ROSE POV
Chapter 1: Island
The touch of the cold wind on my skin made me want to open my eyes, but I couldn't. I couldn't move my hands and legs either. I felt like a living statue.
"She needs to go, Almira" - that was Dad's voice, with a hint of sadness and disappointment.
"No, Christian, she won't survive there" - Mom's voice.
I tried to open my eyes, but only a sliver of my eyelids moved, so I only saw half of their bodies, and it was blurry, like they were from an old era.
What are they doing here in my room? I didn't allow them to be here. My god, my parents really don't know what privacy is. I don't have a boyfriend hidden here or anything else - they're the ones pushing me to get a boyfriend. Poor them, because I'm not interested in the guys who court me. They'll grow old without grandkids.
"She needs to learn a lesson, she needs someone she can lean on" - Dad argued with Mom.
"She's not an island, Almira. Our daughter needs a man, Rose needs a man. Every rose needs a thorn to be untouchable and safe."
What the hell are they planning to do? Are they going to marry me off to some rich businessman's son and contract it for a year, and if it doesn't work out, we'll file for annulment, and I'll find out I'm pregnant, and I'll hide it from him, and we'll meet again after 5 years, and he'll ask me "That's my child, isn't it?" and I'll play hard to get until he begs, and then we'll live happily ever after? No freaking way! I hate fairy tales! That's bullshit! There's no forever, my grandma used to say...
(That's because your grandma's husband died!)
Oh right, well it's true
My grandma was bitter because her husband died, that's why she's alone now. My grandpa Cliff died at sea, there was a storm, and his ship couldn't withstand the waves. My grandpa drowned... he got hit by a metal part of the ship, so he couldn't swim up. That's what my grandma said.
That's why I don't want to get attached, I'm scared of being alone, but I'm more scared of living alone, grieving for my loved one.
Just thinking about Dad and Mom leaving me feels like I'm dying, what more if I get married and end up like my grandma? I can't handle it.
"Let Clyde handle her. He will treat our daughter the way she deserves to be treated" - my father pulled Mom into a tight hug.
"Tsk, they're getting lovey-dovey again" - I thought.
"I trust you, Christian, please take care of my baby" - I heard my mom sob, that stings my heart. I hate seeing my mother cry, even if I'm a bit of a troublemaker, I don't want to see her sad and crying, and my father hates it too. They're both crybabies, I got my drama from them, tsk.
My vision slowly blurred, and the two important people in front of me disappeared. They're disappearing! Shit!
"Mom!" I shouted, and sat up abruptly, groaning in pain because my head and back hurt. Why does my back hurt? My bed is soft and spacious, what the hell is wrong with my back? It feels like I've been punched by ten bulldogs!
I almost cursed when I saw my surroundings. Water. Sand. I'm on an island! What am I doing here? I was in my room! My parents were there! How did I end up here? Did someone kidnap me? Impossible, there's no one here... just me... what?!
"How am I supposed to survive here?" I angrily kicked the wood blocking my way. I've been pacing in this forest, I'm itchy from the tall plants, and my stomach is growling.
How the hell did I end up here? If I don't wake up from this dream, I'll think I'm cursed by a fairy.
I struggled to walk, my legs are numb, I'm getting thinner, bweeeh.
I stopped when I saw a Lansones tree. I'll just climb it, rather than starve to death, there's plenty of fruit here.
I swallowed, thinking how to climb it. It's tall, but I can do it. Lemon trees, 30 meters tall, 75 centimeters in diameter... I clapped, proud of my calculation, tsk, I'm good at measurements, especially inches... woah, my mind is dirty!
I took a deep breath, "Whatever, it's not that tall." I marched towards the Lansones tree, made the sign of the cross, grabbed the trunk, and pulled myself up. The tree bark scratched my hands, but I managed to grab a branch.
I pressed my hand on the branch, holding tight. I can do this, the branch is big, and I'm light!
"Oh my god!" I laughed, "I freaking just climbed this 30-meter tree!" I shouted, and the echo made my voice sound better.
I plucked some Lansones fruit, smelled it to make sure it's Lansones, peeled it, and tasted it... Boom! "Wow, it's delicious!" I exclaimed, and grabbed more fruit.
I'm like a monkey up here, eating Lansones, it's so sweet and delicious. I'll add it to my favorite fruits list.
I was praising the Lansones, shouting, not caring because I'm the only one here. I'll just enjoy this dream, when I wake up, I'll ask Nay Andes to buy me some Lansones.
"Mahabaging bathala!" - a voice shouted, and I almost fell off the tree. What the...!
I turned to the voice, a girl, looking clean and decent, with curly hair and dark brown eyes. She's beautiful, but I'm annoyed, why did she shout? What's with the "Bathala"? Is that like in Encantadia? Bathalumang Emre? Wait, there's someone else here? I thought I'm the only one.
I grabbed a bunch of Lansones, what's going on? She called me "Diwatang Labintas"? Okay, Diwata is fine, but why add "Labintas"? Does she mean "Kapintas-pintas"? Am I that beautiful?
I was about to answer when my vision blurred, and the world spun. I lost my grip...
I passed out, feeling someone catch me, and a warm scent surrounded me.
"Prepare the Kantre Hilas, the Diwata needs to be treated" - a voice said.
And then everything went black....