'Thirdly, now this is the most important bit, so listen calmly Hina. The fact you can fully remember with detail despite being charmed, means that you are not entirely human.'
Perhaps it was because of the VSF's military style training, Kai's tone was not only calm but almost stern as though he was in a mission briefing and not talking to a friend when delivering the third piece of information.
Hina froze, she wasn't sure what to think of what Kai just told her. She sat in silence holding on to the cup of tea in her hands, staring down, losing herself in the depth of the colour brown.
Kai stayed next to her still holding her hands over the mug, waiting till she was ready to speak.
'Kai, thanks for coming, but could you leave me for today.' Hina finally spoke, her tone was too calm, very unlike her.
Kai was worried, 'Hina, I can stay for as long as you need…'
'No. Please. I just need some time alone.'
Hina cut him off. At this moment the fact that her crush was sitting close to her, in an empty home, holding her hands, and was trying to comfort her was not of importance.
'Okay, but I'll call you later. And come check in tomorrow. That's not up for discussion. Okay?' Kai tried to make eye contact to ensure she was listening, but he could barely hold her focus.
He cupped her face with both hands turning it to face him, 'okay?'
'Okay.' Hina tried to force her usual carefree smile.
She watched as the elevator doors closed, still holding her smile, still sitting, still holding the cup of tea.
She looked down once more and wondered if she even had a sip.
She sipped her tea.
She placed it down and reached for her phone.
*Beeeep Beeeep*
[Hello my dear]
'Mum…' Hina's voice broke upon hearing her mother through the phone.
[Hina? My baby, what is it?] Her mother's voice was sincere.
Hina held on to her amulet tight as she spoke, 'Are we... human?'
[Oh, baby… Well, we didn't think you'd ever need to know.] The voice paused for a moment. Hina waited. She could hear her own breath. [Do you remember the story book you loved when you were younger?]
Hina searched her mind, 'you mean The Enchanted Forest?' she questioned their train of thought.
[Yes my dear, perhaps you should read it more seriously this time. We won't be able to come home till the day after tomorrow at the earliest if we manage to get a flight first thing.]
Hina sniffed and tried to wipe away her tears, 'Mmkay.'
[Hina, my baby. We love you.] Her mother's voice sounded as reassuring as it could do through the phone.
'I love you too Mum.' Hina hung up the phone as she wiped away more of her tears and finished her tea.
Hina rummaged through her closest full of memories, there was no clear order, simply piles and piles of aged items. Each held a different emotion, Hina began to reminisce about her life. She knew she was blessed; she never took it for granted but all her memories seemed to be of her with one or two family members at a time.
She began searching more and couldn't find a single photo, event or any evidence at all where more than two of her family were together with her. What was the point of having such a large family if she never saw them all?
Her failure made her give up the search.
Although Hina succeeded in finding her favourite childhood story book, she still doubted its relevance to the issue. Hina could barely remember the book now that she tried to recall, only that she remembered being happy whenever anyone from her family read it to her.
She began to read.
The Enchanted Forest
Long Long ago, in a land far, far away.
There was a forest full of green leaves, brown trees, and skies that were never grey.
Everyday the fairies of the forest would fly fly fly,
Spreading pixie dust magic, down and up high.
One day, everything changed when a human found his way inside.
Never before had it occurred and yet the fairies welcomed the stray with pride.
The man sang and cheered for his crowd with a voice like a dove
Till the fairy princess herself visited and fell in love.
Together they lived in the forest for a while,
But the magic was too strong for the man to endure,
And leaving the forest was the only cure.
Even though the princess knew with every day,
More and more pixie dust, she would no longer spray.
Outside the forest they lived happily ever after, with all of her magic… slowly… fading… away.
'What the hell?' Hina was confused with even more questions. She was a fairy? With no pixie dust? No magic? She was about to throw the book back until she saw a small note written on the back page.
To my dear daughter,
If you are reading this now, then you must be all grown up and know the truth. It isn't anything as grand as you'd think. We simply that we come from a long line of pixies. Our ancestor chose love over her home, over her family, and over her magic. To a pixie that is almost like choosing death since without our magic we are simply human.
We hope that we embraced her legacy by giving you all the love we had and more, in hope that you too choose love.
From your loving parents.
P.S. If you decide on a different path, then visit our home, our real home for more.
'Choose love huh?' Hina thought how ironic when the one person she loves didn't feel the same. Did she love Kai? She most definitely had just used the term love. 'Okay lets try embrace my ancestor's choose love motto and go all the way and forget my pride.'
Hina reached for her phone once more.
*Beeep beeep*
She realised it was quite late to be calling anyone- 12.17am to be precise, perhaps Kai wouldn't even answer.
*beeep beeep*
[Hina!] Kai's reassuring voice answered.
'Hi Kai, so erm...'
[Don't worry I'm not far from you, had a feeling you'd change your mind.] Kai smirked, with the number of times Hina had relied on him, he knew her quite well. How could she not fall for someone as dependable as him, Hina thought to herself.
'Thanks Kai.' She smiled wondering if he could feel her nervousness over the phone, this time she relied on him with a serious issue, not one she exaggerated to gain his attention. Hina felt strangely vulnerable in this case.
[I'll be there in 10, see you soon Hina.] Kai hung up the phone and returned to his prior call.
'Yes, sir I'm heading back now.'
[She'll need to be constantly monitored and brought in for testing.] The voice was strict and void of any emotion.
'If you'll let me sir, I can personally handle this case, she exhibits no direct signs of supernatural behaviour. I'm her friend I'll be able to handle this amicably.' Kai tried to speak objectively but was clearly biased. Although if he couldn't use his connections now then what power did he really have?
The line fell silent.
[Confirmed, you have authorisation to act alone, and agent... expect a promotion if this goes well.]
'Thank you, sir.' Kai closed the line and took a breath to compose himself. He'd successfully completed multiple missions before without feeling anything, after all he was acting for the good of humankind. However, this was the first time a friend was involved. Kai tried to brush his doubts to the side as he made his way back to Hina's.