Chapter Five: What jealousy can do

Zaya went out of the room feeling the hurt from how Zion has treated her just now. She has already taken quite a few steps away from the door and she stopped. Looking at her shadow, the thought of Zion raising his voice on her echoes to her mind. She put her hands on her chest as she was trying to hold back her tears. But to no avail. They came down like rain on her cheeks. She burst into a run. She wants to go away from that place. Now.

Running, she bumped into someone. She raised her head and saw it was her twin brother, Yuil. She hugged him, digging her face on his chest and sobbing.

Yuil caressed her hair.

"Its Zion again is it?"

She nodded.

"Ssssh. Everything will be gone tomorrow."

"Here."

Zaya took the kerchief that he offered. She delicately wiped away the tears off her face.

"You can barge in my personal supply of chocolates. I know you love that. That is why your fat."

"You're unbelievable." replied Zaya while crossing her arms over her chest.

He laughed. She wasn't really fat. She was even too concious about how she looks. To be someone the prince would like. But he knows she loves chocolates. And he would like to offer her some to soothe her feelings.

"Okay, laugh all you want." she walked away from her brother.

"Oh come on. Zaya. Wait!"

"Shut up!"

She stomped her way to a special garden. It was her favorite. The grounds are decked with grass in hues of blue and green dancing in the gentle breeze of the night.

As she entered, the hem of her dress brushes on it as she walks towards the fountain at its center. What a place to stay and release all her insecurities, irritation, doubt; her problems.

She picked a fallen flower from the ground and sat at the fountain's rim. One by one she plucked its petals. Zaya blew on it. Slowly, each petal glowed in several different colors. She let it float in its water. The soon the first petal touched the water, fireflies came filling the air with little glowing lights.

Looking at her reflection, her appearance started to change. Hair, from golden to chestnut brown; Skin, from fair to tan and later, ancient runes surfaced from her hands to her arms then to her face. Symmetrically arranged, and a beautifully carved rising sun on her forehead.

"I wish I never had these. And I will never have to hide my true self."

She murmured while watching her reflection.

A rustle of the leaves behind her made her turn her head back. She got up and slowly walked towards it while readying a bolt of lightning. Aiming at the bush, she was about to throw at it when her brother came to view.

"How many times do i have to tell you not to reveal your runes?" Yuil said angrily.

"Damn it! I could have killed you. Idiot!"

"You're the idiot! Look at me!" He said pointing at the runes on his skin which are identical to hers apart from the one on his forehead. Instead of a sun. It has a crescent moon.

"Oh. Sorry" she replied while turning back to her golden haired, fair and flawless skin look.

"I know you're hurt and everything. But please do always remember Zaya the other circumstances that you have to consider."

"But-"

"No buts Zaya."

She kept quiet and sat back to the fountain. Yuil followed her. He took her hand and looked her in the eye.

"Zaya. You are more than what they see. Don't think less of yourself. And, never change yourself just to fit in."

He paused.

"Except for the runes i guess."

"I want him to notice me"

"But be yourself Zaya. Don't let him fall for your masked self. Make him fall for who you really are."

"I am sure he will notice you someday."

Zaya looked up above and admired the moon.

"Just like her."

"Yeah just like her." Yuil seconded.

"What really happened to her?" She asked.

"She was once a priestess of the moon." He paused

Zaya eagerly listened, "Go on. I am all ears"

"She fell in love with a commoner living at a nearby village. But, the man loved another woman. The daughter of his neighbor. She was beautiful and Munsierra envied her."

"She didn't seem to realize she was way more beautiful than that girl. More talented. But she changed herself just to fit into what the guy likes."

"Day by day she became frustrated. And day by day her attitude became different. And then it came to the point that she resorted to dark magic. She was determined to take the man she loves from that girl. Still, to no avail."

Yuil stopped to breath.

"Consumed by evil, a thought came to her mind. That if she can't have him then that woman can't have him too. The ending was drastic."

"Wait. I wanna know why she became the moon. We have a moon before right?" Zaya asked like a child.

"Her witchcraft affected the moon. It darkened slowly and crumbled. And as a consequence of her actions, she was cursed to be the moon. Alone and far."

He took a deep breath and looked at Zaya.

"Do you want that to happen to you Zaya? Become someone who you are not. Be corrupted by envy and hatred. And face such terrible consequences? "

She shook her head.

"I will do everything i can for me not to come to that situation." She replied.

"That's right. And changing your name to rhyme with his is more than enough."

He smiled at her. She smiled back.

"I am so lucky to have a brother like you Yuil."

"You're kind, caring, considerate and-"

"I am hot, gorgeous and famous." He said.

They both laughed under the light of the moon.