Nostalgic Deception #1: Above The Waves

Kabanata 13

Hestia's POV

I rolled my eyes. tsche. He just looked at me smiling.

"Are you free tomorrow?" he suddenly asked. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Why?"

I questioned. "What? you're gonna ask me to a date?" I followed teasing him.

He smiled, "Something like that" he answered. "What?" I was totally blank when I heard his words...a date?.. "Yeah, I have time for tomorrow, why don't I personally walk you around? Let's have dinner!" he winked.  A date with Caspian?

Are you kidding? Does it have something to do with the earlier incident, when I told him that I like him?

I was utterly almost speechless. I stared at him blankly. I snapped back when he called for me. "Hey? hello?" he called. "Oh! Hi!" I greeted back flustered. "So, where were we?" I asked. "Uhm, I think we're in your room?" he answered sarcastically.

What should I say? Of course I want to say no. But I kind of want to agree. "Yeah..uhm I don't know" answering his question, I really don't know what to say. "Then that's a yes, I'll pick you up tomorrow evening, be ready before 5:00 pm, see you." Caspian smiled leaving my room quietly.

What, just happened? Once again I'm completely blank, staring at the door where he left, wondering what just happened. After that I just laid down my bed and stared at my ceiling. It's been quite a while since the incident, where unexpectedly my family would be broken.

Until now it still hunts me. Although I hate admitting it, but I think I'm liking it here. Oh fate, am I where I'm supposed to be? Is this all part of your plan? I sighed, slowly closing my eyes.

"HESTIA! ARTEMIS!" Our parents cried. I can see our ship being attacked by ruthless pirates. I suddenly got up from my bed. It was a nightmare. I gasped while catching my breath after remembering that memory. I'm not sad, yet I'm also not happy. I looked at the window and saw the sun up already. it's morning.

After getting up and making my bed, I looked at myself in the mirror. Took a deep breath and started my day. Paglabas ko ng room ay nakasalubong ko si Artemis. "Good morning" I greeted her smiling. "Good morning ate!" she greeted back. Sabay na kami naglakad sa hallway.

"How was your night Artemis?". She looked at me smiling, "Yesterday was fun, and I was happy upon sleeping". We continued walking. "How about you ate?" she returned the question. "Me? I had a nightmare. I dreamed about that day, when the incident happened", my answer took away her smile. "Hey, it's fine, I know they're doing good, and so are we, we'll meet them again soon" I smiled which she responded with another smile.

Yeah, I know we'll meet them again, and we'll be reunited, I just hope they find people who'll care for them, like Caspian and his crew with us.

"Oh, also last night something, I don't know, weird? happened" I shared thinking of Caspian, and our 'date' later. Later? oh shoot! I almost forgot about it.

"Hmm?" Artemis glared while wondering what was it. "Oh nothing, it's just Caspian kind of invited me to a date later, well a dinner of sort." continuing my story of last night.

Artemis gasped, her eyes were widened and her hands were covering her mouth. "What? O-M-G" She exclaimed. "He actually did?" she giggled like a highschool girl who just got noticed by her crush. "Yeah, it's not a big deal!, I mean I didn't know how to respond, he just took my idk as a yes and left" I explained.

"Ohh! I see, soo.. you and captain Caspian heh??" she's staring at me teasingly. "Oh don't give me that look!" I rolled my eyes. "Come on ate Hestia! Huwag ka nang magpakipot" she said.

"Let's just get to the dining room and eat breakfast, okay? We can talk and plan about it later" I'm just thinking of eating right now, I'm starving from that nightmare last night. Plus, I don't know what to do later. "Plan huh??, well okay, you're the boss!" she teased one last time.

When we got to the dining room, there were already food prepared at the table, Artemis and I, sat across each other. While eating I heard footsteps coming to our way, I assume it's Caspian, and it was.

He walked towards me, Artemis looked at me grinning. Ugh. "Good morning, Artemis" he greeted her, Artemis just smiled and nodded, her mouth is still full. "And, of course good morning, Hestia" he said smiling. "Oh good morning" greeting him back. "Are you ready for later? I just have some errands to run, and matters to attend, then we're all set." He winked.

"Yeah, I'll see you" I responded quite coldly. "Then, I'll be going. See you later Hestia, you're already beautiful, so don't try to impress me much later." He quietly walked away.

I shrugged, wondering why he did not even bother to take his breakfast. I mean, looking at the wall clock, it's too early to run errands at this moment. Well, ghad, whatever! I should care less this time. As if everything's about me, geez! 

"Are you really ready for later?" Artemis suddenly asked in the middle of our breakfast. Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. She's smiling, obviously teasing me. 

"You heard me right, I'm ready for later." I made sure she would remember what exactly I've told Caspian earlier. She just gave me a short laugh before finishing her foods. Am I really ready for later? 

I finished my foods immediately before leaving Artemis on the dining area, she already adapted to this place so I'm not worrying anymore that she might get lost here. I headed to the bridge on the garden to get some fresh air. It's been months and still, I'm mesmerized with the beauty of this place. It is something that you would just see in your dreams, like it's impossible to be found in reality. 

I sighed, leaning my back against the blocks of this bridge. I wonder if I can escape from this place. Maybe I really can escape, but why am I not doing anything to get out of here? Sucks.

My eyes roamed towards the tree house where we used to talk all night. Those serious talks, deep conversations that hits me back to reality. I'm still wondering, who really is Caspian?

I hissed with the idea that I've been wondering about almost everything since I've ended up in this place. I mean, I don't even care if I'll have to think for so many times, but is this even good for my mental health? Am I even gonna have the answers to my own damn questions?

I shrugged off my thoughts before heading back to the hall, there I've found Caspian's people on their own positions, running the errand they're placed on.

A smile plastered on my face, looking at these people who are chanting in the middle of their work.

"Aye, aye, aye!" They continued chanting. Natigilan lang ako nang mapansin ko ang isang matanda sa may gilid, he's pushing a cart which made him struggle since he's at his old-age.

"Hey, let me help you." I butt in myself right after I get next to him. His face turned shocked, staring at me from the moment his eyes went straight to me.

"Lu--," He was about to utter something when someone suddenly cut him off.

Lu? What's with Lu? Maybe, who the f**k is Lu?

I just gave the old man a small smile before I respectfully took the cart from him. I wanted to ask him about Lu, even about everything in this place of how I feel belong right at the moment when I stepped on this island.

I began pushing the cart when the old man finished his errands with the other guy who cutted him off from a moment ago.

I felt an eye staring at me, probably this old man. I heaved a sigh, thinking if I should ask about Lu or if I should just introduce myself since he looks quite wondering of who am I.

"Hestia." I uttered, cutting off the silence between us. "Hestia Jones."

As soon as I turned my gaze towards him, I saw how his expression turned into--- concerned looks? Huh? Did I see it clearly? Was I just imagining things? I mean, it immediately faded as soon as I looked at him. No one dares to speak between us from that time. He just silently walks while I follow him so I would know where to leave this cart.

"Leave them here." He finally broke the silence.

"There." I placed the cart on the corner of the hall. "Try to ask someone's help next time. You're old to handle heavy things like this." I coldly uttered.

"It's my job." He chuckled, eyes roaming around every corner of my face as if he's picking up something from it.

"Who's that...Lu? Lu, right?" I bravely asked but I was hesitating because he might find it disrespectful of me.

"Lu," he smiled. "Luna. You look exactly like her, but it's impossible that you might be her."

For a moment, I felt a sting on my chest. Why does the word Luna affects me?

"Be careful, not everyone could be a friend." He left me those words before he walks away, leaving me astounded.

My thoughts were obviously ruined, my mind's bothered with so many why's, who's and when's.

Again, I had to shrug off my thoughts so I can proceed to my next errand. I went straight to my room to take a shower since it's already past-3 in the afternoon. I did my shower routine before picking what to wear. I have yellow summer dress and a bodycon champagne, I checked myself on those two with my confused mind of which one to wear. I mean, what the f**k? Why am I even preparing myself this much. It's just a simple dinner, right?

I hissed before I ended up with a nude halter dress that fits my body perfectly. This one's casual but still looks as fine as damn.

I held my chest as soon as I felt its heavy thumps.

Why do I feel excited to be with him? Ghad!