Part 6

Tomorrow is a new day but not a guarantee.

Hope opens up for the future.

****

"I filed a month off at work. I hope its enough time for us to figure out and locate the west gate." Elena said cheerfully. She seems more energetic today and more open to any possibilities like she was in Viranna.

"Thank you so much, Esther. You bring so much strength on us." Miguel said smiling as they face a new day ahead. He thought that her actions can be a sign that she has accepted her past and now moving forward with them.

"Why do we need to look for west gate any way? Why not look for other gates?" The head Tresi asked as if hinting on something as she always insist on looking for the center gate instead.

"West gate is the closest to us. We have better chances of finding the gate here. And I don't think its economical for us to travel to Brazil at this point."

"Why not?" Lucy hissed at the doctor.

"You are asking me why not? Well, do you even have money to do that? Money rule this world, head Tresi. This is unlike the Kingdom where we can just fly anywhere and everything is for free." Esther said this lightly but the heart that full of insecurity felt like she is being dragged and looked down.

"I agree with Elena. In three days, the gates in the peek of Philippines will open up. Let us take this opportunity as this is already under our proximity."

"That is exactly the point. We still have three days. No need to rush. Lets go to the mall instead?" Elena suggest as she felt the need to break the ice between them.

"What is mall?" He asked and two pair of eyes quickly turn into him. "What? I don't really know. I have no idea." He said to his defense.

Lucy shake her head while Esther smiled with great amusement as she look at him.

"I never thought that I will have this chance to share my knowledge with you, my highness. It will be my pleasure."

"Oh! Come on, Esther. Don't make it a big deal."

"It is big deal for me. You may not know this because you are a teacher and you always get to share your knowledge to everyone but for me, no matter how small it is, gorni is a great previledge. Especially if it is for the Prince of the Kingdom." (ET: Gorni is a local language of Viranna that means 'sharing knowledge' or 'to give knowledge')

"Oh, what ever." Stuborn Lucy said and went straight to her room. "Lets get ready! Mall opens at 10am." She said loudly so Miguel and Esther can hear.

Miguel and Esther look at each other and laughed.

"I know her for a very long time but I am still confused on her sometimes." His trust is broken because of the lie but somehow he feels the need to give Lucy the benefit of the doubt.

"Well, good for you. As for me, I don't get her at all." She said giggling.

He just smiled at her.

"Oh, so what now? Lets get ready now and I will show you the mall. Let me be your tresi for today." She said with the brightest smile on her lips.

"Sure, my temporary Tresi."

***

The three of them is now heading to a mall nearby to get some food stock and few clothes that they will need when its time for them to travel. They decided to keep it low for now and move quietly before the full moon as they have nothing to do until the gates are open.

Esther drives while Lucy and Miguel is in the back seat. As expected, Lucy wears something fancy while the other wears plain tshirts and jeans.

"Not that I'm complaining or something but it feels weird to drive here and both of you are in the backseat of my car." Esther said in abit of awkward voice.

"I did not expect you to say that. What's wrong?" He said trying to analyze her words.

Lucy just ignored them and continues on painting her nails.

"Well.. I mean, as Esther, I feel really honored to drive for the Head Tresi and the Prince but as Elena, it kinda feel degrading."

"I don't understand. Can you please ellaborate on that." He said frowning. Totally lost of what she is trying to say.

She collect her thoughts and pulled some courage to explain to his highness. She thought of something that hopefully is relatetable to the Prince.

"Here on earth, if I drive someone that is my friend and I will not let them pay me for the ride then they should be seated next to me. But, if for example, I asked for something in return for the ride then they should have the priviledge to be at the back seat."

She breathes heavily to let go of the tension on her chest as she explain the social etiquette here on earth to the royal highness of her Kingdom

"Are you asking us to pay for the ride?" He frowned in disbelief. "We don't have any money and we won't fit in that space." He said looking at the passenger seat.

Her one hand face palmed in total awe of the face of innocence of the Prince.

"Sorry. I don't want you to pay me. I'm just saying that one of you should be seated next to me because we are friends.." She said it straight to the point as it seems pointless to explain in details.

"Oh.. Okay. " Miguel said confused. "Then, I will be seating next to you when we ride again."

She awkwardly smiled at him.

"Okay. Thanks!" She said adding an awkard laugh.

Miguel smiled back and happily look at the window side again as the issue has been resolve.

Esther just smiled looking at Miguel in the rear mirror.

The prince of Virannna...so pure and innocent.

*******

After a while, they have arrived at the mall.

"I was so bored. The traffic is unreal. I wish I could just fly here." Lucy said in her usual grumpy tone. She is the first one to get off the car.

"Lucy is so impatient. She is Tresi but always hot headed." She said smiling.

He shrugged her shoulder and just smiled too as they both get off the car.

and out of nowhere ... they hear a gunshot.

to be continued...