Chapter 70 - The Stones

(From Ella's Perspective)

"Why me?" he asked.

I laughed. "That's the type of thing girls ask usually. Now that you asked... Well, it's because I like you and you said you like me too. Don't you think we need to be truthful and respect each other's privacy? It's not like I have any kind of privacy as I told you everything about me. But I don't know all about you, so until then, I think it's good to let you keep your secrets and stuff like that, you know."

"But a few days ago, you didn't know if I like you."

"But I knew that I like you," I said and just that moment, I realized what I had said. I had just admitted that I had liked him before too, now there was no turning back because I would not lie to him no matter what. It was who I was. I did not like to lie to the person I cared about. And he was beyond a possibility of being lied to. 

"Don't make is sound awkward and weird. Just don't say anything," I said hastily before he could say something. 

"Just tell me if it's true," he said, with a small smile on his face that was kind of new. 

"It is," I mumbled and started to look into the box. I did not want to see what kind of reaction he had. I felt too embarrassed to say anything else or merely look at him. 

The stones he had inside the box... They were_ precious. I had never thought that anyone could have all those kinds of precious stones. I knew he was rich, richer than I could count, but I never expected him to collect stones. 

"It's a red ruby, Leandro!" I exclaimed, holding the deep red stone, that seemed to be illuminating purity and a calming yet heated sensation. 

"I can see that," he said tiredly. 

"You haven't told me you had a red ruby. It's freaking precious!" I yelled in excitement. "Hey, what's with that look? Give me some reaction... a huge smile!"

"Ella, I had this thing for so many years. It's not my first time seeing it. Why would I scream and yell?"

"You got a point there. But I don't think you screamed or yelled when you first saw it."

He did not say anything. I knew I was right. What a cold person! I was sure that nothing in this world could make him truly happy or bring him to tears. 

"Who gave it to you?"

"I used to go to different places and forests. I found it," he said.

"That's so cool! Next time when you go somewhere, take me with you. We both will look for some stones and bring thousands of them home!" I said. "You know, in our world, it's really costly as I said. Is it costly here too?"

"Yes. It shows lust and purity here."

"Isn't it an odd combination- lust and purity? I mean, when you're lustful, then you lose control over yourself and end up doing that mature touchy thing, right? But purity means to control, peace of mind. I'm sure when you're lustful, your mind doesn't remain peaceful at all. Weird things come to mind, making you insane. In my world, red ruby is a sign of passion, nobility, and purity. Then again, some call it lustrous. I mean, seriously? People are weird. It's so odd and confusing."

"It isn't about random lust like when you see someone and become lustful... It's about the right time with the right person. Here, it means when you entwine with the one that you love, make the person yours completely... When it happens, then lust turns into purity, a passion that can connect two peoples' souls."

"That's so philosophical," I mumbled. "I'm not joking. I mean, I understand the meaning now. But the way you said it, well, I never saw you like that. Anyway, you described it amazingly. I'm so proud of you!"

"Do you have to make everything sound like that?" he asked and I noticed that he was smiling slightly, kind of like the smile he was trying to hold back. 

I grinned and placed the red ruby on the bed very carefully, as if I was placing a little baby, trying hard so it would not get hurt. The next thing I found was a diamond, the biggest one I had ever seen, on both the internet and in real life. The diamond that was on Mom's engagement ring was quite small, compared to nothing next to the one I was holding at the moment. 

"Why is this so big?" I asked, trying to see if it weighted too much that I would not be able to hold it in one hand. "It's way bigger than the ones I saw. Mom's one would look tiny next to it. Are you sure it's real?"

"It is real," he said. 

"It's so cool! Every girl would like it. You know, people in my world say that diamonds are girls' best friends. There is a song too- 'Diamonds are girl's best friend'. It's from the movie 'Birds of Prey'. I haven't watched it, but I watched the song. It's kinda cool. Normani and Megan Thee Stallion sang it. I'm not their fan, but I like the song," I said. "And let me remind you again. I use the word 'cool' a lot. You can't mind."

"I know. You said it before too."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm just reminding you in case you've forgotten."

He gave me a look that said- 'I don't forget anything you say'. But it could not be true, right? I perhaps misread his expression. 

"Girls would be crazy to get it, you know. If they knew it's yours, then they would throw themselves at you to get it, I mean, these stones. They are crazy over these things."

"Aren't you?"

"Me? Nah," I said impatiently, "They are stones, right? I still don't understand why people would go crazy over stones. Honestly, they are just stones! But people waste millions of money on them. They're crazy. I like to know about the stones, I like to see them, but I won't go crazy over them. You know, sometimes like when a boy cheats on a girl multiple times and then shows up with an engagement ring with a huge diamond, the girl jumps over him saying yes and crying as they've never done before forgetting all about what the boy did as if a diamond ring is a string that was needed in a relationship. Don't you think these kinds of stones drive people crazy? After all, they are stones only. Just think about it- there are two forms of carbon. Carbon is a chemical element with atom number six. Anyway, so there are two forms of carbon- graphite and diamond. From the same place, but one is valuable while the other is cheap kind of like two sisters from the same family while one is treated as if the most precious thing of all and the other is treated like trash. Anyway, my thinking is weird. Just tell me to shut up. I talk a lot."

"Your thinking is indeed different, but it's real and true. You're not blinded by anything. Why would I stop you when your words make me think about everything all over again and realize that it's better if you're close? And I intend to keep you close until you think of leaving," he said. 

Was I truly real and true? He would not lie to me, he promised me. But the things he told about me- I had to think of them. No one had ever told me those things. I was a bit confused. He also said he wanted to keep me close until I decided to leave. But would I ever want to leave him? 

"And don't compare yourself with your sister. She is not worth it," he said suddenly. 

"Don't worry, I won't," I said, but more like a promise to myself. Perhaps in my world, I had difficulty finding my place, but here, in a completely unknown world where I was not supposed to have a place, I seemed to have made one. No one cared for me in my world, but here, I found a person who cared for me, and deep in my heart, I found the answer to my question. 

"Do I want to leave him?"

"No, never." 

[Note- Gemstones: Gemstones are minerals selected for their beauty and durability, then cut and polished for use as human adornment. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Although pearls and amber are well-known gemstones, they are not minerals. They come from organic sources. Opals are frequently used as jewelry stones, but these delicate gems must be handled with great care. Precious stones have traditionally been the Big Four gemstones: diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Everything else was semi-precious stones. Gemologists no longer use these terms because they imply that some gems are better or more valuable than others.. In fact, some "semi-precious" stones are far more valuable than "precious" stones.]