CHAPTER 11: MEETING THE FOLKS

Bella's POV "Hey Mom ! Another year gone by without you by my side, huh ?", Dominic chuckled as he placed a white rose and tears streamed his face. "Happy thoughts, Dominic. Happy thoughts", Kai whispered while wrapping his arms around Dominic's shoulders to give him the support that he needed. Kai was not that bad at all. Huh. Dominic nodded his head in silent agreement and turned back to his mother's grave stone after I rubbed his tears with my thumbs. "Mom ! Guess whom did I get with me !!!", Dominic happily exclaimed this time. "This is Kai, the cool professor I keep talking about and this beautiful girl here is Bella. She is a new student in the university and a really crazy minded genius but she makes me feel safe when I am with her. These two are very special to me and although they don't realize it yet but we already share a special bond with each other. Mom, I love you and I miss you so much. I know you must be harassing the Council above to take care of me", Dominic chuckled a wheezy laugh making us smile too and then continued, "But I know you are and will always be there for me. Goodbye Mom. Rest in peace", he whispered and stood up hurling us up along with him. "You must be so proud of your son, Mrs Kent. He is doing so well for himself on his own. So don't worry, Ma'am. Your son is doing absolutely fine and we will always be there for him", I said while placing a freshly plucked flower beside the white rose. Dominic smiled at me and kissed my forehead in a chaste kiss before turning to Kai who spoke up as well. "It is a pity that you are not among us, Mrs Kent but if Dominic is even 1% of you then you must have been a really great woman. Dominic is one of my best students and although this no parent teacher meeting ….", Kai trailed off when he heard Dominic chuckle and grinned at the latter before turning back to the place where his mother's mortal remains lay. ".… and although your son is very naughty but he always cheers up my day with his funny antics. I am so glad that you gave birth to a great man like him. He is the best !!", Kai concluded and tore off something from his neck before tying it at the corner of the grave stone. It was a pedant ! "Kai ! Why are you tying such a valuable amulet ?", Dominic asked amazed. "It is the lucky charm that my father gave me just before he died. Since, I can never visit my father's grave, I want this pendant to remind me of my father whenever I come to meet your mom too", Kai explained with a smile. Dominic smiled back and guided us back towards the bike. However, to our surprise, the bike was nowhere to be seen and I narrowed my eyes when I saw tribal folk standing in its stead. "Oh fuck ! I forgot", Dominic cursed and strode towards the mentioned people inspite of our protests. "Where the fuck do you think are you going ?", Kai growled as he dashed after Dominic and caught his arm from behind. "I am going to the people who raised me", Dominic shrugged and Kai and I stared at him in disbelief. What ?! "I think we should just follow them", I whispered to Kai and he nodded in silent agreement in return. While Dominic chatted away with his folks in their native tongue which was completely alien to us, Kai walked behind them with one of his arms wrapped around my shoulder. His embrace felt warm and I leaned closer to him as we walked deeper into the forest. Kai's familiar sleek bike stood well guarded beneath a bamboo shed and Dominic grinned at us as he walked back in our direction. "Uh well …. do you two mind sleeping the night here ? We three can room together in the tree house", he suggested nervously. "I don't mind", Kai replied immediately while I too nodded my head to silently convey the same message. Dominic smiled and squeezed me to himself before he bent down to kiss me. "You guys will surely love it here", he happily chirped. "Thank you so much ! You have no idea how relieved I feel right now", he added and Kai smiled at him while patting his back to assure him that it was nothing. * * * * * Bella's POV "Your foster family is really friendly. I love them already !", Kai commented as Dominic served us our bowls of freshly made stew. What he said was true ! The tribal folk had welcomed us as if it was a great celebration for them and while they extended a homely welcome to us, they had bestowed their love in every way possible !! I loved everything about them by now. It felt as if this was our home too ! "They already love you two too", Dominic chuckled as he took a seat by our side and refused to give me my bowl and instead, chose to feed me and himself from the same bowl ! "Chop chop little lamb. In my lap if you want to eat", he demanded and I pouted at him for treating me like a child making everyone chuckle. "You are being so mean", I whined but I loved his attention anyways and quickly conceded to his demand when he patted his thigh. "You are so skinny, baby. I have to ensure that you eat properly", Dominic cooed as he brought the wooden mini ladle near my mouth. "I am not skinny !", I huffed but ate the food he offered nonetheless, rather hungrily too. The food was absolutely heavenly !! Mhmm. Suddenly one of the tribe warriors came towards us but hesitated to disturb Dominic from having his meal. Dominic immediately sensed the intruder's presence and beckoned him to come forward with a warm smile. "What is it, Karr ?", Dominic asked the warrior politely after the latter bowed. "Place ready, Sir", Karr replied making Dominic's smile grow even wider and bowed again before leaving. "What place, Domz ?", I asked as I turned around to face the boy who kept me possessively in his lap, only to get my lips captured by his in a very heated kiss. "Domz ! Everyone is watching !!", I exclaimed as I hit his chest. He laughed and replied, "Then you should stop being so cute around me, babe and no one minds it here", he said and dipped his head to peck my lips one last time. "I have no idea why I let you kiss me and love it so much", I murmured as I turned back to finish the delicious dinner. Dominic chuckled and replied, "Don't think so much, baby girl. Now let's go back to our room to rest. We need to get up early to reach the uni", he husked in his deep, gentle voice and helped me up from his lap. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *