Emergence of Verity

FEAT Part 2

I felt dizzy when I opened my eyes and saw Portus holding me on his arms. "You fainted." He answered as if I asked him a question. "Why do I keep collapsing!" I muttered infuriated as I sat upright and looked for the child, "She left." Portus said answering my unspoken question.

We need to move forwards. He added. "I know." Was all I could utter. We continued hiking up the hill then down the forest when giant vultures started circling the sky. We cannot afford another survival feat with those birds.

Days after days of walk up and down the mountains, towards the slimiest tarns and creeks, plunges against the lethal currents of rivers and streams, hide and seeks from the most murderous creature one person can imagine; we finally arrived at the cavern of epoch.

"On the other end of this cavern I might be able to find the flower that blooms reflecting the moonlight." He started explaining. "We just have to find it, then go back to gramps. Right?" I interrupted. "No, you're staying here." Opposing my idea. "What? No! I cant keep waiting for you here." I argued losing my composure. "But Tati –" "No! You're not leaving me here waiting. Im coming and Im extracting my own tonic." I declared proudly. "But you're as pale as a ghost!" exclaiming his worries.

"I know, I'm fading." I mumbled apprehensively. "That's why I had to come all the way here. I know it's going to happen any time soon." I added calmly as I showed him my fading arms. He took it and held it tight as he led the way inside the cave.

Inside were dome like pathways leading from one opening to another, maze-like trails that seemed endless. There were beautiful soft and rough rock formations like stalagmites and stalactites. Pillars and spikes of tornicles that stops the blood flow of anyone who is pricked by its needle-like thorns. Gleaming crystallites and torch-like rhizomes as if guiding the travelers taking that path. It was musingly beautiful.

Hypnotized by its beauty, I didn't even realize that we have been walking for more than half the day. "We better rest." Said Portus being hungry and tired as he heard the nearing water splashes. "I can hear water somewhere. It can't be far from here." He added while straining his ears from where the water might be coming from. Another two turns allowed us to arrive in an indoor water fall. It was a calming sight. The crystal-clear water which obviously travelled through the cavern softly cascades through the rocks, sparkling and glittering by the reflection of some rhizomes. Looking at it reminds me of how thirsty and hungry I was. But I wondered if it was safe to drink from it. "It's fine." Answered Portus as if he heard the question I asked inside my head. "We can't be sure. Are we?" I muttered fighting the urge to jump on the cold water. But still hoping he really was right.

"It's really safe!" he smiled at me then took of his worn-out brown vest, then finally jumping in the waterfalls. "Ah! So relaxing!" he muttered to himself as he rises out of the water. "Come on Tati! Just like the old times!" he exclaimed enthusiastically grabbing me by my wrist. "But –" "No buts." He yelled as he jumped, pulling me along with him.

The water was so cool, but not too cold to the point of discomfort. But cool enough to awaken my numbing feet. "Ah! I missed this so much!" he whispered floating around. Then he so suddenly splashed water everywhere, trying to be playful. "Stop!" I shrieked coughing up. "I almost swallowed it! Stop it!" I yelled at him but he wouldn't listen. "It's fine! It's potable! It's alright, see?" he laughed drinking the water by his palm. "Try it, it's refreshing!" he added splashing me some more.

I watched Portus swam and play around, realizing how I missed having fun. We were laughing and playful, as if it was the only emotion left with me, with us. As if on slow-motion, I remembered how the journey with Portus was no different from back when we were young. We argued, fought, and made up. Through the years of our friendship, we had always been looking up for each other even from a far. The only difference was, it was only now that I realize, I had always been in love with him. I forced my mind to think it meant otherwise when he cared for me like his own skin. I didn't realize I was selfishly blinded by my self-worth. So, I was jealous when he started going around making friends with everyone when I only wanted him for myself. I was craving for his attention that I tried to push him away, subconsciously wanting him to run after me. But it hurts my pride when he cowardly turned his back when I cast him off. I should have known he only sees me as a friend, a comrade, a little sister. He didn't turn his back on me, he just didn't think it was worth the energy to keep following me around. Perhaps he thought, I didn't want him around because if I do, I won't keep pushing him away.

Obviously, he kept those people who showed him consideration, thus not the one who treats him like a pushover. He knows his worth, and he knows it is not worth it to be unhappy following one person when he can happily walk together with all his company. He treated me just like everyone else. It was no different when he defended a common friend of us back in grade school. Nor when he saved his pet Golid from drowning on a nearby pond. I was a friend like everyone else, nothing more. But I was never a good friend to him, that's why he chose them over me. He was kind, caring and friendly; he was always there for me no matter what. But grew tired of me through time, just like everyone else who had left me behind. I now understand, I was only in love with my idea of him.

I watched Portus in front of me blurred out. From my younger years I watched myself in slow motion, as if watching an old film. Laughing, crying, then laughing again. I was running around, jumping up and down. Giddily teasing gramps and mom, as they watched us ride our bikes. There were echoes of laughter and shrieks, I couldn't believe I was once this happy.

The memories blurred out. Another memory blurred and rippled I saw Stephania, ahead of me, we were riding our bicycles and she was picking up so much speed. She was jokingly mocking me for being a slow poke. I was annoyed with her, so just as she turned the corner, I pedaled my bike so fast with so much rage to get ahead of her. I looked back at her and watched as she lost control because of a pothole, as an oncoming traffic hit her with so much force. I stood paralyzed as her small framed body was thrown upwards then to the cold hard ground. Red bloods splashed and spilled everywhere. I felt blank.

Then there was Portus, we were ten, in front of me with grief in his eyes. Even without uttering words I understood what they wanted all along. For me to see the fairness and unfairness of life; that what I gave was given back to me. I bullied and inflicted pain to a lot of people but still think that they deserved such. I didn't realize I was in no position to judge what people deserved and what they did not. With what was said, I know I did not deserve all the good things I thought I did.

Memories sped after another. I felt harassed seeing these familiar heartaches. I couldn't breathe, as if my lungs were getting squeezed. I can feel my veins throbbing painfully beneath my skin, my eyes, even my brains. I can feel my vision spinning along with my head, as if raking for something buried deep within.

I opened my eyes, tears were madly rolling down my numbing cheeks, I was crying so hard from my sleep that my lungs have been strained so much, panting.

"Tati, are you alright?" Portus shaking me while holding me on his arms so tight looking worriedly sick. "You fainted back at the waterfalls, you almost drowned I thought I'll lose you; y-you wont wake..." He whispered anxiously. "How long did I sleep?" "Oh, a few days perhaps. I lost count." He mumbled apprehensively. "You carried me all the way from the water falls?" I asked. "Can you sit? You need to drink this." He said as he hands me a silver goblet filled with gooey greenish slime-looking liquid with floating cuts of cactus-looking plant, as if he didn't hear my question.

"Ew, whats that?" I asked disgusted with its rotting smell. "This is the tonic from Selenicereus." He explained. "Gramps told me to find you this. It is very rare, only blooms every blue moon, and can only be found by the garden beneath the cavern weve been to. One cannot drink it before the flower blooms, so I had to wait a few days. He clarified worried as if I won't understand where he's gone to. I know this type of cactus is real. But that thing inside that goblet is just a made-up creature of mine; back when I tried mocking professor Aliston. I looked at it confused but I think I'm getting a hint of what truly happened to me all this time.

"He said to drink this before you totally fade. It will show you your way." Portus explained further. "What if I didn't want to find my way? I asked. "You'll die." He whispered in a dull soft voice. "That's more like it. I don't want that drink." I smirked at him forgetting how I almost died suffocating moments before.

"Tati, please? You know you have to go back!" he said with his shaking voice. "I don't want to." I admitted quite truthfully. Although I am honestly confused, I dont know if I truly wanted to leave, finally departing the life I once had, or go back and live anew the life I left behind; but I am quite sure I cannot stay. "You had the chance to leave that day but still, you chose to stay. You're here because you wanted to fight for the life you said you didn't want. You were the reason why you end up here. It was what you wanted all along, you just didn't have the guts to admit it. You were too proud to contradict your ego." Portus said furiously. "Lucky are those who knows me better than I do." I mockingly uttered.

Yes, I remembered. That day when I took a detour, to find a kariton of cotton candy being sold by this old man whom I mocked. That day was before the day I arrived in this unknown familiar place. I fully remembered how I jumped on the oncoming traffic to try and save that little child on her bike, stuck in a pothole. Perhaps I wanted to take amend from my past actions. Perhaps I know deep down, I would have done the same to save my sisters life. I drank from the goblet handed by Portus. It has glue like texture, bubbling and gooey. Then, it slowly heated my throat, just like my blood, the liquids heat travelled everywhere in my body to the tips of my finger and my toes. As if feeling cold from the heat, I shivered and shriveled. Then I was lying down, face up, I can feel the comfortable bed beneath me.

"Tati, That's enough. Wake up now. Please! I miss you! We miss you so much!" For the first time in this darkness I recognized this familiar calming voice. I opened my eyes very slowly, still feeling a bit dizzy. My eyes are quite hurt by the sudden sliver of sunlight. "Tati, youre awake!" it was an enthusiastic sweet greeting coming from an old man's voice, it was my gramps. How I miss those glittering empathetic eyes. "How long?" I asked knowing quite well I wasn't ready for an answer. The magical journey where I fought hard to survive and continue living was false all along. The only magic was, for years my gramps didn't give me up.

Fin.