53: Home

Everything turned vivid. I have to play along the memories of my childhood. The familiar brimful smell of the wooden house eases my mind. I'm back inside the room I admire than any other elegant one.

Our bed room.

I'm laying beside my mother while she's humming and caressing my hair. My body feels heavy and painful. Furthermore, my skin feels hot—a fever.

In this room, a foam and blanket is enough to make our dreams tighter. I arise from laying, that's when my mother questioned me.

"You're still awake, dear?"

"I can't sleep. You're noisy, it shivers me." I smiled at her. She turned back the smile more docile than I did.

"Alright. Then I'll just let you sleep here-"

"No. I want to braid your hair," I said.

I sat behind him, and she's fixing a pin on her lap in front of the mirror. That is one way of my communication to her.

"When did you learned to love braiding hair?"

"Hmm... when I met her hair."

"And who is this her you're talking about?" she asked me in chaffing manner.

After I've finished braiding her hair, I hug her sweetly from behind. "You!" I said. Though braiding someone's hair is difficult with these tiny and cute fingers. As a result, I messed up a little. She slid her fingers to her hair down to the tip with the smile of satisfaction.

The truth is, this was the moment I confessed to my mother about Ainsley. But this time, I have the fullest control of my past but only a great myth.

Ever since I saw her hair, I had this aspiration to touch it yet it would be embarrassing to simply touch it without a purpose; that is why I applied the skills of braiding.

My mother touched my forehead and felt my searing fever.

"You can rest for today. Rest assure, your sister and I can deal with the house's job offer," she chuckled.

And then she left me alone in this room. I lay slowly as I wrap myself with blanket. Of all conditions, why would Ms. Tough chose to put me into this?

While watching the silence of the ceiling, someone hissed at me on the window. I scowl, I know this is a second floor room so how come someone could hike to the window?

None else but by the help of the competency of a ladder. The one calling me is Jacofuz. He's clinging in the window. That's how desperate he is to abduct me.

"Haris! Come on! Let's go get some fun!"

"I can't! I'm sick."

"Sick? I know someone who can heal you! So come on!" he insisted.

I stood and stagger. I step outside the window carefully, following Jacofuz' motions until I step on the earth. On rush, we came here to our tree house. I saw Ainsley waiting for us at the porch.

"Hey, where is Nheia?" she asked; and Jacofuz answered,

"His sister? No. She's busy, unlike Haris..."

"What shall we do here? I can't play with this ill."

"Ill?" Princess Jexica came right in time after us. "Haris, you're sick?"

"Yes he is! You can heal him, right?" said Jacofuz while he's halted in the middle of the stair and I behind him. She summoned a fairy with her hand and it flew going to my forehead. After a single touch of tap, the fairy vanished.

"So? Do you feel better?" she asked again with a confidence of joy. I nod twice and slowly.

"See?! Our Princess is great!" Jacofuz complimented, but the truth is, he likes the Princess.

We all came inside the tree house, the only missing is my sister. It's almost lunch but Davih is story telling a creepy tale while chewing a salty cracklings on a one whole average basin we shared together.

"...Then one night, the little girl heard an incessant bounce of a ball outside her room, alone. She turned on the lamp, however, he didn't see anyone. That was her false apprehension when she found the grinning old witch behind her!" he pointed somewhere behind Princess Jexica.

She was hysterically frightened and even manage to summon Knights to defend her from the figment character of Davih. Actually, there's nothing behind her. I feel bad for laughing at her since they all do. After the mortification, she made the knights bash Davih on his nape.

"Don't scare me like that, you stupid bird-brain!"

We were all having laughter until my name was announce outside. That's the voice of my mother. I was agitated and guilty!

"Oh-uh... prepare yourself for scolding," Jacofuz bantered. And I glare at him with my eyes saying this-is-all-your-fault!

"I'll explain to your mother." The Princess volunteered but I stop her and face my consequences alone.

Outside, I saw my mother glaring at me while walking down the stairs.

"I thought you're sick? So why did you left the house without my proper consent? And you're clever enough to use ladder to leave!"

"Ah- I'm not sick anymore... the Princess... she healed me."

"That doesn't answer my question!"

"Well- I just wanted to... uhmm... play with them..."

I'm scared like a child.

She held my wrist, pulling me back to our house. She's mad, I can feel it; but while she's not looking at me, I can't remove my smile. I miss the way my mother scold me! It's better that way than death. She touch my forehead and proved that am healed. Then exhorted me the things that I must do. To help my sister in house chores.

"You can't leave this duty unless you're done!"

"Then if I've finished everything-"

"And because you disappoint me, leaving the house is taboo until I decided to end the forbidden."

"When will that be?" I huff.

"Hmm... maybe it still depends to your father's decision."

Then she left me with the logging. My sister is here, helping my mother with her laundry. I feel like too young for this profitless job! And my father?! He's more stricter than my mother, specially being a knight is to pledge their life in discipline. The greatest relief is... this is only an illusion. But I feel like this is real.

I lift mightily the ax and rift the logs until my strenuousness expires. My father taught me this, and this is totally a duty of a man, not a brat like me. This is also why most of our households admire me.

I felt someone beside me. Speaking of admiration, here she is. Ainsley. I look at her before she even think of shouting for the purpose of surprising me. And when she did, I look with no perfect emotions.

She faked a laugh, "I knew you predicted my presence."

"Yes. You're too easy to catch."

"I'm sorry. The reason why I gathered everyone was to taste my baked and mashed chocolates!" she gave me a one-bite size of chocolate. "I need some feed backs even critics about my hard work! Try it! I already heard their comments when you left..." I ate her mentioned hard work.

I smile, "Too sweet!"

"Aw! Okay. I guess not everyone loves sweet..."

"Too much is idiotic."

She pouted, "I know! And don't call me that again and again! Am not an idiot!"

"Technically, it's better than your bitter death," I added. "If only I came there to help when you're waiting for me, maybe up until now I could still eat one of your hard worked chocolates."

Her mouth is shut to silence; trying to discern every words I uttered.

"What?..."

"I mean I want more!" I said.

"Whoa! Really! Okay then I'll make you another one! Good luck with your probation!"

She finally turned her back on me and run back to her home. Probation? Really? Should I say this-is-all-her-fault?

One of our fellow neighbors offered me a bottle of refreshing water. Without hesitation, I drink it. And this fellow is a mother with a teenage child.

Without giving to her too much of my attention, I failed to follow Ainsley with my eyes. Her house is near the castle, which means she have to run straight and farther without losing in sight. However, this time, she's gone. A hunch sunk in my chest. I returned the bottle and after my gratitude, I run going to the tree house.

I made my steps wider to move faster. Along my run, I felt Callions running around me. The sun suddenly slept early and it's dark when I reached the tree house. The door was wrecked and as expected, I'm witnessing once again her death.

I shout her name, and when I received no response, my fear triggered. Fear that I wasn't able to save her again. My chest aches and every beat migrates pain! The shudder is recurring! Gasping! Nevertheless, I run to her just to the stop the way Callions munch her flesh. I knew I touched one, but I didn't felt it.

Instead, I stumble down to a mud spot.

I was startled.

Someone stoned me to the head. "Ah!-" My groan.

"We don't need the likes of you in this town!"

"Go away! Weakling!"

"You're such a coward!"

Three older boys casting stones upon me... I returned somewhere in time of my childhood memories. And this moment, I was humiliated because of their envy towards me for hooking up many fellow with my charm.

They took me inside the forest for this sake. I cover my head with my whole arms, and didn't fought back.

As far as I can remember, Princess Jexica saved me.

I felt a clattering sound of collided metals, that was her Mounts summoned to scare my persecutors. Despite of having the blood of royalty, she knelt with me in the mud just to assure if I'm okay.

Her lukewarm hands are pressed on both of my cheeks; still have the tears left on it. Her eyes of sympathy is directed to me and the etch of her eyebrows depicts her worries.

"A-Are you okay?! Something hurts?! Please tell me!"

I stare at her for a moment before I replied her a smile. "Thank you," I said.

She stammered while smiling after seeing mine. "I'll take you to the castle. I'm sure I could cure you there," she volunteered.

If would be nice to see the halls in the castle, and to meet the royals. She unfurled her fingers and a dragon came out from it. A tiny one. It's Maruwie, this was the first time I met her. She shape-shifted to a bigger size and lift us going to the castle, following the command of her master.

She took me inside the her room. Its elegance is vast as expected. Her maids came to assist the two of us with our hygiene and my injuries. After the new clothe they gave me to wear, Princess Jexica is nursing me; just like how that Jenie did. And with her buoyant gesture, she enjoys her self-made service.

"Thank you, again," I said while she's staring at me.

I stood up stiffly when the royal parents came inside.

"Jexica! I saw your dirty cloth! That isn't the manner we taught you!" said the Queen. I never thought she is a stagy person! I was frightened but the King pacified her.

"Don't worry, she's just trying to help! That's the crucial manner we taught her. And you see, she's still wholly and alive!" And the King is the complete opposite of the Queen. I smiled at him, and they adore it.

"Mother, Father, he's name is Haris!-"

"Haris! So you're the boy-"

The King wasn't able to express his message when the Queen nudged him. "Alright. Take care of your patient, and your people," she said in subtle like the attitude of these two switched.

I noticed Maruwie's brisk move in the air when the royals left. I halted the Princess with the mending and asked if Maruwie can fly higher. A nod is her response. And then I told Maruwie to fly high with us.

"What?! No I'm scared of heights!" the Princess screamed. Yet I yank her going to the terrace to jump. Her shriek could grab the castle folk's attention. Before we touch the ground, Maruwie caught us behind her and flew high. I grasp on her tiny thorns until we reached not above, but below the sky.

The spectacular view here is relaxing especially when Maruwie is flying leisure.

"Uhmm... Jex, I can't breathe. You're overwhelmed to grip me like that."

The way she slowly loose her hug is hesitant that's why I thought of daunting her. My shout and simple stoop made her wrap her arms tighter. I laugh!

"Why are you scared in heights? It's beautiful!" I said to motivate her and to open her eyes.

This is so romantic and I was too young back then to realize the situation. We really rode together behind Maruwie, that's how I became Maruwie's friend. Perhaps she's a friendly Mount.

After the fun, the Princess couldn't take me to the gate going to the town; so consequently, she summoned a Knight named Nello to accompany me. This was the first time I met him, but not the first day we became intimate with one another. I utter my gratitude before I left the borders of the castle.

I gaze to the jovial crowd of the town. As I made the steps for my saunter, I roam my eyes roundabout the people. So normal and peaceful. The adults are busy with their own duties and the same busyness for the kids' street game. The accumulated chattering shivers me. Yet I smile because I like it.

I miss it.

An old lady sitting on her rocking-chair called me. She's a tailor and loves sipping the fresh air outside their shop. She made a lot a dress for the whole kingdom, even for the royals' apparel. She gave me a doll and said that my sister requested it; so I will be the errand.

I proceeded with my stroll. Smiling and pulling back my laugh because this was the doll I balded before. The spirit of serenity glowing in this kingdom boosted my happiness. Gradually, I make my steps bigger and faster until I decided to run.

My steps includes evasion from the crowd and a deft twitched is necessary for this. I almost converge with the man pushing a wheelbarrow, luckily, right away he moved that to the side. I knew he shouted at me but looking back didn't came in my mind. Some of the ladies waved and greeted me when they saw me during my run.

Even other mothers and kids. Not everyone liked this clumsiness I did, and someone warned me to slow down. I finished my lonely race when I finally stood in front of my lovely home. Staring at it makes me feel at home.

Someone from behind with mighty arms carried me. My father.

"I saw you running before! Don't repeat that again, remember, accidents deals even to wealthy and strong ones. Specially with naughty kids like you!" he said with a laughter.

"Like me? But it's fun!"

"Yes it is! But your generation is essential for the future. That is why you need a guardian."

Of all reminiscences of my life in this kingdom, this counsel from my father was forgotten by me.

He freed me from his arms and we came inside the house.

And am still fascinated with this past-trip.