Chapter 12 Earth and Air

Pearce didn’t hesitate to enter the very thick fog and was looking for something. People can get quickly lost from the thickness of the fog at where he is but it was good that his eyes are sharp because he saw a shadow. He immediately approached it and saw the princess sitting on a bench. When he approached her, she immediately raised her head and was surprised.

"Pearce," she said and the grief she felt was obvious in her eyes.

Pearce just gave him a blank look but he immediately averted his eyes.

"Why are you here? Are you lost because of the thickness of the fog?" Jessy asked.

Pearce looked at her for a while. "You, are you lost?" he asked back which surprised Jessy.

She looked at Pearce and at the same time shed the tears she was holding back.

"N-no ah," she replied while sobbing. "I saw him earlier with a woman. She’s not his date, she was just one of his customers and she was great because she was his regular customer..."

"He even introduced me to her because I'm his girlfriend and so that I won't feel jealous. Shouldn't I be happy about that? But why? Why is it fogging? This fog is a traitor," Jessy said, full of sarcasm.

Pearce just stood in front of her listening.

"It's just annoying. I thought this is our date but why is there a third wheel included?..." she paused. "Third wheel huh... the truth is... a while ago, if you only saw it, she wasn't the third wheel because they were really sweet with each other. They were the ones who coveted at those times and they knew more about fashion while I was just listening and saying nothing because I don't know what they are talking about..."

Jessy sobbed louder. "Good for her, she's really beautiful and able to make Edmondo happy while I... while I... hik…" she covered her face using both of her hands. "What am I in his life?"

Pearce just watched her and soon, he let out a sigh.

"I don't understand what you mean you don't know anything about fashion but..." Pearce looked away. "... Eddie said you are beautiful."

Jessy was slightly startled and looked at him full of astonishment even though her eyes were soaking wet.

"Really?! But wait, Eddie? His name is Edmondo not Eddie so who is Eddie?" Jessy asked in astonishment.

"Eddie ako (I'm Eddie, but in Filipino, literally it means “It’s me.”)," Pearce answered lifelessly.

(A/N: I’m sorry for all those English readers I have but if you are a Filipino, you will understand that the italicized words Pearce said is a ‘sweet’ joke which is really funny ^^’)

There was an awkward silence between them after Pearce said that.

"Hah? Eddie ako? What..." Jessy wondered at first but it didn't take long for a smile to carve on her lips. "Wait, are you joking?"

"Tss," as he looked in the other direction.

"Pfft hahahaha," Jessy laughed. "Pearce is so corny hahaha but hahaha your face was really funny when you said that hahaha." 

Gradually the fog around them disappeared. When things got a little clearer, Jessy stopped laughing and looked at Pearce with a bright smiling face.

"Thank you ah. Somehow, I feel lighter," Jessy said.

Pearce kept looking away from her because he also could not believe that he was able to say a joke but Jessy suddenly stood up and Pearce didn’t expect what would happen next so he was surprised. Jessy just gave him a hug.

"You're cheesy," Jessy whispered to him.

Pearce didn't give back the hug and not because he didn't want to but because he still remained shocked because he saw someone watching them and out of all the people to see them like that...

"Jessy?"

Jessy broke away from the hug to look at the caller and was surprised when she turned around.

"E-Edmondo."

There was silence between the 3 of them and the shock on Pearce's face still lingered. Between you and me, even though we all know that this situation is coming, Pearce is still inevitably surprised... but do you know what is more surprising?

Edmondo just stared back at them and just a moment later, he approached Pearce. 

Because Jessy thinks the outcome will not be good, "Edmondo, it's not what you think—"

He just stopped when Edmondo just tapped Pearce on the shoulder.

"Thanks man," he sincerely said.

There. That was surprising so even the two could not explain their faces while they were just looking at Edmondo.

"Thanks for what?" Pearce asked.

Edmondo gave him a smile and lowered his hand but after a few moments, he didn’t speak so Pearce and Jessy looked at each other while wondering.

"You see..." Edmondo began. "... Jessy is a very special girl. She loves sports and is very cheerful as you can see."

Jessy smiled when she heard that.

"And you know what makes her even special?" Edmondo added. "Her emotions mostly depend on a special air called the fog. Whenever she's sad or in sorrow, fog would start to appear wherever she is and would grow thicker whenever she cries and the only solution for it to disappear is to make her happy. It's so unusual and interesting for an air person to have an ability like that,” he even gave a look to Jessy while he's smiling while the smile on Jessy's lips didn’t fade...

Shouldn't that be good news? Pearce couldn't believe it either because he expected the prince to react differently and honestly, it was not the princess who was unusual, but the prince...

... but it will make you wonder, even if the fog is a bit thin, why is it still not completely gone?

Edmondo also immediately faced Pearce and his smile still lingered.

"The reason I'm thanking you is because I'm grateful that somehow, you manage to make Jessy laugh," he looks around. "The fog is not that thick right now... and I envy you for that."

At that last phrase, Pearce was slightly surprised.

"I even went to ask one of my customers who is very much..." he looked at Jessy. "... similar to you so you can talk with each other with both your interests because she also loves sports."

Jessy was surprised when she heard that but Edmondo's smile gradually disappeared.

"But I guess I was wrong. I'm really not capable, Jessy. I can't make you happy."

Just saying these words, Pearce already knew its destination so he slowly backed away. It's good that he can move. Jessy is not saying any word and she was just giving a blank stare to Edmondo.

"Since this is the case, I guess we're not even meant to be Jessy," he said. "I think having a relationship is a great responsibility and I think it's better if we just stay as friends. What do you think?"

No one can read Jessy's thoughts because of the face she is showing… not until she gives a smile.

"I think you're right. I actually got your point and I understood what you mean," she answered.

Edmondo smiled back. "That's great. So," he stretched out his hand. "... friends?"

Jessy is still wearing her smile not when Edmondo realized his vision of Jessy started to get clouded until there's only fog in front of him.

"Jessy?" he looked around. "Oh no," Edmondo tried to find her. "Jessy, if you can hear me, please don't be sad."

"How can't I?" she whispered that Edmondo managed to hear.

"Jessy..."

"How can't I be sad if you're asking me to just be friends?!" she cried. "Do you really think I would be happy about that?! Edmondo, you're breaking up with me... and that's painful because you're not just a friend. You're also special to me. You're hardworking, passionate and very kind. These are just some but for me, I think you're perfect for me."

She sobbed. "Also, you're wrong Edmondo. You don't know how it makes me happy whenever you're just beside me. I don't care what we do... just... be with me."

She paused and sniffed. "But don't worry, I understand what you mean. I completely understand Edmondo. It's just hard to let it go... instantly."

Edmondo heard footsteps of running away. "Wait Jessy..." he tried to follow the sound. "Jessy?" He looked around the foggy area. "Jessy, where are you?"

He continued to look around and glanced at one side and saw a light so he approached it.

"Jessy, is that you?" but he saw a different person holding a lamp in her hand.

"Oh. Elesa," full of disappointment he said.

"Well sorry for disappointing you. I need light to get out of this thick fog your girlfriend has made," Elesa replied.

Edmondo didn’t say a word and bowed his head full of sorrow that Elesa noticed.

"Hey," was all Elesa said because she didn’t know what to do with the prince.

"I didn't know," Edmondo said out of the blue... but Elesa completely understood what he meant. After all, she had been in that place before and she heard the whole conversation.

She immediately sighed and handed the light to him.

"Well now you know," she said. "Take this and look for her."

Edmondo was a bit surprised at her offer but he just looked at the lamp. "Thanks but I think I won't be able to find her in this thick fog even if I do have a light."

"Wow you're giving up already? What kind of a person are you?" Elesa said that shocked Edmondo.

"Yeah I heard everything and I'm kind of confused about your status but even if you're her boyfriend or just a friend, Jessy is out there all alone crying. You should be ashamed because you are the reason for making her cry so she made this thick fog. A lot of people will get lost once they will pass here all because of you so… have at least the heart to clear the fog away."

Edmondo was dumbfounded by her but he also took the lamp and turned around.

"Thanks Elesa," as he ran away.

Elesa didn't reply and just watched him go until he disappeared. She let out a sigh and tried to walk back inside the Main Cabin when he saw a shadow and as she approached it, Pearce appeared. She just stopped in front of him and was slightly startled.

They stared at each other for a few minutes…

"Oh you’re there," Elesa broke the silence between them. "Don’t you have any plan to—"

Elesa didn’t finish what she was going to say because she remembered what they had talked about earlier. She started blushing with shame again and avoided looking at him.

"Oh right," she turned away from him and walked away. "I have to leave because—"

"Wait," Pearce lifelessly said at the same time Elesa was stopped not because she was called but...

... she felt his grip on her right hand. She stiffened in her place and she seemed to feel the warmth of her face again but she didn’t know if it was shame or... what?

She also turned to him who was just staring at her coldly.

"W-what... why are you... I mean uhh..."

"The fog is still thick and you can’t see the road yet," Pearce said coldly.

Elesa was silent for a moment and withdrew her hand. "I-I know what I'm going into," she turned around again. "I could go back alone not like you—"

Boogsh! Elesa fell on the floor.

"Ouch," she collided with a wall so she rubbed her forehead. "Ouch that hurts."

"You can go back huh?"

Elesa stopped because she heard something before he said that. She immediately turned to him, still full of surprise instead of anger. When she saw his face, she was completely surprised.

She knew that whoever saw that, would really laugh at her but someone like him, who even has a very happy smile in front of her... she could not believe that she saw it. First he had a sincere smile, now... his laugh.

She seemed to feel something strange when she heard the laughter and when she saw his smiles now.

She just returned to the truth when she realized what she was thinking at the same time she stood up immediately and dust off her clothes. She didn’t even think to speak because she might be embarrassed again.

There was another silence between them.

"Here," Pearce handed him a paper at the same time.

Elesa was surprised to see what he was giving to her.

"What is that?" she asked.

"Band Aid," Pearce replied coldly.

Elesa was silent for a moment.

"Ah no, I'm okay. It's just a scratch on my forehead. I don't need that anymore," Elesa denied.

Pearce just gave her back a cold look.

"Are you sure?" he asked as Elesa stopped.

"Y-yes of course," stammered Elesa.

Pearce let out a sigh and she thought... Elesa really thought he would just put the band aid back to his pocket... but he didn't.

She could not move at what he did suddenly... that he himself put a bandaid on her scratched forehead.

Elesa was dumbfounded by him while Pearce turned his blank face back to her. They stared at each other again and soon, Elesa looked away that broke the staring contest.

"Where did you get that uhm... band aid?" Elesa stammered.

He just looked back and thought he would not answer but...

"I always have it with me in case I need it," he replied and looked at the person he was talking to. Suddenly there was a smirk on his lips...

"Why, do you think I really meant to bring it for you?"

Elesa fell silent again and averted her eyes. 

Gradually the fog disappeared around and Pearce's face showed the smile of success when he realized that he was able to get back from this princess.

Sniff. Sniff.

With Pearce's ears so sharp, he was the only one who heard those sobs.

"Wait, did you hear that?" Elesa asked. 

"Which one?" Pearce asked ignorantly. She also seems to have heard. 

"Well that..."

Rustle... rustle... 

The two immediately turned to where the sound came from and they were both surprised who came out of the bushes.

"Yani?"

The princess raised her head when she was called and was slightly surprised. The silence between them passed first before it was broken by Yani's forced smile. 

"Oh you two are there."

Elesa didn’t return a smile to Yani but Pearce immediately approached the unfortunate princess. 

"Where have you been?" Pearce asked and even though Yani did not see it, Elesa knew it was full of concern he asked that.

"Ah uhm just... there. Just there," Yani replied sadly.

Pearce didn't give another word and just looked at the sadness on the face of the princess in front of him but even so, Pearce immediately took something from his jacket and handed it to her. 

"You forgot this earlier."

Yani looked at it and there was no trace of shock on her face as she looked at the thing being given to her. Instead, the expression on her face did not even change.

"Why are you just staring at it? Don't you have any plans to take it?" Pearce asked. 

Yani did not take her eyes off it. "I don’t know."

There was silence again and Pearce was also looking at the book he was holding when suddenly, he smirked out of the blue.

"You know princess..." When Pearce said that, Yani raised her head. "... that one of the ways you can forget how you feel for him is you have to erase all the things that could make you remember him? Like this one..." and lifted the book up in the air. "So if I were you..."

He made a fire on his hand which surprised Yani. "... this should disappear."

Thwack!

Pearce was not surprised by what happened next even though his hand hurts when the book was forcely taken from him. He didn’t mind the pain and Pearce, still wearing the smirk said "You see?"

"I understand what you said, okay?" Yani stated back. "Thanks for the advice but... I'm not ready yet."

Pearce looked at her holding the book tightly. "And when will you be ready princess?" Pearce asked. 

The princess even hugged the book. "I don't know either," she replied but she also looked back at Pearce seriously. "But I promise you, when that time comes, I will burn this myself," she confidently said. 

Pearce smiled. "You said that huh?"

Yani, on the other hand, fell silent at what the visitor did and immediately looked in the other direction.

Since Elesa was the only one there to watch the two, she saw that the princess was a little red. She read so many books and watched a lot of romantic movies. That's why we can say that she's a very romantic person and watching these two right in front of her, who continues to squirm and the smiles on Yani's lips... Elesa is smiling about the thought of giving meaning about it. 

Yani immediately wiped her face before she left and while Pearce watched her finally leave, he was surprised when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"You can also control all the elements like Yani, right?" Elesa asked.

Pearce frowned as he looked at the other person. "And then?"

"Ah nothing. It’s just that, it's funny to think while I was watching you two because Yani I mean Princess Yani's face was sad but when you just talked to her, she suddenly smiled even though your face was not very expressive," Elesa replied.

Pearce looked straight ahead. "In that case, what do you want to convey if we both control all the elements?"

"Nothing," Elesa replied. "I mean you two are sweet as I watched you two a while ago. It could be. You know Pearce, you two look good at each other."

Pearce was silent and looked in the other direction and Elesa noticed it. He did this because he doesn’t want to understand what Elesa just said but then again, Elesa gave meaning to it.

"Oh my gash. Let me get this straight, Pearce, do you like Yani?" Elesa asked incredulously.

Pearce frowned again and didn’t say a word.

"Oh, why can't you answer?" Elesa smiled.

The reason, not because silence means yes, but because Pearce could not understand which continent did the princess he’s talking to get to ask that question?

"Oh my gosh. I knew it, I knew it, Pearce. Hah, I can't believe it. I'm really good," Elesa said happily. She was so happy that Pearce seemed to have answered something that she had long asked him that he had not yet answered. 

"Oh what will I do with you Pearce? I hope you have said about it right away earlier then, I could have left you two so you two can get to have a moment," as she didn’t lose the flutter on her face. "Kyaah. Oh my gosh. I'm really thrilled just by thinking you two together."

Pearce watched his companion as if she’s mad in his eyes. He thought maybe she is since she hit her head onto a wall a while ago.

"Ah! By the way," she said with a realization. "Since most of the time I am your witness every time you are together, okay fine, I will agree to it. I will be your wingman for you and Yani. I will be your number one fan," she confidently said. 

Pearce rolled his eyes as his answer because the princess he is talking to has really gone mad. Even if he tries to talk sense to her, he is sure she will insist on what she wants so he just walks away.

"Hey wait. Where are you going?" she called but Pearce ignored her. 

"Hey wait. Slow down. We should always be together," Elesa chased him. "Well technically, I'm thinking of accompanying you back to your room because of your weakness but you already have a map... anyways, I'll still go with you. You might come across Yani again later and I should be there so I know what I will do to keep you two together."

He still ignored her and Pearce was irritated by the loudness of the person next to him. Add to that because she just keeps on talking about her being a "wingman" for him and the princess he doesn’t have feelings for.

The two continued to walk while Pearce was still with the talkative princess but she went quiet for a moment as if those times seemed to make Pearce's world quiet which he really thanked and wished it would just be like this until he got to the room... but... 

"Hey Pearce..."

That request was eventually thwarted. 

"What is it?" Pearce asked angrily and turned to face the princess.

"Seriously. I just want to say something," Elesa said. 

"What, about us and the princess of this nation again?" still, he asked irritably.

"Haha no," Elesa smiled. Yup, she can still laugh even though her companion was already irritated. Let's just say that she is used to Pearce's dealings so she thinks he has a normal face. 

But she paused first and still wearing that smile, she said, "I like Zoltar, the electric prince."

Even though Pearce was annoyed that the princess was still able to smile even though he was irritated, his face was replaced by surprise and he was stopped in his place and could not speak because of what he heard.

"Yes he has a lover, or should I say a girlfriend," Elesa added. "But I still like him. Maybe it’s not just a crush, I think I love him."

Pearce could not really speak and honestly, he didn’t know what to say next but he immediately frowned. He is not irritated but... he’s angry. 

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked. 

Elesa smiled happily. "Nothing. I just think it looks like you need to know about it," she continued to walk past him because they had already reached the front of his room.

Pearce watched as she left when...

"Oh that’s not what I actually mean," she exclaimed so she stopped and faced Pearce. "I said that because I want you to know that I am not like Yani, that even if he has a girlfriend, I will just forget how I feel about him and just look for someone else."

She smirked at him. "You know what I mean?"