My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter Six

The next day, Phillip, his mom, and she left early in the morning. They head out towards back to their town, Arnia. While Phillip is driving, he couldn't help but glance at her, sitting in the back seat. She caught him looking at her, and he felt embarrassed. She started to laugh softly and he just smiled thinking how foolish it was. His mom on the hand wonders what's making him laugh.

"Hey, what are you smiling about?"

"Eh hem." He clears his throat and put his attention on the road.

Phillips mom looks in the back seat and checks to see what's making him smile. There was nothing there besides Esmeralda, then he turns back to look at his son again, wondering.

"Phillip."

"Yes, mom."

"Are you not telling me anything?"

"Anything about what?"

"Well, I caught you smiling and glancing at the back seat. So far, the only person I see is her."

"What are you talking about?"

"C'mon Phillip, I have never seen you smile that before."

"I smile to everyone, see?" Phillip smiles back to his mom with a crazy face, then laughs.

"Well, just so you know. Our purpose of going back to your dad's is because you're meeting Trish. Remember that."

Phillip drew a huge sigh and tries to ignore what his mom had said. The only thing he went along is so he could go back to the lake and see if there is any chance, she will meet Anaka again. If she still exists.

They arrived by noon and everyone is waiting, glad that to see them back. The house slightly changed after years had passed by. The playground is still there, but it looks old and rusty. There's some slight changes around, like the white picket fence. It used to be open and now it's not. Phillip's grandfather suddenly walks toward her, wondering and looking confused.

"Well, who is this?"

"Pop, her name is Esmeralda."

"I see, good afternoon to you Esmeralda. I'm so glad you came."

Phillip smiles to see that his grandfather did not mind at all seeing her. He walks back to Esmeralda and asks her to come along with him.

"Esmeralda, I want to show you something."

"Ep-ep!" Stops his father.

"Dad, I'm so sorry."

"Where do you think you're going with a beautiful young woman, and without introducing her to me?"

"This is Esmeralda."

"Let the girl talk, Phillip."

"I don't think that is such a good idea." Phillip's mom added, but before you knew it, it was too late.

"I-e-a--"

Grandfather and dad's jaw dropped after hearing her make some weird sounds.

"What is the matter with her?" Phillip's dad asked him in disbelief.

"That's what mom was trying to say."

The look of dismay in grandfather and dad's face is so obvious, shaking both of their heads.

"Come here, Phillip." Calls his grandfather.

"Don't worry, Trish will be here." Says his grandfather while looking back at her."I'm sure you will like Trish."

Phillip just leaned back and sighed. 

"Well, has anyone seen Julius?"

"BRO!" Yells Julius, coming out from the kitchen.

"You got here fast." Says Phillip.

"I don't want to miss anything." Says Julius with a tease, then walks up to her.

"Hello... I'm so glad to see you here."

She smiles back at him happily, while the rest of them watched them, waiting for her to speak again.

"Oh well, she looks good without talking." Phillip's dad says, then burst in to laugh, slapping Phillip's mom on her shoulder.

"What in the world you did that for?" Phillip's mom asks his ex-husband looking furious and in pain.

"Gosh! I thought you were grandfather." Replied Phillip's dad, then laughs more.

"If you do that again, I swear... " Says Phillip's mom, while she aims her purse to Phillip's dad.

"Oh, the two of you need to stop that. You're getting old and you still argue like a child. You should just get back together." Teased Phillip's grandfather.

They both look at each other and stepped away from each other.

Not a moment longer, Trish and her family show up. Julius looks at Trish and couldn't believe his eyes. This is the same girl he had a crush on since he was twelve-years-old. He stood still, not saying anything. Then he smiles at him, but goes to Phillip instead.

"Hi Phillip. I'm Trish, remember me?"

"I'm trying."

"I gave once a chocolate on Valentines Day, but your friend here ate it instead."

"You did?" Asked Phillip not remembering anything.

"Well, you would've remembered if you ate it." Said Trish looking at Julius, furious.

"He gave it to me, just what else did you want me to do? Stare at it?"

"Well, that was a long time ago. I'm happy you are here now." Teased Trish to Phillip, then tries to hold his hands next to her.

Phillip did not know what to do and noticed Esmeralda looks at them and there is something about the way she looks, her eyes seem to shimmer. Phillip swears he thought he saw Anaka there for a minute. 

Julius grabs his attention and ask if they could go by the lake and take the girls for a canoe ride. Soon, they arrived at the lake. The Herund followed and watched them more closely this time. Julius decides to grab Trish with him in his canoe, then Phillip ended up pairing with Esmeralda.

Both of the paddle each canoe, and enjoy looking at the surroundings. Phillip starts to speak to her, but tries to avoid her eyes.

"Do you like it here?"

Esmeralda probably did not hear him because she was staring at the water. She noticed something, a reflection of someone. She's trying to think who it is, but can't figure it out. In her reflection, there's a girl looking straight back at her with its hair shining like the sunlight, flowing like the silk. Her eyes shimmered like emeralds, red lips as apple, while her skin is gleams. Phillip noticed her, feeling her face and her skin. He grabs and takes her hands to see what is going on.

"Is everything okay?"

She started to squint. Phillip couldn't guess why she does that.

"Why do you that?"

She did not know how to reply to him so, she just stared at him. Phillip didn't realize, how her lips turned so red. He started to gaze at her more, and he felt the need to kiss her lips. She looks at him with those wonderful green eyes. He took a deep breath, admiring how beautiful she is. How could he not notice her before like this.

Next thing happens, the trees slightly started to turn its color. The Spanish moss, started to   look alive. Both Esmeralda and Phillip did not notice the change because they were drawn, looking back at each other.

The Herund knows something is about to happen, but he was warned to protect the true image of the princess. So, he had to do something foolish, and he did.