Episode 9

Chapter 8

JETHRO

I am now inside the Main Cabin, sitting in a corner while holding my aching chest. This is the first time I have ever felt this way. It’s painful but warm. Could Dad be right?

I went to Dad's office and when I opened the door, I saw him writing. He immediately raised his head and was surprised to see me.

"Jethro," he stopped what he was doing. I didn't say a word and just stared at him.

"Uhm do you need something?" he asked. I closed the door and sat on a couch a little far away from him.

“Okay. So you will just sit there and—”

"Why did you tell her?" I cut him off.

He was silent for a moment before he answered me. “I didn't tell her anything. I just showed her your room.”

"That is what I'm talking about so why?" I asked again.

He sighed. "Is it just me but I think that she can help you," he replied.

"Help me with what?" I asked coldly.

"You'll see once you get close to her," and he smiled before going back to his writing.

I stood up and approached his desk. He noticed this so he looked up and that's when I stopped and gave him came back a very serious look.

“She can't help me. No one can. From the very start, I know that no one can understand me and even can change me, not even my brothers. I don't want to hope anymore,” I said.

He did not speak at first and averted his eyes. "I understand," he said so I turned around and walked away. When I was at the door,

"You know Jethro, there's nothing wrong if you try..." he said that I stopped at my place, but I did not look at him.

“Just give this a chance. If again, I'm wrong, then stop trying. BUT I guarantee you, she is the one,” he said.

I didn’t reply and finally left his office.

I did what he said to prove him wrong. I thought at first that she was not really what I was looking for but when she said all that, she proved herself there.

Maybe she is the one I have been waiting for but that’s just the beginning. There is not enough evidence that she is who I’m looking for. There are more to come.

~~~

YANI

I'm resting in my room now. That's tiring.

Wow, no kidding Yani. Am I really tired? If we look closely, all I did today was walk and go around the Water Cabin and then I came back here. But for your information, it's tiring for me to warm up my body while I'm running. You won’t know unless you have this kind of power I have...

...but I didn’t use much of it, and it’s all because of him.

My cheeks began to heat up. KYAAH! Okay fine. Honestly, I felt butterflies in my stomach with what he did. Bu who doesn't when you know a numb person that doesn’t care about his surroundings suddenly hand over a jacket because you are getting cold. You know what I mean?!

Just a moment Yani. He just did that to change okay? You’re just overthinking this. End of story. And since I had nothing else to do, again I changed into my pajamas and went to sleep.

The next day... knock, knock.

Gradually, I woke up to the knock. Is there a knock? I was waiting for a few minutes if there is but it looks like there was no one. Okay. Back to sleep.

Knock, knock. I slowly opened my eyes. There is indeed someone knocking. Eish. It’s still early.

Knock, knock. I sat down and scratched my eyes. Who is that? Is this how life really should be here, you should wake up early?

Knock, knock. Coming. I removed my blanket and got out of bed. I yawned and scratched my right eye again.

Seriously, I look like a zombie walking towards the door. My whole soul is not awake yet but who cares whoever is that by the door. When I opened it, I looked at who.

"Oh Yani, sorry to wake you up."

My eyes widened and my soul finally woke up because of the person standing in front of me now.

“Do you mind? I just want to—”

BOOGSH!! I hurriedly closed the door in front of him. SH*T! Prince Edmondo saw me newly awake with still dry saliva on the side of my lips! Waaahh! EMBARASSING!

Knock, knock. “Yani, are you okay? I just want to give you something,” he said behind the door.

Oh SH*T! I even slammed the door shut right in front of him! Shacks! I was really able to shut the door right in front of a prince?! This is BAD!

“Yani?”

"Uhm no… I mean I'm fine!" I stuttered in response. "Just..."

I did not finish what I was going to say and immediately ran to the closet and got a dress and went straight to the CR. "Just Wait There!" I shouted before I closed the door of the CR.

After I changed, washed my face, whatever it is that needed to be fixed in the morning, I immediately opened the door. I don't know how but I was able to do all of that for a few minutes.

It's good he's still here. He looked at me from head to toe.

"Yani, uhm you look—"

"I'm very, very, super, duper SORRY Prince Edmondo!" I apologized and bowed in front of him, which surprised him.

“No it's fine really—”

"No it's not," I cut him off again and I stood up straight. “I shut the door right in front of you. Isn't it that's BAD?! ”

"Well, yes but—"

“I'm really sorry. I need to be punished for my mistakes,” and I cut him off again and bowed again.

“Yani, it's fine and I understand that anyways. You were just shocked so you've done that. I just want to give you these shoes. It was my fault in the first place,” he reached for a pair of shoes.

I looked at that pair. The shoes with heels. I stood up straight right away.

"So you're here just to give the shoes?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"You will not tour me to your cabin?"

“Oh. Not today. I'm not scheduled to tour you right now but anyways here, take the shoes,” so I took the shoes.

"Uhm, thank you," I said.

“You're welcome. Hope you're comfortable with that now. I should be going then. I have a lot in my schedule today,” he said while giving me a smile.

I just nodded in response and he walked away. When he finally disappeared...

Waahh! I'm sure Prince Edmondo is laughing! Great. What I did before was very embarrassing.

But if he is not my tour guide now, who then?

Click! I was slightly startled by the sound and turned to where it came from and was surprised to see who it was.

"The first photo I've ever taken for the new visitor namely Yani," and he smiled at me.

Wait, air prince… I know his name. Ah! He is…

"Prince Turuki right?" I asked.

"That's me and your tour guide for the Air Cabin," he replied with a smile.

Oh. So he is my tour guide now. But wait a minute, is it right that he took a picture of me earlier while that embarrassing incident was happening?!

"Di-did you just took a picture of me a while ago?" I asked with nervousness in my tone.

"Yes I did," he replied. "I was wondering from place to place but I can't find a perfect view to capture so good thing you showed up," he added while looking at the picture on his camera.

"Prince Turuki, please delete that," I begged him.

“Why would I? You look beautiful in it,” he said with a smile.

"I hate people taking pictures of me so please, just delete it," I threatened him.

"Well right now you better like them because my camera will always keep its 'eye' on you," and his crazy smile still lingers.

I frowned at him for what he said.

Click! “STOP IT!” I said aloud. "Even though you are a prince, I will destroy that camera!"

“Woah, woah easy there girl. Anything but that. I'm saving this for my next photo album. An album that covers all your faces.”

This prince is starting to piss me off. “Are you making fun of me?”

“No. I'm serious.”

“Why do you have to?!”

“Well first of all, you are the first girl to ever have the ability to control all elements. Never have I met a single person that have the same ability as yours. Second, I always take pictures not for fun, but in order for me to remember something maybe I will forget.”

I was stunned by the last thing he said.

"Something you will forget?"

“Yup. As a prince, I have a lot of responsibilities to do especially for my cabin. Sometimes I'm stressed out that I forget moments like these so I make sure I take a picture of everything I do for me to remember it.”

"Oh," I replied. “Okay. Whatever,” and rolled my eyes at him.

Well what can I do. He's a prince but I'm in a bad mood now so if he annoys me, I'll be really upset, promise.

"So shall we go?" he offered.

"Ah yeah," I replied.

We walked out of the Main Cabin and after a few minutes of walking…

"So here we are," he said as we stood in the middle of NOWHERE. There’s nothing here. It’s just an open field lawn.

"Uhm here where?" I wonder in question.

“To the Air Cabin.”

"But there's nothing around here," I said.

"Yes my friend because…" at the same time he made a small whirlwind at his feet and...

SWISH! He suddenly disappeared next to me. What, he disappeared next to me? I looked for him around me but I cannot find him. I started panicking. Where is he?!

“PRINCE TURUKI—”

"Yani, I'm up here," so I looked up.

There he sat on a cloud. Whew, I thought he disappeared completely.

"Whoah, how did you get there?" I asked him.

"Yani, I'm an air guy remember?"

Yes, he is an air guy so...

Loading... right. They can control the air and fly.

“Come on. Come up here,” he invited so I also flew to his side.

That took a while for me to get that. Well sorry because my mind and my whole self is like lost right now because of what happened earlier.

Waahh! Aiish! That was my first time and then this prince even saw me! Embarrassing!

"Hey Yani," he called me but I did not say a word and just looked straight ahead. I think my mind is also lost right now because I remembered his jacket again…

Click! I was startled by that sound.

“Huh? Wait what was that for?!” I complained.

"You're daydreaming and that's another photo for the album."

"Delete that," I said in a very serious tone.

“No can do.”

I gave him a glare.

"Okay okay. I'm deleting it,” good thing he understood it.

The clouds rose up until we saw some buildings.

“Okay, so here we are. Welcome to the Air Cabin,” while we are looking down at the same time.

“Woah. A flying city...” I commented. Large pieces of land lying on thick clouds and with buildings and people on the ground. It is obvious that other people are flying from one land to the other. But wait...

"Why are we up here?" I asked.

“For you to see the perfect view of the cabin.”

"Ah okay."

I looked around and immediately the cloud dropped and we landed on one of the Air Cabin grounds.

"So, have you seen any place you want to go?" Prince Turuki asked me.

"Well, what's that biggest building up ahead?" I asked while pointing at it.

"Oh that," and he looked at where I am pointing at. “That's my place. It is located above the whole cabin so I can see every part of it.”

“Aahh.”

"So, you want to go there right now?"

“Uhm maybe let's start with some buildings. You know like school, houses and the others.”

“Okay then, as you wish. Do you want by land or by air?”

"Uhm anything will do."

"Then, let's walk first."

We walked to every floating land there is. Then we just move to the other land using the cloud. I am walking and riding on the cloud but I’m not listening. I’m still losing my mind. I can not focus not because of what happened earlier…

For some unknown reason, why am I thinking of Jethro now? Maybe because I was wondering how I could give his jacket back? Where can I find him in the Main Cabin? I will be lost if that happened.

"Yani," as he waved his hand in front of my face.

But what happened yesterday still lingers me. There is a question in my mind that cannot be erased.

Click! I came to my senses when he did that. Here we are again. I looked back at him seriously.

"Nakakailan ka na, (That’s already too much)" I said.

"What?" he asked.

"JUST STOP TAKING PICTURES!" I shouted at him.

“Well, I have no choice. It looks like you're not even listening. Are you really alright?” he asked sincerely.

“I'm fine okay! Just continue,” and at the same time I rolled my eyes at him. I ignored his concern for me. I hate what he is doing.

Now, I am listening. “Now what's special in each and every house here in the Air Cabin is that our beds are made of soft, puffy clouds so sometimes we can see that some of them are sleeping outside their houses especially above the rooftop because we air people love a breeze while we are sleeping.”

“Oh okay. Is that all?” I asked.

"Hmm what else…" he said as he thought at the same time he looked up.

“Well technically we can fly because we can control air and most of us will fly around than walking. It could be either we use the air to fly or ride on birds, dragons or other animals that can fly as also our means of transportation.”

“Oh…”

“Well, I think I said everything. Let's go to my place so we can rest,” he concluded and we went to the place he said.

The strange thing about his palace is that their windows do not have glass but they have curtains. Everything is open of course except for the doors. It is as if they have no privacy.

We went to his office and when the door opened, it was just the same size as Prince Eaux’s but just like what I said earlier, the windows have no glass and they have curtains but the strange thing about his office now…

…there are so many picture frames with so many pictures hanging. Some, two photos per frame, some three, others collages. There are also lots of stacked photo album. He really is a photographer.

“Are you not running out of pictures to take? I think that's too much,” I asked.

"Of course not. Every day is always different so there will always be new things and new views to take,” he replied.

"Aahh," of course.

“So, do you want any food to eat? Or are you thirsty?”

“No I'm fine. I'm not really hungry ”

“Okay then. Please have your seat. ” I sat on a sofa. He sat down on his desk chair and at the same time he wrote on papers.

Great, I just realized there’s only a little of the information I heard today. Why is this mind of mine thinking too much? And with all that can be thought of, why is it to be about Jethro...

Click! Eish look. I feel like my cheeks are starting to heat up again. Don't you know that for the first time a guy did that to me?! Worse, he’s COLDHEARTED.

Click! I really want to know, if he could really handle the cold at that time, why did he even bring a thick jacket? Did he know I was coming and I was cold?

Click! Ops. Just a moment Yani. FYI, he did that because he was changing.

Click! Click! Wait…

I turned to him and looked at him again with a deadly look.

“Oops. Uhm… sorry,” he said while even giving me a 'peace sign'.

He thought I would NOT CATCH him!! To my great annoyance, I made a small ball of fire and fired it directly on his camera.

"No wait—" he stopped it by controlling the wind.

I immediately stood up at the same time and attacked this time a water but he made a ball made of air that blocked his camera so the water I made went straight to the ball of air so the ball turned into a cloud.

“Yani, stop. I'm sorry. I'm taking picture of you because—”

“Because what, for memories ?! Don't you know how much that irritates me?!” annoyed I said to him.

“How about you calm down first and look?”

“Why the Hell would I look at my Face?!”

“Because every picture has one in common.”

“And that is?!”

"You're spacing out."

I was suddenly taken aback by what he said. At the same time I sat on my seat in extreme shame. Boom. I’m caught.

"Yani?" I did not say a word and just bowed my head.

“Uhm, I'm really sorry if it irritates you but by the looks of it, something's bothering you since we started the tour. What's wrong?” he asked.

"It's none of your business," I replied and avoided looking at him.

“Maybe I can help. Just tell me.”

“No, it's fine. It's not even important to you,” I assured him.

He stopped talking. Silence passed through us before it was broken when he stood up suddenly and walked to a door that was just inside his office.

“By the way, I forgot to mention to you about this room. Come here,” he offered.

I looked back at him and just stood up and went to the room he was talking about. He opened it and we entered.

It was windy inside even though its windows were small but it’s not that strong. He closed the door and sat on the floor.

"You may sit if you like," he said without looking at me so I sat behind him.

"Uhm what are we doing here?" I asked.

“Just wait. You'll see,” he said.

Okay. I just sat and waited. I hugged my legs and closed my eyes.

I feel like I can sleep in the relaxing ambience of this room. After a few minutes of sitting,

"So did you feel it?" he asked.

I was slightly surprised and looked behind him. “Huh? What? Feel what?” I asked surprised.

“Feel relaxed…”

I was speechless. “The breeze here is a special wind that can relax people's mind, body and soul. Mostly it only works with air people like me but I hope it helped you,” he said once he turned to where I was sitting.

Shacks. I'm so sorry. Was I really that serious before? Yes I know I was over exaggerated.

“Thank you. I was able to relax,” I smiled in response.

"Glad I helped," and he smiled back at me.

There was intermittent silence between us.

"Hey, can I ask?" I said.

"Nani?"

I wondered at his answer. "Huh?"

“It means 'what' in Japanese.”

"Oh uhm have you taken a picture where Jethro was singing?"

He did not say a word and turned to me in no time. Again, silence intervened before he answered. "Now that's random," he said.

“Uhm yeah. It actually just popped out in my head,” I forced a smile. You just don't know how random that is.

He first returned his gaze right in front of him. “I actually told you earlier that I was not running out of pictures to take and every day I go from place to place to take a picture but regarding about that, I'm sorry but I don't have one. The only picture we have with him is our family picture.”

“Oh. I see,” I just said.

He looked at me suspiciously. “Is that really a random question? Why out of all the things, you asked about Jethro's picture?” he asked.

Oh great. What a good question. After all, he’s a great photographer and he takes a picture of me without me realizing it so you know, I was thinking that maybe he pictured Jethro singing that he was unaware?

"Are you concerned about him?" he added which surprised me.

“No. I mean I didn't mean it that way,” I answered in defense.

“Oh. I see. Well, since you mentioned about that, I always hope that someday I get to picture him,” he said with a smile but his eyes were full of sadness.

Just as I suspect. Silence only enveloped between us after he said that.

When he thought of going out, I followed him too. We went straight out of his office and we were already riding in the clouds again down from his palace when ...

“Matte! (“Wait!” In Japanese)” he said and then suddenly the cloud we were riding in stopped.

What?? "What's wrong?" I asked.

"I remembered something," and at once the cloud approached a land. “Yani, stay here in the park for a while. Don't run into anything. It's a quick errand. Something important.”

"Okay," I went down from the cloud.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he assured.

“Yup. I'll be waiting,” I replied as he quickly flew away.

I went to a chair and sat down and let out a sigh. I looked around.

Here we go again. No matter what cabin I go to, everyone will look at me because they really know that I am not from here. You can tell just by the color of my hair. They looked at me but I just ignored them.

Tok! "Aray! (Ouch!)" I rubbed my head.

There was a shuttlecock in front of me so I picked it up. Where did this came from?

“Oh sorry miss. We didn't mean to hit you,” said a woman as she ran towards me.

Her hair and eyes are gray and she is wearing a white hat. She is also wearing a white t-shirt and skirt that is not that short. She looks like a badminton player.

“No it’s fine. It's not 'malala naman'” and handed her the shuttlecock at the same time.

Oh shacks I spoke Filipino. I don't know how to translate that into English.

“Wait. Let me get it straight, Pilipino ka? (You’re a Filipino?)” she asked.

I was surprised by her answer. "Ikaw din? (You also?)" I asked back.

“OMG! May pilipino pala rito pero by the looks of it, hindi ka air girl di ba? (I didn’t know there are Filipinos here but by the looks of it, you are not an air girl, are you?)” she asked.

“Ah yes. I am here for the tour,” I replied.

“Really? I know that the only people who are only toured here are air people.”

"Ah uhm… because... Prince Turuki uhm invited me here," my excuse.

“Weh? Prince Turuki will not just let anyone enter here if it is not necessary.”

Just great. The amount of questions she had. "...or maybe you are a model of Prince Turuki?" she added.

I was surprised by her question. "Huh?"

"Well, you know, Prince Turuki loves to take pictures so you are one of his models, right?"

WHAT?! Are you okay? Do I look like a model?! What the heck. With all that she can think of...

“No. I am not a model. I’m really just a visitor,” I assured her.

"Hmm ..." she started to think while looking at me with suspicion. Please. I hope she doesn’t question me anymore.

“Okay. Whatever you said so. Anyways, I'm Jessy,” she reached out her hand to me.

“Ah Yani. I am Yani,” and I shook hands.

"Jessy, what's taking you so long?" said an air girl. Oops. They still have a game.

"Ah hehe sorry, just a little chit chat here," she said to his playmate and immediately looked back at me. “All right, I need to play. Let's talk next time,” she said in goodbye.

“Yeah. See you next time,” and she left to play. I have met two Filipinas today. Is there more?

Soon, Prince Turuki arrived and we immediately left and arrived at the Main Cabin at the same time he immediately returned to the Air Cabin because he still have a lot to do.

When I opened the door to the Main Cabin, two of the brothers appeared.

“Did you ever ask permission to eat that?!” fire prince shouted at ice prince.

"It's out in the open so I think it's free," white haired dude replied coldly.

“I was trying to cool it down, IDIOT! You should have a clue that I'm cooking!”

The white haired dude didn't say a word and I just stood there watching them.

"What will I do then?"

"Can't you make another?"

“I invented that food and you are telling me to make another?!”

"Can't you?"

“GODDAMN FREAK! Of course I can't!”

The white-haired dude did not speak again. "FROM NOW ON, Stay out of the kitchen, got it?!" he said angrily and the hot-headed fire prince left. He's handsome, good at cooking, okay for a perfect partner but he’s very scary when he gets angry.

The ice prince turned to where I was standing and looked at me coldly. After a few seconds of staring at each other, he also walked over to me and passed by me and quickly went out.

Suddenly I remembered something. Oh right, his jacket. I immediately went to my room and took the jacket. Of course this is cleaned and washed because the maid washed it. I forced myself to do it but she didn’t let me, so I just said that after washing it, she will just leave it in my room.

Life here is really new. First, you will wake up early then second, everything will be done for you. Just like a life of a princess.

Anyways, I went to where I came from earlier and went out. Where did he go? What if he already returned to his cabin? Pssh why didn't I think of that before? I'm really dumb.

I looked down the floor. How lucky can I be. Fortunately, there are traces of shoes left on the path. Is it from him? Well whatever. I'll just follow it just in case.

Upon following it, I reached the snowy jungle. Soon, the wind blew a little harder but I just stopped when the traces also stopped when I was facing the dry branches. I pulled it off and saw him sitting on an edge of a cliff while looking far. Oh good thing I was right in following those traces. I approached him.

"Why are you here?" he said coldly without looking back at me. Hey he felt my presence or maybe the soles of my shoes are really that loud.

"Uhm well, I just want to return your jacket," I said.

He turned to where I was standing and just looked at the jacket I am reaching to him. “Don’t worry. This is newly washed,” I added.

He took it. "Uhm thank you again," I said once he looked away again.

"Uhm, can I sit next to you?" I asked. He did not speak.

"Yes or no?" He did not speak again.

"I'll take that as a yes," and sat down next to him.

When I sat down, none of us spoke.

"Why haven't you thought about leaving yet?" he asked breaking the silence.

“Nothing. It looks relaxing here,” I replied. He did not speak after.

"Uhm Jethro..." I called.

He did not speak so I continued what I was going to say. "How to make money here?"

"Why?" hey, he replied.

“Eh uhm well, I want to buy a notebook, pencil and eraser. I want to write down everything that is happening to me right now.”

"...journal?" his simple question.

"Yes, it looks like it."

He did not speak after that. I don’t know if he was thinking or he just really didn’t want to talk.

"So how?"

“Just ask Dad. He knows better.” Great. Why did I wait for his answer?

"Ah okay," I replied.

There was silence first and I was about to speak when he suddenly stood up and shook off the dirt and snow on his pants and turned around and walked away.

"Hey wait, where are you going?" I asked.

"Leaving," was his simple answer.

“Yes I can see that. I mean where? What place?”

"Why, you’re going to follow me?"

I wasn’t able to reply immediately by his question. O shacks. Why do I suddenly feel hot?

“Huh? N-no. Why will I follow you?” I stuttered in response.

He did not speak back and continued walking away.

“Wait, this is it. I just want to ask something,” I said.

He was immediately stopped but he still did not look at me.

“Uhm about the jacket. It just really makes me wonder because you could handle the cold yesterday but why did you wear a jacket then?”

He did not speak. "Actually my question is really, how did you know I was coming and I needed a jacket?"

There was only silence and it was as if I could only hear the breeze. Soon, he started walking away.

“Wait did you answer? I didn’t hear you.”

He just kept walking and the wind was blowing harder and harder.

“Wait what's going on?! Where does this strong and cold wind coming from?!” I shouted just in case he heard it.

I did not hear a word again so using all my strength, I tried to control and stop the wind. It stopped and saw him standing in the distance and started walking away again.

"Wait!" I shouted. “I’m asking you a question and you’re just ignoring me? Why are you like that? Are you in a hurry or what? You can answer me with just one word like before.”

Good thing he stopped. “Why do you need an answer? Does it matter?” he asked back.

"Yes, it is important because I want to help you."

He didn't say a word and I just kept talking. “I don't know if it's because you want to change or you just want to prove to me that you are not really a numb person but when I saw your chest hurt, I thought maybe I did something that caused pain to your chest so I just want to clarify why. Why did you do that?”

He did not speak again and all of a sudden I did not realize, he surrounded himself with snow…

"Wait a minute—" I ran to where he was but…

…he disappeared so I stopped in his place.

He disappeared again. Does that mean his chest hurts again? Why do I feel even though he did not answer me, I seem to be the reason why his chest hurts?

JETHRO

I sat besides a window while holding my chest while panting.

It’s much more painful today and warmer. I felt it hurt again so I squeezed my chest.

Sh*t. I cannot explain how painful it is now. But still the same, painful but hot. Just this time, it hurts more and it's hotter now. Is she really what I'm looking for?

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