The smell of Ma's special chicken cordon bleu wafted to my nostrils, I can already taste the chicken in my mouth. I wish I was a great cook like Ma and like my Mom, but it turns out that I was so much like Pa who loved eating.
After we helped Ma on preparing the chicken and its filling (Yes, she let me helped her, finally!) Lulu and I had to arrange the table for three, just like how Pa and I would do it. I know Ma misses Pa so much, she's a silent type of person but when I ask her about it, she'll literally cry. I watched her as she took out the chicken from the oven, she's glowing when she cooks, and maybe that's how Pa fell in love with her. The soft clinking sound from the spoons made Lulu and I giggle, I guess we are just too excited to eat Ma's cooking.
"Lupita, how's Felipe?" Ma asked while she was slowly placing the chicken cordon bleu on a big plate.
"My brother is fine Ma, but he definitely misses our small town,"
Ma was the only person in our family who was allowed to call Lulu in her full name (She banned me from calling her that way because it's always making me giggle)
"Well, home is definitely nicer when you're with your family,"
Ma's words seemed to have slapped my face metaphorically as I remembered my conversation with Neo and Myrtle this afternoon. I don't know I still haven't decided and I am still confused, what should I do? If only Pa was here he might've cracked a joke or give me a piece of bad advice but at least it is better than suffering in silence, right?
"Hey, Myrtle is really nice,"
Lulu said as she peeked inside the refrigerator to take a good look at the contents of the box (They're chocolate which is our favorite).
"Lupita, we'll enjoy those later, but now you need to eat this first,"
Lulu gave Ma a shy smile and slowly looked in my direction. I only giggled because Ma's magic works every time (Even on Pa when he was still alive) she slowly placed her long graceful arms on her waist and smiled at Lulu.
Dinner was delightful as always when Ma and Lulu are around; at least I wouldn't feel so lonely.
"Hey Tinny, do you want to take a quick stroll tomorrow night at the sea wall?"
It was one of our favorite spots in this area; residents can either walk or ride on their bikes as long as we won't go over the dilapidated lighthouse at the top.
"That's a great idea; I actually miss hanging out with you,"
She gently nudged my arm and smiled at me. I already know what this means, I shook my head and went back to washing the dishes.
"Come on, just two or three cans?"
I rolled my eyes and stuck out my tongue while she continued to give me puppy eyes.
"No, remember when you got drunk at summer camp?"
Soft hues of pink quickly spread throughout her cheek when I gave her my 'I hate to say I told you so' stare.
"Yeah, but that's the reason why I am bringing you along,"
I quickly placed the plate on the sink and frowned at her.
"Ooh, I think I better start on checking Bernard's designs,"
She quickly headed to my work table and quietly opened her laptop like she never asked me that favor. Well, that was a good way to end a risky conversation.
Hours after we were making notes and discussing what needs to change don Bernard's design; sleep wanted to take over Lulu's system as she started to yawn again for the 8th time.
"I think you should sleep," I muttered as I began to look at the design for the last time.
"Are you sure? I'm not yet done with my report," She said as she stretched her arms and legs.
"We can still do it in the morning," I told her as I took the stack of papers that was disastrously piled up.
"Okay, what about you?" She asked as she began to ruffle my hair.
"I'll be okay; the coffee is still kicking my system,"
She gave me a sleepy smile before heading towards my room. I better remember not to drink too much coffee if I still want to sleep peacefully at night. I stared outside the window and suddenly missed my usual walks when things aren't messy and too magical. I guess I can still walk at dawn or maybe at seven in the morning.
I yawned as I began to check the papers for the last time. It was already 10:30 in the evening. Should I sleep? Maybe I shouldn't but as soon as I thought about sleeping, my body would immediately cooperate at the wrong time.
As my eyes began to grow heavy, the wide sandy road to the sea walls flashed before my very eyes. Strange, but okay maybe I should take a walk with Lulu?
Wait, what is she doing here in my dream?
We were walking on the sandy road while I was holding a paper bag filled with tacos?
"Tinny, is something wrong?" She suddenly asked
Why does everything seem so real?
"Uh, did we just buy tacos?" I asked her.
She suddenly laughed real hard then it hit me, I'm walking with Lulu.
"Myrtle is that you?"
She nodded and immediately transformed back to her real self. Her long black skirt swayed along with the wind as we continued to walk.
"Looks like you found out who I was because of the hint I gave you," She giggled as she took out the paper bag from me.
"I'm here to warn you about tomorrow's events," She said as she took a bite from the taco that she was holding.
"Okay? What is it?"
She suddenly raised her hand and the wind suddenly stopped. We immediately turned to look around when we saw a dark cloaked figure standing twenty feet away from us.
"Hi," Myrtle greeted the strange figure who appeared in my dream.
The figure moved its head and pointed its finger at me. Strange though, it doesn't look like a monster but I am not sure about its gender.
"Thig dhachaigh…"
Myrtle stared at me and suddenly walked towards the cloaked figure in a graceful motion. She began to speak in the language that the figure used.
"He's a man darling, don't be scared," She said.
She must've felt that I was uncomfortable at this rate.
"Don't worry, he's not harmless. Just a lost soul," Myrtle said.
What I didn't expect was I was also moving towards the figure. Wait, no, he was controlling me?
"I think you should stop that," Myrtle called him out.
He slowly lowered his finger and smiled and showed us his fangs.
"What do you want?" I asked as I finally plucked up the courage to do it.
My heart raced when he suddenly started to walk towards me. Myrtle immediately reappeared in front of me which made the figure stopped.
"I'm not here to hurt her, Pandora,"
Wait, that voice, I've heard it somewhere before, but I can't remember.
"I'm here to warn her," He continued.
She suddenly held me really close to her body and stuck out her tongue at the man.
"I don't trust strangers like you,"
The figure only scratched his head and his opal eyes stared at me.
"But, I'm no stranger to her,"
He said and he was quite confident about it.
"Wait, what? Are you sure about that?"
He suddenly looked confused. He was about to remove his hood but he hesitated and he began to spread his arms the wind started to carry him away.
"Clearly, you haven't changed a bit," He said as he began to float above our heads.
He quietly landed behind my back and slowly touched the ends of my hair.
"I'll let you guess it for yourself,"
Out of impulse I raised my hand and tried to slap him for getting so close to my ear, but he was swift and he was able to catch my hand. He stared at me for a long time and I suddenly got a good look at him. He was taller than me and his dark hair cascaded smoothly, his face was flawless and any woman would definitely fall for his dark complexion, those lips that will definitely make one of those gorgeous smirks, and those keen eyes that can pierce (I'm reading too many novels). He does remind me of someone, but I can't remember who.
"Now that you got a good look at me, do you recognize me?" He asked
I shook my head I thought Myrtle was going to pull me away from him and cuddle me as she did but she stood there six feet away from us while she was eating the rest of her tacos.
"Oh, this somehow reminds me of a movie, but I forgot what it was," She said.
I quickly pried my hand from his grip and ended up stumbling. He shook his head and smiled at me as he raised his finger to prevent me from hitting my bum hard on the ground.
"I'll let this one slip, now listen carefully,"
He slowly raised his finger and I was off the ground.
"Your friend will be in danger,"
I stared at Myrtle who was surprised as well by what he said.
"Hey, I'm supposed to say that!" She said and began to pout.
But he didn't pay any attention to her at all.
"You will be in danger," He said as his eyes began to soften.
"Now, that you've awakened the power that's within you, they'll be tracking down everyone that you love. You need to stop them,"
Wait, I don't even know what my power is. I DON'T yet they are all insisting I have one.
"I don't even know what my power is!" I shouted.
"You don't have to shout, fairy. I understand this is hard for you," He said as he stared at his own hands.
"Unexpected problems will always have answers that will surprise you,"
I only rolled my eyes as I began to float even farther away from the ground.
"Thanks for encouraging me,"
He only smiled while Myrtle gave him thumbs up.
"Heads up, fairy, your Ma will wake you up any moment now,"
The wind suddenly began to blow me farther until I was able above the clouds.
"Be careful,"
His voice continued to echo even though I am already far from them. The blue moon above me was shining brightly in the night sky. As I stretched my hand to feel the light through my fingertips, Ma's voice brought me back to the realm of my reality.
"Love,"
I slowly opened my eyes and noticed that Ma was sitting beside me. I know it was just a dream, but somehow, it felt so real.
"You shouldn't be sleeping here," She whispered.
"You better sleep inside your room; you can still finish this tomorrow,"
I only nodded as a response and began to neatly stack up the papers before I turned off my laptop.
"Love, are you having nightmares again?"
I was taken aback by Ma's surprise question. I gave her a sleepy smile and hugged her real tight.
If they are after me, it only means I need to become stronger and train myself with whatever kind of power I have within me.
"Are you okay, Tinny?"
"I'm okay Ma," I whispered.
"If you ever have nightmares love, you can always sleep beside me,"
I only smiled at what Ma said, after all, I'm still their baby and that hasn't changed ever since.
"Okay, Ma,"
I gently kissed her forehead before I headed to my room. It was already three in the morning. Wait; did he just call me fairy in my dream? Whatever it was, I'm too tired to start an internal debate. I just hope I can convince Lulu not to go at the sea wall, more importantly, I hope I can draw out this power that they all claim I have to protect everyone that I love.