Flip Chart : Chapter One

“The agonizing pain as the thick dark, mould green scales, forcefully protruding out from his well tone barren chest…and adding to that undesirable horrific moment, long crooked fangs has found it’s way out from his upper and lower teeth….! Ashlan, falls on his knees with a deafening scream that encores throughout the woodlands, scaring the other creatures living around that cold, wet and deserted forest. Thick and rough, fur begins to grew out beneath the skin on his back…his whole physique seems to enlarge, his sharp intense face, has been transformed into a despicable hideous looking beast, fears sets in his heart which still remains humane when he saw his fingernails has changed to sharp dagger claws…! Ashlan, knew this is the great price which he needs to pay, the curse that had befalls him….for taking a soul!” such a fascinating tale, Ezekiel, thought to himself…as Ezekiel place his favorite bookmark that makes from a silver chain of tiny, lilac with pinkish roses pattern all around the corner of it, a special bookmark that was given to him by his best friend, Yasmeen…as a gift for their friendship anniversary…of almost five years. Ezekiel, had always fancy, folk tales and Aesop fables, ever since he was a child. Being the only child in a family which consists of only his grandma and an old turtle Oasis, which his grandpa had left before he died, therefore it’s no wonder, the strong influence of old folktales which he had been drilled with….was inherited from his grandma.

“You still on that book Ezekiel?” asked Yasmeen while she place her big gulp of seven-up on the table of the cafeteria as she sat beside Ezekiel. Yasmeen found that it was amusing, as Ezekiel, had actually, extend the borrowing period of that same book for almost a month now, from the local library.

“Beauty and the Beast, this adaptation which I find rather interesting. The way how the writer had actually illustrate the inner struggle of this beast, who appears majestic and fearsome…but with that only human element that had remain strongly intact in his soul was his heart. However, that humanity spirit which was left untouched soon, begins to fade, cause in a time to come….that humanity side, sadly…..will vanished as his beastly character took full form in his forsaken spirit.” exclaimed Ezekiel as he pushed his thick glasses further up the bridge of his nose. Yasmeen flip through few pages of that classic paper back novel, as Ezekiel took few sips of the big gulp which Yasmeen had place on the café table. It has been always been this way, sharing drinks or chips.....just like a normal thing for both of them.

"I could almost feel the anguish and the pain, which Ashlan is going through at this point of this chapter." continues Ezekiel, with a shudder look written on his boyish but intense looking features.

"Eze, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I think, you seems to get yourself too carried away with this book...and with Ashlan." exclaimed Yasmeen as she begins to read few contents of that book. "I meant, this must be the third edition, which you are currently reading at this moment." utters Yasmeen as she begins to feel concerned for her dear friend.

"The only thing which was left untouched....the remains of his humanity essence..is his heart. But the rest of his physical form is doom." rants Ezekiel. "Such a horrifying and undesirable pleasure, when your soul seems to be trap in a different form of a being." utters Ezekiel while he fiddles with the tip of the straw of the big gulp..as he had his big brown intense eyes..stared solemnly towards Yasmeen.

"Are you relating yourself with that beast, Eze?" asked Yasmeen..as she pushed her lovely, ash brown locks behind her ears. And from the tone of her voice....she's ultimately concerned about this new Ezekiel..which she had just discovered. Ezekiel shrugged his shoulder...but this time, he looks away from her brazen stare, which seems to becomes an anguish sight to him. Yasmeen soon realised, there some general changes on Ezekiel's attitude...! However, Yasmeen tries to inject some positive notes on her own self thoughts about Ezekiel, probably..it's just a phase of uncertain notion which Ezekiel is going through right now. Five years of long lasting friendship...which they both had shared...tears, laugther and occasionally..silly arguments and tiffs ...was certainly an eye opener for Yasmeen. How she loathed, when she was force to be Ezekiel's lab partner....a beauty queen...with a toad, she had profoundly described herself..five years ago. Yasmeen, been born a beauty, big almond hazel brown eyes, with luscious lips and a porcelain like skin, not forgetting her cheer leader figure...sure makes head turns, whenever, she swiftly took her path. At that time, well...Ezekiel, he's more on the plump side...with baby fats on his cheeks, gritting tiny pimples..which really needs some scrapping on his forehead and chin..such an ugly sight..thought Yasmeen to herself...but that was five years ago. Yasmeen soon realised, despite of the lacking of his physique attributes..there's something, special which she had found...deeply rooted in his soul...his graciousness and his gentle mannerism.

"She's coming home tonight." exclaimed Ezekiel shortly.

"Your mum?" asked Yasmeen as she place Ezekiel's novel at the side of his right elbow.

Ezekiel nods his head with a shudder look on his eyes. "She's bringing him along." utters Ezekiel feeling dejected about this whole deal.

"Your step dad?" asked Yasmeen again. Ezekiel remains silence but from his solemness, Yasmeen could tell....Ezekiel was not pleased of his mother's new found man. "Are they going to stay here for good?" asked Yasmeen, as she took her big gulp and had a few sips.

"No." replies Ezekiel. "But this time, they are planning to take me away with them...back to States." exclaimed Ezekiel with tiny bits of tears in his eyes.

"Say, that is so untrue?" cried Yasmeen as the fear of losing this friendship begins to deter her spirit. Ezekiel yet again, remains speechless....but those unspoken words...speaks...thousands tales.

"It seems that, I was left with no other choice." said Ezekiel..breaking the agonising silent.

"How about your grandma?" asked Yasmeen.

"She refused to abide with my mum's offer...off bringing her and that old turtle along as well...!" exclaimed Ezekiel solemnly. He knew, he can't fully blame his mum for literally forsaken and abundant him under his grandma's care. It has been very hard for his mum, to tolerate in silent with his father's horrible acts of being such an abusive tyrant. Eva, his mum, was his father's punching bag and a container for his senseless, vulgarities...tormenting words that had deprived her sinking soul and spirit. His grandma however, had always been the overly-defensive towards her son.....was not helping his mum at all in this. Horrible words has been thrown on his mother's face..unfaithful wife and adulterous bitch...it's really heartbreaking for Ezekiel's tiny heart to handle. He loves his mum, more than words could tell, but at times, this tinge of anger, do slip in his soul as he will asked himself. "Where did I go wrong? Before you left and walk out from that door...have you ever thought of me as your son?"

"That meant, you won't be finishing high school here?" asked Yasmeen again making Ezekiel startle away from daze.

"Half of myself has been rooted here....but the other half.....I just want to be away from all this...arghh! I'm so lost!" exclaimed Ezekiel solemnly, as he pushed his fringe off from his brow, which he had secretly trim.

"Hey! Yasmeen, are you joining us for boating tonight?" asked Bashir as he came straight towards their table and sat right next beside Yasmeen, with his well tone arms wrapped around Yasmeen's slender waist.

"Won't miss a chance!" utters Yasmeen excitedly, as Bashir was daring enough to place his palm on her bare thighs cause she was wearing her cheerleader uniform with her skirt, which only covers her bottom.

"Why don't you asked your wimp girlfriend to come along?" retort Bashir sarcastically as he looks coyly towards Ezekiel. Ezekiel rolls his eyes with annoyance as he took his novel and decides to continue with his reading...pretending to ignore...Bashir's uncivilised and spiteful remarks.

"Bashir, do you mind?" snapped Yasmeen with irritation in her tone, as she look sympathetically towards Ezekiel.

"Sorry about that Yasmeen, I've almost forgotten he's your guy friend." replied Bashir as he bold enough to catch Yasmeen's soft lips and soon both of them were lock lips within themselves right in front of Ezekiel...making him feels kind of uneasy and agitated.

"I hope you are not turn on...for this!" utters Bashir with a smirk on his face, as he looks straight into Ezekiel's intense looking eyes. Ezekiel...yet again decides to remain silent for that stupid remarks..cause from his perspective, the more he confront with this kind of close minded idiotic human, the more complicated things might becomes.....as he knew Basil..that's what he calls him...was one egotists boar. Still looking straight at Ezekiel, at last Bashir decides to leave their table for good.

"Good riddance! I just do not understand, what exactly do you really see in him anyway?" asked Ezekiel. "He's ugly...with such a stupid and cocky attitude..!"

Yasmeen, remains silent and numb as that question was shot at her. There's no doubt about that...because, now five years had passed, the transition which she had found on Ezekiel is so clear cut. Compare to Bashir, Ezekiel physical form, could score a full rating of ten appoints ten. Tall and lanky, with that mixed Iranian blood descendant..thanks to his mum, his expressive big doe brown eyes, which has been merciless, hidden with his thick 'goggles'...and not forgetting his urban brown silky hair, which he had keep just above the collar of his shirt. With a brain of an intellect and a look like that, it does justify the reason..on why Ezekiel do received some secret admiration letters from the junior gals.....but he simply just brushed it off...and the reason...he's not interested in all this things at the point of his time yet. And compare with that, got body no brain Bashir.....the bulkiness of his muscles seems to stand out from the rest of his form...one ugly brainless beast.

"He's rich." replies Yasmeen shortly, as she took the last sip of her big gulp, before she dump the empty carton into the rubbish bin nearby.

"Is that it? Just because he's a gold bucket for your score?" cried Ezekiel as he shakes his head in disbelief.

"Well, since you have been asking, so I just being honest." retort Yasmeen as she sank her back on her seat...looking doubtful about the choice of her boyfriend. Ezekiel, stare hard towards Yasmeen for a while...as Yasmeen, dugged in her bag pack for her MP4 player which Basil had actually presented to her. Ezekiel knew, Yasmeen is not listening to any of his comments, as she plugged in her ears with those massive head phones..with that ultra loud music..running through her head.