January

Chapter 9

Erine might know where Prince went.

It was in the past where she had a strange encounter of a cat, a very beautiful one. Well, that wasn't the only memorable thing. Falling down in the lake without any swimming experience were a terrifying, ones that engrave in her memory forever.

After that incident, she started taking swimming classes.

The sun hasn't set yet but the color it radiates were a shade of pink and orange. Even if the lake were still far away, Erine can agree that the sunset is beautiful. If there were more people who know the place, it would have been packed just to appreciate the view.

That afternoon wasn't a hot one but Erine could already feel her uniform sticking on her skin, wet and dirty with sweat. But there was no stopping. And it's a good thing that those strange visions finally stopped occurring. With this, she could definitely concentrate on running without tripping on the way.

When there were only a few distance away from the actual place, Erine noticed a figure standing not far away from the lake.

As the figure started to get clearer, Erine's footsteps became softer and slower, until she could not move on anymore. They weren't that far apart when Prince finally noticed her presence. The boy's eyes went wide for a while. 

Silence engulfed the both of them as they stood dumbfounded by the situation.

It could have been less than a hundred percent that the guy would be there. And knowing this chance, she still went because she doesn't know what to say.

Erine just suddenly thought of it now but how can she even communicate with this person well. For one, they barely knew each other. And the boy seems to harbor deep-rooted hatred towards her.

Before she could utter a word, Prince had already turned his head away and removed his hands from the desolated railings.

"Why are you here?" Prince asked which Erine tried her hardest to ignore, especially with the tone. It wasn't pleasant and welcoming, which she had expected.

"I'm not the only one here, am I? Do people need to have a reason why they're here?" Erine shot forward frankly.

Instead of looking up, Prince only lowered his head and watched as the water sparkled by the setting sun. Looking at his lonesome figure, Erine can't help to stare in amazement, wondering if Prince and the guy from the diary were just one being.

"People don't come here."

Quiet and weak, that was how Prince had said those words, or at least that was how it sounded like in her ears.

The saddest face she could ever see in those usually angry faces seem so surreal and something no one could expect from him. Making it seem like there's more than just a story in this place. Something Erine may never know.

Erine isn't the prying type anymore. However, she could sense how emotionally invested this person was in this place. 

But Erine has already known what this place is and why this was abandoned. 

She wanted to say something but before she could, Prince raised a hand, pointing towards a mountain. The place that's been forbidden to be ventured.

"Right there," Prince said. "was a place I really want to go."

Although Erine was unsure if she must answer, it didn't stop the question that just came out. "Why?"

Prince lowered his hand and quickly shakes his head several times. A smile so forced that it looked like it was tearing face, made its way on his lips.

"I was searching for something." He said. "But I can't find a way to get to where it is."

Erine looks at the mountain. It was so small that she couldn't believe just how mysterious it is. It was just like Prince said, there's just no way how to get to the mountain without getting lost.

Since it was a place full of missing cases, the mayor of the city shut the place down. And if there were any interested terrorists, they'd be allowed to explore until in the middle of the bridge.

It was a total mystery but trying to know its mysteries may put you into great dangers.

"That place is..." Erine trailed off for a while. It was because she noticed something in Prince's face.

Other than he was handsome, Erine felt like she has seen his face somewhere. It was just at the tip of the tongue, and with one more push, she would recognize him.

"But now that I think about it, there is no way I could find it," Prince said. "But I hated it because no one seems to remember. If only I treasured the things I have before, it would have still remained the same."

Erine had forgotten what she came here for, nor had she remembered the questions she was about to say. All she could think of is how conflicted she felt hearing a stranger's story. If she's been as insensitive as her past self, she would have cracked a joke to get the heavy atmosphere out. This is definitely a good thing but it just wasn't the same for anyone.

She couldn't speak, and it probably is the best option for now.

"I don't know why you're here...," Prince said. "...but this isn't something you could just go because you are bored. So if you don't have anything else to do here, get lost."

Looks could really be deceiving. For a moment there, Erine had just shared her sympathy. He looked like he needed it. And this b*stard just has to ruin the mood.

"You're rude." Still, Erine had to control herself.

She hadn't spent those forty years just for nothing. Having two children, great patience is needed. And even though this guy is a testament to her discipline, there is no way she could lose her cool.

"Deal with it." Prince only said before finally walking away from the railings.

However, Erine just wouldn't let this slip. Facing the rude teenager, she placed her hands by the hips, just like she always does, and called out for his attention.

"Would it hurt to show just a tiny bit of respect?" She asks without screaming but in a tone that means business.

It seems effective because Prince turns his head, attention completely hers. His face somewhat uncharacteristically wasn't his.

"I don't care if you are older than me." And if facts should be considered, Erine was definitely the older one. And the one has experience dealing with kids, although she has yet to learn how to handle teenagers.

But by the looks of it, it seems that it'll be a harder case.

"I respect seniors, including students older than me, and I agree that they should be respected. But it doesn't mean that you could do whatever you want with us just because we're younger. I give respect but to those who deserve them, and I believe that respect should be equally distributed in all ages."

Prince's lips couldn't be wider as he stares in disbelief. He just stood there, surprised but wasn't doing anything for her sudden outburst, which means that he understands what she was trying to convey. 

And Erine couldn't be more thankful.

Feeling as if it's the perfect time to get away, Erine started to walk until she passed by the dumbfounded guy, refusing to glance back.

Just when she thought she's not going to hear any reply Erine heard a sound coming from him.

Prince's sigh was a little louder and heavy that she could almost feel the weight of it, following along the wind that just passes by.

"I'm sorry..." It was just a mere whisper, but having younger ears made it easy to receive at a long distance.

This made her smile.

The words sounded stranded in his lungs as if the boy has never said those words before.

Once again, she faced Prince, making sure she's smiling into her best ones.

"Thank you."

Knowing how hard it is to pull the words out, it was amazing how easy it is for the teenager to change his mind. Just from that attribute, Erine gave a fair judgment, that the parents of the child may have raised him that well.

These thoughts however made her think of her two children which she didn't get to see grow up