I caught a glance of myself in the glass wall of the flower shop I was working in. My hair was really the unusual color, like an albino. But I am sure I was not one. I was not born with this hair, through growing up white strands just started to show and now my hair was nearly all white. That was the reason why I cut my long hair and always wear a hat, to hide it from speculating eyes.
I fixed my hat and picked up the spray I was using to water the flowers. Just then wind passed by, nearly tucking my hat out of my head. The wind made some flower petals dance with it up above the air. I smiled by the beautiful scenery of the dancing petals basking under the rays of the sun.
It was a happy scene yet my heart started swelling. Sigh, I just can’t make myself continuously happy, I wonder why too, maybe in my past life I have committed a huge sin?
“Christy! Come, your favorite chess tournament is about to end!” called Rielle inside the shop.
Rielle was my co-worker in the shop and she knows I love watching the chess tournaments that was showing every morning.
“And Santiago resigns; we have our new defending champion! Johannes!”
What? My neck nearly snapped when I abruptly turned to the television which was in the opposite direction I was facing. Santiago lost? That was impossible; he was undefeated for a month, he was my favorite too.
“My, the new champion sure has good looks,” Rielle blabbered.
He was indeed good looking. Despite winning the tournament he maintained his poker face. What an odd man.
“I think I would watch this show starting today,” said Rielle while giggling.
She was certainly a sucker for a pretty face. I once again gazed at the face of the young man in the television; there was still no change in his expression. Hmmm, have I seen him somewhere?
“Oh hey Christy, we don’t have enough ribbons, can you go fetch some in the usual store?”
“Yeah, I’ll get it.”
I removed my apron and checked if my hat was placed properly in my head. Okay, all set.
When I opened the shop’s door, the road was already bustling with people; it’s lively here today as well. The sun was up but the air was still fresh around this area, which is why I love it here. It makes my mind at peace even for a moment. All my life, I feel like I am forgetting something but I could not really point it out.
I reached the shop after five minutes of walking and successfully acquired the desired ribbon. My life was fun the way it is, it was peaceful, it was fun, yet I was lonely. It was weird.
Anyway, that was a problem I should not ponder long or else I will end up sulking again.
Walking back to the shop I noticed someone who was walking toward me or the direction opposite to where I was walking to rather. He was covered completely. Wearing a hoodie paired with black jeans and black rubber shoes, he was also wearing a mask and a hat that entirely covered his eyes. I wonder if he could still see the road. Was he some kind of celebrity? Oh maybe he was? I laughed at my ridiculous thought. And even if he indeed is, what would that be to me?
But as he and I were nearing to each other I felt like he was intentionally coming near me. I moved out from his line and averted my gaze. Just one step and we would be side by side.
I sighed in relief when I completely passed by him, so I was just really paranoi—
Then someone grabbed my arm.
“I found you,” he whispered in my ears.
“I will find you.”
-
“Moria! I swear I will find you. So wait for me.”
I found myself in a strange place. The clothing was weird and the place looked like it has just been through a war. Burnt ground, dead bodies around, destroyed forest. There were people sitting in the ground, they were wounded but what caught my eye was a man holding in his arms a woman. The woman, was me?
“Johannes, are you ready?” asked the man beside him with bright red hair.
“I do not know what will happen after I open the space and return you back to your time, I could not assure that you will remain the way you are, the as I told you the possibility that you would both be sent to different location is high but this is our only solution. Is that still okay with you?”
“Will she be alive?” the man named Johannes asked.
“I assure you that she will be,” answered the man with the bright red hair.
“Then I am ready, do it Nathaniel.”
“It was a good time everyone,” he smiled at the others who were present.
“It’s funny to hear you saying that after all we’ve been through,” said a woman with a long shiny black hair. She was so beautiful.
“Take care of Moria, Johann,” she said, tears swelling from her eyes as she looked at me, the body of the girl who looked like me in Johannes’ arms.
“I have released the spirits; they will help you manage the kingdom’s peace in my stead. I promise you that she will find peace and happiness,” he said while looking tenderly at the woman in his arms.
My heart began to ache and my tears began to fall, how could I forget.
“Goodbye everyone let us find our own happiness.”
Then a portal opened behind Johannes, he smiled one last time to the others. Monk Amon, the aces, the professors, Antonella, Luther and the headmaster who sacrificed his lifespan to save us, they all smiled with tears in their eyes as they bid Johannes and me, the wind goddess goodbye.
All this time, I was forgetting such an important memory of my life. After I said that I would not forget these memories. My knees weakened and I could not help but cry like a child. I wailed and let out all my emotions. I remember their smiles, the times we all spent together, and my friends that I treasured.
Johannes stepped into the portal but before he completely came in he leaned down to the person he was carrying in his arms. He kissed me one last time, in the world where we first met, in the world where we fell in love.
“I love you, Listarte Moria Graciana,”
-
“Miss? I’m sorry I thought you were someone else,” he said.
I know that voice and I know this presence. But I stood there frozen, not able to move or to speak. And he was slowly slipping away from my hands. He took one step, two, three, no! Johann!
I turned around and grabbed his arm and tightly embraced him in a hug.
“I’m sorry I forgot, Johann.” My tears fell once again, I was home. I was finally in his arms.
The cold wind blew, “Miss? I think you mistook me for someone,”
I felt my breathing stop. I removed my arms around him. Was I mistaken?
“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought…”
Then another gale of wind passed and my hat flew with it.
I quickly turned away from him and started walking away.
Was I really mistaken? Is it because his face was covered? No, I was sure it was him. But he was not. I clutched my chest and punched it several times. Stop, stop aching you frail heart. I sobbed in the middle of the noisy street. There were many people walking but all I could think about was the person standing behind me who was slowly getting farther away.
“Moria!”
I stopped on my track.
“Hey, look at me,” his nostalgic voice called out to me.
Slowly I turned around. And there it was, his handsome face I missed so much. I was not mistaking it, I was not imagining it.
And against the busy people in the street I ran towards him as fast as I could. The wind was whispering inn my ear as I ran, the memories we shared, the first kiss, his hand in my hair, his smiles, and the way he calls out to me. Then I dived in his arms.
“Moria,” he sweetly whispered in my ears.
“Johann,” I called his name in the middle of my sobs.
“Sorry, I just wanted to tease you a little, will you forgive me?”
I nodded without saying a word. I hugged him tightly.
“The wind, it has led me back to you. I love you, Moria.”
“But you changed your name again did you?” he jokingly added. I chuckled.
Right now there was no trace of loneliness anymore I found it at last. We have come this far after struggling so much. Finally our happy ending has begun.
“You were the secret that the wind was hiding. I love you too, Johannes.”
-End-