Chapter 19 In the End

“Elesa, because Electric Cabin is the only cabin left he hasn’t gone, you are his tour guide for today. Is that okay with you?” Yani asked her on the phone.

It took a while before… "Okay," was her simple answer.

“Great. You know what to do, don't you? Just after the tour, just remind him that he will go straight to my office, okay?” Yani's last instructions.

"Okay," Elesa replied again.

“Uhm… okay. So uhh good luck,” said Yani. "Bye," and hung up the phone.

Toot, toot! The phone rang but up until now, the phone is still in Elesa's ear.

"Are you two done talking?" a voice said and Elesa looked where the voice came from but she did not see anyone in her room.

She wasn’t scared though and she just put the phone back and after which,

“So I heard you called me,” that same voice said. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

And this time, when she looked again at where that voice came from… he was there, sitting in an empty seat. She can only see the 'figure' he is sitting on because of the darkness of her room but even so, it shines even a little… because of his blushing blue eyes.

She turned her back at him. “I don't want to continue the plan.”

At this statement, the person was slightly surprised but didn’t reply. There was silence after that and finally, that shadow talked.

"You cannot back down from this agreement, darling," he said. “…but I'll let you pass if you just finish the cage.”

Elesa removed her lab coat and hung it. "It's finished since yesterday," she answered. "Do what you want," before she finally walked out, while the shadow was left…

…suddenly smirking out of the blue.

“You don't know what you have been into, Elesa.”

Pearce woke up and prepared, ready for the next tour but he didn’t know who his next tour guide would be… but whoever it was, he’s not in the mood because he doesn't want to get up and he would not be surprised because something might happen again later.

He just waited for someone to knock on his door but for a while, he started to wonder so he just opened it to check and for the first time, at the start of his day, he was surprised who appeared in front of him.

They stared at each other first and the princess would have greeted him but Pearce immediately closed the door in front of her. It was good that he didn’t slam it on her face or anything but Pearce leaned against the door immediately. First, he just realized that she’s the only princess who had not been able to tour him and second…

…because of what happened yesterday, to everyone, she is the one he doesn’t want to talk to today but… he just let out a sigh and thinks that he has no choice because again, they are princes and princesses and they have the authority so all he can do is obey their orders… but suddenly Elesa knocked on his door.

"Pearce," she called. "…in case you hear me now or you just don’t want to listen to me… I just want to say something."

Pearce looked at the door he was leaning against.

"I understand if you don’t want to tour today because uhm we can move tomorrow or some other time when you are ready but about yesterday…" she paused. “…I want to apologize. I'm sorry if I hurt you. Just tell me what you want me to do so that you can forgive me, I will do it.”

She said a lot but Pearce still didn’t speak and remained silent.

"If uhm… if you want to be alone now…" she added. “I understand that. Uhm I hope we can see each other… if necessary.”

After that, there was just silence. Even though she was across the door, Pearce felt the sincerity in her voice, that Elesa knew in herself that she made a mistake.

It took a while before Pearce heard that she started walking away…

…but he stopped her when he opened the door. Elesa turned to him for a moment as Pearce appeared to her with his serious face. They stared at each other before Pearce approached hier.

"There's a tour today, whether I want it or not, isn’t it so, princess?" he said, full of seriousness in his voice.

Elesa was shocked by what he said as Pearce continued to walk passed by her. It was as if she had stiffened again in her place

"Oh what are you still standing there?" Pearce looked at her. "Tell me where the road leads to your cabin."

Elesa returned to the truth before she thought of walking closer to him.

When they got out of the Main Cabin, as they were walking, Pearce began to squirm and he seemed to hear the flow of electricity… wherever it came from. Seriously, even if you just walk down their pathway, you can already feel the electricity.

They reached the front gate, which was surrounded by an electric fence. A large monitor also appeared when they stepped on the front.

"Good morning, your highness," the monitor greeted Elesa.

"Good morning to you too E. C," Elesa greeted back and even though it was not obvious on Pearce's face, he was surprised by the name Elesa said.

E. C?

“E. C, I want you to meet Pearce. He's not an electric person and you can tell just by the color of his hair but he can control electricity so he's having a tour here today,” Elesa looked at Pearce. “Pearce, meet E. C stands for 'Electric Custodian'. He's the one that guards our gate from intruders.“

Pearce was silent and it was obvious on his face that he was ignoring her. Elesa should not be shaken but up until now… she is still shaken… obviously in the sadness that her face gave after that incident.

"I understood, your highness," said E. C. "…but regarding his safety, the Electric Cabin is not capable for him."

And that's when Elesa came back to the truth. “Ah yes. He cannot withstand the electricity around our cabin…” said Elesa. “…so I'm asking you to provide us a platform to travel.”

"As you wish, your highness," and at the same time, suddenly a platform appeared right in front of the gate and flew closer to Elesa. Elesa confronted Pearce.

"Here we will ride on for the whole tour of the Electric Cabin…" explained Elesa. "…because if you step on our cabin, you will most likely be electrified so we need it—"

Elesa was stopped immediately without a word that Pearce immediately boarded the platform and again, even though it was not obvious on his face, he was excited when he got on the platform.

Elesa let out a sigh, for being ignored again, and just got on. After Elesa got on, the gate of the Electric Cabin immediately opened so Pearce saw what’s inside.

"So… welcome to the Electric Cabin," Elesa said.

Even though Pearce is looking around him something great because of its 'futuristic' setting and the amount of different types of technology he sees and because of the amount of light it gives off… he is still wearing his blank face.

"So uhm where do you want to start?" Elesa asked, but the person she’s talking to didn’t speak and she expected that so again, she let out a sigh and just pressed on the platform and…

ZOOM! As fast as lightning, they immediately arrived in front of their school. And even though that happened, Elesa glimpsed at the other person's face and… his face was still blank. She thought at least he would react… and she wasn't really expecting because for their whole tour, even though it was like a 'roller coaster ride' because of the speed of their platform to get to every place, the blank face was not really shaken of the visitor.

Even though Pearce found out a lot in this area… that even if the people here are hit by electricity, they will not die, but live… even if he sees their bed is not the typical bed we see because it is a cylindrical tube so they are sleeping standing instead of lying down and last of all… even though he found out they were also like fire people who don’t drink water… nothing really. If only there’s an award, for having a constant blank face in this wonderful place, he will win it.

"So, that's all," Elesa concluded. "Do you have a question?"

The speaker didn’t speak again and again, Elesa is expecting that.

“Oh yes Elesa. I have no question,” Elesa said sarcastically to herself. "Let's just go to your office to—"

"If that's the case, can you just take me back to my room?"

Elesa was immediately stopped by the button she was supposed to press on the platform… not only because the speaker spoke… but also because of his question. She even looked at the person sitting next to her and there was a look of shock on Elesa's face… while she was just returned by, this time, Pearce's serious face… which means…

…he was serious about his question.

Elesa immediately turned her attention to the buttons on the platform, and even though the guest had a request, she immediately pressed the button she had to press. The platform took them at once, not only in front of their palace, but right in front of Elesa's office door. When they arrived...

…the visitor had a second reaction, and that was a sigh that somehow startled Elesa… but she kept her composure and opened the door of her office.

When it opened, of course Pearce couldn't help but look inside… and still. Simple office room and just some decorations. Actually, Pearce also expected that he would find toys because he found out the passion of the princess and that is to make dolls… but he only saw two small yellow spiders on her table.

He must have wondered why those toys were spiders… but he still didn’t show it on his face.

Elesa started to get off the platform and Pearce was about to get up but,

"Don't get down from there," Elesa ordered immediately. “Up here in my office, when you step on its floor, you will still be electrified. Stay seated if you get tired of standing up.”

And you know, of course Pearce didn't say a word. Elesa went straight to her desk and got some paperwork and started writing.

"Are you hungry?" Elesa asked as she wrote.

Pearce gave her a look… but Elesa didn’t notice that because she was 'busy'.

"If you are hungry, you can say it… or I can just wait for your stomach to speak for yourself so I can find out," Elesa said seriously, and it was obvious from what she said that she was joking but she knew… she knew he would still not be shaken so she said that seriously.

She continued on what she was doing and silence prevailed between them… and if you didn’t know, only now the two again felt the awkwardness in the silence, and they didn’t want that so they wanted to talk but...

…Pearce still has pride and he knows to himself that as much as possible, he will ignore this girl… while the princess can't speak because first, she doesn't know what to say and second, she knows this guy will ignore her anyways… but still…

"If you want to speak—"

Silence…

Pearce's third reaction: surprised… with the princess because they said that at the same time. Elesa focused her gaze on the paper in front of her to avoid looking at the other person while Pearce just averted his eyes from the princess and passed through another 'awkward silence'.

Knock, knock. The silence broke by a knock on the door and because of that,

"He arrived just in time," Elesa whispered to herself that Pearce didn’t hear.

When Elesa said "Come in", the door also opened and the prince showed up.

“Hey Elesa. Sorry to—“ Zoltar stopped what he was going to say when he saw Pearce inside the office.

“Oh uhm, sorry. Have I disturbed you two?” Zoltar asked.

"No," and again… the two answered at the same time… and what's even funny, they both clicked their teeth out of frustration.

"Anyways Zoltar," Elesa said. “How can I help you?”

"Oh I have a report…" Zoltar said as he entered the office and approached Elesa. “... and I need your help,” while handing out a piece of paper to her.

Elesa took it and examined it.

"Oh okay," she replied. “I think I can work with this. But I cannot finish it by this day because—“

"You don't have to Elesa," Zoltar added. “That's not due today. I just showed that to you this early so that we can work on it and finish it quickly.”

He's smiling while saying that to her and Elesa can't help herself and just smiles back at him… but when he caught the visitor watching them, she just went back to her reality… and somehow, an idea came to her mind, and a real smile formed on her lips.

"You look rather happy today Zoltar despite what happened yesterday," Elesa said that the two men inside the office were slightly surprised… but the visitor's face immediately became serious while looking at the princess.

"Oh you noticed," Zoltar said. “Well you see when you said to me to settle things with Femme, somehow we are able to patch things up. For now, we're just friends… but I'm happy about that.”

"I see," and gave the visitor a look. "Well, I'm happy for you."

Her gesture startled Pearce.

"Thanks," Zoltar replied. "But really, it was all thanks to you."

When Zoltar said that, she got Elesa's attention in no time… and she paused before she made a nervous smile.

“You're thanking me? What did I even do? You rejected me yesterday, remember?”

When Pearce heard that again, he was completely surprised.

“Well just like I said yesterday, the moment you confessed to me, I really did realize my feelings for Femme. If you hadn't at that time, maybe if I did talk to Femme, our situation will remain awkward up until now.”

And when Pearce continued to hear that, instead of remaining shocked, he just bowed his head.

“Oh yeah. Well uhm it's great that I was able to help… at least,” Elesa replied.

Zoltar smiled back.

After they were done talking about that certain project, Zoltar left the office and after he left, Elesa looked back at the sitting guest. His head is still bowed down, and Elesa's reaction seems to be infected because she felt down too… because her intention earlier was just to let Pearce know that somehow, the situation turned out fine… but it looks like he got something else… you think?

"Pearce—"

"Princess," he groaned when Elesa stopped and was also surprised. Pearce slowly lifted his face and showed… his fourth reaction: an irritated face.

"Won't you still take me back to my room?" he asked irritated.

Elesa was stopped for a moment by what the visitor did, but she also swallowed immediately the fear she felt for what he did and,

"We will not leave here until…" she paused again. "…until …until we don’t talk about your plan for getting Yani and Jethro together."

Pearce's face changed when she said that but even though Elesa managed to keep her composure to say that to him, Pearce's face just returned to being blank.

"And…" Elesa added. “…about the deal yesterday… I keep my promises. I will help you with your plan.”

There was silence again, and they shared stares that somehow didn't make the silence awkward but it was cut off when…

Pearce looked away at her and cussed, “I have no plans. You don't have to help me anymore,” he replied numbly.

But Elesa didn't give up. "If you want to bring Yani and Jethro back… I think…"

She stopped because she’s starting to panic inside because she just wanted to say something and for them to really talk about his plan… but he didn’t know what she’s going to say next.

"See?" Pearce suddenly said that made Elesa speechless. “Don't push yourself anymore, princess. There is no plan and no plan will be developed. You know that, don't you? You know it will only lead to bad events because… you know that's all I can do.”

After he said the last statement, Elesa could not control herself and her chest tightened even more when she heard that. It was good because at last, he also said how he felt, his anger. It was not even direct but Elesa was hit…

Yes, it's this condition that is not really good not only for a fire person, but also for them as electric persons but Elesa can’t help it…

Sniff… sniff… hik… she started to sob. Yes, Pearce was slightly surprised, but still he kept his pride and still wore a blank face.

“I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for what happened yesterday…” Elesa cried. "Yes, I am so selfish to think that I want Femme and Zoltar to break up so that when I confess to him, somehow he will think twice and thought that he might have feelings for me… but I was really stupid yesterday. I was just thinking about myself. I didn't even think about what you wanted to happen...”

Pearce is still giving a boring face… but a small gesture like bowing his head just not to see the princess right in front of him crying… Elesa didn't notice that because she still continued.

“…so I hope whatever I can do for you, I hope you tell me. I hope I can make it up to you. You can take all my time now just so I can help you… anything just so you can forgive me. I want to make it up to you.”

Pearce is still silent and still can't look at the princess but,

"Who am I… do you think princess?" Pearce suddenly asked Elesa that made her stop as she looked at him, with his head still bowed down.

At this, Elesa wiped her tears first and stood straight, and with the rest of her strength, she said,

“You are Pearce. At first, you looked numb but I realized that was your defense mechanism… defending yourself that you might hurt others of what you can do…”

Elesa gave him a sweet smile. "…but to everyone I've met in my whole life," a tear fell from her eye. “You are the sweetest and most helpful person I have ever met. There's no other person like you.”

To hear that for the first time in his life, he was not only completely shocked… but he immediately looked away from the princess to hide the joy he was feeling. He even covered his face so that Elesa would not notice that his face was blushing. Even though there is still some remaining pride in himself, to hear those words, as if his pride was crushed down in no time.

When Pearce heard that the princess was still sobbing, he just went back to the truth and looked back at her but he also returned his blank face… and also started to get annoyed because the princess is not stopping.

“Aren't you tired of crying? Isn't that not good for people like you?” Pearce asked so Elesa wiped away her tears in no time... and even though Pearce's face was irritated, he knew he was no longer angry at her.

"So what, do you want me to forgive you?" Pearce suddenly asked and looked at the princess who looked at him… and what he knows about this princess, she’s going to answer back at what he asked but…

…she looked like a gentle dog that humbly nodded her head, agreeing with his request.

Pearce was startled first at that small gesture and he somehow find that… so cute of her. It was a really rare occurrence but Pearce also let out a sigh and gestured his finger telling her to approach him.

Elesa immediately approached and when she arrived in front of him…

Tik.

Elesa stopped in her place when she felt Pearce's index finger land on her forehead and gently pushed her, gesturing her as if he shot the princess on the forehead.

"Bang," Pearce said and at the same time, he smiled at her. "Gotcha."

Elesa was completely surprised by what he did and she didn’t know why but her cheek blushed just because of that… especially the smile he is showing now. And because of that, Elesa immediately backed away and stuttered,

"Wha… wha-what’s that for?" she complained while holding her forehead.

Pearce didn't answer her… but his smile still lingered on his lips.

Elesa looked away and pouted and even started to murmur things to herself because of her embarrassment. She also realized how she let her guard down right in front of him so the redness on her face only increased.

"Princess," Pearce called but she’s ignoring him because she’s 'busy' at the thought of what happened today and she’s very embarrassed… but Pearce suddenly let out a sigh.

"Elesa…" he said that only caught Elesa's attention in no time and turned to him in no time… and with that sweet smile of his…

“…I forgive you.”

Elesa's eyes widened in shock, and she backed away so much that she leaned on her desk because of what she heard and saw. She immediately turned his back on Pearce while holding her cheeks. With the extreme heat she’s feeling, she almost melted. Why does she feel this way? And another thing…

…the smile on his lips could not be erased either. Why is he having so much fun?

"Princess," Pearce called again but at this time, Elesa did not face him and did not speak but she knew he was back to normal because she felt when she heard how he said that.

“Hey princess…”

"Why?" Elesa replied but she’s showing her back to him.

"I am talking to you. Why don't you face me?” Pearce commanded.

Elesa was startled… maybe because she didn't want him to see her blushing face and she started to be shy in front of this man.

Pearce let out a sigh again. “Princess…”

"W-why?" please Elesa. “If I want to turn away from you, I will turn away. Who are you to tell me?!”

Pearce paused and looked in the other direction first.

"Then how do I know you will listen to what I have to say?" Pearce asked.

“I have ears. I can hear everything you say even if I don’t face you!”

“Tsk,” Pearce clicked his teeth. "Just make sure of that because I don’t want to repeat my plan on how we can bring back the princess of your nation and her prince."

"Yes. I will listen so can you—“

Elesa stopped when she processed what she heard… so she slowly turned to the person she was talking to…

…and she sees his serious face back to her. Elesa smiled back at him.

In the end, the plan will continue.