FALLEN

Mortha and Belle 2

Lake Nojiri, Tokyo, September 12, 2020, fall in Japan. This is the most vibrant month where cherry blossoms are bright red and are everywhere this time of season. From where Mortha fell, a girl not far from where he is, is shocked to see him falling from the sky like a meteor. He was so bright and loud boom!!! that the girl almost wanted to run away. Even with the smokes and fire all over the place, she hesitated to leave when she saw a beautiful being, a man white in complexion, long hair up to his shoulders, built and muscles very toned. Ahhh!!!

Ah kare wa kanpekidesu ka, haaaaa? (ah he is perfect!! ), her eyes growing bigger when moved closer to look at the mysterious creature lying on the lake side.

 Sore? (that…), the girl in jeans and blue jacket said, looking at Mortha, naked soaking wet in the lake. Hmm! Nanite Kotoda? (Oh my god!) Ano otoko wa daredesu ka? (who is that guy?), she thought her mouth still wide open.  And went to check on the beautiful, naked guy in the lake. Nantekkota!!! (what the f*ck!).

 I am Belle Sun, a 23 year old local from Lake Nojiri in the town of Shinano, Kamiminochi District of Japan. Second to Lake Suwa, Lake Nojiri is a resort where a first pumped-storage hydroelectricity was made and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country.

 I went to St Maur International School in my elementary and high school years. And Shita goes to the same school now too.

 Shinano, Nagano’s estimated population is 8,339 with a total of 3351 households. 40,000 years ago, our city has human fossils and megafauna in the Peleolithic age which made us believe that our people are ancient and very powerful. Lake Nojiri is believed to be a scared place and I wonder what this man is doing in our lake.

  I am a typical girl you see fishing or electric biking  but the only difference is I believe in nature spirits and ancestral gods. I grew up in a small family where  the center of my life evolves  only around my Ogichan (grandpa), my Mama and sister  Shita (shisuta).  My childhood friends Koku, Vita and Shoju, are always here for me to support and be with me through rough and happy times. Especially when Papa died when I was 18  years old. Though Shinano is the old name for Nagano, we are not behind when in terms of transportation. We already have a bullet train called Shinano Limited Express and from here we can travel to Kyoto.

 Now back to this guy looking like a god (in the mythical pictures or the mythical creatures I read like the Roman or Greek gods of old. Since I inherited my Papa’s bookstore called ‘Kyouiku’  (Education). I have all the time in the world to read and explore places, countries, people and cultures. I love books, may it be Japanese or Foreign materials. But I just can’t figure out where he came from and how this man came to be in our lake.

 Hen’na! (weird!), Belle thought while messaging her grandfather. Ojichan, I don’t know what to do, can you come here and check the guy for me. I am near him and he seems breathing fine, but….,well, just come, Belle stopped and her cheeks are now burning, then she turned around and her back facing the mysterious guy in the lake. It’s a good thing, there’s no one here to witness this blessing, hi hi!. Belle talking to herself, smiling though embarrassed to see the whole being of the beautiful guy, not to mention, naked in front of her. Now, no one will no longer call me a ‘virgin’. Hmp!, Belle thinking highly of herself, thanks to the guy on the lake.

 Ojichan came anxiously. Then he saw the man. Haaaa!, his eyes and mouth so wide, it can swallow a goat whole. Magomusume! (Granddaughter), let’s keep this a secret and don’t ever tell anyone about Ten no otoko (heavenly man), hai?, Grandpa asked authoritatively. Hai!, I replied diligently while bowing at him. Ojichan carried the man to his Japanese Suzuki Every Wagon. It’s a good thing grandpa brought a shirt and pants that can fit the man.

We drove home. Ojichan, Mama, Shita and I live near Lake Nojiri. Otosan wanted a house near the lake and he bought this two storey structure when I was just three years old.  It’s built on white cement and bricks, with a commercial store, where our bookstore was placed.

Papa is an engineer and he made the house plan when he was still in college.  But since he came from a rich family even though my grandpa was a farmer. Ojichan earned more than the professionals we have in the  district. Ojichan saved his earnings and bought his farm land of plums. However, when grandpa got older, he got tired of planting. So, he sold the land and bought a farm villa where visitors or foreigners stay for vacations. It was a good enough reason why Otosan built a bookstore since visitors asked for books and all. Instead of traveling to Kyoto to buy or borrow books, Papa placed the bookstore at the comforts of our home. Grandpa said that Papa wanted me to have the bookstore, since I love reading and he wanted me to travel using the books we own in the store. Anyway, how can I leave this place is Mama is working as a manager at the farm villa Ojichan owns and Shita can’t be left alone since she’s still young at nine. She was just five when Papa died due to an accident  trying to save his friend while they were fishing at the lake. I always remember Otosan as a warm and gentle person. He loves traveling, fishing and taking us places. I was just 10 years old when we went to visit Italy. Then, after that, our family went to Canada, Australia and Thailand. The last country we went to was in Germany and that was five years ago. Haaa! Papa, how I wish you’re still here to hug me and tell me stories. I miss you so much!, Belle now teary eyed while heating the sauce for the pasta her mom cooked this morning, before she went to work.

Okay, what are we going to do with this mysterious man from the lake?, Bell wondered while stirring the red sauce and adding the pasta in the pan to be heated.

Ojichan got tired with the issue on this man on the lake, so he asked to retire early. Grandpa and I helped each other to carry the man to the room near our garage. It’s so strange why the man is still unconscious until now. After making sure that the man is alright, Grandpa ate bread and milk on the counter, kissed me on the forehead and bid me goodnight.

Shita, Shitaaa! Come down for dinner, Belle called her sister, with the little girl running down the stairs with head phones still on her ears. Hmm! That’s why you can’t hear me, you’re wearing this, Belle added while taking the head phones and placing it on the dining table. Hey!, Jaakuna imoto!, behhh!!, Shita said angrily but smiled when she saw the pasta her big sister prepared for her. Wow! My favourite, thank you Onesan!!!, Shita happily hugging Belle, now. Ha ha! Okay, yoku taberu! (eat well), Belle and Shita said in unison. They both smiled and ate their dinner talking about what happened in their day today.