expressions as if she was still waiting for me to change my decision. I replied with determined eyes.

"You pa.s.s." Little Eve smiled as she said it. She gently touched my forehead with two of her fingers. I didn't feel her fingers touching me, I only felt a faint warmth. "You've been granted the key to his memories."

"Huh?" I didn't understand what she was saying. Didn't that box contain my memory? Where did Black's memory come from? Understanding my confusion, little Eve started explaining.

"I've been collecting Black's memories all these years. I refined them bit by bit without him knowing and stored them in the Pandora's box, along with your memories. I've pa.s.sed on the key to those memories to you." She stopped for a while before continuing.

"Why did you do that?"

"When I... When I was given the Pandora's box, I was afraid I might have changed from who I used to be. But I'm glad to see that you are same as me. If you had changed, I wouldn't have pa.s.sed you the key."

"It's.. wrong... You should at least have his permission. You're invading his privacy."

"When I first met him, I saw something very scary. I've seen what he has gone through. He's the current owner of Pandora's box and that's why I can only tell you that his scars run deeper than what he shows outside. He will never tell you about them willingly and he will suffer in silence because of his prideful self. I can only steal do this much to help you." Little Eve said and stepped forward. Her little hand rubbed my head. "Take care... of both of you... And I was just kidding. You are allowed to spoil him as much as you want."

"And yeah don't tell him anything about it. I think he can't do anything but after all, I'm just a remnant. So just to be safe."

"Hope we meet again soon." Little Eve said and her body disintegrated in a flash. She turned into a mist of fine particles that emitted faint light. Those particles were much smaller than the fireflies they were before. They diffused into the Pandora's box and the light of box increased in intensity. After all those light particles gathered inside the box, the box started falling and it soon disappeared inside my Black's forehead.

His eyes jerked open as soon as the box disappeared.

"What did you two talk about?"

"Nothing much," I replied. I tried to appear as normal as I could but he saw right through me.

"Secrets... I see."

"She asked me to keep it secret. I hope you won't mind."

"It's okay. No problem." He said with a familiar arc of his lips. No one would believe after looking at this smiling man that he had wounds deep inside his heart.

"Thank you," Black said as he turned his head towards the stars once again. On the corner of his eyes, I could see a faint watery layer. I think he was really happy that I didn't force him and went against his wishes before.

If he asks for it, I'd even give up my current memories. That's how much I loved him. And I knew that even if I ask him for his life, he'd behead himself without thinking. That's how much he loved me. Love is just too beautiful feeling.

I couldn't help but think about how I can love him a little deeper than I already do. Today's meeting with my past self made me realize how good of an actor my darling was. Smiling so beautifully even though he was messed up inside. I just hoped that one day, I would be able to make his scars fade away.