Flip Chart : Chapter Six

Yasmeen, stay together along with Ezekiel until late evening at his, grandma's apartment, as she helps to clean his wound and relief the bruise on his face with a warm towel pad. No words were spoken between them and Yasmeen could feel those, unspoken statement of anger and intensity, was clearly written on his dark urban brown eyes. He refused to give her any eye contact and Yasmeen knew, her relationship with him were at stake...thanks to her own stupid mistake.

"It's getting late now, I think you should leave." utters Ezekiel, as he took the warm towel pad from Yasmeen's finger and place that on his left chin.

"Look, Eze....I'm sorry okay! I know...I should not have been telling your precious thoughts to Bashir...or anyone else...!" trails Yasmeen...with full of regrets and remorseful in her voice, as she still treasure Ezekiel's love and friendship.

"Please, just leave. I want to be alone." said Ezekiel as he tries to conceal his heartbreaking and disappointment heart away from Yasmeen. "Words has been spoken, damaged has been done....so there's no point for you to be entwining your guilt with me...!" utters Ezekiel coldly.

Yasmeen, heart sank upon hearing those words from Ezekiel...! As she wipe her tears off from her eyes, she pack her bag and leave....while Ezekiel...pretends to get himself engrossing his moment with Oasis. As Yasmeen close the door, after she left....Ezekiel had his sight focusing towards the front door...as he shuts his eyes and wept in silent.


"Hello mum...it's me Ezekiel." utters Ezekiel as he gently pets Oasis's smooth shell while he lies on his bed.

"Ezekiel....how have you been? It has been almost a week, I've not heard from you." exclaimed Eva...rejoicing her moment upon hearing her son's voice.

"Mum about the plan...I have come to my decision.." exclaimed Ezekiel, as he place his unfinished reading of his favourite classic folk tale novel, Beauty And The Beast, inside his bag pack.

The next Sunday morning, Ezekiel went to the local library to return the novel, as he decides not to follow up on the story line and those characters again. "It's just a tale of a misfortune soul... Ashlan's fate is to become the beast...and unknown curse which has been cruelly set upon him to end his majestic reign." thought Ezekiel to himself as he place the novel back into the returned books section container.


"The wet and darkened woodlands, with no exact tracks or path, indicates this thick forested maze, has not been touch by any human forms...but it was sure to be a great source for those ferocious creatures, colonizing that area. The visibility of light was barely there, however, Sephira struggles with all her courage and hope as she brace through the thorny branches and the rough rocky path grounds....to save her soul. Sephira knew, the more she penetrate herself through the woods, the deeper...trouble she will set herself into....as this particular forest seems to be no route of ending or the beginning at all.....it's just like a concrete maze but without clues. The barking and howling of the wolves, seems to be getting on her heels...as she continue to run with all her might. Suddenly, as Sephira was running ahead to the un define path....which seems to led her towards the lake, she did not realised an uprooted branch had stick itself out from the ground... entwine her foot and cause her to fall forward towards the cold murky ground.

"Oh! God" she cried frantically and to her horror, the pack of wolves were enclosing on her right now....growling and snarling making her nerve run cold in between her spine. She tried to reach for her dagger, which she had securely tied, around her right calf....but every movement that she makes. cause the wolves to be encircling closer towards her. Sephira feels trap...either she needs to fight to defend herself...or become the feast of celebration for those starving wolves. Her breathing gets heavier....with her eyes widen in fear. Suddenly, she heard a terrifying and thundering loud roar, that seems to come from the top of the cliff by the side of the lake. Sephira instinct, seems to led her sight towards that ferocious roar....and to her horror, there stood....another horrendous looking creature that she had never set her eyes before....with it's dark dirty green mouldy scales...covering almost all parts of it's body....with rough looking fur which seems to have outgrown itself....at the back of the beast. In just a spilt second, the beast jump off the cliff, together with it's deafening roar...as he stood fearsomely, in front of Sephira.

"I'm doom." thought Sephira to herself...as she saw those sharp razor, fang like teeth protruding it's way out from it's gums. "Please don't tell me, you are the leader of this pack?" exclaimed Sephira...as her breathing begins to get heavier....with cold sweat forming on her trembling body. However, to her surprised, the majestic beast...turn his attention towards the ferocious bunch of wolves instead...and with a single pounce, he swing his dagger sharp claws towards them....but not to hurt those wolves.....it seems to be a warning threat towards them instead. The significant...majestic being...was a sheer threat to those hungry wolves....left with no other choice, they have to keep those pang of hunger to themselves, as they fled...howling in fear, away from Sephira and the beast itself.

"Great..now what?" thought Sephira to herself, as she quickly grab her dagger out from it's sheath....and slowly stood up from the ground...to defend herself from this monster like creature. The beast was not threatened by that mere dagger, as he sprang forward towards her....making her freak out from her soul. Her dagger slip off from her fingers in the process, as the beast held on to her wrist and pinned her down onto the murky ground. "Hungry?" asked Sephira...as she recite some prayers to meet her doom. The beast had his monstery face..came closer towards Sephira with interest, as he begins to sniff...and snarl at her.

"Need some additional seasoning?" stammered Sephira..but with a meek grin. Sephira, look straight into it's dark bluish eyes....surprisingly...those eyes seems to be giving her a message...there's some humanity in that beast. The beast...growl with intensity and finally ...he released his grip and stood up, backing away from her. Sephira gets up from the wet ground...but she still had her sight towards that significant beast. "Thanks for changing your mind...of having me for your dinner." cried Sephira as she wipe some of the coarse sand which had stick itself onto her clothing. The beast still looks at her with a wondering look and Sephira find this quite amusing. Sephira smile, cause she realised this beast is harmless....his looks had betray his gentle soul. The beast then turn his back against her as he decides to leave. "Wait..whatever thing you are! You seems to know.....the direction around this thick woods...and I'm kind of lost....thanks to that witch and her wolves...so now I need you to help me, find the way out." exclaimed Sephira. "But on the other hand, do you....understand the words that came out from my mouth?" asked Sephira with a sigh."Great....I will still end up dead....but at least I'm not alone." thought Sephira to herself as she twitch her lips. The beast decides to walk away, much to Sephira's despair...however, the beast stop again and nods his head several times. "You want to guide me out from this forest?" asked Sephira curiously. The beast acknowledge her question as he nods his head. "Woah! You do understand my words!" exclaimed Sephira with a giggle.

At last, due to the beast guidance,Sephira managed to find her way back home." Yasmeen, closed the novel which she had just bought from the book store few weeks ago, before she had this misunderstanding with Ezekiel. Next, Yasmeen tied a dark blue ribbon across it, as she had planned to present it to Ezekiel as a gift. Yasmeen looks at her watch and it was only half past ten in the morning. She took her cell phone from her side table....and look for any miss call, however...it seems to be the other way round.....none of her calls and messages were returned by Ezekiel. Yasmeen give a huge sigh as she shakes her head in disbelief ...it's upsetting. Suddenly, her front door bell rang...cause her to startle away from her daze. She hopped off from her bed and walk towards the front door.

"Eze..!" exclaimed Yasmeen with a surprised...cause, this is certainly not Ezekiel's way of visiting her home, without calling her in the first hand. "Come on in." offered Yasmeen.

"It's okay...I won't take much of your time." utters Ezekiel coldly....but the emotional hurt was still clearly stated in his eyes. Yasmeen remain silent, but her eyes were tearing up..cause she knew..it's over.

"I have make up my mind....I'm leaving for States tonight..with my mum and that ......guy!" exclaimed Ezekiel....as he fight his tears off from his eyes.

"That's not want you want!" said Yasmeen as she fold her arms across her chest...as a slight tinge of anger slip into her thoughts.

"I have left with no other choice Yasmeen." replied Ezekiel as he look straight into her eyes. "My grandma...she's gone, and sooner or later...so is my home."

"No...you left because...what I did." cried Yasmeen. "Just don't act or pretend as though....there's nothing wrong with our relationship right now." continue Yasmeen with tears in her eyes.

Ezekiel, remains silent as he came closer towards Yasmeen....and held out his fingers to wipe the falling tears off from her face. "Yasmeen....please forgive me. I shall be honest with you....! Throughout our relationship, you are just my smoke screen....to cover up my real self." utters Ezekiel as he looks away from her eyes.

"What?" asked Yasmeen. "No...I'm not believing that statement. You are lying." Ezekiel, continue to remain silent with his own thoughts. "I love you..!" utters Yasmeen as she held her hands onto his shoulder.

"Just forget about us!" utters Ezekiel, sadly as he gently remove Yasmeen's fingers off from his shoulder...and walks away from her...without turning back. Yasmeen shut the door behind her as she sank on the floor and wept tearfully.

Being back alone inside her room, she took the novel which she had bought for him and place it on her lap. And then she brings her finger, stroking the illustration of the Beast....her heart breaks, she's the witch....which had put the cursed on Ezekiel's heart....the hope and courage which she had been blewing into his heart.....was demolised and tarnished by her own fault.

Flip Chart : Chapter Five

"I can't belief, everyone seems to be shifting and flipping their thoughts and minds without thinking about other people's feeling or reaction." utters Ezekiel furiously, as he threw the document onto the coffee table right, in front of his grandma...who was just about to doze off for her nap. "Explained to me now...grandma..what's this all about? And please I only want the truth?" cried Ezekiel with tears in his eyes.

His grandma, shut her wrinkle eyes as she fight back her precious tears from streaming down on her prune like face. "I do this for you...Ezekiel. You belong to her now." cried his grandma softly, but Ezekiel knew her heart was breaking. "In fact, being in that home...it won't be so bad after all. Cause, I can meet and make new friends...and there are so many spiritual activities being conducted at that old aged home." utters his grandma as she tries to force herself with a smile.

"You are lying again, grandma. Cause I know, that's not what you had always have in mind." cried Ezekiel intensely....as he clench his fist by his side.

"I can't be there for you all the time Ezekiel...so please try to understand." exclaimed his grandma as she stood up from her couch and came closer towards her beloved grandson....whom she had been...painstakingly taking care off until...he's reaching into his adulthood state of a young man.

"I'm just like a flip chart to you.....where, I'm no longer in need, you could just tore me away from your life!" utters Ezekiel furiously, as he went inside his room and slammed shut his door. His grandma was stunned seeing Ezekiel to be in such a fury state....a rarely sight which he barely portrays.


"The banging of the door, sure had sent some anxiety and fear inside Marish and her old mother's heart. "Who could it be?" asked Marish as she place a thin blanket on her mother's aching body...before she headed towards the door. As she opens the door, what a shocked she had when few palace guards dashed in and roughly grab her arms....forcing her out from her dormitory home.

"Please sir, what offence have I committed?" pleads Marish, as she struggles to get herself away from those fearsome guards. However, none of the guards utters any explanation, as they continue to drag her away from her home.

"Marish...Marish! Please bring back my daughter...she's innocent." wailed her mother, as she struggles with all her might to get herself up from her bed. And with that effort, she crawls and hang on to one of the guards leg and pleads with him to let Marish to be freed, however, to Marish horror, the guard had merciless kick her mother on her chest, sending her sprawling across the room.

"Mother!" yelled Marish...terrifying after seeing the violent treatment, which her mother had received from the guard. But the guard was not taken aback with their cruel acts, as they continue to pull Marish away from her warm bliss home.

She fight and struggle with all her might, but it was all in vain, when at last, she was brought into the palace. Marish, was hoping Ashlan will be in that area and witness to all this cruelty, but her hopes were dashed when the guards had dragged her into a room....and soon she realised....it was Aden's room.

Ashlan was surprised, when he saw there were no smoke coming out from that dormitory's chimney...and from the hill where he was standing right now....he sense, somethings was amiss...cause Marish's home seems to be in total darkness. "Come on Noah, let's go." utters Ashlan, as he usher Noah to gallop ahead towards the front yard of the dormitory. Ashlan, jump off from his stallion, as he swiftly headed towards Marish's home. "Marish." he calls out her name...but in a shocked state of motion...suddenly, he saw Marish's mother was lying helplessly onto the cold...rough ground of her home.

"Ashlan...Your Highness. You have got to save her...they took her." exclaimed Marish's mother, as she tries hard to drew out a breath. Without hesitation, Ashlan carries her up and gently place her back onto her bed. "Ashlan.....save her. My daughter..she's innocent. The palace guard had took her." utters her mother tearfully and sadly, she drew out her last breath and pass away.

"Aden." thought Ashlan to himself as he clenched his fist in anger. "I swear, nothing will befalls her....I promised." exclaimed Ashlan...as he went back to his horse and gallop towards the palace.

Marish trembles, as she was force to sit on her bended knees on the cold marble floor, while Aden phase around her like a hawk, stalking out his prey. With an evil notion in his mind, he brings out his hand and had his fingers running through in between Marish's baby soft locks. Marish shuts her eyes in fear..cause she was afraid...on what horrifying pain that will befall her. She could sense, Aden's brazen hands had begins to indulge his way onto her shoulder and next towards her ample body. Marish, stood up and decides to dash out towards the door which has been left opened....it was like a challenge for her to escape or be tortured. But Aden was quick enough to read her thoughts, as he roughly grab her waist and forcefully, pushed her onto the cold marble floor. He pinned both her wrist down with his hands...as he had an evil smirk on his face. "Prince Aden, will always gets....whatever he wants." cried Aden and without mercy, he tore part of Marish blouse away from her cold trembling body.

"Ashlan..!" Marish screamed tearfully as she struggles beneath Aden's cruelty and darkened acts of terrorizing her.

"You are calling your death, Aden!" cried Ashlan, as he hits Aden's temple with the back of his sword as hard as he could. Aden wrenched in pain, as Ashlan kicked him away from Marish. Ashlan came forward towards Marish and held on to her trembling body.

"Why do you care so much, for this servant girl anyway?" asked Aden, as he struggles to stand after receive that massive blow from Ashlan's undrew sword.

"Because, she's going to be my wife....my Queen." cried Ashlan with teary Marish by his side.

Aden laughed haughtily upon receiving those words from Ashlan. "A servant girl for our Queen? Let's hear, what the people of Kherash will response to that?" utters Aden sarcastically.

"There, going to be some changes around here........I've seen enough of all these corruptions and immorality acts of people...people like you!" cried Ashlan as he points a finger towards Aden's evil and darkened face.

"It's not going to be that simple...Ashlan. Cause, I know....now after our father....our beloved King has gone...you have no more...allies standing around you..protecting you. Yes...yes, you are a King now..but, with that girl by your side....I'm afraid, your future will be at stake." warned Aden with smirk of hatred in his eyes.

Few years had passed, and like what Aden had predicted, Marish was an unwelcome core, to be part of the royal family. Ashlan, was by pass and steps down from his throne..as Aden takes over in ruling Kherash.

Ashlan was given mere duties of an ambassador for any trade delegations...but he had never feel so much enlightenment and contentment before in his soul. The sacrificed which he had made, by giving up his throne for the woman he love...pays it all. Together, both Ashlan and Marish live in such a simplicity life but with full of abundance wealth of love,joy and grace.

"Like what I have promised you, Your Majesty, the leper has been demolished." utters Dhaleya as she dress herself up, after she give in to Aden's desire.

"But I still want more!" cried Aden furiously...cause, he feel sore...and the brewing hatred which he had felt for his brother, grew even more on each and every breath that he takes. He just could not believe, Ashlan could still lead such a blissful and contentment life after forsaken his throne. Adding to his  blackened heart of jealousy, was knowing that Ashlan had took his prize trophy.. Marish...a woman, whom he had often desires.

"Marish...the real prize which you have already lost. A challenge which was unfinished..."trails Dhaleya with an evil smirk on her luscious lips. "I can show you....things, beyond your imagination." exclaimed Dhaleya as she open up her palms...and to Aden's amazement....a fireball crystals form...from it...and the image which was portrays to him...was an evil sick plan which will bring the downfall of Ashlan...once and for all. Aden's eyes widen....with a trace of evil smile on his intense features.


"This trade delegations...it seems so sudden." utters Marish, as she watches her husband busy packing up his belongings into his case.

"Marish, this won't take long. I promised." said Ashlan, as he gently caress Marish's hair off from her eyes. Marish remains silent, but the worridness was clearly written, on her angelic features. "Marish, hey..I'll be all right." utters Ashlan, as he looks lovingly towards his beloved wife. Marish nods her head, as she lay her head on his chest and held on to Ashlan with all her might. Ashlan begins to sense some darkness notion brewing inside his thoughts, but soon, he decides to brush it off....cause he knew, those were the devil's works, of wanting to instill some fear in his soul.

It has been almost three days, since Ashlan has been away from her...and Marish begins to feel some strong sense of fear and anxiety inside her soul. She looks at the beautiful, silvery anklet which Ashlan had presented her as their wedding gift. Upon seeing that, Marish heart begins to remain calm and the anxiety soon miraculously gone from her heart. Suddenly, her daze was startle by a knocking of the door. Marish stood up from her bed, and headed towards the door, only to find a mystical woman standing in front of the door. Even before Marish, could utter a single word, suddenly....she felt some lightness in her head...but her breathing started to get heavy. In just in a spilt second, she fall...unconscious right beneath Dhaleya's feet.

Marish, finally regains back her conscious only to find herself being tied up....and to her horror, she was kept imprisonment under Aden's command. She widen up her eyes, as she tries to locate herself and from the sight of it..she was kept in his room. Marish struggles with all her might, but the chain which had been cuffed around her wrist, had cause unimaginable pain onto them. Marish trembles and tears of terror stream down on her face...as she realised Aden's presence was there all along.

"I have been waiting for this, for a long......time." cried Aden coldly, with a sick smile on his dark intense features. And without mercy, he terrorized and brutalised her....taking away her pride and honour.  Marish felt helpless....her deafening scream and pleading, was like a music to Aden's ear...and suddenly she became light and numb...as Ashlan, came into her mind...as her eyelashes flicker several times..her breathing becomes weak and shallow...."Ashlan." the last word that came out from her last breath. Aden, soon realised that Marish was lifeless...! He dressed himself up, with a smile of contentment on his face, as he called for his personal guards to threw Marish dead body into the cold, dark ocean.


"I don't belief, Marish could have betray me this way." utters Ashlan, with full of disappointment and anger in his voice.

"I can't blame her, for keeping a man behind your back...cause you have been forsaking her for quite sometime now." exclaimed Aden with a smirk.

"No....I know Marish..! She's not like what you think!" protested Ashlan, as he hit his fists onto the side table of Aden's room.

"Then, where is she now?" asked Aden in a mocking way.

Ashlan, becomes speechless as he hung his head low....focusing onto the shiny marble floor...when suddenly something had caught his eyes. Ashlan stoop down and took the anklet which he knew...this anklet belongs to his beloved Marish. And from the look of that anklet, it tells him all, the pain and suffering which she had to endure under Aden's captivity. With tears of anger, hatred and revenge form in his eyes, he turns to face Aden's panic shrieking face, that had suddenly turns pale with cold sweat forming on his head.

"Tell me, what have you done to my Marish?" yelled Ashlan...and without second thoughts, he drew out his sword and drove it right through Aden's heart. Aden stumble and struggle in pain, as massive amount of blood gushed out from his darkened heart...and like a rotting soul, Aden gave out his last breath of agonizing moan....and dies. Deafening thunders and significant lightning soon sets in..as Kherash turns to darkness, a massive and merciless storm falls on Kherash. Suddenly, there was a sinister laughed and Ashlan could recognized that voice.

"It was you all along....you have been anticipating for this.. You want this to happen." cried Ashlan, as he felt some agonizing piercing pain in his heart.

"At last, Kherash is mine. And the curse will be yours forever. All of you...are fools to fall under my feet. The reason why I have choosen you over Aden...simple...because of your weakness....your ill fated wife Marish. I know, what both of you had desired....the love which you had felt for her..and the lust which Aden had been craving out from her.....! Marish, such a sweet innocent girl, had chosen you and managed to fight Aden's fiery desire. But at last, revenge had overcome you, for the death of your wife. And triump I had gained as....Kherash has fallen into my hands......your soul is mine...and a beast you had becomes for drewing out a drop of blood, from your sword." laughed Dhaleya sinisterly.

"You witch!" yelled Ashlan as he took his sword and decides to slain her....but the piercing pain was taking his toll and courage. Ashlan threw his sword in horror....and with Marish anklet still in his palms. he ran out of the palace....headed towards the dark lands of the thick forest." Ezekiel. place the bookmark again with tears in his eyes....as he could almost feel the real sheering pain of Ashlan...to loose his heart...his Marish....and to loose himself....his soul.

"If Ashlan was not kept in the dark, about the curse that might befall him..for taking Aden's soul....will he still drew out his sword and slain Aden with it....despite knowing, what cruelty acts...Aden had done to his beloved Marish?" asked Ezekiel to himself. "Is there hope to all this?" thought Ezekiel to himself again as he looks into his long standing mirror and stare blankly towards his own reflection.

"Being pushed into this kind of situation, where you need to sacrificed the one that you had always love...it hurts." thought Ezekiel to himself again, as he relates his own current dilemma, of seeing his grandma departing herself away from him....it seems that his grandma had crucify her own self, by letting her precious Ezekiel....the spirit to her soul...by pushing him away from her life....so that Ezekiel could soar up further, towards the colourful rainbows of hopes and dreams. "I can't lose her....I can never leave my grandma feeling dejected and remorseful due to all this." utters Ezekiel again. "And Yasmeen...? I can't depart myself away from her either." a sudden thought of Yasmeen came inside his mind, just like a bolt of flashing eminent lightness...of his soul..."Was it love?" smile Ezekiel to himself. Ezekiel hearts begins to swell with this amazing new found pleasure..!

Suddenly, Ezekiel daze was startle when he heard a loud crash of a broken glass and a thud. Ezekiel panics and dashed out from his room...and there, he saw his grandmother lay unconscious on the cemented floor of their home together with Oasis's smashed bowl by her side. From the stool, which was place right beside her, it shows that his grandma had intended to get the old photo albu,m from the upper shelf of the mantle place, but she must have missed her footing and fell backwards onto the floor instead, pulling Oasis bowl along with her as she fell.

"Grandma!" cried Ezekiel, as he ran towards her, and fear came upon his thoughts as he saw blood drools out from his grandma's ear's and nose. Oasis was seems to be alive, as it begins to crawl and  then hide itself within his shell. Without wasting any more seconds, Ezekiel took Oasis and place it inside an empty mug and then, he came closer towards his grandma and tearfully call her out again...but his grandma remains motionless.....she's gone. Part of his soul has been taken away from him, as he began to wept sorrowfully. Creeping agonizing pain of a hurting beast...slowly emerge itself....weakening his soul...his courage.

It has been almost a week now, since his grandma has passed away, leaving Ezekiel hanging on to a tread with no hope and courage to set his mind straight again. The heavy guilt, which he had to bare, was definitely killing his spirit, to carry on with his life again. The terrible argument which he had with his grandma, before she had met her final fate, keeps on ringing in his head...making him feel sick to the core. If only he could just retreat back the time...to set things straight again, none of this might have happened. To Ezekiel perspective, he felt certain, his grandma must be feeling too rejected and heartbroken due to his rudeness towards her. Eva had decides to stay on with Ezekiel, until he was ready to move on with his new life in States...however, Ezekiel still remained unmoved with his mum's sweet promises of glory and wealth...of been part of her life. "A witch." a name which he had secretly been calling her.

Each time after school, Yasmeen will often come over to his late grandma's apartment...just to keep him feel a life again. It pains her, seeing Ezekiel, from a jovial and humorous guy...has turn to someone with so much anger and hatred of being himself.

"This guilt is changing me...I can no longer being me." utters Ezekiel feeling remorseful about himself.

"Eze, no one could actually expect what our future and fate lies next ahead of us...we can never predict life..this is all the works of the hands of God." console Yasmeen as she sat close next to him with her hands on his lap.

"No, I've killed her....with my words...my attitude." exclaimed Ezekiel sorrowfully. "I'm just like my father...and how I hated myself, just being him." rants Ezekiel again.

"Look at me." utters Yasmeen, as she held Ezekiel's tearful face and look him straight in his eyes. "Throughout our relationship, have you ever once......try to hurt me?" asked Yasmeen, with tears of hope and courage in her eyes. Ezekiel, remains silent in a while, but he held out his hands and brings Yasmeen's palm close towards his heart.

"My other source of enlightenment...you!" whispered Ezekiel.

Back to school, after for almost two weeks of missing lessons, was such a great challenge for Ezekiel to catch up with all his missed classes. But, being born with a super gifted brain, so it was sure pure leisure, of absorbing all those missing notes and lectures...just like a sponge. Ezekiel is back to being himself again...chirpy and comically weird, with his own sense of colourful humour, which only Yasmeen could understands. And seeing how they had both giggles between themselves....sharing drinks and chips...does tells it all...love binds the impossibilities, into something possible. Being with Yasmeen, does makes him feel normal...therefore all those intuition of that being the other 'him' slips away from his demons soul.

"Hey, gay boy?" shouted Bashir, spitefully towards Ezekiel when he saw Ezekiel and Yasmeen, walking hand in hand, pass over him. Yasmeen held on to Ezekiel's hand with all her might...but to her surprised Ezekiel smile charmingly, ignoring those spiteful remarks from Bashir....a great insult to Bashir's sickening ego. "I heard a lot of sweet things about you...!" continues Bashir...as he tries to create some disturbing thoughts on Ezekiel. His uncivilised friends, was laughing their heads off..upon hearing those remarks from their ring leader. "Your silly crushes on our science lecturer....and not forgetting on some of our senior boys here....am I right Yasmeen?" cried Bashir, as he continue to enjoy...insulting Ezekiel's pride. Suddenly, Ezekiel stood froze on the ground, as he slowly turns his attention towards Yasmeen.....who becomes to feel uneasy and upset about all this tormenting words. "And the best part of it, you don't even know, what you really made off...male, female...or BOTH!" cried Bashir, as he and his friends laughed haughtily. Ezekiel could not believe, with what he had just heard. Those are the dark little secrets which he had shared with Yasmeen.....a swore that she had given to him, that...all those details will be safely kept hidden inside her soul.

"Eze..!" utters Yasmeen tearfully. "I didn't meant to...!"

"I trusted you. How could you betray me?" cried Ezekiel....with darkened anger written in his eyes.

"Eze...those were your past...I know, you have change...you are normal. Please stop listening to them." wept Yasmeen, cause she knew...her relationship with Ezekiel was at stake now.With tears of betrayed and battered by Yasmeen’s mistakes, Ezekiel slowly pulls his hands away from her and walks away from her side, with his back turn against her. Yasmeen called out for his name frantically, but  Ezekiel continue with his pace…ignoring her cry for forgiveness and mercy.

Bashir, took this chance and roughly pulls Yasmeen by his side, with a mocking laughed. “Let me handle you, since your stupid gay friend couldn’t” cried Bashir as he forcefully drags her towards his car, with his other bands of uncivilized mates laughing hysterically, enjoying their moment of their own stupidity acts.

“Keep your hands off me, you crazy bastard!” yelled Yasmeen fearfully. “Eze…!” she yelled again fearfully, as she was roughly, pushed inside the back of his car.

Ezekiel heard her screamed. He stopped his pace abruptly, as he clenched  both his fists in anger…with fiery and tense looks portrays on his boyish features. Ezekiel, quicken his steps, as he walk pass Bashir’s hooligans mates and walk straight towards the car. Without thinking another thoughts, he pulls Bashir out from that vehicle, tugging the collar of his shirt roughly and pushed him onto the ground. His other mates becomes to get interest in this…as they claps their hands and whistle in a spiteful manner. Bashir stood up from the ground, with a sinister smirk on his face….! Ezekiel saw the fear and terror look in Yasmeen’s eyes as, Bashir had definitely tries to go beyond the line…of dishonoring her.

“I’m trying to show her what real man, are made off!” mock Bashir….and for this, Ezekiel drew out his fist and as swift as the paw of a leopard, he threw a fearsome punch on Bashir’s lips…until he fell backwards towards the sandy ground. The cut was deep, as both the upper and lower side of his lips begins to bleed. Bashir's tribe mates stood froze, upon seeing their master chief has been given, a fiery knuckle fists from Ezekiel.

"Do something you bunch of fools, don't just stand there." ordered Bashir in a fit of anger.

And soon, Bashir's hooligan mates begin to round up Ezekiel, with Yasmeen frantically tries to sort out this mess, as she screamed towards Bashir to let it all rest, but her message was not been heard, as Bashir's uncivilised tribe mates, begins to show their brainless talents of terrorizing Ezekiel's spirit. Two of them forcefully tugged Ezekiel's arms and this had definitely cause some difficulties for Ezekiel to manoeuvre and defend himself. Just like an easy prey for these pack of hungry hyenas, the rest of them including Bashir, begins to beat Ezekiel, leaving him to bleed and bruise due to the impact of their brutality acts. After they had felt content with their horrific misdeeds, they pushed him roughly onto the rough sandy ground and leave him to moan and grimace in pain.

"Eze..!" cried Yasmeen tearfully, as she came closer towards him and stoop down to help him up. Betrayed, battered and bruised were clearly written in his doe eyes. The pain wasn't so much on the physical injury, but the real wound which he had endured and felt was more, on how Yasmeen had actually betrayed his trust . Those dark little secrets, which he had shared casually with her, has become the main topic for her conversation with Bashir. Ezekiel felt his pride and esteem has been cruelly crushed and taken away by Yasmeen.....the girl, whom he had almost given his heart to.

ALEXA- jangan Kau lepas

Flip Chart : Chapter Four

Looking at the vast Sunday noon skies, it seems another set of ferocious storm might be hovering at any point of time now, thought Ezekiel to himself as he quicken his pace towards the five star hotel which his mum and that man is putting up in. He pushed his long fringe off from his brow as he adjust his glasses upon the bridge of his nose, before he steps into the exquisite and posh looking reception area of that hotel. With his hands inside the pockets of his Bermudas, he phase around the lobby, planning some words or drama like script, just to strike a conversation with his mum, which he had not been communicating for almost ten years. The last time, when he had actually spoken to her was on the phone,when he was barely seven..and all he could ever recall during that fateful conversation was..."Please don't be upset with me...Ezekiel, I have no other choice." a simple reason to justify her deeds of ditching him, just to stick around with another man.

"Another five minutes, she's not here...that's it...I'm leaving." thought Ezekiel to himself with a slight tinge of anger and disappointment in his thoughts.

"Ezekiel." cried a voice, that came from his back. Ezekiel slowly turns to face his mother, with his feet both firmly planted onto the maroon carpet of the hotel's lobby. He remains numb and dumbfounded with no words spoken out from his tongue. Eva came forward towards him and embrace him with all her might however, Ezekiel hangs both his hands loosely by his side....not knowing what to do. Eva released her embrace away from her son, as she begins to look at him with tears in her eyes. She could roughly understand the cold gesture, which she had received from him...the anger and the forsaken feeling which Ezekiel must have felt for almost seventeen years of his life...it does tells it all.

"Let's have some light snacks before, we sent you off to school." utters Eva as she held her hands around his arms and brings him towards the high class cafe which was located nearby the lobby itself.

"We?" asked Ezekiel feeling annoyed with that word.

"Yah...Riley, he really wants to meet you." exclaimed Eva hoping that Ezekiel would not reject her request...as she felt it is about time, Riley to have some father and son bonding relationship with Ezekiel. Ezekiel frowns in anger...a sign of not compromising towards Eva's fruitful dreams. "Ezekiel, we have talk about this....so please try to be nice." pleads Eva as she held both of her clasped palms onto her chest.

"It's between you and him....so got nothing to do with me...mother!" exclaimed Ezekiel as he stood up from his seat and decides to leave.

"Ezekiel...Ezekiel...please stop acting like your father!" cried Eva with tears of rejection in her eyes.

Ezekiel stood froze, before he managed to take another step and then he slowly turns, to face her. "Is that why......you left mum? Because, I'm like daddy....I look like him? And now....I'm turning into him.....a horrible beast!" yelled Ezekiel tearfully.

"Ezekiel, that's not what I have meant....!" utters Eva, cause she knew she had breaks her son's heart.

"Grandma is right about you....you only came back for a purpose, to lure me away from here...so that you want to prove to her that....you are a good mother." exclaimed Ezekiel with his back towards his mum.

"That old woman had poison your thoughts with all shorts of negative remarks about me." claimed his mother in anger.

"Don't you speak about my grandmother that way. She and grandpa had brought me up..with tears, sweat and blood..after daddy has been thrown into the jail and was sentence to death." cried Ezekiel tearfully. "I have made up my mind...and my choice is not you..it never has been at all. You hate me....because I'm like him....my father." utters Ezekiel sorrowfully..and this time, he took his bag pack and ran out from the cafeteria....away from the hotel...from everyone.


"Hey, wimp!" cried a voice and suddenly Ezekiel felt his head has been hit by something hard until his glasses flew off from his face. Ezekiel turn to face his assailant....and it was that dimwit Basil. Ezekiel stoop down to pick up his glasses, but to his horror, Basil had step on it and break it to pieces.

"You son of a bitch." cried Ezekiel in anger as he pushed Bashir towards his locker and pinned him there with all his might with his fist almost touching Bashir....panic-shrieking face. Bashir was shocked as he could not imagine Ezekiel, could have that kind of physical strenght with some darkness attributes of an aggressiveness being in him. Ezekiel was shocked with his own behaviour too, when he suddenly realised what he had almost did....to Bashir..the burly toad of the town. Ezekiel, slowly released his arm away from Bashir...as he steps away from him with tears in his eyes.....his mum is right, he is just like his father...an abuser....a horrific beast...and how he hated more of being him. Ezekiel took few more steps away from surprised looking Bashir, before he ran as fast as he could....bringing his feet not knowing to which next path that might lead him too....as he followed his cracked emotions.

"Ezekiel." cried a soft gentle voice...it was Yasmeen. Ezekiel stops abruptly as he tries to catch his breath, wiping his tears away from his face.

"My glasses....damn it!" thought Ezekiel to himself as he tries to hide his face away from Yasmeen. Yasmeen came closer towards him, as she place her hand onto his shoulder and gesture him to face her.

"My God..look at you!" exclaimed Yasmeen as she brings her soft slender fingers onto Ezekiel's cheeks..and begins to gently wiping the fallen tears off from his face.

"This is not me....I hated being this." utters Ezekiel....a heart-breaking statement which he had often confessed towards her.

"Try to instill some lightness in your heart....! Love yourself....in a way how you have always love the others." cried Yasmeen with tears in her eyes.

"I do not know how too..!" exclaimed Ezekiel....tearfully.

"Let me show you." replies Yasmeen.

"King Akmal illness, has definitely cause some uncertainty predicament about the future of Kherash, as all the court officials together with Ashlan and Aden gathered around the conference room....to discuss the next fate of their country. It has been almost six months now, King Akmal was strike with a illness that seems to be no cure for it..the agonizing pain which he needs to endure on every breath of his soul...as he moan and groan...tearfully..it was simply heart wreaking....especially for Ashlan as he witness the terror written in his father's eyes...it seems strange this sudden onset of illness had befall his father, right after Kherash has been re-established as a mighty and powerful country throughout the region. And not even Dhaleya could work out a spell of her mystic wisdom..to heal the ailing King.

"Ashlan, should start his ruling power now..since our beloved King was not able to perform his duties any longer." exclaimed the Prime Minister and every court officials seems to agree to this idea..as they decides to hail Ashlan the crown prince to be the next King...everyone rejoice to this idea..except Aden...as the feeling of hatred and envy....had slowly evolves it's elements into his dark soul.

"Dear Sirs, I think it will be the best..if we let this matter to be make known to His Majesty, our father." utters Ashlan, as he felt unsure about all this sudden gesture, of being declare as a King of Kherash....cause he knew....despite his father being ill, his father could still be able to make some decision about this..especially about the trasition of handing over the throne to one of his son.

"Prince Ashlan is right..we still do need to consult the Majesty about this matter." said the Prime Minister and soon he and the two princes stood by the bedside of King Akmal, as the minister begins to drew out his proposal. And much to his joy, the King had officially, decides to make Ashlan the new King of Kherash. Ashlan, bow to his father in full respect, as the minister place the King's dark maroon robe over his shoulder. Aden, clench his fist in anger..but he conceal that darkened feeling deep within his soul. However, Dhaleya caught his eyes....and with a smirk grin on her seductive features...she knew those souls has been bought and will be easily used and taken.


"Noah, he misses you." exclaimed Ashlan, as he held his arm around Marish slender waist and bring her closer towards him. Marish, looks away from Ashlan with sadness in her eyes. "Marish, what's wrong?" asked Ashlan worriedly, as he gently wipe the tears off from her beautiful angelic face.

"You are now a King...where as, I'm just a servant girl....we are two worlds apart..Ashlan, and I don't think, we should be carrying on with this relationship anymore." utters Marish sadly.

"You will be my Queen...and I will make it happened....no matter what it takes." exclaimed Ashlan as he brush Marish long dangling hair behind her ears...as it brings out more beauty from her features. Marish looks straight into his eyes, with a smile of comfort and calmness in her soul as she lays her head onto his chest...but the heaviness notion of her heart was telling her...certain intuition of darkening clouds might be engulfing their blossoming love of Eden.

"I know....there's a way to break his spirit." utters Dhaleya, as she phase around Aden's room and held her long slender fingers, lingering around some of Aden's collection of books and scriptures.

"What else do you want now....? You have make your choice, you have chosen Ashlan over me." exclaimed Aden with anger and tense in his voice as he had his fiery eyes fix onto Dhaleya seducing and mesmerizing aura of mystical beauty.

"Can't you see..this is just a ploy....cause I knew...the real King is standing right in front of me." whispered Dhaleya, as she brings herself closer towards Aden and place her fingers onto his chest. "Just ask me how...and it can be easily done. That leper, can be dispel out from this palace, once and for all." cried Dhaleya, bringing her face closer next to Aden's as she had her smooth luscious lips onto his.

"Show me." requested Aden as he response towards Dhaleya's intense desirable kisses with his warm hands enclosing Dhaleya's body close next to him." Ezekiel place back his bookmark onto that page and close his novel, as he lays on his bed with his eyes fix onto the turning fan on the ceiling.

Yasmeen has confessed it all...her true feelings for him...she's in love with him...don't know how...and why..it just short of happens. But why...why was it so hard for him to accept her at all? There's no doubt about Yasmeen's beauty...a talk of a town. Ezekiel gave a huge sigh...when suddenly, there was a knock on his door...and it was his grandma.

"Grandma, what's wrong?" asked Ezekiel as he steps out from his room.

"Pack your stuff, and leave this house now." utters his grandma...with sound of shudder heaviness in her heart.

"Grandma, what are you saying?" asked Ezekiel with a frown.

"Our home, has been taken away...cause we can't afford the rent anymore....so I have decides to stay at the old folks home, which your mother had put an admission for me...and as for you, please go to your mother now....give her a chance to prove herself..of what a worthy mother she's made off." cried his grandma tearfully.

"No..this is untrue..I'm not leaving you for her." exclaimed Ezekiel, as he can't believe his mother could be so cruel as to inject some fears inside his grandma's aching soul.

"Ezekiel, I'm afraid it is the truth...! I can't afford to care for you any longer....I'm getting older and my days has been numbered..so please, don't make a mistake like what I have did before." exclaimed his grandma as she turn her back against him.

"I don't understand why are you saying all these, grandma?" cries Ezekiel as he shakes his head tearfully.

"Stop denying yourself...I know, your earners of leaving me, but you have been tied with this pure notion of gratitude, which had seems to be the barrier source, for you being stuck here living with me." utters his grandma tearfully. Ezekiel was not listening to all this anymore, as he took his jacket and walk out towards the front door and decides to leave..to clear his thoughts.

Standing in front of his mother's room, was such an agonizing emotional moment for him to breath in. He let the colour of courage, sipping right through his mind, as he knock on the hotel room, which his mother and that man were staying. Finally the door was open, and there stood an Eurasian male, looking half younger than his mother's age looking back at Ezekiel...who was now already at the state of dumbness. Ezekiel reach out for his pocket, for the slip of paper which he had previously written the room number, that belongs to his mum, as he tries to make sure that it was the correct room, that he was knocking.

"Ezekiel right? Hie! I'm Riley." utters that tall white male guy, with a distinctive sort of aristocrat in the way how he had project himself.

"I'm looking for my mum. Is she around?" asked Ezekiel, as he seems not to be interested with Riley good attention of trying to be friendly.

"Eva, your son is here to see only...you!" utters Riley with a tone of annoyance in his voice. Ezekiel stared sinisterly towards Riley..as though he was his deepest threat and a rival.

"Ezekiel, you should have called me before you came." cried Eva as she seems to be still engrossed with brushing her half wet dangling hair.

"So now, I need to have an appointment before I could meet you?" asked Ezekiel unpleased. Eva was stunned by his remarks, but she decides not to get to upset over it...or else Ezekiel might fled again. "What have you been saying to my grandma?" snapped Ezekiel as he let himself inside his mother's room and expect a concrete explanation from her.

"Ezekiel....the truth! She's not capable enough of handling you. Your school, your future college years...your tuitions and all...! And furthermore, your late grandpa's home will be torn down soon, as more future development will be coming up in your area. So where possibilities will you be heading to?" shoot Eva with her arms across her chest.

"Is that it? Is that the main reason why...you decides to take me away from her...and just like a garbage, you even had cruelly plan of ditching her, into one of the homes for the aged around this town." cried Ezekiel shaking his head in disbelieve.

"Ezekiel, I have offered her to join us for this migration....but she just simply pushed me away. I'm just trying to be fair to you." explained Eva again, hoping Ezekiel will just sort out his mind about this whole migration deal. "Think about it Ezekiel, a college in States...it's a chance of your life time." utters Eva, with full of determination of taking her son back to her new homeland.

"That, will never happen." utters Ezekiel with cold tense in his voice, as he decides to leave and make up his mind of not turning back to all this. Eva called upon his name several times, but Ezekiel simply ignored her, as he headed straight towards the elevator and left with teary eyes. However, his mind was pounding hard about the things, which his mum had said, about his grandma and his own future which will be on stake.

He force himself not to cry, as he suck in huge amount of air and hold them in his lungs, while he stood by Yasmeen's doorstep. His glasses were gone..thanks to that Basil, therefore....it is such a sheer torture, been totally naked without those shield on. Ezekiel, pulls in some courage as he knocks on her door.

"Eze, hey! Come on in." welcome Yasmeen as she open her door wider to let Ezekiel in.

"Is your mum around?" asked Ezekiel, choking back with his own tears.

"No...no! Eze, what's wrong?" asked Yasmeen concerned as she pulls Ezekiel into her home and usher him to sit on the couch. Ezekiel, could not handle his breaking emotion anymore...as he begins to wept tearfully, covering his face with his palms.

"My mum....how I hated her now!" begins Ezekiel shaking his head in dismay. Yasmeen bit her lower lips as she held her arms across Ezekiel's shoulder. "She has been saying things to my grandma...discouraging her and even wanted to push her, to this home for the aged...so that she could take me along with her to States." utters Ezekiel, clenching his fist...as that solemness had evolves to anger.

"Your mum cares about your future." exclaimed Yasmeen emphatically.

"Only now, after seventeen years of my life?" snapped Ezekiel, shutting his eyes in disbelief.

"An equal years, to the guilt which she must have been secretly conceal, deeply rooted in her soul?" utters Yasmeen, as she gently carees Ezekiel fringe off from his face. Ezekiel remains silent in a while, but his thoughts begins to whirl with Yasmeen's spoken words...cause it seems Yasmeen got the point there.

"It just seems not right, for me just to just pack up and leave everything behind....my grandma, Oasis and.....you." utters Ezekiel breaking the silence, as he looks straight into her eyes....with a rare and weird unexplainable emotion...reeling in his thoughts. Ezekiel slowly, brings his warm fingers and gently carees Yasmeen porcelain like cheeks. Yasmeen, brings herself closer towards him and wrap her arms around the back of his neck. Ezekiel close his eyes, as he brings his lips..closer towards Yasmeen's soft rose bud petal lips and begins to work his wonder...much to Yasmeen unspeakable pleasure. His soft gentle touch, those amazingly angelic like kisses...had almost set Yasmeen heart, in a rage of fiery desire. Suddenly, Ezekiel pulls himself away from her....and looks away from her eyes. "This is wrong.....Oh! God....what have I almost done?" utters Ezekiel to himself, shaking his head in shame and disbelief.

"Will you just stop being guilty about yourself for nothing!" utters Yasmeen feeling dejected after being pushed away by him.

"This lust...it will kill us...kill us both." said Ezekiel, as he stood up from the couch and headed straight towards the front door to leave.

Yasmeen, begins to feel some symphaty towards him, as she came closer at him and held on to his arm. "Ezekiel, please forgive me." whispered Yasmeen with tears in her eyes. "I should be more thankful to you...actually, you are the only guy, which had actually knows how to treat a girl with respect." continues Yasmeen again as she looks away from Ezekiel's doe ash brown eyes.

"Hey, we still got long way to go with this relationship...leave all this in the hands of God...if we are fated to be as one..then who knows that day will definately come for both of us." utters Ezekiel with a charming smile of comfort and grace. Yasmeen, heart dwell with so much love for Ezekiel.....a real Prince of her heart.


"Grandma I'm back." exclaimed Ezekiel, as he unlocked the front door and enters his home. There he saw his grandma, was lying on the couch with full pack luggages and bags by her side.

"Grandma...what's these?" asked Ezekiel feeling confused and alarmed, seeing his grandma who seems to be getting herself ready, to be shipped off away somewhere.

"Well.....to the States!" replied his grandma with a glee.

"You've got to be kidding me!" exclaimed Ezekiel as he clasped his cheeks with his palms.

"No..I'm not kidding you dear, even Oasis is coming along too....right Oasis?" cried his grandma as she points Oasis's bowl...which she had tied a tiny blue ribbon around it.

"And may I know...why this sudden on set, of mind changing here?" asked Ezekiel curiously, with his hands on his hips.

"Because of you...!" replies his grandma as she slowly stakes her luggages neatly side by side against the wall...with Ezekiel's assistance. Ezekiel's remains silent in a while, with a thousand doubts and uncertainty about his grandma's real attention. "All done...well, young men, I need my rest now..so why don't you have yours?" cried his grandma as she lovingly tapped his cheeks. Ezekiel nods his head with a smile.

Ezekiel, walks towards the kitchen as he intends to feed Oasis...with some tiny bits of cabbages which he had tore...earlier that morning. "I should make myself some hot coco...!" thought Ezekiel to himself with a smile. As he opens up the top shelf of the cabinet, suddenly he saw a seal envelope, which seems to contain, some kind of important document in it. Out of curiosity, Ezekiel, bring down that envelope and drew out the document from it. Ezekiel, stood froze with tears of anger and dissapointment in his eyes.

Flip Chart : Chapter Three

Ezekiel begins to feel restless and uneasy....the present feeling which he can't even explained to his own state of mind right now. He turns to the left side of his bed, as he looks out of the close window of his grandma's apartment. It's almost, one in the morning, however there were still no sign of his mother and that new man in his mother's life hovering around their front door. Ezekiel gave a huge sigh of disappointment....another empty grayish promises. The strong wind had definitely making it's present make known, due to the sound of the rustling branches and the leaves of the aged tree which had seems to overgrown itself, from the ground of the building of their apartment. And soon, the sound of the pattering falling rain makes it's way from the heaviness of the clouds above. Ezekiel shuts his eyes...as he tries to get himself some sleep....and soon he begins to drift himself away inside his imaginary world....as he begins to fantasied himself to be Ashlan...no..not exactly..but to have some admiration on Ashlan..the majestic empowering beast.

"What was I thinking right now?" asked Ezekiel to himself as he snapped himself away from his fantasy world. Ezekiel sat up on his bed and turns on the table lamp, which was place on his bedside table. And then he stood up and slowly pace towards the long standing mirror, which was place right beside his closet. Standing in front of that long mirror, as he peers through his own image. Ezekiel removes his glasses and stared hard towards himself....! Whatever his image had projected itself towards him...was not what he had often desire. The ugliness which he had often feel about himself...was killing him, sucking away his spirit and self-esteem. He simply despise how he look....how he was created...and that sick notion was very well-kept deeply rooted to his own thoughts. Tears well in his eyes as he struggles hard to accept things...to accept himself. Ezekiel, wipe the falling tears off from his cheeks as he quickly put on his glasses back on....a disguise to hide his 'ugliness'.



In the verge of tears, Yasmeen tries to regain her composure and consolidate her mind about this life threatening voyage, which she had threw and indulge herself in. The boat was seems to be floating without any certain coordination, as it tries to maintain it's balance upon the vast deep ocean, in the middle of the torrential storm. The floor board of the lower deck, has been contaminated with vomits of the drunken souls of the 'crews' of that boat, making Yasmeen to feel sick too. She refused to have any sips of those alcohol drinks, however her back away from all those negative acts, had cause her to be the main tormented creature to be mock and spite at by Bashir...much to Yasmeen dismay. Tears fall on her cheeks, as she struggles to balance herself pacing around the deck while searching for her bag packed. Digging through the pockets of her bag as she took out her cell phone from there and decides to try her luck in calling Ezekiel, hoping that he's still have not turn in yet. It seems the rain falls, begins to get heavier by now as Yasmeen peer through the fogging tiny window from the lower cabin of the boat and the tidal wave seems to be getting rougher, splashing it's merciless waves upon the upper deck of the boat, causing some minimal ankle length flooding on the lower cabin.The ringing tone seems to take ages and Yasmeen almost gave up when finally Ezekiel takes her call.

"Yasmeen...oh! My...it's two in the morning....what's up?" utters Ezekiel as he tries to snap out from his grogginess. There was a remote silent from Yasmeen's line, much to Ezekiel surprised. "Yasmeen, are you there?" asked Ezekiel as he sat up on his bed and turn on the lamp. Suddenly, he heard soft weeping and this cause some anxiousness and concerned about his beloved friend. "Yasmeen, what's wrong?" coaxed Ezekiel as gently as he could, as not to intimidate Yasmeen. "Did he tries to hurt you?" and this time, Ezekiel's tone was convert to more cold and tense.....much to Yasmeen surprised, as she had discovered the other essence of Ezekiel's, which he must have been concealing it beneath his soul.

"No." replied Yasmeen tearfully. "Eze...I'm scared. I'm still in this stupid boat in the middle of no where. Everything seems to be so dark and cold. The storm is getting on us sooner or later." sobs Yasmeen as she clasped her weeping face with her palms.

"Yasmeen, where are the rest?" asked Ezekiel wondering.

"They are too drunk...even to realise the incoming danger which we are facing right now." utters Yasmeen.

"Please don't tell me, the one navigating the boat..is drunk too?" cried Ezekiel anxiously.

"He's one of the senior guys of our school...by the look of it...he seems to look lost himself." exclaimed Yasmeen as she turns her attention towards Rick...who seems to be turning and adjusting the gear of the boat, as he tries to maintain it's coordination....being caught in this sudden storm.

"Used your phone now..contact the authorities. That's the only way, you could get yourself away from this mishap." advised Ezekiel, as he held on to his cell phone as close to his ears as he could. He realised his heart was palpating at such a massive speed....as his anxiety has taken a full toll on him.

"I've wanted to....but I'm afraid. Once the authorities were involved, all of us will be in deep shit..because, there's not only liquor could be found in this cabin..but there's some illegal substance..pills! My mum..she will kill me for sure!" cried Yasmeen remorsefully. "Just, please stay on the phone with me..!" pleads Yasmeen.

"All right...I will." utters Ezekiel. "Want to know something funny happens today?" cried Ezekiel as he tries to cheers Yasmeen up...hoping this gesture, could divert her fear away from her thoughts.

"Okay." exclaimed Yasmeen...with a tinge of slight joy, slips into her heart.

"It's about Oasis again..!" begins Ezekiel, as he relates back towards the lost incident of his grandma's pet turtle...which eventually has been found safe kept inside his grandma's coffee mug. Yasmeen, laughed until her belly hurts..as she felt so much enlightenment ...just being able to have Ezekiel close by her side...despite, he's at the other end of the line.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream...and then an engage tone on Yasmeen's line. Ezekiel becomes frantic upon hearing that terrifying scream, as he frantically dials on Yasmeen's number several times...but it was all in vain. Ezekiel ran towards the window, and to his horror...the storm has definitely shown it greatness sign of rage and terror.



Yasmeen, was roughly swept throughout the cabin, as she frantically tries to stay afloat. The rest of the inmates of that tiny boat..soon realised the deep trouble they were facing right now...as they woke up feeling sober and shocked...seeing the heavy torrents of crashing waves smashing through their pathetic boat. Bashir, grab as many life jackets as he could find...which was kept inside the mini closet...right opposite him.....and quickly threw them around the living crews of that unfortunate boat. And soon, all of them managed to fix the jacket onto their body and pulled the string to allow in the air..entering the float. Everyone and everything seems to be in chaos..as some of the floats were damaged...including Yasmeen's. Panic ran through her spine..as she struggles to grab on to the pole, before she will be totally swept out into the merciless ocean. Bashir, saw Yasmeen was in trouble...and with all his might he waddles through as fast as he could...and held on to Yasmeen close to him. Yasmeen who was already soaked with the coldness of the waves and her warm tears....felt extremely furious and rejected by all this happenings. But she can't afford, to solely pushed this blame towards Bashir....cause, she was the one who had literally indulge herself in this trouble. All they could do now is wait...for the authorities to come by and rescue them...much to their dismay.


The ringing tone of Ezekiel's cell phone...had almost makes his bones jumps out from his skins...as he swiftly grab his phone to take that call. "Hello!" utters Ezekiel, in desperation hoping that it was Yasmeen on that line, but to his dismay...it turns out to be someone else.

"Hello Ezekiel...it's me mummy." utters Eva feeling some sense of gladness upon hearing her son's voice.

"Hie! Mum..!" cries Ezekiel with disappointment.

"Ezekiel, please forgive us for not coming over yesterday night." exclaimed Eva, hoping Ezekiel would not be too upset about the faded promises, which she had gave to him. Ezekiel remains silent in a while...but he was hoping to end this conversation soon...as he was hoping for Yasmeen to return back his several missed calls.

Eva could sense, Ezekiel was not keen on having a conversation with her. "Ezekiel, I know you are upset about me, being unable to come over due to this unexpected storm...so please, try to understand." explained Eva hoping to subdue Ezekiel's dejected spirit.

"Mum...please, just stop it will you. None of this is about you....none at all! Whatever and however I feel right now..have got nothing to do with your life." replies Ezekiel, with some sarcasms in the tone of his voice.

"Okay." utters Eva as she tries to hold back her tears in her eyes. "You know about my current situation with your grandma...and all, so I was wondering can we meet you at Cafe Bug's later this evening?" requested Eva, hoping her son will agrees with this meeting plan.

"Mum, I shall get back to you soon. I'm expecting other calls." exclaimed Ezekiel as he shut his mum off from his line.....with tears in his eyes. 

"He must be upset with me." utters Eva sadly as she sank on her couch feeling rejected and remorseful with herself.

"He needs time to adjust to all this." exclaimed Riley as he gently wipe Eva's tears away from her cheeks.

The sun had risen to it's utmost identity, as the glorious rays significantly shone's it's glaring lights through the curtains of Ezekiel's room. Ezekiel check upon his cell phone for any miss calls from Yasmeen, however to his dismay, there were none. He gaze through his window, as he stood up and turn on the small radio which was place on the side table just next to the night lamp. Ezekiel awaits anticipating for any news report and the outcome of the current situation, which their state were facing at that point of time due to the storm last night. It was such an agonizing turmoil, a horrific feeling that some mishap might had happened to Yasmeen. Only with her, Ezekiel feels free to be himself, to show the real side of him….there’s no lying or any deception throughout their five years of amazing platonic relationship. It seems, only with Yasmeen, that he could relate his true unspoken self identity, which he had been secretly trying hard to conceal…! His inner self-realisation of not being a him...! It hurts....it is painful.

The news which he had been anticipating awaits, had finally been announced on the radio. Ezekiel anxiety ran through his spirit, as he could vividly recalls the horrifying storm which had occurs the night before. There were chaotic scene almost every part of their state town, flash floods, fallen trees, heavy traffics and drowning pets. Ezekiel stand close to his radio transistor, as he tries to pier through the next statement of the radio deejay..and the dreading news was finally been said about some of the unfortunate boats which had been capsize or simply destroyed by the horrendous storm. Ezekiel clench his fists by his sides, as more news were read on and this time...it involves the boat which Yasmeen had risk her life in. The tragic boat has been ruptured by the torrent waves...however fortunately, all of the high school kids survivors has been swept on shore and has been place under the local emergency department for further treatment....much to Ezekiel's relief. Without wasting any more seconds, Ezekiel ran to the shower room to have his quick shower and then he put on his three-quarter Bermudas pants, a t-shirt, with his grandpa's cardigan over it...! As he was about to step out from his home,suddenly he heard his grandma was calling for him.

"Where are you going in such an early morning? The weather is kind of chilling outside...I do not want you to catch a cold." utters his grandma as she place Oasis bowl....with Oasis inside that bowl onto the island cabinet.

"Grandma, I had this thick woolen grandpa's cardigan...so please don't get worry about that..all right." exclaimed Ezekiel, while he balance himself against the wall as he puts on his sneakers. "I need to go to the library for a while...to borrow some books..and I might be lunching outside." continues Ezekiel as he took his step towards the front door and left.

"He must be seeing that woman." thought his grandma to herself, as she was thinking that Ezekiel might be meeting his mum without her knowledge.

The bus ride almost took him an hour, before he finally check himself inside this emergency department, which seems to be loaded with patients that came from all expect of lives...the Young's and the older ones...which seems desperately in need of medical attention. Ezekiel cranks his neck, as he hope to find some familiar faces...even if it turns out to be Basil. Ezekiel walk pass several section of that area, and then he saw her....sitting all by herself on one of the empty seat along the waiting lounge area..looking remorseful towards herself.

"Yasmeen." exclaimed Ezekiel, with a tone of relief and a tinge of emphatic towards her.Upon hearing that familiar voice, she jump out from her seat and ran into his arms and held him with all her might....with tears of comfort and security in her eyes. "It's okay..Thank God you are safe now." utters Ezekiel as he gently caress her long dangling hair with his arms around her waist.

Suddenly, Yasmeen felt an unexplainable feeling of greatness.....pleasure and enlightenment just being held on close by Ezekiel. A strange feeling of not wanting to let go....was this love? She asked herself. Could this be happening to her right now....to fall in love with a best friend?

"Yasmeen...come on let me take you home." it was Bashir, as he came closer towards them and roughly pulls her away from Ezekiel's embrace. Ezekiel, was shocked by his tendency for being aggressive towards Yasmeen..and this does not please him at all, as he stared coldly towards him....a dark side of Ezekiel which he rarely projects himself.

"Get out of my side wimp." cried Bashir as he roughly tugged Yasmeen arm and bring her closer towards him.

"Let go of me...I'm not coming with you....not ever again! Our relationship is over....!" cried Yasmeen as she pulls herself away from Bashir and ran back towards Ezekiel. Bashir was not letting her off like that, as he insist on taking Yasmeen away from Ezekiel.

"Maybe you should back off." warned Ezekiel as he had his fiery eyes fix on Bashir...and this time Bashir felt intimidated by Ezekiel's gesture. Bashir hissed furiously, but at last he decides to leave, as he storms out from the emergency department and headed towards the taxi stand to hail a cab.

"Thanks Eze, for doing this for me." utters Yasmeen solemnly...as Ezekiel had used his money to buy some clean clothes for Yasmeen at the local department store nearby.

Ezekiel smile and shrugged his shoulder. "Just, don't fall into that kind of situation again." exclaimed Ezekiel, as he walks her towards the front door of her apartment. Yasmeen smile tearfully....and suddenly she gave Ezekiel a kiss on his cheeks, much to his surprised. Ezekiel widen his eyes as he place his fingers on the spot where Yasmeen had kiss him.

"Take care Ezekiel...see you tomorrow in school." utters Yasmeen as she enters into her home and closed the door....with Ezekiel still looking daze and blurish after been given that peck on his face.

"The horrific fear, spill and sprout itself upon Marish's heart, as she ran out from the palace with tears of anger and shame in her eyes. Not knowing where exactly her path might be leading her too....as she continue to run, passing by several of the official councils and some of the servant maids around that area...ignoring their whispering and glares of doubtfulness about her strange reaction. Marish wouldn't care less about all that, as she ran pass the royal garden ...until finally she saw an empty barn house and ran into it. Marish, tries to catch her breath...as she sank onto the straw of hays which has been strewn all over that area. With her knees close to her chest, she begins to weep tearfully....! Suddenly, she felt the back of her head has been nudged by something warm and huge. Marish was startle in a fright, as she turns towards that creature which had continue to tug her hair playfully. With a great sense of relief, when she discover it was a white stallion which had actually gave her that sheer fright. Marish, wipe her fallen tears and a beautiful smile came upon her sweet gentle face. Marish stood up from the hays and slowly begins to pet the white stallion as he stood poise with his magnificent striking beauty.

"You one lovely creature aren't you." exclaimed Marish and to her amusement, that stallion nods his head as he teasingly brings his nose closer towards Marish cheeks.

"He seems to fancy you." cried a voice...making Marish almost lost her footing among the hays but she was glad as she held on to the stallion's neck to balance herself. To her horror...it was Prince Ashlan...as he came closer towards her and held his hand and gently begins petting the neck of that stallion.

"His name is Noah, he's my favourite horse." exclaimed Ashlan with a smile.

"Please forgive me, your highness...for my rudeness. I swear...I didn't know...this magnificent creature belongs to you." exclaimed Marish as she looks away from Ashlan brazen stare.

"Want a ride?" offered Ashlan as he place the horse girdle on Noah's back and secure the fittings and the buckles around it's body.

"You meant I could?" asked Marish with excitement in her voice.

"Why not? Come on!" exclaimed Ashlan as he hopped onto his stallion and reaches out his hands to help Marish.

"No..no..this is not right! I'm still on my duties..! I shall clean up this barn which seems to be in a mess with hays..!" rattles Marish, as she tries to clear them by picking them up with her hands.

"Forget about these hays. All right, under my order, you are off duty now...so are you coming along?" utters Ashlan with a glee. Marish looks at Ashlan with interest, tall and charming, such an intense, with full of tales behind those dark bluish eyes....small lips like a rose bud petals......ash brown hair, such a beautiful man. Marish heart flutters ...as she tries to avoid his eyes again...and prays that, she don't look like an idiotic fool in front of a crown prince. Ashlan smile charmingly towards her, as he could sense some strange emotion inside of Marish, from the way how she had blush.

"I better go....my mother, she's might be waiting for me at our dormitory so....please forgive me your highness." exclaimed Marish...as she back away both from Noah and Ashlan.

"Be....!" utters Ashlan...but it was too late as Marish had accidentally, hit her head onto the lower rimmed of the barn house. Marish glee, as she begins to feel stupid at that point of her life right now. She nods her head several time before she decides to take her leave...and this time no turning back.

"Wait," utters Ashlan. "I still haven't got your name?" requested Ashlan as he jumps off from his horse and came closer towards Marish, before she got her chance to run again.

"Marish." exclaimed Marish shortly as she looks towards the dry hays. "Your highness." continues Marish as she slowly begins to raise up her face and look straight into his eyes.

"Just call me Ashlan." utters the crown prince with a smile of enlightenment in his eyes.

"I'm not used to be calling a crown prince in such a manner." cried Marish.

"Get used to it now." exclaimed Ashlan, as he bring himself closer towards Marish. Marish took few steps backwards as she remains silent but begins to give him a wondering look. "Just, be careful with Aden next time...all right." continues Ashlan as he remind her gently. Marish nodded with a smile, before finally she left. Ashlan, had his sight on her until she was seen entering upon the gates of the dormitory area. The strong sense of alluring pleasure of seen her soft delicate features....had somehow or rather bring in some unimaginable feeling of wondrous and joy inside his heart...he knew...he had fallen for her." Ezekiel shut his book after placing his favorite bookmark on the latest page of his reading.

"In love? Is is possible." utters Ezekiel to himself...as he place his slim finger onto the side of his chisel cheeks where, Yasmeen had implanted a kiss on it.

Flip Chart : Chapter Two

"The awestruck beauty, captivates the fluttering heart of Aden's, as he had his cool intense sight fused directly on Marish, the new servant girl as she was seeing too deeply engrossed with the flora arrangement along the corridor of the state palace. Taking few steps closer towards this new prize of trophy...as he drew a wicked smile upon his charming features. Marish however, was not aware that Prince Aden, was just two feet away from her...when suddenly, she felt a strong arm was cling around her slender waist..and with her mouth being covered by a palm. "Don't fear me...! This won't hurt." whispered Aden..as he slowly removed his palm away from her mouth and forcefully, turn her to face him. Marish was shocked upon seeing Prince Aden....for his callous behaviour..as she was unknown, the reality beastly character of Aden. With tears in her doe eyes....she begs and pleads for Aden's mercy. Aden refused to barge himself away from her, but he pushes her hard against the enormous side table and pin her down with his body instead...as he smile coyly at her.

"Aden, The Majesty is calling for us now." called out Ashlan with anger spoken clearly from his eyes and his voice.

"What the hell!" cried Aden as he back himself away from Marish. Marish took this chance and ran tearfully away from them.

"One more time, if this kind of immoral acts happens again....let me warned you, I won't be shown you any mercy. Do you understand that?" utters Ashlan..the elder Prince of the country, the next heir to the the throne. Aden frown in anger after receiving those reprimanding remarks from his brother."

"Ezekiel, could you please give me a hand here!" shouted his grandma from the kitchen. Ezekiel, closed his novel and carefully place it on his bed, before he step out from his lair....his room. And as he enters the small kitchen of their two bedroom department, there he saw his grandma's fist has been stuck in the cookie jar, due to the massive gold bangle which she was wearing...since yesterday. Ezekiel knew, why this sudden notion of wanting to wear that glaring cuffs around her hand...well just to show his mum...to spite her.

"What have you done to yourself grandma?" asked Ezekiel...feeling a little annoyed with his grandma, child like attitude.

"You are not helping around, young men!" exclaimed his grandma as she twist and turn her stuck wrist inside the cookie jar.

"Need an axe?" utters Ezekiel cheekily with a grinned.

"That hurts." cried his grandma.....but she knew, Ezekiel could be quite colourful with his words.

Ezekiel think hard on how to get her arm loose way from that jar, "Soap..that shall do the trick!" exclaimed Ezekiel as he bring his grandma towards the kitchen sink and pour out huge amount of the dish liquid detergent around her wrist and inside the cookie jar...! His grandma, again twist and turn her wrist and hey presto...it was successfully removed from the jar..much to their relief.

"Why did you slip your hand inside this empty cookie jar by the way?" asked Ezekiel curiously as he looks intensely at her. His grandma shrugged her shoulder...with a frown. "Grandma...what were you thinking?" asked Ezekiel again.

"You have been inside your room for almost an hour....I feel kind of worried, so I do this to get your attention." replied his grandma...feeling low and dejected.

"Oh! Grandma..but you might hurt yourself ...by doing such thing!" exclaimed Ezekiel in disbelief. Ezekiel look at the turtle's round bowl which has been place on the kitchen island. "Where's Oasis?" asked Ezekiel, when he realised Oasis the old turtle is missing.


"Are you sure this going to be a safe ride...?" asked Yasmeen, as she enters the small boat together with Bashir...which has already been loaded with few others of their schoolmate.

"Not the worry, I'm the captain of this boat..so nothing will ever happens!" boasted Bashir with his nose high up in the air. Yasmeen becomes uncertain about this...as she decides to change her mind of this trip. For one thing, she had lied to her mum saying that, she was sleeping over at one of her girlfriend's home..a plan which Bashir had drew up for her..to lie..to get away.

"I think, I better back off on this..cause it seems over crowded." exclaimed Yasmeen, as she begins to feel alarmed when she saw some illegal hard liquors been place on the desk board of that small boat.

"Are you trying to disappoint me now Yasmeen?" asked Bashir with a tinge of annoyance and anger in his voice. Yasmeen, after seeing that darkened look on his face...decides to get herself away from all this boating plan. "I should have listen to Ezekiel, when he had warned me about this earlier." thought Yasmeen to herself.

"I'm going home now!" cried Yasmeen as she decides to leave, but it was too late, someone had eventually turn on the engine of that boat...and Yasmeen becomes frantic, when she saw that boat was moving in such a speed, bringing them further away towards the vast dark ocean.


"Oasis..Oasis!" called his grandma as she and Ezekiel begins their rescue and search mission of that old being.

"Grandma...he's not a cat or a puppy, that will run back to you..once it's name has been called." utters Ezekiel as he peers under the kitchen sink..hoping that turtle might wobble itself there. "Ouch...! Shit!" cried Ezekiel, as he accidentally bangs his head onto the piping of the old sink.

"Mind your language...Ezekiel!" warned his grandma sternly.

"Once that turtle is in my hands...I'm going to make a soup out of it!" utters Ezekiel as he rubbed his hurting frontal of his head with his hands.


The worried sickness had cause some anxiety and fear in her heart, no matter how hard Yasmeen had tries to enjoy herself in this boat ride. Bashir was obviously drunk....as he snorts and retorts stupid and senseless comments...much to Yasmeen irritation. She looks at her watch it was almost half past ten at night. Yasmeen, get Bashir disrespectful hands of her ample body and roughly pushed him away. The anger which she had felt for Bashir had changed to hatred...and disgust.


"After all the trouble which we took, so all this time..that turtle has been inside your coffee mug?" asked Ezekiel...with his hands on his hips..looking annoyed, tired and hungry..when finally Oasis has been found.

"I was cleaning it's bowl....since no one in this house is willing to do it. So in that process, I have place him inside my coffee mug...and I guess, that had slip out from my mind." utters his grandma as she grinned sheepishly.

"Grandma..!" utters Ezekiel....but after seeing his grandma's innocent act, he broke into a smile as he watch his grandma ratting away with Oasis...a beautiful keepsake from his late grandpa...before she headed towards her room and close the door behind her...with that bowl of turtle in her arms.

"The two Princes stood with their arms at the back as they both awaits anticipating for their father, the Majesty to arrive. Both were curious about this sudden meeting which they both had rarely received from the King itself, unless for certain function or occasion. And soon, the massive door was open...and there stood King Akmal with the rest of the court officials...but the strange thing was....beside their father, there stood a beautiful and alluring woman....however from her dark maroon..and gothic features....she looks like a sorcerer. Ashlan, becomes concerned about this, as he felt it is not right for his father to get himself solicit with this kind of mystical being, whereas Aden wouldn't care less....as he had his eyes fixed on her brazen features instead.

"The prize which you are paying for is heavy." exclaimed Dhaleya as she came closer towards the two princes followed by King Akmal behind her.

"I believe...with your mystical wisdom and power...all this can be overcome." utters King Akmal solemnly.

"Please forgive me your Majesty...but I'm asking as a son, what was this all about?" asked Ashlan curiously.

"Ashlan, Aden....after the Queen your poor mother had passes away, our country had becomes chaos, our trade fails...civil war occurs..bringing the drought along."explained King Akmal as he tries filling up the doubtness on Ashlan thoughts.

"But I don't understand father." exclaimed Ashlan. "What our state trouble got to do with her?" asked Ashlan as he looked unpleased towards Dhaleya...glaring set of icy cool eyes.

"Ashlan...for once, stop being a nuisance by asking too much...you are just upsetting the King." cried Aden as he begins to get impatient with all this questioning and asnwering frenzy.

"Lord Dhaleya...had actually brings back the glory and unity of our country. Abundance wealth has been presented to us...due to her mystical ways....but at last for a prize." exclaimed King Akmal. His two princes....those unspoken words rattle in his thoughts.

Dhaleya, took her step forward as she phase around the two princes with a smile of satisfaction in her eyes.

"When dealing with this kind of solicit matters...there's always a prize to pay." exclaimed Ashlan with a tinge of anger in the tone of his voice.

"A majestic being, a strong sense of empowering mannerism....could be found in this one....the rightful heir to the throne...despite this beastly sense of character....the upright virtues and compassion seems to be the great source of strenght in his dutiful soul." exclaimed Dhaleya, as she place her long slender fingers on Ashlan well tone chest. Ashlan was not taken in by her words...as he continues to look at her with darkness in his eyes. And then, she came upon Aden. "Pleasing to the eyes, with desirable charmness...! Second heir to the throne I presume...the lustful thinking of unexplained yearning for utmost pleasure." utters Dhaleya as she place her fingers and seductively caress Aden's chisel face and lips. Aden smile coyly towards her as her alluring scent had captivates his inner desire of wanting her. "I have make my choice your highness...Prince Ashlan!" utters Dhaleya as she looked away from Aden's brazen stare...but had her eyes focus towards Ashlan instead. Aden feels dejected and a strong sense of jealousy crept right into his soul. "Cause I know...Ashlan, with a mercy and gracious heart like a true King....will never hurt or killed a soul." exclaimed Dhaleya again, before she back away from Aden and stood by King Akmal." Ezekiel, place his favourite bookmark before he close the novel. Looking at the clock on the wall....it was almost midnight.

"Yasmeen, must be having a time of her life right now." sigh Ezekiel to himself...as he decides to turn on the radio and listen to some music. "Thank God, tomorrow is a holiday"

The dark night skies, together with the massive gush of wind blows was a great sign...storm is brewing up, at any moment from now. Fear crept into Yasmeen's heart cause there sure going to be in deep trouble if that happens...cause, their tiny boat had somehow...drift too far away on the midst of the ocean.