Ryan's house was beautiful, not huge but definitely pretty. There was a long, paved pathway that led to the front door. Trimmed bushes lied along both sides of the pathway. For some reason, the bushes looked unusual— greener and livelier than a normal bush.

Even the abandoned patch of land just outside their house, which had looked dry and deserted when we first entered the lane, did not look like that anymore— it looked like a beautiful garden with tall trees and different kind of flowers. The flowers were bigger, more colourful than I had ever seen, the leaves and the grasses lusher than they normally should be. I had a feeling that it was enchanted. But I shushed my overthinking mind.

Catching a glance of that land (or garden—I really could not decide what to call it, because as though it looked like a big garden, it was still an abandoned land with an unfinished fence built around it.) I rotated the sling on the wooden gate that led to the pathway of Ryan's house. I did not want to go inside the house  I wanted to go to the garden.

I realized then that ever since we had entered the lane, and ever since I saw that abandoned land, I had wanted to go there. Even when it had looked like a dust-covered, dry land, I did not care— I just wanted to go somewhere quiet, and definitely not at Mrs. Waters' house, where there could be Ryan. One evening with him was enough for me.

I rolled my eyes at the thought of him.

"What are you rolling your eyes at?" my mother asked from where she stood beside me. We were standing infront of the main door of their house.

I wanted to say, at the absurdity of taking me to a place where I was not needed at all. Of course, I did not say that.

"Nothing," I rolled my shoulders.

"How long will we have to stand outside the door? I am getting bored," I started, "Maybe I should just go to that field outside the house."

Mother sighed.

"And all these days I thought you were the sensible one. Why would you want to go that dried up land?" she asked.

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. What did she mean by dried up land? Could she not see how really beautiful it was?

I was just about to ask her that, when the door opened.

I did not expect the face that greeted us in the hallway.

"Good to see you, Mrs. Hill," Ryan said to my mother and then seemed to notice me. "And Venus." He sounded surprised.

"Call me Allison, please," my mother smiled at Ryan.

"What are you doing here?" I cursed myself as soon as I said that.

"It's my house," Ryan said without as much as looking at me.

But since I had already overcome the embarrassing encounter, I asked him, "Shouldn't be you at college?"

"No." What even- he was clearly ignoring me. I already loathed that I had to come here. "The Hills are here," he called out to his mother instead.

"Hey Allison, hi Venus. I was just setting the table for some afternoon tea and scones. Please join us," Mrs. Waters came out from the kitchen holding a teapot in her hand. Eleanor Waters definitely knew how to look elegant even in a casual attire at home. I noticed that all the members of the Waters family were blessed with beauty and elegance I had never seen in anyone.

"I am sorry I would have to pass on the offer," I said to Eleanor.

"It's alright, dear. Ryan, why don't you show her around the house?"

"No—I— "

"Sure." He did not even give me a chance to deny the offer. A few minutes ago, Ryan could not care less about what I was talking about, and suddenly he was agreeing to show me around the house! What was he having? Mood swings?

"Follow me." What? Follow him? I was not going to follow him anywhere.

"Why should I follow you? I am your guest. Treat me like one or I am afraid I'll just sit here with my mother," I retorted.

"Come on, Venus. I thought we were friends," he smirked. Bastard.

I gave my nicest fake smile. "Are we?" If he was interested in toying with me, so be it. Why should I hold back?

Ryan took my hands. "Fine. Come with me." He led me out of the dining room.

"What are you doing? Leave my hand."

"As you wish," Ryan just dropped my hand, like one drops a discarded toy in the garbage. My mouth fell open.

"Now, do you really want to see the house or do you want an excuse to get out of the house?" he asked. To be honest, I wanted an excuse to get out of the house.

"For your information, I was going to deny the offer on house touring. And, as much as I want to get out of this house, I really don't want my mother's wrath. So, if you are not interested in showing me around, or perhaps, in speaking to me in a civil manner, I would like to go inside, and maybe have some tea."

"Oh, I am very interested in showing you around. From where should we start? Perhaps my room?" Arsehole.

I ignored his words and looked behind. Both my mother and Mrs. Waters were engaged in deep conversation.

"Or perhaps the beautiful garden outside your house?" I suggested, grinning.

Ryan's face displayed a myriad of expressions. He raked his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat before saying, "Stop grinning. You clearly don't know what is beautiful and what is not."

I scowled at him.

"You were quick to go from grinning to scowling," he smiled lazily.

Grunting, I went towards the wide balcony on the far end of the room. From the balcony, I could see that abandoned land and I wondered whose land it was— who had bought it and did not even bother to finish the construction of the fence around it. The balcony also offered the view of a pond in the middle of that garden, which was otherwise not visible from the road. I heard Ryan coming up behind me.

"I like this place the most, in this house," he said.

I looked at him and after a moment of silence, said, "The view is so exquisite— the flowers and the pond. I have never seen a water body so rich blue in colour—not even the ocean— and so soothing to the eyes."

Then I looked at the garden again but that beauty, all of it, was gone. It was again that dry, dirt-land I had seen before. What happening was beyond my understanding.

I heard Ryan sigh but he did not say anything.

***

On the way home, I could not stop thinking of the garden, its beautiful flowers and exceptional trees. And the pond— a pond like I had never seen. The water of the pond had the exact blue colour of Ryan's eyes and the water shimmered and sparkled as if it was as living as us. The garden was magnificent and I already longed to go there.

"Can you please drop me to the library? I'll be back in an hour or two," I asked my mother who just nodded.

I rented some books from the library and before I knew, I was walking towards De Freville Avenue. At that time, I was glad that the fence was unfinished or else I would not have been able to enter the garden like I was about to do.

About half an hour later, I was standing a few feet away from the garden. That time, I could see some of the charms of the garden but it was not like the one I had previously seen. Nevertheless, I entered the garden and walked towards the pond.

What was I doing? I knew I needed to get out of there— it was a bad idea and I should have never gone to the place. But I could not resist myself either. I told myself to take only a look and never come back. But all those rich colours, the unworldly textures again caught my attention.

I, very creepily (and I was not proud of that creepiness) looked at the pond but now that I looked at it— it looked almost like an ordinary pond—with its water almost dried up, except I had already seen its beauty earlier. And I wanted to see them again. So how crazy it might be, I willed the water to show me what I had seen before and willed myself to be able to witness that otherworldly beauty.

I told the deep blue, seemingly dangerous water infront of me how much I had loved to see the shimmers and ripples in it earlier. Then I closed my eyes. I thought if I recalled hard enough, I shall be able to experience it again and when I opened my eyes again, the shimmering and rippling water of the pond lied before me. I nearly screamed in joy.

I sat on the rocks surrounding the water and took in the colours and peaceful sound of the gleaming water crashing against the rocks. I liked to paint, though could not always paint due to my studies and in order to pursue a bigger passion than painting— reading. But I decided to paint this place as soon I got home.

Oh! I had totally forgotten about that. The sky was almost dark and I needed to get out of the garden if I wanted to reach home in time, especially as I had to walk. In order to freshen up a bit, I took some water in my hands and splashed it across my face. A few drops of water went into my mouth— it tasted like nectar—so sweet and pure. I took some more and drank it before exiting the garden.

_______________________________

Did you like CHAPTER 5 of "A World of Treason and Tides" ?

Vote and comment if you did.😊

Should Venus have drunk water from the pond? What do you think?