C5 Chapter 5 The story of the past

Seventeen years earlier, when the top of Mount Octover wasn't that snowy, there was a beautiful woman who was peacefully living there with the cold climate and other creatures that could impossibly exist at all. The woman wears a long, white dress that reaches the grassy ground when she walks, as if she were in a beauty contest.

"I am Estrella!" She exclaimed. "The goddess of Mount Octover." She got the blue bird perched on the branch of a leafless plant. "This is Cryrie, my favorite bird. Not just because she's obedient, but she's also honest. Right, Cryrie?"

"Tweet, tweet!" the bird chirped.

"No one else can understand Cryrie, but me!" She exclaimed.

Loud laughter and applause suddenly spread around the covered court. The woman on the stage, who was acting as a goddess, was deafened by the loud applause of the herd. She bowed and made herself disappear from their sight. Many said that she could be the queen of acting. Some cried that she looked like Estrella. Another exclaimed that she's undoubtedly the goddess.

A few moments elapsed, and the crowd gradually disappeared from the court where folktales are displayed. It was Caroline who acted as the goddess of Mount Octover. She's currently sitting on a chair behind the stage.

Caroline hopes that Isabelanians won't stop patronizing their culture, and that's to exhibit their history and folktales every summer season. She knows that their folktales aren't just tales that can disappear, because they can teach everyone a lesson, especially those younger people.

Not long after Caroline changed her clothes, she was taking the road back home when she met Linley, who had a frowning face. She's wearing long sleeves and pants. Her curly hair swayed as she walked towards her.

"Oh! Linley, where are you going?" Caroline asked.

"Caroline? Is that you?" Linley replied. "I can't easily recognize you."

"Me too. I can't easily recognize you because of that face. Is there something wrong that happened that's why you looked so sad?"

"Uh-huh. Can we talk for a while? I just have something to tell you."

Linley led Caroline to the bench by the roadside under the lamppost. It was the bench where Linley met Callisto, the bench where Stalin met Callisto, and the bench where everything about Linley's feelings started.

"We're here, so what's that thing you want to tell me?" Caroline asked.

"Do you remember the boy we saw here yesterday?"

"Yes, of course. I can't forget that handsome boy. Why? Is there something wrong with him? Aha! Why didn't I see you leave with us, huh?"

"I'm sorry Carol if I didn't support you in what you were doing these days. But I want to tell you something that I haven't told anyone before."

"What's that, Linley?" Someone asked behind them. It's Adelaide who suddenly emerges as if she didn't want to miss their conversation.

"Oh! Adelaide! What are you doing here?" Linley asked.

"Why? Do I need to ask your permission before going somewhere? And why won't you just tell me your secret too instead of whispering it there?"

"And why won't you just stop eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"Don't be so bad, Linley. I'm not the same as those gossipers out there who could spread your secret in just a second."

"This is enough, guys. You're just wasting my time here. Don't you know that I'm exhausted because of acting? So we'd better go home instead," Caroline advised. She stood up and attempted to walk away.

"Wait. Okay, I will tell you now. I have feelings for that boy!" Linley exclaimed.

"What?" Adelaide and Caroline simultaneously exclaimed.

"How come?" Adelaide asked.

"Yup, how can you have feelings for a boy you just saw yesterday?"

"He's so good and..."

"What did you just say, Linley? Do you want to explain something?" someone interrupted. It was Lazaro who suddenly emerged from behind them.

"I'm sorry girls, but you should go back first. I just need to talk with him," Linley ordered, which made the two girls turn back, but they were still gossiping about what Linley had just told them.

"I'm sorry..." Linley hadn't finished saying her words.

Lazaro wanted to ask many questions, such as, "Do you really have feelings for that boy who you just met yesterday? What about me, Linley? You're so unfair. Don't you know that there's not a second that goes by that I'm not thinking of you? Why did you just make me believe that there would be an us?" But what he could only say was, "Please, explain it to me."

"Sorry, Zar. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I know that you're hoping for us, but I already told you to stop. So there's not a thing which I should explain."

"You're right, you just made me believe your lies. From now on, I won't be a follower of you." Lazaro turned and attempted to leave.

"Wait!" Linley exclaimed, and she went towards Lazaro.

"Why? Don't you want me to leave? I can't endure getting hurt anymore, Linley." He attempted to step, but Linley's arms spread around his belly.

"Please forgive me. I know not what to do," Linley apologized.

"Don't deny me. This pain I'm going through. Please forgive me if I need you like I do. Please believe me, every word I say is true. Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you."

Tears ran down Lazaro's face as he faced Linley, and his lips caught hers.

Linley couldn't breathe well, but she couldn't help herself from the hungry boy who wanted to drink her saliva. Her eyes turned closed as she couldn't fight any more, but to weep in pleasure and replied his kisses.

On the other hand, Sebastian, Dorothy, Callisto, and Ruth are preparing for their trip to Mount October, which is just a kilometer away from their home. They knew that danger was waiting for them, but they also knew that they wouldn't be in danger if they just followed the route made by tourists. It's a conspicuous, winding route going to the top of the mountain.

"Are you ready for the venture?" Sebastian asked while wearing his boots.

Nobody answered Sebastian's question. His family knew that they could risk their lives by going to that mountain, but they hoped that everything there would be worth risking their lives. After a few moments, everyone was ready to go.

They left home with the things they needed for their venture and also for their picnic at the mountain. Meanwhile, Dorothy wasn't so sure if their journey would be fine because there were many bad things that happened on that mountain when they were still young couples, she remembered.

She saw Mount Octover wasn't that snowy before, and it surprised her even when she just saw it in the picture, and even more so when she saw it with her own eyes. That mountain was green before, and there were many trees, plants, and animals that were living there.

"Is she still enraged at us?" Dorothy thought.

Even though she knows that they did nothing wrong, that it wasn't their mistake if that woman chose to kill herself, it can't be removed from Dorothy to be worried, especially now that she has a family. It's the same with other people. No one would ever desire something wrong to happen, and so she does.

"Come on, my love, don't you want to feel the cool air on that mountain?" Sebastian asked when he noticed Dorothy halted.

"That's not that, my love. I also want to relax, but I'm still worried that we can dig our own pit," Dorothy panted. "What if we just go back?"

"You'll go back and say that we are already here. Come on, there's nothing else we can do but continue following this route, or else you'll just tire yourself without getting anything from it. Look, our children were so fast."

"It's so cold here. Are you sure that you want to continue? We don't really know the exact temperature above that mountain, so we may be frozen," Dorothy complained with worry.

"I've researched that already, and if other people visit there too, why can't we? Come on, stop lingering, or just tell me if you're tired, and I'll carry you." Sebastian went near to Dorothy and grabbed her hands, but it wasn't just hands, but her whole body. He unexpectedly carried her on his back.

"Oh my! Just put me down, we may fall!" Dorothy shouted with fear, but Sebastian was already defeated by the thrill, and he continued walking.

"Relax, we won't fall. Just hold on, because the car will run fast."

Dorothy didn't expect that her husband was still as strong as before, although his hair had gradually turned gray. She remembered those moments like this: that he was carrying her on his back, going to the same destination.

"At long last!" Sebastian exclaimed and put Dorothy down.

"Not finally, Dad. We're still at the foot of the mountain. It will take us half an hour before we can reach the top," Callisto panted.

"I already told you. It's just a waste of time, and how can we climb that mountain, huh?" Dorothy asked.

"Don't worry, Mom; there's a winding path to the top, so we don't need to climb this mountain; instead, let's just follow the path," Callisto replied.

"So let's go?" Sebastian asked. "Just be careful; nuggets could fall at anytime. It's good to see that it isn't windy here, or else we can't get up."

"That's not good. I'm still tired, and I want to sit here for a while," Dorothy complained. "And how can it be windy here if it's summer right now?"

"Yup, but we need to go now if you want to go home early. Stop complaining, my love, because Ruth isn't tired yet, even though she walked half a kilometer. Come-on, let's go!" Sebastian turned and took the winding route towards the top of the snowy mountain. He didn't even complain that he was tired of carrying her, he thought. How come she's tired even though she didn't walk?

Sebastian stopped when he noticed that everyone wasn't following him. They were all sitting on the ground, and he finally realized that sweat was already running down their bodies even though they felt cool in that place.

"What happened?" Sebastian asked while going towards them.

"Ruth's dogs are barking," Callisto replied.

"Why won't you just carry your sister's son? And you, my love, let's go." Sebastian seized Dorothy's arm and pushed her to take the winding route, although she was reluctant to take it.

"Just stop pushing me. I can walk on my own," Dorothy complained.