Whispers Under The Moonlight

Chapter 3

It was my second day here in Clair de Lune. I didn't do anything yesterday aside from fixing and arranging my things in the cabin that was given for me to stay while I am here.

Of course, I called my mom because for sure, she would not stop nagging me if I forgot to call her. I informed her that I arrived safely here at Clair de Lune. I just shook my head after the call. Ever since the beginning up until now, my mother still treats me as a kid. 

I never had a chance to see or talk to Feya after our encounter yesterday or should I say I was so busy in fixing my things that I didn't have a chance to roam around the village again after that. I was so concentrated on what fixing my things that I even forgot to eat dinner. And now here am I, roaming so early in the morning in this mysterious village and looking for a place to eat my breakfast.

I decided to go back to the market place of this village to look for a place that is already open at this early hour. It's just seven o'clock in the morning so I guess there are only few stores that are open. 

It took me only five minutes to reach the place, not enough time for me to enjoy the cool breeze and peaceful surrounding of Clair de Lune. I was shock when I found that almost every stalls were already opened and everyone looked so lively.

It's a little noisy here because of their non-stop talking that unbelievably leads to laughter, and some are like me, there are also plenty of people that are looking for a place to eat and some are buying foods. Some are even having a breakfast in their stalls.

I looked around the market to find a stall where I could buy my breakfast. I also walked around to observe the whole market place, which I didn't had a chance to do yesterday. Surprisingly, all the people that I came across greeted me "good morning" and "have a nice day" warmly, while wearing their brightest smiles, and of course I also greeted them back.

I didn't know why I felt so uncomfortable yesterday whenever someone was approaching and greeting me. Maybe because I'm not good in talking with other people. 

But to be honest, the villagers seems to be kind and hospitable so I will really try my best to be approachable and comfortable with them. I will stay here for two weeks after all.

I kept on walking and greeting those who greeted me until a certain establishment caught my attention. It's just small that's why if you didn't look and observe enough, it would just pass your eye. I went to check that stall and read the name of the place.

"Hiraya Blend," I read it out loud. 

I frowned because of the weird name of this cafe. Well, I really think that the names of the establishments here at Clair de Lune are all mysterious, just like this one. I really think the the main purpose of those names is to add in the mysterious aura in with the surroundings. Mysterious yet beautiful.

I looked again at the signage and find a quotation right beneath the name, “May the wishes of your heart be granted,” I read the quotation out loud. "Even the quotation is full of mystery huh?" I mumbled to myself.

I decided to take a peek inside of the establishment, and I was amazed with what I saw. It was indeed a cafe, and the ambiance inside was breathtaking and something is urging me to enter the cafe. 

I was about to enter the cafe when someone appeared on my side out of nowhere. Or I'm just so focused on checking the cafe that I did not even notice her.

"Hi! A wonderful morning to you!" I immediately looked on my side and saw Feya, waving her hand at me while smiling brightly.

I immediately smile the moment I saw her. I didn't know why but I am so comfortable with her presence even if I just met her yesterday. Not like before wherein I need a couple of days to adjust myself and avoid feeling the awkwardness towards the people that I had met in the places I visited.

"A bright morning to you, too, Feya," I greeted her back. Her smiles even grew wider and her eyes shines brightly.

"Glad you remembered my name," she said and shifted her gaze at the door of the cafe.

"How could I not?" Her head snap towards my direction. "I mean, you helped me yesterday and I intend to remember your name because of that," I added. And because I am comfortable with you even if we just met. I want to add but I decided not to, because it might spoil the moment.

She smiled again and looked at the door of the cafe. "Are you going to go in?" she asked me.

I nodded my head at her. "Yes. I'm actually looking for a place to buy a breakfast and it happened that this cafe caught my attention while looking for a perfect place," I told her.

She excitedly grabbed my arm and dragged me inside the cafe. I shook my head and let her drag me inside Hiraya Blends. I don't know why but I let her do the things she wants. Funny to say that I just met her yesterday but the way I feel comfortable with her feels like I knew her for almost a decade.

"Did you know? Of all the restaurants, eateries, cafes and such here at Clair de Lune, this cafe serves the most delicious foods and drinks," she said to me while we're settling ourselves on one of the cafe's table near the window.

I looked around the cafe for the meantime. There were only two windows that were place on both sides of the door. And just like the other style of the houses and establishments in Clair de Lune, this cafe also shouts the same aura, mysteries and enchantments. 

It is a one story building that are made of stone which gives the exterior and interior design of the cafe a vintage vibe. A soft melody of piano is playing in a speaker that is perfect for the cafe's atmosphere.

Compared to the cafes at the city, Hiraya Blends is incredibly small. There were only three tables inside and some chairs along the counter. Nevertheless, I already love this cafe, it really looks so majestic.

I smiled to myself and looked at Feya who keeps on talking about how appetizing the foods and beverages in this cafe. She even leaned on and whispered to me not to tell others especially the other food stall owners because they might get angry at her. Crazy girl indeed.

I just nodded my head and act like I'm locking my lips, promising that I will not tell anyone what she had told me.

She glared at me playfully. "It's your promise, alright? Don't tell anyone," she asked me while I nodded my head again.

She lift her hand and said, "Let's do the pinky swear just to be sure that you will not really tell it to anyone."

I laughed a little because of her childish side but I did the pinky swear with her, like I had other choice. She happily grinned at me like a child, she even clapped her hands after.

"Yay!" she even said. "Let's order now. I will treat you so that when you tell anyone about what I told you, you will feel guilty."

I laughed because of what she said. I stopped her when she's on the act of standing up from her seat. "Wait, Feya," I said. "No need to treat me, I will pay. It is such a shame if you are the one to pay my order."

But she just shook her head. "Let me. Don't worry, it's not a big deal really. I want to be your friend after all," she said to me, while looking directly at my eyes.

I'm stunned because of what she said. Friends huh?

I never had any friends ever since that incident from the past, an incident that completely turn my while world upside down, the accident that completely changed me.

My smile dropped but I make sure that Feya will not notice it. I didn't want her to find out that I'm not comfortable whenever I hear the word “friend”. I know it's silly but I never made friend with anyone since that accident happened, especially to those that I just met.

I learned that not having friend is lonely, but at the same time I also feel solitude. But maybe this time, I can try to be her friend, but I cannot promise that I would succeed. Just how many times did I try? And just how many times that I fail? It is scary to live with a past that keeps on hunting you.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," she said to me, waking me up from my thoughts. 

I blink once, twice and another, until I completely snapped out of my thoughts. I didn't had a chance to stop her this time because she immediately went to the counter to order our breakfast. I stared at her while she's happily talking with the lady on her early thirties, at the counter. I could clearly see her bright smiles while telling her orders. She really is so friendly. I unknowingly smiled to myself while looking at her.

She glanced at my side and show me her mesmerizing smile. She waved at me so I waved back before she turned her head towards the lady whom she was talking to.

After a few minutes, she returned to her seat in front of me. I also saw the woman whom she was talking to entered in what I think is the kitchen of this cafe.

"She is the owner of this cafe. Her name is Hiraya, Hiraya Manawari," she explained to me, probably she saw me took a glance at the woman. "She is very close to me and I almost consider her as my sister. In fact, she is one of the people that I first got close with her in Clair de Lune.”

I got interested on what she is saying so I asked her, "What do you mean she's the first one?"

She froze because of what I asked and it looked like she realized what she had said. "Actually..." she looks like she's having second thought if she will tell me or not. “I’m sorry, I prefer to not to talk about it." she said and then she smiled sheepishly at me.

I cleared my throat and nodded my head at her. "Okay. I understand. I will not ask about it anymore."

There was a deafening silence after that. I thought the atmosphere will become more awkward but thank God our orders arrived immediately.

"These are your orders, enjoy eating!" We thanked her as she put all the food that Feya ordered.

I got stunned by the amount of foods placed on their table. It is incredibly plenty, considering that only two people will eat it. Some of the food that Feya ordered are familiar to me while other are not. Just like the food placed near me. It looks like a meat or something like that I couldn't really describe but just by the looks of it, I'm sure it’s delicious.

"Eat up," Feya said when she noticed that I'm not eating anything. 

I noticed that the owner of the cafe returned on the counter a moment ago.

"Don't be shy around Feya." I looked at the cafe owner because of what she said. 

She went on our table and sat on one of the available chairs. She is carrying a tray containing three cups and a teapot that she immediately placed on our table, adding on the huge amount of our food. 

"The truth is, Feya ordered food that is enough for the both of you, but I decided to add foods on your orders because I learned that you are the first tourist that came on my cafe today," she explained to me while giving me a warm smile.

I didn't know what to say to her that's why I just say "thank you" while showing my bright smiles.

"So eat up." I nodded my head and reach out for the foods. "By the way, I am Hiraya Manarawi. You can call me Hiraya."

"I already told your name to him a while ago," Feya said, interrupting our conversation.

Hiraya just shook her head because of Feya. "You know what, Feya? Just eat. Don't you have anything to do today? If none, just help me here at my cafe," she told Feya.

She acted like she's thinking for a moment before she looked at me. "No, maybe later. I will tour Austin after we eat, right Austin?" she said and she even winked at me.

I just nodded even though I couldn't remember that we talked about her offering me a tour around the village. Hiraya just sighed and nodded her head as if she is accepting her defeat.

"Fine, there are only a few tourist that are arriving during this days but you have to promise me that you will help me when a large number of tourist arrived, alright?" she said to Feya.

Feya just nodded at her in return. "Well then, is it okay to you if I join both of you for breakfast, Austin?" she asked while looking at me.

"I don't mind, and I almost forgot. I haven't introduced myself formally, though you already said it earlier," I said and the three of us laugh. "I'm Austin. Austin Louie Wellington." Hiraya just nodded at me then she continued to pour a tea on the cups that she brought over.

The breakfast was uneventful. We just talk about random things and sometimes laugh because of Feya's jokes. I feel comfortable around them, and this is the first time that I feel happy during breakfast because everytime I go on vacation, I never had a chance to eat breakfast with someone I just met. Maybe, just maybe, I could really try to do something new in this village. I smiled to myself because of that.

We bid our goodbye at Hiraya before we went out of the cafe. "My gosh, I feel so full," Feya said while we are walking without direction.

I walked alongside with her. "You said you will tour me around Clair de Lune," I said to her while smiling.

"Hey, I just said that so that I could escape on helping Hiraya, but okay, let's go. I will tour you around." She dragged me while going somewhere, and here I am just following wherever goes.

We first went on the library of this village. Compared to the library in the city, Clair de Lune's library is not huge but the interior and exterior of the place is similar on the other establishments. It also gives off the same vibes as the cafe and my cabin, majestic and mysterious. Well, it seems like all the place here at Clair de Lune were giving off enchanting vibe.

Our next stop is a park. It has a garden that is full of different kind of flowers, giving the place a magical feeling. Feya even pick some flowers. She explained that villagers and tourist could pick flowers anytime they want because flowers are continuously growing on the garden. I even saw some villagers that are doing the same thing. According to them, they will use the flowers as decorations on their houses and stores. They even encourage me to pick some flowers but I only choose one, Camellia.

I immediately gave it to Feya who is silently standing at my side.

"Thank you," she said, softly.

I smiled at her and said, "It's a thank you gift for the breakfast earlier."

After we bid our goodbye to the people at the park, we immediately went on different places that according to Feya, one of the most beautiful places that I could visit. And after she tour me on different places, we went back on the market place to eat our lunch.

"I will show something to you," Feya said to me while eating

"I'm excited," I said while we are both laughing. 

 I really feel so comfortable when I am with her. And it felt like we became closer after she tour me around the village.

After we eat we decided to go. Feya is walking ahead of me while continuously walking. Based on the surroundings, it seems like we were already far from the houses. We were already near at the edge of the village when I noticed a very huge tree. It seems so old but it still stand tall. It is planted at the top of a hill. And when we arrived at the top of that hill, I got amazed by the beauty of the place.

If the village is mysterious and magical, this place is majestic and enchanting.

I could clearly see the houses and the places that we visit a while ago. I walked towards the tree and got shocked that it is standing at the edge of a not so tall cliff. But what amazed me more is the beauty that stretched after that cliff.

On the other side of the hill is another hill full of different flowers, trees and butterflies. The hill also has a waterfalls directly facing the hill where we are currently standing, and the water from the falls flows directly on the river right below the cliff. The other thing that amazed me is that, no one can ever feel fear on falling on the cliff. 

The shallow and peaceful river is surrounded by flowers and flat grass, were anyone can have picnic and such. The river serves as the boundary between the two hills. There were also a naturally made stairs on both cliff so that anyone could go down anytime they want. The stairs are naturally carved on the hill, just like a terraces and it was naturally designed with flat grasses and flowers.

I am mesmerized by the beauty this village gives. It looked like it's been cut out straight from fairytale.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Feya asked me while looking at the sunset. I briefly looked at her before I turned my gazed on the orange skies.

"Yes, it is," I mumbled softly. "Do the villagers take care of this place?" I asked her.

I saw her shook her head. "No. It is the work of the fairies. Though, sometimes, the villagers will go here to check the place."

I look at her intently and asked, "Do you really believe that fairies exist?"

She smiled mysteriously at me and said, "When a never ending darkness envelopes the once bright and shiny world, they will show their selves and will become our light to guide our paths."

"Since yesterday, that is the only thing that everyone is telling me about the fairies but what does it mean?" I asked her, clearly confused.

"If your heart really desires, you will know the answer," she said to me.

I become silent while thinking about the meaning behind her answers. But until the skies turned dark and the moon and stars appeared, I cannot seem to decipher anything.

Until Feya decided to go home, my mind is still wandering on the true meaning behind that phrases.

I bid her goodbye and thanked her for the tour that we did today. After I settled down and decided to sleep, my mind again drifted off to the phrase that Feya and the villagers are saying.

"What does it really mean?"