Star Camp: The Fifth Element

Chapter 23 - The Cure

Ruby Khate

"Hey, Sil. Where you going?"

Napahinto si Silvermist sa paglabas at hinarap si Ruby na kalalabas lang ng kwarto.

"I'll just get some fruits for Yasmin. I'll be back," She said and left.

Napatango nalang si Ruby at bumalik na sa loob ng kwarto. Pagkapasok nito ay laking gulat niya nang makita si Yasmin na gising na at tumayong mag-isa. Magulo ang buhok nito dahil sa pagkakahiga ng matagal ngunit kita sa mukha at kilos nito na bumalik na ang sigla niya.

Yasmin ran to her so she picked her up and they hugged each other.

"Wala ng masakit, ate!" Masayang sabi nito at hindi din mapigilan ni Ruby ang saya at tuwa.

"Sigurado ka ba? Wala ng masakit?" Naniniguradong tanong niya.

Tumango si Yasmin at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ni Ruby gamit ang maliliit nitong mga kamay. "Opo. Parehas po kayong magaling ni kuya Yael kaya bagay na bagay po kayo! Kailan po ang kasal?"

Biglang nag-init ang mukha ni Ruby dahil sa sinabi nito. Sakto naman ang pagdating ng mga miyembro at pagpasok ni Yael sa kwarto kung nasaan sila. Binaba niya si Yasmin at niyakap naman ang kuya.

"Kuya, magaling na ako!"

Binuhat at niyakap ni Yael ang kapatid. Habang nakayakap ito ay nagtugma ang tingin nila ni Ruby.

"Maraming salamat..." Ngiting sabi ni Yael sakaniya.

Ngumiti siya pabalik. "It's all good."

After a moment of joy, he told her about Luca so the team went to Amphitrite's manor first. Kinailangan na din nilang pumunta doon kaya nagpaalam na sila sa mga kapatid nito.

"Huwag mong kalimutan na alagaan ang sarili mo, Yael. Huwag kang mag-alala, ayos lang kami dito." Sabi ng ate niya bago humarap kay Ruby. "Salamat sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa kapatid namin. Laging bukas ang tahanan namin para sayo."

Tumango si Ruby at niyakap muli si Yasmin bago sumakay sa kabayo. "Bibisita ako."

"Babalik si kuya. Paka-bait kayo." Paalam ni Yael sakanila at umalis na.

Nang makarating sila sa manor ay hinarap ni Yael si Ruby bago pumasok sa loob. "Salamat ulit, Ruby. I owe you."

Umiling si Ruby. "No, Yael. It's my pleasure to help you and your family."

Nagtinginan muli sila sa isa't-isa hanggang sa niyakap siya ni Yael at nagpasalamat muli. Ruby froze on the spot with his sudden move, but she was able to hug him back before he broke it.

"Ehem?"

They both looked at the door when someone faked a cough, and it was Sid.

"I'm sorry to ruin your moment but Luca needs the medicine now. As in now." Nagmamadaling sabi nito at humarurot na ulit sa loob.

Terrence Klaus Gregory

"Why are you avoiding me?"

Liliana was walking towards the door when he blocked her with his arm. Terrence has been thinking and doing so many ways to get close or just by simply talking to her to get to know her more, but he couldn't do all of those properly when she started acting weird.

She's treating him like a stranger and he hates it. It makes him think if he did something wrong or said offensive things to her.

"I'm not."

"Yes." He sighed deeply. "You are avoiding me for days now. You couldn't even look at me straight in the eye. What's the problem?"

He took a step forward which made Liliana took a step backward until he locked her to his arms against the wall.

Terrence looked down to her face but she stayed and stood still with a straight face. Nang hindi siya sumagot ay nilapit niya ang mukha sa gilid nito dahilan para mapahawak si Liliana sa kaniyang dibdib.

"I know you can feel the connection between us, Liliana. You can avoid me all you want, but you can't ignore it." He murmured.

"Terrence..."

He rested his forehead against her shoulder. "Please think about it and give us a chance. Please..."

"I'll... think about it."

They went back to the room where Luca's resting and when they entered, everyone was there watching Freya hugging Luca, crying.

"Kailan ka pa nakinig sakin, ha?! You hate me, right?! You shouldn't have listened to me in the first place! You made me worry, you know?! You got affected because of me..." Humahagulgol na sabi nito.

Parang nabunutan ng tinik si Terrence nang makitang ayos na ang lagay ni Luca, ganoon din si Liliana.

Luca looks surprised and doesn't know what to do. It took a moment before he finally speaks. "I don't hate you."

What he said made Freya stopped and break the hug. "Really?"

"I mean, hate is a big word. I don't hate you but it doesn't mean I like you either."

Natawa si Freya at ang ibang miyembro sa sinabi niya. Freya wiped her tears and faced Luca again, with a smile this time.

"Don't worry, I don't like you too so the feeling is mutual." Pabalik na sabi nito na mas ikinatawa nila.

Amphitrite came into the room and showed them a tiny jar made of glass filled with white sparkling water.

"Woah," Napatayo si Ruby sa mangha. "What's that?"

"It doesn't have a name but this has healing properties which can remove the poison with just one drop."

Terrence saw Yael sighed in relief, thankful that there's a way of getting the water back in normal.

"Where did you get it?" Silvermist asked.

"I got this from the enchanted pavilion."

"Enchanted pavilion?" Tanong ni Ruby at halos nakasalubong na ang kilay nito. "I thought that place was just a myth?"

Amphitrite smiled at Ruby without saying anything 'til Ruby got what she's trying to say.

"Oh. They said it was a myth so that no one would dare to go there."

"It's better that way because people can't destroy what they don't know," Amphitrite added and led the team to the ocean next to her manor.

They watched her opened the tiny jar and put a drop of it down to the water. The next thing they saw is the whole ocean started to spark for seconds, and then the water suddenly formed into a small wave and went up like it's alive.

Amphitrite bowed to it and the small wave bowed back as if thanking all of them before going back to its normal state.

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Author's Note:
The photo is not mine. Check the external link.