It was a hot summer evening, and I lay restlessly on the makeshift bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the uncertain future. Eron's words still lingered in my mind, making it hard to rest. But as Mrs. Ceniza fanned me with a cardboard, her soothing voice whispered, "Sleep... Sleep..." in a low tone that was familiar, just like my grandmother used to do when I had trouble sleeping. Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early to the sound of Gaspard's voice, explaining the plan to the team. They would examine the travel route, and Eron didn't look at me while I searched for his eyes. I was tasked with taking on the role of leader if he didn't manage to return. A mix of emotions swirled inside me - worry, anxiety, and a hint of sadness.
As they left, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. But then, Keith walked up to me and handed me a letter from Eron. My heart skipped a beat as I read his words, asking if he could read my poem. I had always wanted him to read it, and now, I felt a surge of motivation to finish it. That day, I created a little book and filled it with poetry, vowing to complete it soon.
While I worked on my poem, the lead of my pencil snapped, a tiny, metallic shard skittering across the page. I sighed, frustration bubbling up. My poem felt stiff, lifeless, a pale imitation of the emotions swirling inside me. Just as I was about to surrender and crumple the page, I felt a presence beside me.
Mrs. Ceniza. Her eyes, the color of warm honey, held a depth that always made me feel both seen and understood. She didn't smile, but her gaze was gentle.
"Struggling, are you?" she asked softly, her voice a low hum that seemed to soothe the air around us.
I nodded, pushing the scattered papers into a messy pile. "It's just... not coming out right. I can't seem to get the words to match what I'm feeling."
She pulled up a chair, her movements slow and deliberate. "Sometimes, the words are already there, waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, they are hidden beneath layers of fear and hesitation."
She paused, her gaze meeting mine directly. "I see the sadness in your eyes, perhaps even a hint of regret. It has to do with Eron, doesn't it, Ara?"
I felt my cheeks flush. How did she always know?
"Life is like a whisper, hija," she continued, seemingly oblivious to my embarrassment. "Time is a fleeting gift, and unexpected turns are inevitable. Reflect on your feelings for Eron. What truly stops you from expressing them? What is holding you back?"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. I lowered my gaze, staring at the unfinished poem. Inside, a storm raged. What was stopping me? Fear of rejection? Fear of changing things? Fear of vulnerability?
I looked up at her, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't know," I admitted, the words feeling like a confession. "I just... I don't know."
Mrs. Ceniza simply nodded, her wise eyes holding no judgment, only compassion. "Then look within. Search for the answer. The time is now, my dear. Don't let it slip away."
As the days passed, I took care of the group, following Gaspard's instructions to leave for a better shelter if they didn't return. But every day, I anticipated their return, only to be met with another sunrise. I thought about leaving, but my feet felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. I was torn between my desire to find Eron and my responsibility to keep the group safe.
One day, Kaito ran up to me, his face urgent with worry. Sam was missing, and he suspected that he had gone to follow Gaspard. My stomach dropped, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I was torn between getting Sam back and leaving the team alone. The members looked at me, expecting me to make a decision, especially Yua, who had grown close to Sam.
I knew I couldn't leave Sam alone, but I also couldn't abandon the group. I crafted a plan, deciding to move them to a safer shelter, just as Gaspard had instructed. I found an underground bunker and prepared it, then moved the group silently through the streets. As I set out to find Sam, I was met with sad eyes by my brothers. I promised them that I would return, definitely.
With a deep breath, I set out into the unknown, determined to find Sam and bring him back to safety. I knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but I was ready to face whatever challenges came my way. I would find Sam, and I would keep the group safe, no matter what it took.
It was a hot summer evening, and I lay restlessly on the makeshift bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the uncertain future. Eron's words still lingered in my mind, making it hard to rest. But as Mrs. Ceniza fanned me with a cardboard, her soothing voice whispered, "Sleep... Sleep..." in a low tone that was familiar, just like my grandmother used to do when I had trouble sleeping. Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early to the sound of Gaspard's voice, explaining the plan to the team. They would examine the travel route, and Eron didn't look at me while I searched for his eyes. I was tasked with taking on the role of leader if he didn't manage to return. A mix of emotions swirled inside me - worry, anxiety, and a hint of sadness.
As they left, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. But then, Keith walked up to me and handed me a letter from Eron. My heart skipped a beat as I read his words, asking if he could read my poem. I had always wanted him to read it, and now, I felt a surge of motivation to finish it. That day, I created a little book and filled it with poetry, vowing to complete it soon.
While I worked on my poem, the lead of my pencil snapped, a tiny, metallic shard skittering across the page. I sighed, frustration bubbling up. My poem felt stiff, lifeless, a pale imitation of the emotions swirling inside me. Just as I was about to surrender and crumple the page, I felt a presence beside me.
Mrs. Ceniza. Her eyes, the color of warm honey, held a depth that always made me feel both seen and understood. She didn't smile, but her gaze was gentle.
"Struggling, are you?" she asked softly, her voice a low hum that seemed to soothe the air around us.
I nodded, pushing the scattered papers into a messy pile. "It's just... not coming out right. I can't seem to get the words to match what I'm feeling."
She pulled up a chair, her movements slow and deliberate. "Sometimes, the words are already there, waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, they are hidden beneath layers of fear and hesitation."
She paused, her gaze meeting mine directly. "I see the sadness in your eyes, perhaps even a hint of regret. It has to do with Eron, doesn't it, Ara?"
I felt my cheeks flush. How did she always know?
"Life is like a whisper, hija," she continued, seemingly oblivious to my embarrassment. "Time is a fleeting gift, and unexpected turns are inevitable. Reflect on your feelings for Eron. What truly stops you from expressing them? What is holding you back?"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. I lowered my gaze, staring at the unfinished poem. Inside, a storm raged. What was stopping me? Fear of rejection? Fear of changing things? Fear of vulnerability?
I looked up at her, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't know," I admitted, the words feeling like a confession. "I just... I don't know."
Mrs. Ceniza simply nodded, her wise eyes holding no judgment, only compassion. "Then look within. Search for the answer. The time is now, my dear. Don't let it slip away."
As the days passed, I took care of the group, following Gaspard's instructions to leave for a better shelter if they didn't return. But every day, I anticipated their return, only to be met with another sunrise. I thought about leaving, but my feet felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. I was torn between my desire to find Eron and my responsibility to keep the group safe.
One day, Kaito ran up to me, his face urgent with worry. Sam was missing, and he suspected that he had gone to follow Gaspard. My stomach dropped, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I was torn between getting Sam back and leaving the team alone. The members looked at me, expecting me to make a decision, especially Yua, who had grown close to Sam.
I knew I couldn't leave Sam alone, but I also couldn't abandon the group. I crafted a plan, deciding to move them to a safer shelter, just as Gaspard had instructed. I found an underground bunker and prepared it, then moved the group silently through the streets. As I set out to find Sam, I was met with sad eyes by my brothers. I promised them that I would return, definitely.
With a deep breath, I set out into the unknown, determined to find Sam and bring him back to safety. I knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but I was ready to face whatever challenges came my way. I would find Sam, and I would keep the group safe, no matter what it took.