Gifted

1 ~ Advenio

  

   THERE are things you can't change, like the attention you get when you come to a new place. I hoped it would be like back home, when everyone's so close to you that they don't really need to wonder where you came from when you get back.

   I couldn't have been more relieved when the gates of our new house finally closed behind us. I felt too much pressure to not start making a mistake, even though I was just walking. It was like their eyes had daggers, ready to pierce through my skin when I make a wrong move.

   Aside from the people, the surroundings were much more complicated to the eye. In our place, well, old place, everything was just green and brown, with the red and green colors of the roofs, and the occasional colors of some houses. Here, everything as different. Trees have different shades of red, purple, orange, green, yellow... I think I could have made a rainbow-colored forest if I wanted to.

    And the houses. Compared to our old home, these were grand. They had terraces, verandas, balconies, big yards that could probably hold another house, and most of them were 2 to 3 stories high, some even went to 4.

    "You'll get used to it." said my older brother Raziel. If there's one thing our transfer didn't change, it's the bond I have with my siblings, Muriel and Raziel.

   "I hope so." and I notice a change in my voice. It became quieter, more gentle, more lady-like... Maybe it comes with the change.

   "No use in fussing. Let's go inside!" said Muriel, who seems to be the only one enthusiastic about the change, but she's enthusiastic about everything new, anyway. "Hurry up, you guys! Laylah, throw me the key!" she shouts as she arrivesin front of the door, while Raziel and I are still making our way up the stairs.

   "Woah." is the only word I can muster after I've seen the house. Okay, the exterior of the house was impressive, but it didn't prepare u for its interior. A central hallway separated the first two rooms, the living room and the Rec Room, which almost looked identical until you notice the different books and indoor games arranged neatly in the Rec Room. Farther along, a study, which you could have easily mistaken as a school library, opens to a courtyard. The rear of the house was composed of the kitchen and the dining area. Upstairs were the biggest bedrooms I've seen.

   THE first two weeks were used as an adjustment period, which, all three of us deemed, was a little too short. There were so much gadgets and devices to get around that at some point in inspecting a certain gadget, we would just leave it then inspect it again if ever a situation calls for it.

   Luckily, though, the place our new, fabulous home was located in a town that is quiet and was beside a beach. Walking along the shore at night became our leisure activity, and we weren't worried  with the need of socializing because the beach was deserted at night.

   Well, mostly, because one night, just like our daily routine, we went down to the beach to take another walk. Muriel and Raziel began talking about papers and bills and it started to make me feel out of place since I wasn't really informed about those kinds of things so I excused myself and ran farther from them. To make most of my "freedom", I try to go a little bit closer to the ocean, where the cold water almost touched the hem of my dress when it reached its peak.

    When the water subsided, something came into my view. At first glance, it looked like a small rock formation so I ignored it, but after observation, I think it breathed. A rock that breathes? I thought to myself. At the moment I was about to turn around and pretend that I didn't even see it, the moonlight strikes it and I'm offered a picture of a man with smooth, flawless skin lying motionless on the sand, his body wet with saltwater.

   I approached the body, and hesitated to touch it. It was breathing, but its eyes was closed. I had the good judgement to shout for Raziel's name since he'd be the one of most help.

   "Raziel!"

   "What is it?" I hear him shout.

   "I think I found someone!"

   "Someone!?"

   "Yeah, and I think he needs help!" I tried to sound as alarmed as I can, but I wouldn't mind looking at his body for a little bit longer.

   "W-who..is..it.. and.. what.. happened?" Raziel said while panting, with Muriel coming from behind him a  second later.

   "Ohh." Muriel's eyes glittered because of ether the moonlight or the almost perfect body in front of us.

   "What are you guys doing!? We need to help him!" Raziel seemed to be the only one functional among us. He got nearer and touched the stranger.

   "Woah!" the stranger suddenly jumped, which made all three of us jump, too. "What do you think you're doing!?"

   "I-i was.. We we're..." I have no idea why I had to speak first. That's something Raz does.

   "We thought you needed help. Turns out you don't." Ranz said with his usual serious tone.

   "Sorry about that. I just enjoy the water at night."

   "Are you kidding? It's freezing!" I blurted out, and all eyes were on me. So much for not wanting attention.

   "Yeah, it is." he dusts the wet sand from his backside. "But sometimes, I just wish I could freeze in my sleep then awake on a different time."

   "Why?"

   "Everything's too... complicated."

   "I know, right?" I said absentmindedly. What's with me?

   The stranger gives me a smirk and my heart almost melts.

   Ranziel suddenly clears his throat loudly, like the one you do to catch someone's attention. "Well, we better go now."

  "Okay." I turn around to hide the blush I had when the boy smirked at me and started walking, and I hear Ranziel and Muriel following me.

   "Well, see you guys around!" the boy shouted behind us.

   Sleeptime came and Muriel tucked me in, but I still can't get the boy out of my head, especially his smile. The way his eye crinkled ever-so-slightly when his lips did that smile.