Chapter 12: Journal

THIRD PERSON P.O.V.

A moment of silent revelation filled the cave after Rhys left. Everyone was stunned and shocked, trying to process what had just happened.

"Y-you all saw that, right? The water… shun!" Faye was the one who broke the silence, though still surprised. Because of her, everyone starts to completely understand and start to talk.

"So, I-I'm not dreaming?!" exclaimed Tim.

"I thought all hope was gone these past 100 years." Grace's mutters gradually became louder to the point of complete excitement, "But that man—Rhys, h-he can do it! I know he can!"

"M-maybe I am dreaming!" Tim commented again.

"This is a miracle." said Bo in a neutral tone. "I never thought I'd see this once again."

The four of them felt carefree and celebrated, until Faye spoke again teasingly, "Malinda, this means you looove him, don't you?"

All eyes turned to Malinda, who was emotionless and just stared blankly at the dirty pond. "There's no point."

"But, Linda," Grace quickly fends, "he could really be the one!"

"There's no point!" repeated Malinda. Everyone was silenced again, but in a more difficult state, not knowing what to think or say. "My time is almost over. He could not be the one… he goes inside here to claim his sketchpad and not for me."

After some quiet seconds passed by, Bo asks softly, "So, then, why would you tell answer his questions?"

"I told you," Malinda finally looks up, having this sense of melancholy defeat and acceptance while replying, "There is no point. Once I'm gone, he will forget everything, like everyone else." She plays with the water then sighs, "I suppose I just wanted to meet and talk with another human again."

Her mood rubbed off with everyone else's as they all look away and bow down with a sense of disappointment. The only noises left were Malinda's gentle fingers on the cave water, the liquid falling from the stalactites above and the almost inaudible breeze from outside.

"I am dreaming." Tim mumbles quietly before proceeding to hide in his shell once again.

Malinda knows her cave friends are devastated and feel awkward by her words, but she didn't want to hide her true emotions anymore. But she did hide one thing. Malinda was in love with Rhys.

The past years have been hell for her due to the fact that no one has entered the cave in a wearisome century, as mentioned by Grace. Because of that, Malinda has had countless moments thinking about her life, her regrets, and her possible non-existent future.

Reading some stolen romance books also helped her understand the secrets of love and it motivated her to keep trying. The main reason she has kept going was the person who threw this curse at her, claiming that she cannot experience love. She wanted to prove that person wrong and truly know what love feels like.

Most of all, she also wanted to prove to herself that she could be loved.

But in the years of her improvement, not a single soul was there for her to try anything out. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that maybe, love isn't for her after all. She just thought that life was just this unfair and complicated.

And that complication of life would also soon be re-experienced by Rhys as he takes a step on to the next biggest revolution he will discover.

-

RHYS'S P.O.V.

By the time I go home, it was mid-1pm. I was hiding behind our fence for a bit, spying if Aunt Maine was at home. I figured since she was still at home earlier that she would take a half-day on work, but I was still suspicious. The house was completely stock-still and silent, so I decided to finally go inside sneakily.

Aunt Maine and I have never fought before. Well, we don't exactly have a close relationship, either which is why we've never fought. We acknowledge that we're family members every now and then but that's it. I don't want to deal about her right now, as I do most of the times that I get myself to random shit.

Not hearing any noise, I try to softly run upstairs. I relax once I reach the second floor. Rose isn't home neither; she'll be home in about a few hours. I quickly close and lock my door. I grab the journal in my bag once I sit on my bed. I stare it at hesitantly.

I don't want to have to do anything related to my ancestors, and I thought I could do it, but I know that I'll have to face the truth eventually. Especially before leaving this place.

The moment I touch the cover page, I immediately pull my hand back as if it was a thousand degrees hot. For some reason, this feels like homework except no one's really forcing me to read it. It's not like anyone's forcing me to do homework, but point given.

As I was trying to force all my willpower to reach forward the book again, a noise of a bunch of people chanting outside popped up. Must be a school parade again. I guess that's my sign that reading this garbage is a bad idea after all. Is it?

I have a staring contest with it for a few seconds. I suddenly remember Rose who keeps going on and on about this book.

I sigh and tell myself, "Fuck it."

Still irked by the noise from outside, I go to my bathroom and lock myself in it, as if I were hiding the biggest secret of my life or watching porn. Not much of a difference. Welp, here we go.