Chapter 17

I stare at the two cans of beer sitting on the dashboard in my office room. I've been keeping them for so long, but it feels like the right time to take them out.

Funny how I want to share with Melzul. I don't even know when the next time I get a fresh supply will be. But... maybe after a few days, it won't matter anymore.

There's a knock at the door, so I press the button on the dashboard to open the door. "Yes?"

It's Melzul and he grins. "Hi, is this the secret lair for our meeting? You didn't even turn on the lights."

My heart skips a beat. Maybe it is like what he said, for us to secretly meet up, away from everyone else. "You better come in soon, before others see you."

"See me getting into your room?" He winks as he comes in. His smug grin is so annoying that I'm tempted to kick his ass to get rid of the grin.

He takes a seat on the chair I put by the side of mine. "Oh! Canned beer!"

"Yeah..." I run my finger over the cold surface of the can, which has droplets of condensation on it. "Do you drink?"

"Yes. But... I think these aren't from the factories here."

"Yes, these are from the last time we got supply from the home planet, which is a long time ago. There's no telling whether there'll be a next supply."

"And... Since there are two cans, you intend for me to have one?"

I nod and crack open the can, taking a sip of the cold beer. It reminds me of home. "Take one. I may not have another chance to enjoy it."

"Why?" He stares at me. "Why won't you enjoy it a few days later or something like that."

I take another sip, letting the mildly bitter liquid run down my throat. "Look, I've had enough of everything. I can't function under this anymore. After the conflict with Acea, I doubt I can keep the secret any longer."

"That... You haven't managed to contact your home company, or planet, for so long?"

I stare at him. "What did you just say?"

He spreads his arms to the side. "Come on, we all know... I mean, most of them should know, if even I can figure it out. For some reason, you can't contact whoever sent you here and you don't want to let everyone here know about that."

He takes the can away from me before I drop it. I sit back and lean onto the backrest of the chair. My limbs are heavy and tears are surging in me.

What do I do?

So... Everyone knows about that, right? I'm the one fooling myself over it and imagining that I can hold it to myself.

He puts the can on the dashboard, far away from me so I won't knock it over. "Listen, they will understand, but you have to tell them."

I close my eyes. "What if they'll be better off not knowing for longer? I think everyone is hoping to resume contact soon. Knowing that there may not be a chance for that may crush them. This village needs everyone on board for it to be sustainable. So..."

He takes his can of beer, turning it around in his hand. "I don't know who you're trying to fool. Them or yourself?"

"Are you going to drink it or not?"

"Focus on the question."

I stare at the screen that's turned off. "I... I don't know. I'm just trying to do the best for everyone."

He taps the bottom of his can before cracking it open. He takes a sip with a grin. "Nice beer! I've... Well, let's say it has been a while since I've enjoyed something like this."

Maybe he used to take those from other villages or sites.

He says, "Back to the topic at hand. I think it'll be better for you to tell them what's up. No one likes to be lied to."

"Apparently, you have plenty of experience."

He sighs and takes another sip. "Yeah, I lied and ended up here. And... I lied about dumb stuff for my own benefit."

"What's that about?"

He blinks. "Well... I suppose it is only fair for us to be honest with each other. I used to lead a battleship. There was a coach who watched over me. I... I took a human female to my ship after she disrespected me, but the coach took her from me and made her his mate. So... at a space station where uzains take a break, I abandoned them and left with my fleet. I lied that he left on his own with his mate and... Let's say it didn't end well when I was caught."

Oh... That doesn't sound good at all. I could never imagine.

I ask, "Because you were jealous that the coach found his mate?"

Melzul stares at me, his intense gaze sends a fire in me. Why did I ask him about that?

There's a buzz in my pussy and... Why am I imagining his arms and the things he can do to me? It's like... Why?

He says, "Maybe. Or I hated how he took what should be mine. But... I guess that human isn't my mate, anyway. I don't feel the same way as when I..."

He swallows and takes a sip of his beer. Does that mean he has someone in mind?

Maybe that's not me.

I don't even know whether I'd imagine myself as his mate. He has comfortable and calming arms, but he annoys me.

He chuckles. "Look, maybe you got me here because you feel something for me."

Now... Is this his effort to flirt with me? if that's all he got, no wonder the other woman didn't choose him. "Yeah, you make me feel things."

His eyes light up. "For real?"

"Yeah, I sure feel annoyed all the time. That's something."

He sighs. "I think you're just messing with me. But that's a thing for uzains, when we meet our mate, we're supposed to know."

"So... Have you met yours?"

He blinks. My heart beat raised. Am I hoping he'd say he wants me? But... We've been fighting each other for almost the whole time we met, so...

He says, "I can't deny the way my horns buzz for you." He takes my hand and puts it over his horn. I run my finger over it, tapping the sharp point of his horn.

"Irene, I think there's a reason you keep getting on my nerves."

"I think your flirting skill is so bad that it's laughable. And we are so far away from the topic at hand when you keep distracting us."

He blinks. "I suppose... So, when are you telling them?"

"Do you think that's the right call, even though it has been a while?"

"You won't know until you do it."

I pick up my can of beer and take a sip. "That's why I think there's a chance I won't get to enjoy all my beer. They are going to be mad and kill me, or kick me out of the village."

He scowls. "I'm going to fight them and make sure that doesn't happen."

"I can appreciate that, but there are hundreds of them. Don't be silly."

"You are only trying to help."

"It doesn't matter when I didn't manage to help."

"No, it does matter."

I scowl at him. "You don't understand. They are putting their hopes on me."

"But they know there are two ends of communication and you're only one of those."

He is so annoying that I want to smack him with my staff, which is sadly not here with me.

He snakes his arm across my waist and pulls at me, trying to get me on his lap.

I roll my eyes and grab his hand. "What's this? Trying something on me?"

"Um... yes and no?"

I lean onto him. I don't care about sitting on his lap, but I'm not in the mood. "Look, I just wish I had an answer for them."

"I can see that." He sips on his beer again. "But it's impossible when you can't reach home."

"Yes..."

"Have you tried communicating with someone else? Maybe someone can help. There have to be traders who will come by if you have something to offer. The village has nice cheese and stuff. As Hoge said, we can sell some of that."

"Except I can't. This is a temporary settlement. I think I haven't told you. Maybe we should be on the same page. We are hired and sent here to settle this place and to complete reports on the climate and related information so that the main team will be able to mine for precious materials on this planet and we'll take care of them. But... Nothing matters by now..."

I take a breath and take another sip of my beer before tears can get out of me. "We're promised a handsome sum of money for the task, too. And since the main team is expected, and this is a remote planet, the network isn't constructed yet and I can only reach the company."

He holds me tighter to his side, probably sensing the tension in me. Somehow, among all the beings here, he's the one I trust enough to talk to. He could have told others, too, but somehow...

"Melzul, maybe this is the first time I wish you're right."

"You know I'm right. More importantly, maybe we can check the remains of my spaceship. The communication system may be intact."

Oh... Maybe that'll work.

"But that will take getting into the forest."

"We have the village to help. And we can go during the day."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "But I don't want to get their hopes up. The spaceship could be in ruins, with nothing to retrieve. Not to mention it has been a while since it crashed. Even if the system is intact, we'll need to power it up.

"So that means we'll bring a generator there. Those are pretty universal for spaceships, anyway, so use a cable to connect it over."

"You're the hopeful one among us."

"Maybe. As long as it works. How much worse can that be? If it doesn't work, we aren't worse off. But what if it works?"

I stare at him. Is this what I can expect from someone who has led a team before? Even though he has done his share of stupid things that shoved him here?

He blinks and rubs his horns. "Is that such a bad idea?"

"I'm just thinking..."

He leans in, so close that I can almost see my face in his eyes. "That I'm a bit too handsome for you to think straight?"

I snort a laugh, moving away from his face so I won't be laughing in his face. "Stop it. You're just messing with me by now."

"Maybe I am." He smirks and taps my forehead with the gentle part of his horn. "And you love to have me messing with you."

My heart skips a beat with more heat spreading through my body. He rests his hand on my cheek. Somehow, I like that. When he isn't that annoying, I can stand his ass doing dumb stuff and I may not care if I do dumb things with him.

But... Even though I don't mind getting on his lap, it doesn't mean I want to do that just like that.

I take my can of beer. "Maybe we'll try out your plan. Cheers to future success."

He takes his can. "Is it good to celebrate before we even start the plan?"

"We already started it and have it in our minds, it is going to be fine." I don't want to think about the future. For now, it's pretty good to be with him. It feels like I can tell him everything. He can be snarky at times, but he knows when's not the time for his silly jokes.

He taps his can with mine. "Yes, we'll make it work. And thank you for this amazing beer."

We take a sip of our beer before putting the cans on the dashboard again. I tap the button to turn on the screen. "Here, maybe I'll show you how it doesn't work."

He hugs me. "We can do it together."

"I hope..."

The system warms up like always, and the light indicating the functioning of the system goes green again. I push the button for the system to connect with home. The loading bar shows up on the screen.

I let out a breath. "I'm not holding any hope with this."

"It must be frustrating."

"I mean, imagine if it actually goes through. Whoever is on the other side will see us cuddling."

"Is that a shame to be with me?" He flexes his arms. "I'm a strong uzain that'll be fitting to be your mate."

My heart skips a beat and my gaze goes from his arm to his face. He grins and doesn't seem to be joking about it.

"So... Are you saying that you want me as your mate?"

He leans closer to my face. "Yes. I thought I hated human females, but maybe all I hate is that human who messed with me big time."

"Well, you're the one lying about it, so you don't get to blame her."

He sucks in a breath. "But..."

"Look, are you going to lie about something else next time just so you can get things your way?"

He taps the tip of my nose. "You don't get to say that when you've been lying to the others, too."

"But—"

"I get that it's different, but lying is lying."

I stare at the can again, watching as the drop of water slides down the can. "How bad will it be when I tell everyone? Or... Do we try to retrieve what may be on your spaceship first?"

"You said that there are beasts in the forest. It won't be safe for the two of us to go there on our own."

"But... I don't want to waste everyone's time if there's nothing to be found, you know?"

He strokes my side and I lean onto him again. I know he is pretty strong, and I'm good with my staff too, but I don't think we're good enough to fight off the beasts, especially when there can be more than one beast.

He says, "It's okay to need help. I bet they will be glad to help. The safer the better. If anything happens to you, they'll be upset."

"Same for you."

"Not really. I'm the annoying gray ass. They can live without me for sure. And Acea would love to have me gone."

"No, that's not..."

He glares at me as if I'm Acea. "Trust me, I know what he is thinking about."

"And what's that? Do you think he's somehow in love with me or something this time around?"

He swallows. "No... I..."

It looks like he is definitely a bit jealous over the whole thing, though there's nothing between Acea and me. "Jealousy has never done you good."

"I'm not jealous. He has nothing for me to be jealous over."

I lift my brows at him.

He glances to the side for a moment. "Well..."

"Just so you know. I'm on my own and I'm not with anyone."

"No? Even when there are that many beings here, you didn't find your mate?"

"As if you have your mate already?"

He gulps. "I think I found her."

I roll my eyes. "This is such a bad pickup line. Try harder, I have standards."

"Um... I'm a being of action, not words."

"Action, huh?" I watch him with a smirk. Maybe he has some good ideas at times.

He cups my cheek in his hands. "I'll show you how much I want you. Maybe there's a reason you keep annoying me."

"You stole my line, big gray ass."

There seem to be sparks in the air and my stomach does a flip-flop. Maybe there's a reason he keeps getting on my nerves.

He runs his finger along my lips. "I'm going to steal even more from you."

Oh... I'll have to check that out.