Flip Chart : Chapter Eight

“Eze, I can’t afford to blame you, for being dismayed by my wrong doings against you. Please don’t turn yourself away from me.” cried Yasmeen as she fought back her tears.

"I’m not giving up…..I’m just letting go…..adjusting my present state of mind to accept things, things that are beyond my control…my grasps.” utters Ezekiel as he place back Oasis into his new gigantic crystal bowl.

“I don’t understand…” trails Yasmeen.

“It’s funny though……throughout our friendship, not once have you ever mentioned those words to me…!” utters Ezekiel, as he bit his lower lips while shutting his eyes. The anger which he had once felt for Yasmeen, came back to haunt him.

“Ezekiel, if your attention of calling me to argue and fight…..I guess, we might as well call it for a day.” exclaimed Yasmeen. There was another silent moment between both of them…..however Yasmeen was still awaiting for Ezekiel’s response to her comment. Yasmeen give a huge sigh as she wipe her tears off from her cheeks. “Ezekiel….are you letting me go?” asked Yasmeen at last tearfully.

“I’m letting go of myself….but I’m not giving up on you…our friendship still stands Yasmeen.” utters Ezekiel breaking his silent.

“No Eze….you can’t let yourself go. Come back to reality Ezekiel….don’t fall and be trap with your own sentiment.” cried Yasmeen as she knew Ezekiel’s soul is breaking up.

“My soul is tired of pretending….pretending to be someone whom I’m not supposed to be…” utters Ezekiel.

“Ezekiel…I’m still in love with you.” whispered Yasmeen…as she felt crestfallen upon hearing those spoken words of Ezekiel….she knew she’s losing him as her knight….her prince. Ezekiel, clenched his fist by his side….as he closed his teary eyes.

“Yasmeen, I do not have the heart to disappoint you…it’s better for us to end our relationship now, rather then in the future when things might not work out for both of us…things will just get worst.” utters Ezekiel. Yasmeen, held on to her pillow much tighter to her chest….his words is killing her spirit. “Yasmeen, I still do treasure our friendship….I still care about you. You are still my best gal friend.” continues Ezekiel as his voice quiver. A state of guilt begins to filtrate right through his mind…he had definitely breaks her heart..due to his blindness upon his own anger and ego for the muddles of her words…his secrets which Yasmeen had deliberately been revealing to Bashir.

“Thank you Eze….you still care.” utters Yasmeen…as she fight hard to infuse some delightful essence inside her soul….however deep inside her thoughts….she swear, she will never give up on him…cause there’s always a color of hope in her dictionary for Ezekiel’s interrupted flipping life. Can’t solely blame him for his misleading inner flipping side of his mind…losing his beloved grandma…losing his home due to the excessive loan which he can’t possibly recovers, and her betrayal with his trust…and this sucks.

“Eze, actually I’ve bought something for you….I wanted to give you on our last meeting….but things turns out unexpectedly unright for both of us, therefore, my attention of passing that gift to you just slip of from my mind.” said Yasmeen, as she place her tiny pillow by her side and took the paper back novel of Beauty and The Beast…in her hand while looking at the classic illustration of the cover page itself.

Ezekiel smile to himself, as he took out his notebook and look at a photo which he had taken with Yasmeen before their platonic relationship headway into something much deeper. “That gift which you had thought of giving it to me on that last meeting which we had, might actually could appease my anger though..” express Ezekiel with a grinned….as he was enjoying his moment of teasing Yasmeen.

Yasmeen giggles and she knew Ezekiel is accepting her back as a friend…her amazing and wondrous platonic relationship with the guy that she had fallen in love was finally saved…..but to be hopeful for something much more deeper to evolve…Yasmeen knew, she needs a miracle for that one fine day to happen.

"So how’s life out there?” asked Yasmeen.

“I feel like a loner at first…my mind kind of going berserk, but things are not so bad being here after all.” said Ezekiel as he focus his sight towards Yasmeen’s picture….it feels so close like home. “And another funny thing is, me and Riley…we could be good friends. Things just work out fine for both of us.” continues Ezekiel as he sat on his couch bringing the photograph along with him.

“Oh…I see,” utters Yasmeen feeling unpleased…she did not know why but she felt kind of intimidated by Riley’s good intention towards Ezekiel. “Or am I jealous?” thought Yasmeen to herself. “ Damn it, come on Yasmeen, Riley is a guy….what was I thinking anyway?” her mind begins to linger playing with words of uncertain notion of her own doubtful inquisition.

“Yah, he bring me around this place, showing me where my new school are located, the nearest malls and other cool hang out places within this area….I’m quite surprised myself, Riley he was chirpy and humorous…he’s filthy rich, but there were no airs about him. Such a cool guy!” utters Ezekiel.

“Ah! Huh!” state Yasmeen…and Ezekiel could sense that annoyance in her voice.

“Ah! Huh? Huh?” said Ezekiel with a grin.

“Is that suppose to be a question or some kind of a remark?" asked Yasmeen frowning as she cross her right arm over her tummy.

"Well....you sound jealous!" utters Ezekiel with a smile.

"No, I'm not! What makes you think that way?" asked Yasmeen as she tries to deny the real fact. Cause it seems Riley was Ezekiel's, new found branch of hope and strength....a perfect replacement over her.

"Yasmeen, no matter what, you are still my number one...!" utters Ezekiel as he reassured Yasmeen doubtful on him.

"By the way, how's your mum?" asked Yasmeen again.

'"Not talking much with her though. I don't know..it seems hard for me to relate certain things with her. This worries me, and it keeps me wondering if I will be able to adapt to all this. My doubt about my cold relationship with my mum has been circulating in my mind..and that hurts."

"Eze, I'm sure things will work out well for you, just be yourself." said Yasmeen.

"Thanks Yasmeen." utters Ezekiel. "I've got to go now...I guess my mum is back." continues Ezekiel as he could hear her mum's car approaching towards the front yard of his new home.

"All right Eze, you too...do take care. Please do keep in torch okay." said Yasmeen with tears in her eyes...it seems so hard for her to let go.

Ezekiel knew, Yasmeen was in a verge of tears. "Yasmeen, I will beyond doubt..come back to our homeland....once, I've graduated from my college. I reassure you that." utters Ezekiel hoping his statement might bring in some delightfulness for Yasmeen to content. Yasmeen smile and hung up her phone after saying goodbye.

Ezekiel step out from his room, as he reaches out for the stairways to meet up with his mum and Riley at the dining area. And true enough, there he saw both his mum and Riley were deeply engrossed in a conversation...but somehow or rather, they seems to be in some sort in a middle of an argument. Ezekiel begins to fall in dilemma, should he be hanging around with them or just walk out towards the back door which lead him to a pool and a mini garden. Ezekiel stood by the stairway for a few moment until finally he decides, it will be the best for him just to ignore them and leave by the back door.

The pool was pretty deep to Ezekiel's perspective...however, he took off his sandals and sat by it as he place his feet into the cool water of the pool. His mind begins to wonder what was his mum and Riley was arguing about...was it something to do with him? Thought Ezikiel to himself with a sigh.

"Ezekiel, there you are. I was looking for you in your room." said his mum as she came closer towards him with a frown on her face. She seems to look upset or simply annoyed with something. Ezekiel looks up towards his mum and then he decides to had his sight looking at the tiny waves of the pool instead. "I'm sure you know where I've been from. Regrading your school....I managed to get you into this private boarding school...therefore, it will a much better accomodation for your well-being, as you do not need to travel to and fro...for your classes." said Eva again with her arms by her side.

"A boarding school?" asked Ezekiel as he could not believe, his mum had actually decides things for him and not even bother to consult for his personal opinion in the first place.

"Yes, this is for your own good." continue his mum firmly...making a point....there's no need to argue about this matter.

"Mum, you might as well, place me in an orphanage home...or just place an advert, foster home needed for a son name Ezekiel." snapped Ezekiel sarcastically.

"Eze, I have fork out lots of dollars to get you into that school...so please try to be complacent about this." replied his mum with intensity of anger in her voice. Ezekiel shuts his eyes,  as he tries to contain his own feeling of frustration in his mind. His mum was not even bother to display, or noun some words of comfort towards him....she ignores him and left as she enters back into her home. A sudden notion of loneliness and guilt begins to filtrate inside his soul as he knew....coming with his mum to States was a bad idea.


For the first time..they were having dinner together as a family, it was another disastrous occasion. It seems his mother, was the one who was taking charge of everything in that home...and this was suffocating for Ezekiel's thoughts. Eva had set the time for dinner, was to be at eight in the evening and she had expected, both Ezekiel and Riley to be at the dining table five minutes before hand. Ezekiel...came out from his room...ten minutes after eight, whereas Riley was even later..somewhere around half past eight..and this had simply blown his mum's displeasure right at the tip of her boiling point status.

"Eze, you are excuse for not complying with the time given, but don't let me warn you again." cried Eva with a sharp tone in her voice. "Riley, for goodness sake...what is wrong with you?" hurled Eva as she looks intensely straight into his eyes.

"Eva, please don't start again..all right! I was caught up due to the last minute conference, which I was need to attend....so please, don't argue about this." cried Riley wryly. Eva remains silent, but on the way how, she had place her mash potato on her plate with a loud slam onto it....it tells them all..she was simply unpleased with all this. Riley shakes his head and then he turns his attention towards Ezekiel instead..who seems to look lost and confused by all this commotion....which is actually nothing at all, but his wife seems wanted to make it as a big issue.

"Eze, please help yourself with the dinner." utters Riley, as he brings the salad bowl and place a scoop of salad with the mash potato onto his plate.

"Thanks Riley." said Ezekiel with a smile of relief....despite the small confrontation which Riley had with his mum....Riley seems to care and understand the uncertain emotion of fear and confusion which Ezekiel was facing right now.

"I hope, you will prepare yourself, for your admission to that boarding school by next week." snapped Eva..as she tries to inject some tension.

"Eva, maybe this discussion should not be brought into our dining area."  warned Riley sternly.

"Riley, this is between me and my son...so for you, just stay out of this." replied Eva, not wanting to give in to herself ego.

"Ezekiel, is my family...so he is part of me now." exclaimed Riley, ignoring the intense stare which Eva is giving to him right now.

"Riley, you don't have children of your own...so you wouldn't understand...the concerned which I had always felt for my son." retorts Eva, as she threw her dinner spoon roughly onto her plate. Riley clenched his fist by his side, as he stood up and walks away from the dining area .....as he headed towards the back door .....slamming the door shut behind him after he left. Ezekiel looks grimace about this whole thing as he too, stood up from his seat and decides to leave.

"Eze, you have not even touch your dinner." cried Eva feeling concern for her son's reaction.

"I'm not hungry anymore mum." said Ezekiel, as he headed towards the stairways and went into his room....with hunger and dejected emotion lingering in his thoughts. Pacing towards the side table where Oasis bowl has been place, he put his fingers into the bowl, and bring Oasis out and place it on his palm....as he slowly sat onto the couch, while he gently pets Oasis soft head and hard shell. "Have I done the right thing to be here Oasis?" asked Ezekiel to himself. Suddenly. there was a knock on his door. Ezekiel stood up and came nearer towards the door as he opens it...and what a surprised cause it was Riley. In his arms, he was holding two plates of dinner....the untouched food left by the both of them.

"Care to join me...or can I come in....so we could have dinner together." requested Riley with a grin. Ezekiel, took his left-over untouched dinner with his hand while the other hand he still had Oasis in his palm. Oasis seems to be sticking and stretching his neck longer with interest.....Ezekiel belief due to the nice aroma of the food.

"Yeah, I'm famish." utters Ezekiel with a smile, as he welcome Riley into his room. And soon both of them sat on the floor by the side of the couch, placing their dinner onto the table...and begins feasting on their meals.

They chatted for a moment as they both enjoy their dinner together….it feels like spending a leisure moment with a long time buddy. After clearing their meals away, Riley soon realized Eva had left again…probably to attend to some community works, which she had been currently involved recently.


“It seems your mum had left again….maybe she might be back home somewhere midnight.” said Riley, while he wipe the clean dishes and neatly stake them into the kitchen cabinet.

Ezekiel picks an apple and took a bite. “Are you happy being with my mum?” asked Ezekiel curiously as he chew onto his fruit.

Riley was stunned upon been shot with that question. “May I know, why are you asking me this?” he asked with a wryly smile.

“I’m just curious….that’s all.” replied Ezekiel while taking few more bites of his apple right to its core.

“We are doing fine….just like normal married couple I guess.” response Riley with a tinge of defensive memento in his tone.

"Yeah...I can see that." utters Ezekiel as he threw his apple core into the rubbish bin.

"The night is still early, let's go bowling....who knows, how many strikes we might get." cried Riley excitedly.

However, Ezekiel could easily simply figure out, Riley was trying to run away from that subject…cause the sign of rejection and dejected motion was clearly stated in his eyes.

“Riley, seems you have regard me as part of your family….please don’t hide certain things about my mum.” utters Ezekiel again. After all the dishes has been stake and clear, both Riley and Ezekiel decides to spend the rest of the evening by the pool, instead of going to the bowling alley which Riley had first suggested. Ezekiel heart was thumping hard against his chest, cause this curiosity is simply eating him up…there are so many questions and doubts running in his thoughts. “Was it only love that had actually binds Riley and his mum together?” thought Ezekiel to himself …a recurrence notion of uncertainty doubt.

The night was amazingly soothe with the entrance of the blessed wind….gushing it’s significant glory of it’s breeze. Riley sat by the long wooden bench, which has been place few feet away from the pool, while Ezekiel seems to be enjoying his moment of immersing his feet into the cold water of the pool.

“Don’t you have any family, or relatives other then my mum and yourself?” asked Ezekiel as he swipe his long fringe off from his brow.

Riley remains silent for a few moment, with his head hung low by his side. Ezekiel realized Riley was in a verge of tears…much to his dismay. “I’m sorry Riley…I did not meant to make you upset.” utters Ezekiel remorsefully, as he felt regret for been too nosy about Riley’s past life.

“Family? I wouldn’t even know if that word ever exist in my dictionary.” utters Riley.

“Care to share with me?” said Ezekiel with heartfelt of a genuine friendship lending it’s listening ears.

“I was outcast…a black sheep in the family….and the reason, I was an unwed-lock child. Got to know the battered truth, after almost seventeen years of my life. My mum, well she bore me..with another man….a man whom, she had claimed to be so deeply in love with. Load of rubbish! After her husband, figures out I’m not his real flesh and blood, things begins to get bitter and sore…each and everyday of my life. My mum she wouldn’t care less how I feel…her reaction to all this…it seems, this is all my fault…..I was a mistake ….I’m like a sore in her eyes an ulcer in her mouth. The funny thing was her husband forgiven her for her misdeeds but….he simply refused to accept me to be part of his family..” said Riley as he begins to unveil his previous chapter of his childhood life.

“I’m sorry, your life seems to be more complex then I could ever imagine.” response Ezekiel, upon hearing part of Riley’s heartbreaking life. “But how did you managed to get this far…I mean to have all this?” asked Ezekiel..cause it seems it doesn’t make any sense, for Riley to gain all this wealth since he was a pariah, the bad egg as that what he had claimed about himself.

Riley beam in amusement ….with a sign of content and pleasure written in his eyes..” Well, things just didn’t get better and there’s seems to be no sign, that my life will be at peace for being a part of that family, therefore….I have to come to a conclusion that will change my life a round…..I ran.” replied Riley.

Ezekiel frown, as his doubts and curiosity begins to work on his mind again. “You ran?” jumped Ezekiel with an inquisitor tone in his voice.

“All I had with me, few of my clothing and a fifty dollar note….with a lost mind, of not knowing where my next path will lead me to and I'm only sixteen of age during that time.” response Riley. Ezekiel widen his eyes with his mouth slightly gaping...as he was astonished with Riley's courage of moving ahead with his life, at such a young age. For Ezekiel. it seems impossible that he would have the guts to lead his own life...a perfect example...being back under his mother's care right after his poor grandma is dead.

"I knew, the very first thing which I've got to do is, get myself a job in order to get by with my daily expenses. I went from door to door, asking the town area people if they need any gardener or a cleaner, but I seems to be so lack of luck. I almost give up and just wanted to go back home....with a dejected soul. However, I pushed myself again, to try my next luck at this local restaurant....and true enough, I was hired as a housekeeper there. For my accommodation, the chef, had actually allows me to stay at the kitchen area, but I was to make sure not to let anyone knows about it. I was given free food and lodging, but with a mere salary. It was a struggle, emotionally and physically....but I managed to pull through. I save as much as I could, so that I could buy some new cheap clothes, from the second hand shop nearby, however...I begin to think more about my future....am I going to be a cleaner boy, for the rest of my life?" utters Riley and then he stop for a while as he begins to set his mind deeper beyond his past. "Until one day, while I was on my way to the market area....where I was told by the chef to buy few packs of flour and eggs, I met someone who will eventually turn the table round back to me." said Riley with a smile of enlightenment.

Suddenly, they heard a car was drove in, at the front porch of their home....Eva is back!

Flip Chart : Chapter Seven

Phasing around his new room, with Oasis still in his palm...he becomes speechless and awestruck by these massive wealth which Riley seems to be blessed with. The size of his new room now...it seems triple the size, from his old bedroom back in his grandma's apartment.

"So this is where, we going to build our new lives together." cried Ezekiel towards Oasis...who seems to be in his own daze of amusement....probably...he was aware of his new living habitat surrounding....a new palace of his new Kingdom. Ezekiel, gently place back Oasis inside his new glass bowl which stood on the side table of his room. With his hands still on his hips, Ezekiel scanned around his new lair...with interest..there's a two-seater couch that came along with the coffee table by it's side, his very own high definition television set, which has been hung onto the console....and adding to that..all kinds of entertainment gadgets such as the play-station three player set, a mini laptop and an i-pad...what a luxurious place for an exquisite life. His room was design to be sort of classic Victorian style....classy, thought Ezekiel to himself with a smile.

"I hope this room...suits to your taste." exclaimed Riley, without Ezekiel realising that Riley had actually sneak inside his room, as he was too engrossed with his new empty but classy bookcase, where he can stake all his favourite books and novels.

Ezekiel was stunned by Riley's gesture and he was unpleased. "Have you ever heard this phase, 'Please knock before entering' ? exclaimed Ezekiel with a frown. Riley smile sheepishly, as he had his hands in his pockets, a sign of an authorisation.

"Look, that day, we were not actually been introduce in a proper manner." exclaimed Riley, as he came closer towards Ezekiel and held out his hand. "Hie, my name is Riley...you must be Ezekiel right? Nice meeting you!"

"You are wasting my time." snapped Ezekiel, as he backs away from Riley, with his back turn against him. Riley was not surprised of Ezekiel, showing the repelling side of not wanting to be open with him..or even just to be nice with him.

"It's that your pet..tortoise?" asked Riley, as he pace towards the side table where Oasis bowl was place onto.

"Can't you tell the difference? He's a turtle." retort Ezekiel, feeling annoyed with Riley's dumbness. And to Ezekiel's point of view...to call Riley his new daddy..is definitely out of question. Riley seems to be more like an elder brother to him, Ezekiel peer from the corner of his eyes, as he begins to had his sight on Riley…the new man of his mother’s life…! Riley was a suave young gentlemen and the way how he poise himself, in such a way, it really defies his age. Riley was a suave young gentlemen and the way how he poise himself, in such a way, it really defies his age. With dark grayish blue eyes, and urban brown hair…such a well-define young man. Thought Ezekiel to himself, with an admiration…a shameful feeling which he seal it to himself. Ezekiel decides to look away from Riley’s intense stare. It was such an unexplainable emotion, which he himself was unable to figure out himself…! A stupid feeling of infatuation disease, which he still be searching for the cure. It scares him!

“Please forgive me for that silly mistake…seriously, I’m bad in telling the difference between a turtle and a tortoise, a frog and a toad.” grinned Riley, a childlike behavior which he rarely portray. Ezekiel smile upon hearing those remarks…as he finds, that is rather comical and innocent. “I know you love reading and collecting novels and books, therefore, I asked my personal home designer to build this massive bookcase just for you.” continue Riley as he place his hands in his pockets.

“You can’t buy me over, by doing all this.” utters Ezekiel…with his arms across his chest.

“Who was buying you over?” asked Riley, as he came closer towards the bookcase and linger his fingers onto one of the shelf . “I just do this with a normal intention…to make you feel welcome into my home. Ezekiel, we are family now.” utters Riley, as he pace towards the side of the mantle place and take a closer look towards Oasis in the bowl.

“Family?” asked Ezekiel mockingly. “So you find an infinite pleasure for ruining mine, just to fulfill yours….your family..huh!” exclaimed Ezekiel with a smirk on his face.

“Eze…it wasn’t easy on my part either.” utters Riley, as he had his sight towards the light cream carpeted floor. “I love your mum….more than words could tell.” exclaimed Riley earnestly.

“My mum? She could be your mum too, for goodness sake!” snapped Ezekiel unpleased.

“I was about your age…only seventeen, when I first met your mum. I knew, she was somewhere ten years my senior…but, she had took my heart.” explained Riley, with a slight tinge of illumination in his voice.

“Oh! How delightful? She took your heart, but you had killed my father’s soul!” retort Ezekiel. “And not forgetting mine.” continue Ezekiel, with those words in his thoughts.

“Please forgive me.” exclaimed Riley remorsefully. “But, your father is killing her spirit, and mind.” utters Riley again.

“That’s none of your business to judge.” cried Ezekiel.

“Look Ezekiel, maybe we should be more civilized here. All I know is, I have done the right thing, saving your mum’s pride.” snapped Riley, as he begins to lost his composure.

Ezekiel thought to himself, so Riley think he’s Ashlan…saving his mum from his own father…the tyrant of the novel? “Eze..I know..it won’t be easy for me to be accepted to be part, of your family tree. But, I’m ready for all that.” exclaimed Riley

“Why do you have to make it sound, as though I’m the villain here?” asked Ezekiel, with tears in his eyes.

“My God, Ezekiel. I never meant to make you feel this way.” utters Riley emphatically. Riley hung his head low in disbelief…he felt guilty for no apparent reason…..for breaking a young boy’s heart.

“Tell me Riley…honestly, am I like him? My father? Will I commit a grievous sin, for hating the man that had his flesh and blood in me?” cried Ezekiel, emotionally. Riley had his doe eyes fix on Ezekiel’s. “My mum, she left because, I look like him….a cursed which had fall upon me.” utters Ezekiel as he held his palm on his face.

“But she still came back for you. Ezekiel.” replied Riley, as he place his hand onto Ezekiel right shoulder. “Frankly speaking, for the first few years of our marriage, she was devastated, when your father had actually took full whole custody over you….and the reason is, for your mum disloyalty against him…by having an affair with me. We have fought hard to win you back…but it was all in vain. And furthermore, your grandma….she’s not helping us in these either.” continue Riley. “You are still very young to understand back then….therefore, you were not aware of all this..of all the sacrifices which your mum had been going through.”

Ezekiel shuts his eyes as he struggle with his own dilemma….his own misguided feeling of uncertainty about his past…! All along, during his toddler, pre-school and elementary stages, not once had his father ever lay his hands on him.

 When he came to his young adulthood stage, this questions has always been playing around his mind. "There's must be a reason, that triggers his father's sudden changes of behaviour...just like a spilt personality."

"I belief...something or some causes that had change my father's behaviour.....and who knows..it might be you..you are the one...who had take everything away from me." snapped Ezekiel furiously. Riley knew, it was simply out of question to argue with someone who was in quite unexplainable emotional state.

"One day, you will realised, the things which your mum did was all about you." exclaimed Riley, as he walk towards the door and step out from Ezekiel's room.

Ezekiel, clenched his fist by his sides with tears in his eyes. Deep in his thoughts...he swear, he doesn't meant to hurt Riley with his callous words. Walking ahead towards the front door, as he wipe the fallen tears off from his face....he prime his courage before he decides to step out from his room. By looking at his watch, he knew his mum will only be back home right after lunch, as she needs to settle some of the documents and paper works regarding his transfer to his new high school. Keeping his pace as quietly as possible, he climb down the stairways..which was link straight into the dining area...and there he saw Riley was sitting by the fire place....engrossing himself with his mini note-book.

"Riley." he called out his name, but he was not giving any initial of an eye contact..as he struggles to avoid Riley's eyes.

Riley looks away from his notebook, with a smile and then he place his mini note-book onto the mantle place and stood up from his arm-chair. He came nearer towards Ezekiel...awaiting for Ezekiel's next speech. Ezekiel seems to be dumbstruck...by Riley's reaction. It seems that Riley, was quick enough to dissolve his anger...or maybe he was not angry after all.

"We can be friends...if you allow me to be part of your life now." utters Riley, as he shrugged his shoulder.

"I guess, you are harmless." replied Ezekiel with a grinned. Riley giggles after hearing those words from Ezekiel.

"It seems still early afternoon...if you like, I could drive you around this place...and then we could have some take out lunch...cause I know Eva..she will only be back after three." exclaimed Riley, as he walk towards the display cupboard to bring out his car keys.

"All right, that's sounds fun." replies Ezekiel with a smile. A smile of acceptance....welcoming Riley to be part of his life.


"Finally the beast left Sephira by herself, when she discover the path back towards her hut. Sephira turns to her side to convey her thankfulness for the Beast guidance, however...mysteriously he vanished from her side...not knowing where he might leap too and disappeared.

"Thank you...whoever you are." thought Sephira to herself with a smile. Sephira continue back with her journey towards her home...however, she was in deeply shocked and outrage when she find her hut has been burnt down to ashes. Without hesitation she stride towards her ruined home with tears of anger and devastation in her eyes. Sephira struggles in the midst of her destroyed home...as she rumbles through the thick ashes with her bare hands....searching for her keepsake memento...Luth..her beloved husband's armour shield. She scrabble through the ruins ignoring the splint submerging into her fingers. Sephira was determined to find that shield even if her fingers bleed to it's core.

"Come on Luth..please don't give up on me." thought Sephira to herself, as she fought back her tears. She almost losses hope, as she hung her head low and sank down onto the ruined ground. Suddenly, she saw Luth's sword among the crumbling wooden planks. Without hesitation, she darts towards that area and drew it out from the burn ash ground, together with the armour which has been found by it's side. She put on the armour, as she glides her finger onto the side of the gleaming sword and with a single stride, she stabLuth..please don't give up on me." thought Sephira to herself, as she fought back her tears. She almost losses hope, as she hung her head low and sank down onto the ruined ground. Suddenly, she saw Luth's sword among the crumbling wooden planks. Without hesitation, she darts towards that area and drew it out from the burn ash ground, together with the armour which has been found by it's side. She put on the armour, as she glides her finger onto the side of the gleaming sword and with a single stride, she stab it onto the burned ground, with tears of darkness in her eyes. "Dhaleya, will pay for what she did." cried her inner voice of vengeance.

Sephira was left with no other hope, but to forsake her ruined home to relocate herself some place else where. Still with Luth's armour on her, together with his sword in her arms, she decides to head back towards the woodland. It was almost dawn, however tiredness has long time been erased in her thoughts....after Luth and the rest of her comrades perished in a hard battle with the dark witch...Dhaleya. Sephira was the only survivor and she was list as wanted....a convict..a rebel..an offender against the distraught Kingdom of Kherash. Placing the sword back in it's sheath and carried it on her back...she continue with her plans of back tracking towards the woodlands....where she had first met the Beast. There was something mysterious about that being..and he seems to be drawing her towards him. Stepping her foot back into the thick forested woodlands...suddenly she felt a shudder notion in her mind. "Why am I doing back here than? Silly me...but I could not risk myself being seen or worst caught in the town area either. That witch has almost got me by sending her wolves to maul me." sigh Sephira to herself..as she begins to feel lost with her own thoughts and action. The sun is coming up soon...and that was a good thing, as the visibility of that light will guide her throughout her journey among the woods. Suddenly, her view was mystically veil by a thin and airy smoke. Sephira stand in guard for any unexpected intruder, blocking her path..for her up coming journey. And then, she heard a sinister laughter and she knew it was her.

"Dhaleya, come out here and show yourself....you coward.!" yelled Sephira while pulling out her sword from it's sheath. The airy thick smoke, seems to get into her eyes..making it sore with redness. That horrifying laughter...begins to intimidate her mind...as she fought hard to stay focus. "You have taken everything away from me..so just leave me alone." cried Sephira as she turn to her side back and again....just to catch a glimpse of Dhaleya.

"You have took something from me Sephira....and I want it back!" snarled Dhaleya's. Sephira had her sight alert among the misty smoke...cause, Dhaleya was not showing her physical form at all.

"It's a fair play, you have taken my Luth...so this belongs to me now!" cried Sephira, as she held on close to the crystal rose bud which had been place inside the tiny glass bottle. Sephira hid the glass bottle with the crystal rose inside her thick iron armour which she had been wearing.

"You fool." cried that voice...and suddenly, Sephira felt her body been hit hard by a single bolt of hard stone. And to her horror, few more stones and pebbles were seen strewn around her...Sephira knew, Dhaleya was not giving up. Sephira jump and dart away from the in coming stones, that has been sent to hit her. And this time round, Sephira knew....to save her soul, she needs to use her own charms to free herself from this battle....despite how much she hated it. Drawing out her hands across her face...and with a single swift of her fingers, the stone was crushed into tiny little pieces.

"Wake up Sephira...you are a witch yourself. Join me....and the world will be ours." exclaimed Dhaleya's voice again.

"Not with you by my side..!" yelled Sephira as she clasped her fingers and shut her eyes...fighting the evil spirit, which Dhaleya has sent them towards her to ruin her. In her mind, all she could see was darkness and evil. Sweat begins to form on her face...as she trembles in the midst of her battle with those blackened spirit. Sephira knew...she's losing it...Dhaleya was just too powerful to overcome. Sephira fell on her knees...but she used her sword and dunged it deep into the ground ....just to support herself from losing her conscious state of mind. Her nose begins to bleed....with her vision begins to bleak.

"No..no! I'm not losing this to you this time." cried Sephira...her pulse on her temple were throbbing hard on her head. Suddenly, she heard that familiar ferocious roar...and she knew...it was him the Beast. However, she felt some lightness of her feet..it seems, she has been carried away from her battle...in such a full speed.

"No, don't take me away from her...!" cried Sephira but the Beast simply ignore her pleas and continue with his task of carrying her away from that smoky mist...leaping from one path to the other. The visibility of the greenery makes it's way back towards Sephira's sight. "Now, put me down!" yelled Sephira...as she struggle in between the Beast's arms. The Beast comply and threw her onto the bundle of dried leaves.

"Thank you.....and that hurts!" exclaimed Sephira as she rubbed her sore bottom with her palms. The Beast stare at her with interest....but without acknowledging anyt emotions towards her." Yasmeen place a bookmark onto her last page of her reading, as she begins to stare at the cover of the novel, which she was supposed to present it to Ezekiel as a gift. But, it seems Ezekiel was still too upset to even speak, or return her calls. It's been almost a week now and without Ezekiel by her side, she felt just like a loner a bottle without it's lid.

"This is all my fault!" exclaimed Yasmeen to herself with tears in her eyes. Suddenly her cell phone rang...and she drags..hoping that it's not Bashir's who has been calling her, to seek forgiveness from her...for the day, when he had almost ruined her life.

"Hello." replied Yasmeen without even looking at the caller's number.

"Oasis, misses you." utters a voice.

"Eze...it's that you. Please tell me..it is you?" squealed Yasmeen in excitement.

"No..it's me Oasis." cried Ezekiel as he pretends to be Oasis, and of cause with Oasis in his palm.

"Oasis, where's Eze?" asked Yasmeen...as she held her pillow close to her body.

"Eze, he's somewhere around here." replied Ezekiel with a grin.

"Is he still mad at me?" asked Yasmeen...as she played along with Ezekiel child like behaviour.

"I don't know...why don't you asked him?" cried Ezekiel while he gently stroke Oasis's lime green shell.

"Please, can I talk to him?" requested Yasmeen meekly. Suddenly, there was a remote silent on Ezekiel's line..and Yasmeen knew, this time Ezekiel is no longer pretending to be his turtle.