Elemental Guardians

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟺

AYESHA

May tumamang liwanag sa mga mata ko kaya napapadisturbo ang mahimbing kong tulog but I still closed my eyes, I still lack sleep. The bed is pretty comfy, I don't know why. It felt like I am sleeping on a big marshmallow. I thought I'm sleeping on the ground right now with my futon but this bed feels so soft and bouncy. I grabbed a pillow and to my surprise, it's too soft!

Bumalikwas ako sa hinihigaan kong kama and my eyes went wide.

"Where in the hell am I?" Bulong ko sa sarili ko. The interior of this room is luxurious and huge... I saw an antique table just beside the windows. Big red curtains and the wallpapers are old fashioned. I'm not a fan of Baroque and Rococo style eras from France and London but this room does seem like from that era. Saang lugar na naman ba ako napadpad?

Tiningnan ko ang kumot na hawak ko and it was surprisingly cozy. A white blanket that is made of fur. I'm not sure either if this is real fur. Bigla akong napatigil sa puwesto ko nang mapansin kong iba ang pakiramdam ko sa damit kong sout ngayon. Iba ang pakiramdam sa suot kong uniporme, bakit ang komportable ko na ngayon sa suot ko?

Napatingin ako sa katawan ko at napalaki ang mga mata ko sa sout kong white night dress! Who the hell changed my outfit into this white night dress?! I looked around the room and saw a tall person sleeping uncomfortably on a couch.

Wait a damn minute...

I squint my eyes para tiningnang maigi ang likod nito. Is this Ember?

He is wearing a white polo and I'm surprised with his silver long hair. It seems so familiar.

Hindi ko makita ng maigi ang mukha nito dahil nakatalikod itong nakatulog sa couch! Who the hell is this?! And where the hell am I? Dahan dahan na akong nagpapanic "internally" nang maalala ko ang wig ko. Kinapa ko ang ulo ko at napa buntong hininga naman ako dahil nasa ulo ko parin ito.

Good thing I purchased this lace wig... Although I wasted a lot of money on this.

Money.

Nagpapanik ulit ako. Where the hell is my money?!

Akmang bababa na sana ako sa kama nang napansin kong may tumingin sa akin rito galing sa couch. Bumaling ako ng tingin sa couch at nakita kong nakaharap na ang lalake sa akin habang nakahiga pa rin ito sa couch nito. It's as if his silver eyes is piercing through me. 

He looks super uncomfortable lying on the couch because of his height. He just stared at me with that position while his arms are crossed and also giving me an uncomfortable stare. If this is a staring contest, I'm out of this. I need to go to see my sister.

We stared at each other for 5 good minutes and I'm sick of it! I'm too confused here -

Someone disturbed my thoughts when someone tapped on the window coming from the outside! Lumingon ako kung saan galing ang tunog na iyon at may nakita ako sa labas ng bintana.

A man coming from outside the window of this room opened the window and came inside. He was wearing a luxurious outfit, thick white coat that had a blue stripe of the hem of his coat. Golden jewelries, chains and medals from his coat and his messy gray hair that goes well with his blue intense eyes.

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa lalake galing sa bintana and from the looks of it, he looks taller than Ember with a few inches. I'm gonna call this guy on the couch Ember, since that's how Jung Sik calls this guy. This dude looks like a statue laying on the couch right now. Not moving a single muscle. He's too fucking weird!

"Goodmorning." I snapped back to my senses nang marinig kong binatian ako ng lalake. He's good-looking alright, he's too good-looking. Hindi nga ako makapagsalita ng maayos sa harapan ng lalakeng ito. Tiningnan ko ang lalakeng ito at binatian ako nito ng napakaguwapo nitong ngiti kaya napapikit ako sa kaguwapohan nito. Is he a model or something?! A celebrity?!

"I am here to greet you, milady." Bati nito and he bent his body, extending his hand to ask for my... hand? Bigla itong tumayo ng maayos at itinago ang mga kamay nito sa kaniyang likoran then took a step backward.

"Oops, I apologize. I think hindi kaaya-aya itong klaseng pagbabati ko saiyo, milady." This guy is too formal it felt as if, he's a Prince or something. The moment this man turned his attention to Ember, I can now finally breathe. His brimming presence is too much for me to handle.

He stood properly and then turned around back at me again then smiled at me, "The name is Alaric, but you can call me Rave. It's nice to meet you, Ayesha Luna." Pagpapakilala nito sa akin at yumuko and I was surprised how he knew my name?

"How did you know my name?" I asked and he gave me a reassuring smile, so I do feel relieved too. "You are pretty famous here, milady. The entire Kingdom knows you." Sabi nito at napakurap ang mga mata ko. Kilala ako ng buong kaharian? Kaharian?

"P-Pardon?"

"The people in this Kingdom waited for your arrival, milady." Sabi nito kaya mas lalo akong naguguluhan sa pang-yayari. I don't understand at all. Am I transported in Britain? That's the only country that monarchy is still governing the country, right? I think Spain din?

"You must be confused, but do not worry. You will find very comfortable to live here." I noticed Ember snicker on the couch not moving an inch so I just rolled my eyes at him. Why the hell is this person so rude?! What did I ever do to him?!

Bumaling ako ng tingin kay Ember para magtanong tungkol kay Ashley. "You. What happened to my sister?" I asked in a rude way but he just stared at me like was a statue.

3 minutes later and still no respond from Ember for my question. "Ember! My buddy! How was your mission?" Rave exclaimed, acting surprised to see Ember but I think he just don't want things too awkward for me.

How should I interpret this Ember guy? Rude? Statue? HE DID NOT EVEN MOVE A SINGLE INCH! What the hell is wrong with this guy?! Does he even blink?!

The man suddenly hold his laughter and I turned to look at him. I think he also thought of Ember as a statue on his couch.

Bumaling ng tingin sa akin si Rave, "don't worry about Ember, Ayesha. This person may be "a statue" but this person is nice inside and outside." Sabi nito and crossed his arms nodding, agreeing to his own statement. "Well, Ember is indeed rude, sometimes. No, scratch that, always." Dagdag nito nang bumangon na si Ember sa hinihigaan nito.

Oh, and here I thought that he was a statue. He took the deepest sigh and went to his wardrobe not saying a word as if the both of me and Rave were invisible. I just rolled my eyes ignoring him. I don't like this guy at all.

"See?" Rave said as he pointed his palm to Ember, still crossing his arms. "Anyways, we should better hurry up and get ready. Naparito lang ako para ihatid ka sa Kastilyo, milady. The King wants to meet you, personally." Sabi ni Rave and I just closed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. 

"I don't want to go there, unless I know any updates about my sister's condition." Sabi ko but Ember didn't listen and proceeded to wear a black coat then tied his long silver hair.

"I'm afraid only Ember knew about that." Sabi ni Rave and I just sighed. I buried my face to my palms, feeling so disappointed from these two men inside this room. What if Ashley is dead by now?! I should get back to Korea and treat her myself!

"Just calm down, your step-sister is fine, I rushed her to the hospital yesterday." I heard a woman's voice said inside the room kaya mabilis kong nai-angat and noo ko at tumingin sa paligid ko! Who was that?!

I couldn't believe for speculating such a thing, but I think...

Ember is a woman...