Part One: One Sweet Glimpse

WARNING: GRAMMATICAL AND TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AHEAD!

The reflection of the clouds on the glass window was beautiful. I could see leaves swirling in the wind as they fall. A flock of a bird rising up and flying away at all once. I could hear birds chirping too, I took a deep breath when the cold breeze of wind meets my face, it was so refreshing.

I roamed my eyes around the bus, all of them are laughing and they seem so happy, one of them is demonstrating funny scenes while one of them is cracking jokes. I shrugged my shoulders as I shifted my gaze on the girl that is beside me, her attention was focused on the game that she was playing right now, “Why don’t you join them?” She suddenly asked, I blinked twice as I wander my eyes around wanna confirmed if she’s talking to me and yep it’s to late for me to realized that she is indeed talking to me!

I cleared my throat as I pulled my beads off, “I’m fine being alone though.” I answered as embarrassment racked me, she chuckled.

I am about to put my beads on, again, when she spoke, “Same vibes, so?” She turned her phone off as she transfer her gaze on me waiting for my response, “Uhm so?” I said, innocently. She chuckled once again, I looked down as shame corroded me from within.

“I’m Akiesha, from the music club,” she lended her hand on the air, I immediately accepted it, “Sorel.”

Her forehead furrowed, “From?”

I knocked back, “Art club.”

A smile curve on her lips, “Then it’s perfect! You’ll love the next place that we’re heading right now.” Exultation surged through her.

I was about to speak up when.

“OUR NEXT STOP, MUSEUM!”

My heart pounded in excitement and the bus became extra noisy after the announcement our professor made. After a couple of minutes our bus stopped, everyone was excited so I am, I grab all the kinds of stuff that belongs to mine, I shifted my gaze on Akiesha’s and I’m a bit surprised when she’s not on her seat anymore, “Sorel! Here.” I immediately turned my gaze on her and now she’s about to shin down of the bus. I abruptly ran.

As soon I stepped out of the bus the cold breeze of wind meets mine, again, I closed my eyes for a bit to savor the fresh air, I opened my eyes with a smile plastered on my lips. I roamed my eyes around the place and I could see tons of trees around, fresh flowers, clean benches, and hotdog stands! Woah I never expected that there could be hotdog stands outside the museum, I snapped back on my senses when our professor spoke.

“STUDENTS! ESPECIALLY JUNIORS STICK WITH YOU CLASSMATES, YOU’RE ALL ALLOWED TO CAPTURE THINGS INSIDE THE MUSEUM BUT YOU AREN’T ALLOWED TO TOUCH THEM, DID I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!” He shouted, gazing at us with a stern look on his face, waiting for our response.

We all answered ‘yes’ in chorus, our professor raised a signage that states ‘follow me’ and he walk first all the way inside the museum, leading all the grade levels.

“There you are!” Someone exclaimed, I shifted my gaze on the person who spoke and I figure out that it’s Akiesha, and the side of my lips rose up when I noticed that she’s panting so hard right now.

“Where have you been? And why are you panting so hard? Jusme,” I immediately lended her my water bottle but she refused to accept it, so I put it back to my backpack, I lifted one my brow while staring at her. Her hands were holding her knees catching her breath.

“I was looking for you,” She said.

I frowned, “Well it ain’t easy, the place was too crowded.” I retorted, she nod in response. “Yeah.”

It took a couple of minutes before she calmed down, I roamed around the place and my chest stuttered when I didn’t see any of them, “Where are they?” I whispered through the air.

“Relax, I have a map” She playedfully smile as she seize something from her backpack and yes she was right, she has a map.

“Where did you get that?” I asked, so confused.

She didn’t answer instead she sat down to the floor, “Akiesha!” I exclaimed.

The side of lips rose up as she raise her brow, “What?” She asked confusedly.

I sighed as I avoided my gaze on hers, I wander my eyes around the place, I could see most of the things are new,or not? My eyebrow creased in confusion, I took a step forward to look closely--- “No touching young lady,” I wheezed, taking a step behind.

“I wasn’t holding these!” I exclaimed, am pertaining to the paintings that were attached on the walls. I could feel her sharp stares from my behind so I was forced to face her, the corners of her mouth lifted the moment she saw me.

I was about to spoke when Akiesha instantly interrupted, “What happened?” She whispered on my ears, “I don’t know.” I whispered back.

I meet her gaze again, and I saw terror flashed in her eyes, so I took a step behind as my knees trembled in fear, “You’re scaring her miss.” She heaved a sighed.

Her mouth curved into a smile, “Apologies,” She bowed her head a bit.

“You seem lost, follow me then.” As of this moment she gave us a half-smile.

Sweat trickled down my spine, my chest tightened with fear. “N-No---”

“Sure,” fresh energy filled her.

My hands squeezed into fist as anger seared through me, she shouldn’t have agreed! We don’t know her, she don’t know us either. But we ended up following her though, the moment we entered a small room in the corner of the museum, the first thing I noticed was a variety of paintings attached on the walls, they’re many of them and to be frank they don’t look old for me.

“Are we on the right way?” I whispered, questioning myself.

I took a glance on the girl that is walking ahead of us, and it seem that she didn’t heard me so I continued wandering along the walls, my forehead furrowed when I sense something strange here, I gulped once before I spoke. “Uhm--”

The words I was about to utter was interrupted when I heard the sound of a creaking door, I immediately turned my gaze on them, “I think this isn’t the right way.” Akiesha finally exclaimed.

She gave us a lopsided grin, and in an instant I wasn’t barely able to breath in fear. “It is, just keep your mouth shut and follow me.” She slid her a guarded look, and again fear consumed me from within. “I think it’ll be better if we’ll call our professor already,” I faked a smile as I grab my phone out of my pocket, I was about to dialed my professor’s number--- “Ugh, no.” I whispered angrily.

“There’s no point, they’ll never find us,” She murmured.

Panic assailed me after hearing those words from her, all I could think right now is to escape from her!

”You don’t even know the way back there, aren’t you?” She mumbled as if she heard the things I whispered through my mind.

She chuckled devilishly when she heard me gasp, “Calm your nerves ladies, I ain’t gonna do bad against you, imma just gonna show you something.” I shifted my gaze on Akiesha and I saw the relief suffesed to her features.

“Just keep following me, or else you’ll be lost.”

We ended up following her again inside this dark small room, I instantly covered my eyes with my bare hands when suddenly the whole room lit up so bright. I remove my palms on my eyes slowly as my mouth hanged open for a second as what I am seeing right now slowly sank into my head.

Warmth spread through me when I wander my eyes around the room as my knees wobbled in desire, “Wow,” that is all I could say for now! I roamed around the whole room but the first thing I noticed is the huge thing that were placed in the center, the wall behind that thing was loaded with ancient arts!

The girl beside me turned her gaze on that thing too.

I walked slowly towards that thing’s direction, my orbs were foused and locked to that thing. Out of many beatiful furnitures, things and paintings that are attached along the walls and each corners, That’s the only thing that caught my attention when this girl turned on the lights. There’s something with this thing, ‘coz I can’t took off my eyes on that!

The girl beside me walked towards that thing’s direction, when she finally reached the center she slightly touched it before she took a glimpse at me, smiling. “This is the thing I wanted to show you,”

I creased my forehead in confusion.

“So you’re saying that you brag us here for a bed time story? Is that it?” Akiesha retorted, sarcastically.

She’s pertaining to the book that we was staring, it isn’t just a casual book that were seen in book stores, it’s a huge book! The cover itself make it more attractive.

The girl smirked, “This book holds thousands of stories, real life stories to be exact.” She said using her serious tone.

I gulpped thrice after hearing those words from her, couldn’t be able to speak.

“Nervous?” She shifted her gaze on me, I think she noticed how uneasy I am.

My lip rose up, did she sensed? Am I really that too obvious? Or not?

“I could really tell.” She blurted.

She sat down to the floor as she carry the huge book into her lap. “Let’s read it together,” She utter, and without hesitation I walked towards her direction and I sat beside her like what’s she does while ago, “Make sure that my time wouldn’t be wasted.” I said with a threathen tone, she didn’t talk back instead she chuckled.

“Do you believe that our world are devoted to two different kinds?” She suddenly asked, my eyebrow creased as I shrugged my shoulders.

“She is wasting our time, Sorel. I know this is just a bait! Inaamo niya tayo para makuha ang loob natin---” I immeditely cutted her off with a glare.

“Akiesha, if you want to leave, then leave. Imma stay here.” I hissed.

She looked at me in disbelief as she ran away from this room, I sighed.

“Well I mostly read them on books, fantasy genre.” I retorted.

She smiled, dangerously.

Goosebumps.

“Ages ago when someone discovered that there were two different human tribes scattered over two different lands, devoted to two different kinds; Incurable and Amaranthine. One world divided into two lands,” She mumbled almost whispering.

“Many of us believe that this is just a myth, but it isn’t.” She paused, “The myth was true.” She whispered the last following words, and it gave me goosebumps in an instant!

“Way back on our ancestors time we all used to be one, not until these two people who came from different lands broke the rules.” She faintly smile.

“What rule?” I asked unimpatienly.

She chuckled, “A girl crossed over the border,” she paused, “The other tribe's border.”

“I thought they were one---”

“Crossing over each other borders is forbidden, rules are rules.” She looked heavenward.

“But why?”

“There is no oxygen in their land, they are different, and Amaranthine's don’t need air.” She said with a sad tone,”And as for the other tribe--- Amaranthine, they sees oxygen as a poison, that’s why they aren’t allowed to cross over the Incurable's border,” he paused, “Or else they will die.”

Her mood plummeted, she became more serious than before, and it’s creeping me out. And going back the rules it make sense though, it’s for their own safety. “Incurable's can’t cross Amaranthine's border, Amaranthine's can’t cross Incurable's border, It’s just not meant to be.”

“Inshort two lands are forbidden, they may be look the same, dress the same, act the same but they were different in way you can't even imagine,” I gasp.

“So did the girl died?” I asked.

She glanced at me as she shake her head, my mouth hanged for a second.

“So what happened?” I desperatetly asked, “Easy tiger, we’re still on the story’s synopsis, if I’ll tell you on the spot right now you wouldn’t able to know what happened exactly,” well she was right.

“So shall we turn the page?”

Beat.

I slowly nodded.

“Welcome to the story’s part one.”

I eyed her.

“One sweet glimpse,”

PART ONE

One Sweet Glimpse

The large number of drink mixes on the village market makes it easy to throw a party without having to spend a ton of money to make exoctic and fun drinks, the song starts off like some hip-hop video as we throw a party to gather all mortals for a big crazy celebration; two lands united at last.

From a distance I could see Hannah paused for a deep breath inside the large stairwell, her eyes was half open. I frowned ‘she’s already drunk? The party isn’t over yet’ I shake my head in disbelief as I walk towards her direction. “Oh S-Selene,” She exclaimed as she stood up, drunkly. I shifted my gaze on the beer she was holding.

“Really? With just one beer?” I exclaimed, unbelievably.

Out loud she replied, “What?! That’s a good idea!” She exclaimed, as she drank her beer once again. Suddenly, a loud sound from above awakened her with a start. “Woah woah!” She murmured pointing her fingers above, she’s pysched.

I wander my eyes around to search for our other friends.

“Katie!” I shouted.

Instantly she turned her gaze on me giving me a ‘What’ look, I motion her to come closer, “I think you need to drive her home.” I faintly smiled, her lips parted when she saw Hannah almost crawling on the floor, she shaked he head in disbelief seeing her friend in that state, she forcedly stood her up as she wrapped her arms around Hannah’s waist, helping her to get her perfect balance.

“Yeah, yeah.” She seat as sweat beaded her forehead, “C’mmon lasenggera.”

I chuckled softly as i tapped Katie’s shoulder, I stepped out from the mansion to entertain guest’s and other elders. I wander my eyes around and I could still see most of them dancing, and screaming like there’s no tommorow, all of them was drinking hard drinks. I shaked my head as I shifted back my gaze on our table, good thing I was only drinking wine, I took a sip before I turned my gaze on the dance floor---

“Oh there she is!” Someone shouted, “Selene,” In an instant I turned my head to that person who calle me by my name and it’s one of our elders, I immediately stood up. “Senior,” I bowed my head a bit to show some respect.

A smile curved to his lips as he motioned me to follow him, and then I just realized that we aren’t just the one who’s throwing a party! We immediately stopped when we finally reach the border’s line, from here I could see people dancing wild, toasting their drinks on the air and singing together.

“This is our party planner, Selene.” Senior introduced me to this man in front of us, and I've never mentioned that he’s standing from the other line, means he’s an immortal. “She prepared all of this,” He mumbled as he slightly open his left arm to show the party’s venue. “Well, fascinating,” he replied, they both laughed together.

“And Selene, this is the immortal’s king--- King Arthur.” He retorted.

He lend his hand on the air so I accepted it instantly but I’m a bit surprised when he slowly grab it closer to his lips--- and h-he kissed my hand! I immediately pulled it away as I avoided my gaze. Embarrassment seized me, dang.

“HA HA,” He faked a laugh, patting my shoulders lightly.

“She’s conservative.” Senior replied.

“Oh, really? I liked it!” He replied as he licked his lips in front of us, I look down when I noticed his sharp stares to mine so I secretly covered my body using my palms. I clear my throat, as I lift my chin up, “Will you excuse me senior,” I whispered, he nod in response as he took a sip on his wine.

Not so far from the border’s I undid my my ponytail, I tossed my long brown glossy hair into the air so it would scattered around my chest part, right after that I tucked a lock of her behind my ear, trying to hide my revealing outfit. I sighed, “Ayos ka lang ba?” Archie approached me wearing his worried look, he sat beside me stroking my back. I slowly nod as a response, “Yeah, of course, why wouldn’t I?” I asked, playing innocent. He growled, “You really don’t don’t know how to lie hm?” And then he chuckled, I heaved a sigh before turning my gaze on him, he’s currently drinking a juice, eh?

“The immortal’s king is a piece of shit,” I murmured as I creased my eyebrow.

“How’d you say so?”

“He’s a fucking perver---” I didn’t get a chance to finish my words when it was interrupted by a loud scream from the other line. Instantly I turned my gaze there and as of this moment I could see people going wilder than before but this time, they aren’t wild ‘coz they are happy and celebrating; they are getting wilder ‘coz they are already panicking, “What’s happening?” I asked myself cluelessly.

“THIEVES WARRIORS!” My eyes widened in an instant, it was dark on the other line, all light was turned off, but I didn’t know how did I get to see him--- the guy who’s wearing a black mask, out of many mens I saw from there he’s the only one who stand out.

When the lights lit up again, they’ve already disappeared!

I shaked my head, “What was that?”

Beat.

“One Sweet Glimpse,”

Goosebumps.

“W-What did you say?” He turn his gaze on me with his furrowed forehead, “Oh, I was pertaining to my drink,” He said as he showed me the wine’s bottle name, and he was indeed.

I heaved a sigh, “Just a one sweet glimpse,”

___

To be continued....

Part two teaser

She pinned him with her eyes as

desire percolated between them.

they both walked towards the

border's line.

Awe transformed his face.

"My search is finally over,"

he murmured.

"Finally I found you,"