18 WHO IS SHE?

Thirty minutes past two am, Sitting on his black leather couch, with a glance to his wristwatch once in a while. York took out his phone and dialed Tim's new number. He doesn't need to use his magic to locate Tim since he doesn't sense danger in her absence, and it is not her first time to come home late. York just waited, so he would know what time she will come home this time, and so she would also consider York's effort, and maybe someday, she will not do it again. He redialed twice and in the same answer from a network recording. "The number you dialed is unattended." He stands up to turn the lights off, deciding to go bed, when he heard the beeping sound from his condo's digital door lock, indicating somebody is about to open the door and get in. The door shrieks as it slowly opens, exposing a lady's silhouette from the well-lighted corridor in contrast to the shady inside, that's for sure is Tim. York can perceive that she's drunk when he sees her holding the door as she gets in, trying to keep her balance, and the harsh scent of liquor meets York's nostrils.

"You've been out since morning to buy groceries, and you came home very late and drunk and with no grocery bag in tug." York, turning on the switch.

"What are you, my dad?" After taking off her boots, Tim flop down the sofa.

"And who am I to you?" York let go of a deep sigh as he walks to the kitchen to get Tim some hot drink. "What happened? Why you act like a different person now?" He comes back only to find Tim asleep, snoring on the sofa. He shakes his head, puts back the cup and lifts her with his muscular arms, and sends her to her bedroom.

"What happened? What happened? What happened?" On his pillow, York speaks in a hushed tone several times before he closes his eyes.

*****

Hearing a painful scream from inside the cave, York runs towards it, for someones seems to need his help. The nearer he got to the scream, the more distinguishable it is. "Thea! Thea!" York cries out after recognizing whose voice he heard? It's pitch black inside the cave, and Thea's voice is fading, yet didn't stop and move forward, letting his one hand brush against the stony cave wall while waving the other in his front. A little walk further, he felt an array of cold cigar shape walls through his palms, like metal rods, He can't hold it longer the touch of it is burning his skin.

A ray of light from below him illuminating his view. When he is suddenly cognizant and aware of the present situation that he is trapped in a hanging cage, his entire body numbs. He pushes that cage hard enough that he stumbles in a totally different place. Under his feet is a glass floor with phosphorescent light, just like a room-size floor monitor screen; he saw Thea from there, screaming. A zoomed recorded image of Thea's facial skin being peeled slowly, taking her skin out from her flesh. A burst of sarcastic and triumphant laughter sounded like Tim's washes over Thea's High-pitched cry. The laughing lady turns around to face him, and she indeed is Tim. The second time, Thea's wail starts to get louder again, and as York looks towards her, he finds Nerie in Thea's dress. She is crying out for his name.

*****

"Nerie?!" York gains consciousness and abruptly sits upon his bed. He covers his face with his palms while massaging his temple. "Why, why did I saw Nerie?" He stood up to loosen up and got some water to drink. He remembered Tim and decided to check on her first. As expected, she is still there soundly asleep in her mini dress, which she wore since yesterday. She asked him for some cash for groceries that morning only to end up coming home late and drunk. Behind his dubious stare is comprehension about Thea's big changes. In spite, a part of him is still hoping that someday the Thea he used to know and loved will be back.

He's about to have a big gulp from his glass of tap water when a sudden flicker of white flashes from the transparent liquid, an image of a bearded, matured, strong, and virile charactered man appears from it.

"Lord Commander Obelius, what's with the urgent call?" York, slowly putting the glass of water on the table.

"Apology for the disturbance, your majesty. The kingdom received a piece of threatening news. One of our sympathizers from their nearby village approaches me to warn us. The evil witches' realms are cognizant of your absence and now planning for a cloak and dagger operation. He said with their extensive planning, he perceived the operation would be made in action by a week."

"Take no worries, and I will be there before anything happen. As of the moment, I need to settle a few vexations in this world first, then send my feet back there as fast as I can."

"I have full trust in your word, Sir, and I thank you, your majesty, for the time." Obelius bows his head and disappears."

He drinks the water and catches an eye on the peeking sun rays trying to get inside the room from the gaps of the window's lace curtain. It's morning, and he failed to notice it at first, just like how he failed to notice Tim standing in front of him.

"I heard an unfamiliar voice of a man. Who is he? and where is he?" Now in her bathrobe, Tim yawns and stretches while searching the area with her still sleepy eyes.

"That's Obelius, my trusted knight. He sent me news through that glass of water."

"Wow, cool, he really appeared from here? So magical, just like how I--" While holding the empty glass, Tim halts between her words, upon realizing she's about to spill a bean.

"How, what?" York turns back to look at her suspiciously, in the middle of preparing some breakfast.

"Uhmm, as magical as how I meet you." Tim holds her breath and lets it go only upon seeing York nods.

"Is that so? And because of that, I prepared you with your favorite breakfast. Moringa bread rolls, sunny side up eggs, and of course, your special hot drink." York laid down the foods on the table.

Tim excitedly take the hot drink cup, take a sip, and "Spoot!" she spits out the drink from her mouth. "What's that disgusting drink? Why did you mix it up? Why didn't you prepare me just coffee or tea, instead?."

"But it's your favorite, don't you remember? A hot drink mixed with native coffee, cocoa, milk, and a pinch of ginger powder."

Oh! is that so? Tim rolled her eyes and answers sneakily. "Yes, I used to, during that time that I haven't tasted anything much better yet."

"Okay, I understand; I'll make you another." He takes her cup to prepare a different drink.

"And sweetheart, can you make some pancake, instead of this bread?"

Shaking his head, he sighs and complies.

In the midst of their breakfast, York is still bothered and can't take the old Thea out of his mind. He remembered watching her, stalking at her on the first day of school. She found her in a small bakery shop, not far from the university. She looks so pleased while consuming moringa bread drenched in her drink. She looks so natural, no-frills, so solemn yet so sweet. Then she looks at the Timothea, who's in front of him, eating breakfast with him now, while at the same time on her phone busy scrolling, updating her IG and Fb post. Inside his thought, he mutters, who is she?

"By the way, what's Obelius up to?" Tim playfully bitting her pancake.

"Good that you mention it, I need to go back to my world. I will be away for days or maybe a week."

"Your world, as in another world? You mean your Kingdom in the other dimension?" Tim enthuses, like an excited child, amazed with her imagination.

"Yes, why what's wrong?"

"Actually, nothing it just feels so exciting. What are you going to do there?"

"There's a conundrum the kingdom is facing right now, that I need to deal with."

"Can I go with you?" Tim bats her lashes with a teasing smile to York.

"But I will definitely be busy in there. I'm afraid I can't show you around or entertains you."

"That's not a problem; I can take care of myself. I just want to see your palace, and I want to know how elegant it is."

York just shrugs in response.

*****

Before the day of York's plan to go back to his realm. He's determined to find answers to his questions. His nightmare seems to be telling something about Nerie. He went back to the boarding house to talk to her, but he was informed that Nerie no longer lives there for her parents to take her back home. He smiles at hearing the news, but he never skips to take a peek at Thea's old room. Reminiscing the first day they meet, the day when Thea is timidly wrapping his arms and wrist.

Roaming his eyes around, an open drawer of Nerie's bedside, catch his attention, he pulls it to see what's inside and found Thea's diary, laid open to a certain page with a poem written, dated with the day she changes and becomes Tim.