Finally!
Rika, Sheena and Yana, together with the man assigned to accompany the ladies back home, successfully reached the lodge.
'' Thank you for accompanying me.'' I gratefully kowtowed before the three. ''Please be careful on your way back home as well.''
'' Ehm!'' Rika and Sheena yelp in unison while the young man smiles in assurance.
They were about to go back to the camp but Rika remembered something.
''Young miss, do you have any plans for the day?'' She inquires.
'' I'm not sure yet.'' I replied. ''Why?''
''Great! We will come to see you again later!'' Rika smiles then went on her way.
I was looking at their retreating shadows but I suddenly recalled my camera. It's not working anymore, guess I need to find a repair shop later.
Well I guess I will reserve that thought for later. For now, I need to show myself to aunt Dorcas before she even declares me missing. Just kidding...of course she won't do that.
I enters the lodge with a smile on my face but it didn't last long when I saw how the other women look at me as soon as they saw me. They were like a ferocious lion ready to devour me anytime.
What did I do this time? I asks myself. Wait, are they mad at me for not helping them out with the house chores? Dang! I am pretty that's a fact but I am lazy! Just kidding. Not totally lazy but I must admit that I am useless when it comes to cooking.
Yeah... I am pretty... pretty useless. -___-
'' Miss Diana!'' My wild thoughts stop when I heard a woman rushing to my location.
'' Aunt Dorcas!'' I greeted her with a smile.
'' Where have you been? I was looking for you all night long. You got me worried!''
'' I'm sorry Aunt Dorcas for not informing you but I thought I will be able to come back before the evening. Unfortunately, something happened so I and the twins stayed at Mt. Ephrathah.'' I explain.
''Mt. Ephrathah?'' Aunt Dorcas raises her brow in question. Are you with Liam and the others last night?'' She inquires.
''Yes Aunty... I'm sorry.''
'' Ah, it's okay as long as you're safe.'' She smiles meaningfully.
**Unknown to Diana, there is someone eavesdropping at their conversation. And when she heard that Yana was with Liam last night, she clenches her fist and tries to calm her gritting teeth.
Diana should not be spending time with her Liam! She was throwing daggers at the smiling woman while plotting evil things against the foreigner. She won't ever allow anyone to be close to her man... not at all! Liam is her's alone.**
''Have you eaten yet?'' Aunt Dorcas asks me. Her smiles... I remember my mom in her. I suddenly pause for a while but when she tap my arm, I came back to reality at once.
'' Ehm... yeah... I'm done aunty.'' I fake a smile.
'' Oh, that's good then. By the way, I am going somewhere. But if you have any concern then feel free to ask Grace. She will definitely assist you.'' Then aunt dorcas calls for the woman.
'' Aunty, do you need anything?'' Grace came into view and she walks and talks classilly.
''Grace, I will be out until tomorrow night, so I need you to guide our visitor, okay?''
'' Not a problem, Aunty. Don't worry, she's in good hands.'' She smiles at her.
'' Thank you.'' I sincerely smile at Grace. Her name definitely describe her graceful appearance. And I think we will become good friends since she looks to be in my age.
Aunt Dorcas left with two young ladies and two men. I don't know where they are going since I didn't ask further.
'' Miss, just call me when you need something.'' Grace faces me as soon as Aunt Dorcas left the house.
'' Thank you Grace, but please call me Yana.'' I said.
''Sure do, Yana.'' She voice and was about to go back to what she was doing earier when I suddenly remember my camera.
'' Uhm, by the way Grace, do you know any repair shop nearby?''
She faces me and is seemingly thinking. ''Yeah, I believe there is.''
''Can you tell me where it is?'' I inquire. I needed to get my cam fix as soon as possible or else i won't be able to do my job.'' I frown a little.
''I can accompany you. I'll just need to finish some stuffs then we're good to go.'' Grace replies.
'' Thank you.''
Then she beams before leaving. As for me, I took the staircase to Liam's room while waiting for her.
Dang! Waiting is too boring for me. Is Grace not done yet? I sigh while laying on the bed.
after a few more minutes, I heard a knock on the door.
'' Yana, it's me Grace. I'm ready.'' I heard her soft voice so I quickly rose up and took my camera and place it around my neck.
'' Coming!'' I shouted while wearing my sneakers.
''Let's go.'' She utters as soon as I open the door.
''Ehm...'' I nod in response.
We are walking in an unfamiliar road, but as we further, I saw some awful scenes that I thought it only exists in movies!
''Where am I?!'' I yelp within. I could see street children... looks like they were abandoned by their own parents. And Young ladies who were pregnant?! But if you look at them, you'll know that they were some ladies who had just blossom into being a teenager!
And If I may describe some of the boys that I am seeing at the moment, I might thought of them as some young rebellious gangsters.
Grace must have seen my creased brow therefore she tried to clarify some things.
''Liam wanted to help all the people in this village as much as he can but as you can see, the lodge is small and couldn't accomodate everyone. The lodge can only help children without parents but Liam and his team is helping the villagers with everything they can.'' She starts.
''What happen to those kids? Where are their parents? Also, those young ladies...'' I couldn't find the right words to describe the situation that I've saw.
''Yana, you should know that this village is the kingdom's slum region. Its where the poorest of the poor lives. They work not to be successful but to thrive each day.'' She responds.
'' The young ladies that you have seen... they were sold by their own parents to work as entertainers. Once they give birth, they will go back to the shrines once again. And some of the kids that you have seen where the product of that kind of job.'' She lowers her head as she clenches her fist.
I notice the sudden change in her mood but she immediately get back to me with her old self once again.
'' They have two choices, either to abort the child or give birth to them. That depends on them.'' She adds.
I gasps at what I heard. Is it that difficult to live in a kingdom? I sometimes watch movies, even series of k-dramas with a kingdom setting but I haven't seen worst case scenarios as this!
Or maybe I am still dreaming? I lightly slap my own cheek but I heard the lady beside me chuckled. I got a little embarass...
'' Is this kind of a dream to you?'' I heard Grace asks. '' What kind of country did you come from by the way?''
I pause a little then smile. ''A very different country, far from this.'' I look around. ''I don't know how to differentiate it for now since I still don't have the full knowledge about your kingdom, but I could see the difference the way you and I dress.'' I smile. I know that was too lame of a description but I can't think of a much better way to express my thoughts.
''That's pretty obvious.'' She snorts. ''Give me something that I haven't seen nor know yet.''
''Hmmm..'' I am in the mood of thinking. '' I think people here are very conservative. Cause the place that I came from was already modernized.'' I replied not sure if she understood my words. '' And we are in a democratic country.''
'' Democratic? What does it mean?'' I could see the curiosity on her face.
'' to put it in simplier word, it means you have the freedom to express your self. You can even oppose the people in the government.'' I laugh when I thought of my own country where some people were trying to go against the government.
'' I can't get a full view of it but guess it's fun to live in your country.'' She utters then continued walking.
******
We almost reach the repair shop when I suddenly saw a guy forcing a young lady into the carriage. The teenager is definitely struggling to get away but the man is too strong for her.
He was smiling maliciously as he size-up the poor lady who is quivering in fear.
I didn't know what has gotten in me but I felt a fire burst within me. So I took a big stone and throw it towards the man. It hit his forehead and a few blood trickle down from his wound. I could see his anger rose up as he look around for the culprit before his eyes landed on me.
'' You! Did you throw that stone?'' His tone was murderous enough that Grace tried to pull me and told me to run. But I didn't mind her warning.
'' I did... do you want more?'' I am holding another big stone with a raise brow as if challenging the big man. To be honest, I didn't know where I got my courage but when I saw him flickered his fingers, five big men came to his side.
I suddenly gulp. I thought he's all alone! Now, what will you do trouble-maker?! I scolded myself.