I woke up hugging something hard. Did I fell on the bed? Someone pulled me closer and hugged me. Oh my... This isn't some wood. It moved. I opened my eyes to see a man's chest. I am hugging a man. Wind, what are you doing? I looked up to see the man's face. He is Winter. He's so calm and honest when asleep. So serene, like an angel. He slowly opened his eyes. I was stunned. Will I look away? I saw the shock on his eyes too. He removed his hands on my waist, but I can't take my eyes off him. I felt hot on my eyes and tears suddenly fell. I can't believe I spent a night with a man. How will I face my real husband? How will I say to my parents that I am still their child?
"Don't misunderstand things," he said
"I didn't do anything, I just sleep on the bed because it's cold on the ground" he explained and fell on the bed
I pity him. It was a hard fall. I looked at him. He's like an innocent child caught in the act. I wanted to laugh, but I forced myself not to. But I can't help it.
"And now you played tricks. That's cheating" he said
"You slept on someone's bed and fell, it is not my fault," I responded
"It is not your bed. It is OUR bed. This place is set for us and even if I create a new one, it will fade" he said
"Then tell me why suddenly a bear appeared. Will he be gone by now?" I asked
"You said it. No, non -living and living creations are different. Once you created life, you don't have the right to get it back. It's still there... in the woods" he replied
Maybe he hit his head because he answered me and it didn't irritate me anymore. Maybe I'm just satisfied with his fall.
"How can we get firewood?" I asked
"Ask yourself. You were bored enough to wish a polar bear in our place" he said
Suddenly we heard some scratches outside the house. Winter cursed.
"And just early in the morning, someone called him," I said
"At least I didn't create something that could kill me" he replied
He stood up and I stretched myself as I followed him.
"How can we go out?" he asked himself
"Maybe he's hungry?" I guessed
"Okay, feed him," he said and lifted me
He threw me out of the window. It is cold. It is really cold.
"Winter! You jerk! How dare you threw me out without giving me a coat? You're not even concerned about your wife being eaten by a bear. I hate you! I hate you! If I go home, you'll be single with your whole life" I shouted
"Woman, you fight with your man?" a man's voice asked
"He's not my man and he'll never be" I replied without looking at him
"Are you feeling cold? I can share you my fur" he suggested
"That would be great, you're a gentleman unlike him" I agreed and looked at him
I ran close to the house and knocked on the window. Oh my! Winter you must know this. If I'm killed I'll be called Lady Snow and every time you leave this house I will haunt you forever.
"Mercy on me, Papa Bear. I'm not a good food" I pleaded
"I am about to hug you to share my fur. It is bad for humans like you this kind of coldness" he talked
This is impossible. The polar bear can talk. I am dying. Maybe this is my hallucination before I die. I think it is my luck to be able to cuddle a big bear before I die.
"I am crazy," I said as I fell on snow
"Will she be okay?" I heard Winter's voice
"Man, you threw her out of the window. You've been here pleading me to take care of her in case danger comes to the house, but you are the harm?" the bear's voice replied
"I threw her out to hate me. I know you won't eat her. Besides, I just want to frighten her a little. I didn't expect she'll be unconscious" Winter explained
"Your plan is a success. But, are you sure she won't leave you behind because of that? You know she still has this option" the bear said
"I know, she shouldn't be here in the first place, I will talk to the Master. For now, please take care of her" he responded
"You always come and go, do you think she won't find out?" the bear blocked his path when I took a small look on what's happening
I am in the bed and they're talking on the living area which is just some steps away. The door was slightly open as I saw the bear turned into a 30 or above years old man. He looks almost the age of my father or older.
"She wouldn't if no one tells" he replied and left
I pretended unconscious when the bear came closer to me. He returned being a bear again. He went on the bed and let me lay on his fur. So soft.
"You're awake. I know. Do not pretend" he talked
"Then why did you still let me lay on you?" I asked
"I was ordered to take care of you" he replied
"By whom?" I asked
"The Master. He told me that I should punish Winter if he ever does wrong and so I attacked him. Now, I will take you away because he's hurting you more" he responded
"Because he hates me," I said
"How can you say?" he asked
"Mother said, people do nasty things for only two reasons, they care for you or they hate you. They envy things about you"
"Then maybe he cared"
"No way... He might envy something about me. Maybe he also wants to return to the real world and he can't" I argued
"Then, let me tell you this. People don't know how to show affection that can easily be understood by the other. They can hurt you by time, they can be suffocating, but that doesn't mean they aren't a concern. You just have to look at the wider picture and figure out why are they doing that."
"There's a reason behind their every action" he added
"Don't take his side. You even argued about me and take on my side. And now, you are betraying me and telling me he is not bad" I said
Papa Bear laughed.
"You're just like him," he said
"Wait, what's your name?" I asked
"The name you called me is my name," he said
"How come?" I asked
"You created me. You can name me" he replied
"To something as big and strong as you, isn't Papa Bear an insult?" I asked
"No, it is not. When I vaporized as my old self, there's this man I know who called me that name too" he responded
"You mean Winter?" I asked
"Maybe yes, maybe no" he replied
"Papa Bear, can you tell me why Winter is so cold?" I asked
"A person's feelings represent his past. If he easily smiles in times of problem, probably he cried a lot but pretended to be strong before. If he's emotionless, someone or something happen that made him like that. It may be darker and deeper to dive through and it is better for you to let him grant you the passage to save himself. If he cried a lot, maybe in his whole life he depended on someone and is indecisive about the situation, he then cried thinking someone will catch the attention and help him" he answered
"Then what if he's pushing others away?" I asked
"He has a trust issue. May be someone he expected never came when he needed her the most" he replied and tapped my head
"Then, Winter became cold because someone he trusted left him. He's emotionless because that something is gone and he thought he lost everything or he has no purpose of living." I concluded
"Let me tell you one secret, Winter wasn't the Winter before. He represents something else. Please take care of him. All I want to see is for the both of you live happily" he said
But, I do not know what can make him happy.
Papa Bear transformed into human form and do my chores every day. Sometimes I helped him, but he told me to enjoy it with the others. I traveled and felt like it was a day off without Winter and I'm so happy. Every morning I will look for Rain and we will braid each one's hair. Then we will listen to Autumn's play with his flute. We sometimes played with the butterflies they created. It so cute to see this couple together. But, Rain is also like me, sooner she will return to her real world. This quite made me sad.
"Don't be sad. I promise to find you when I woke up then we'll be friends again" she said
"How about Autumn?" I asked
"Autumn and I were like brother and sister. He knows I will leave soon. Also, I am in the same situation as you. Autumn volunteered to be my partner because I am a crybaby. I remember that Leaf also argued, but two girls representing an area is prohibited and so she gave up. Autumn made me feel the warmth and care of being loved by someone. He told me he's just showing how affection feels like. When I meet my man in the real world, I know I am prepared because Autumn taught me so" she replied
This is heartbreaking. I can't see any sign that Autumn sees her as a sister. He's always affectionate with Rain and is so kind and gentle. I thought he loves Rain.
"If Autumn asked you to stay, will you stay?" I asked
"No, he told me to say no. I should not stay. It will be harder for him because we don't feel anything. He said it is like being chained and not able to escape. That will be our future relationship" she explained
"Why so?" I asked
"Because I never know who is the real Autumn. Who he is, I didn't win this question" she smiled
"It's unfair," I said and she just laughed
"Rain, this always comes into my mind. How did you and Autumn become the partner?" I asked
"Wow, now that you asked. Let me tell you..."
"I am not a member of a rich family nor have a decent one. My father is a drunkard while my mother is a hostess. I am not the real daughter of my known father. My mother said she was raped. Father didn't love her and spent all her money on his addiction. My real father is so rich. He is well -known in the business of wine. He's not responsible unlike father that's what she told me. Then one night, I was about to die when the Master stopped the car that's already inches away from me. Master told me that he would like me to experience new things, with that at the age of 15, I received an invitation. We are four at that time. The first one is Sunshine, she's so easy-go-lucky and an all smile girl. I envy her with that. She left this place so you didn't meet her. Life is the other one, he's only 14 at that time and is a very perverted one. The last one is the Fall. She's silent and simple. The Master welcomed us to this place and was ordered to touch something inside the box. It is weird because everyone used only one box, I am the first one. I touched a hair ornament with a butterfly. I tried to reach out the other part of the box, but it's the only one"
"The master nodded at me and he said I should keep it. I was embarrassed. The next one, Sunshine had a gumamela. She loves it and it suits her. Life had this stick. We all laughed when we saw it. Lastly, Fall had the most beautiful one. It is a piece of ice -sculpted rose. After that, we went to the big box and help ourselves. I heard Autumn's flute singing like it's a lullaby then he spoke..."
"Butterflies, once ugly and now has shown its beauty.
How lonely to live in so much misery,
You are alive but dead inside,
You can cry but your tears were shy."
"I asked him what is he talking about. He answered it is in your life. I know it feels lonely inside. Will you let me... Will you allow me to see you cry?. I smiled bitterly at that time and it is a shock for me to cry. The other side opened and he hugged me. I cried for the very first time in my conscious mind" she stopped
"Then what about your marriage?" I asked
"It's a simple one. He taught me how to read and write. Then said some verses and poems. At first, I thought he just loved it then he asked my name and I couldn't remember. He gave me a paper and it is written..."
"Even though it's dark, I can see the light.
Even though it cried, there's always a beauty that hides.
Because without you by my side,
Probably the rainbow won't shine."
"I was confused when he said it is my name. Like it is too long to remember. Then he said, he'll be giving me time to understand it. Then after a day, he'll ask me again, if I didn't answer my correct name, I will lose my name as a guest and return dead because I will be hit by the car. That one day, he let me meet with other villagers then he murmured something. Then, Sunshine greeted me as Rain which made me confused. The name me a flashback of my whole life like I am named Rain, but I know it is not my real name. That was one epic failed marriage of me and Autumn. I told him everyone knew my name and the Master visited us just to laugh on Autumn's mistake."
"That's kind of sad. I thought marriage is genuine. It is heartfelt. How come you heard your name to other people and not to Autumn?" I asked
"I heard him on his sleep. He called me, I just pretended I didn't know it because I want to look forward to what he'll do in the seven days preparation," she said
"Are you disappointed?" I asked
"No, he treated me more than I've ever imagined. He gave me new life and a new beginning" she answered
"How?" I asked
"Oh, you're not informed. Every year, when it's your partner's birthday, Master gives one wishes to your partner. Any wish will do and for the last two birthdays, Autumn made his wishes for me. He wished me not to die by the time I woke up and the second one is to meet my father and live a decent and happy life with him." she smiled
"Then, what if he wishes that you'll stay here with him forever?" I asked
She tapped my head like she's teasing a child.
"I would love to, but he's not that selfish" she responded
"When will be his next birthday?" I asked
"Exactly the day I will leave this place"
My heart is broken. I can't imagine that the happiest part of your life is the same day you'll lose someone you cared the most. It's too painful. Autumn and Rain just suit each other that I don't want to let them let go. I will do something about this. I will make Autumn gain motivation and confidence not to let Rain's hand go.