Secret Admirer; In The Land Of Fairies
02. Fairille

Not to spend two hours, I was prepared. In fact, in just an hour I had already finished dressing up and wearing an old school uniform that I would probably only wear to this day. After breakfast, I waited for Zoe on the front porch while playing on my phone. There was no talk I did because it was from the morning of the deserted house, there was only me because the other residents of the house had left.

Mom-Dad with her job and my little brother with her school.

My fingers repeatedly touched the phone screen. Hopefully, there are dozens of chat notifications that I will receive as usual on my normal days in McReych. Marsha, Felly, and Sophi–the three girls I've considered to be best friends–no longer appear in our chat group. The last time we talked about the reason why I wanted to join my family was living in a city far from the metropolitan lifestyle.

Even if they only knew, Fairille has facilities that are quite complete, minus the skyscrapers. In fact, this city has a sea and forests that are said to be beautiful.

They just don't know, and neither do I.

As my three friends suggested, I tried to ask Mom and Dad for permission to stay alone in McReych. As I thought, I didn't get permission. Of course I feel disappointed, my friends also ignore the messages from me afterwards. Although it was initially very hard for me to leave the city where I lived before, in the end I forced myself to accept.

Different from me. Ezra, my younger brother, was happy to move to this new place. Ezra said, in this place he made many new friends, different from himself in the previous place.

"Hi, Kim!"

Just now, my 11-year-old sister appeared before me. He had just returned home from school delivered by a school bus, unlike my new school which required his students to stay in dormitories. If anyone asks me why I'm still home, of course the answer is because I just arrived in this city at midnight last night, and still have to prepare the transfer documents to be submitted to my new school.

"Ez. You look..different."

Ezra who was a lot of moody now I see it looks more alive. Look how Ezra smiles. Eyes similar to emeralds that are exposed to sunlight also look sparkling.

"Oh, really?" Ezra turned around and looked at her own appearance, looking unconvinced by what I said. "What makes me look different?"

I paused for a moment, then commented again. "A variety of new schools and you look cheerful, like never before."

"Does that look bad?" ezra asked a little pouty.

"No, no." I quickly shook my head. Then my smile curved sincerely. "Of course it's very good. I'm glad to see it."

Ezra then laughed and hugged me who was still sitting in the chair. I returned his embrace.

"You're the best, Kim!"

I laughed and rubbed the top of Ezra's head in a fit of anxiety.

"If anyone bothers you at school, tell me, ok?"

"Nobody bothers me, Kim. My new friends are so good! Unlike in McReych," said Ezra in a cheerful tone, which really surprised me, as well as surprised. I've never heard Ezra's complaint about life at school before.

Without being able to voice my thoughts, Ezra had already entered the house, leaving me still staring at the doorway which was then closed. My frenetic gaze was anchored towards the distance, where the border of the city and the forest trees I had just discovered were located at this moment. Last night there was only darkness that I could see in that place, with occasional small glitter that might have come from the top of the tower.

A call from someone who sounded melted my daydream. It came from someone who had just come out of the backseat belonging to a black luxury sedan car that was stopping in front of the house. I stood up and walked over when I found out someone was Zoe. However, what made me stop my steps was Zoe's appearance which was very different from the last time I met her.

At that time Zoe who visited me in McReych wearing hotpants and a tanktop, inversely proportional to now: using a knee-length canal dress overwritten blazer crop with a crest–FrHS.

Oh, don't forget the cute ribbon replacement tie on the chest.

"Fre?" many spontaneous.

"Our school, Fairille High School. Why do you look so surprised?"

"of course. The clothes you're wearing are completely different, Zoe." I looked down a little, looking at my own appearance. The clothes I was wearing were my previous school uniform: a tie and a patterned red skirt above the knee, a beige shirt, as well as a cardigan tied around the waist. My uniform is trendy and modern at McReych, but it's really common there, in contrast to Zoe's elegant and classy clothes. "I'm not sure I'm going to school wearing these clothes."

Zoe chuckles.

"Zoe!"

"I'm just kidding, Kim. You're so funny. I really miss you." Zoe couldn't help but laugh. He hugged me before pulling my hand to follow him to the car. "Come on. Fairille High School is waiting for you."

Now I'm really not sure how I look. Even though Zoe was only joking, I still felt doubtful. However, after I returned a warm hug and sweet words, I complied with Zoe's invitation to get in the car.

...***...

Streets that are not too crowded continue to be traversed by the car they are riding.

From the passenger seat, I was stunned to see the view of the city that was still too foreign to me. In my deepest heart, there is still a sense of regret for my move to this place. Though actually my life in McReych can not be said to be fun, even if it is considered flat because it continues to do the same thing: go to school, do PR, watch movies on Mcflix, and do the same thing, play mobile, then hang out with friends. That was the routine I've been doing all along.

Yes, everything is regular and repetitive, too regular even to the point that sometimes I feel bored.

Or because I'm the only one who hasn't been interested in one guy?

Unlike Marsha, Felly, and Sophi who are crazy about the handsome and popular guys in school. Wherever they were with them, when they went to the mall or ate at the cafe, my friends were always talking about the guys they were dating. They always plan to approach the guys. Whereas I would usually just help and, well, end up 'eating popcorn' in the corner.

I glanced at Zoe beside me, then smiled faintly, relieved that there were still friends who would accompany me to this day.

"Kimberly dear."

"U-uh, huh?"

I stammered, surprised that suddenly Zoe called my name. It felt like he was stealing a glance at her.

"I hope you'll stay in Fairille. Totally different from McReych, isn't it?"

My eyes widened for a moment. Those words made me quiet. This friend of mine seems to know what my thoughts are.

I looked back out the window.

"I hope so too."

Maybe I should start forgetting the grandeur of McReych's city and its bustle and bustle. What remains now is the sound of nature in the form of the wind and birds chirping. The view I saw has changed. The buildings that had stood on the left-hand side of the road had completely changed with large trees lined up. So big and sturdy, it looks like the roots are sticking out of the ground as if going to split the road.

"Wow. These trees soon seem to be destroying city streets."

"Hold your admiration until you see the scene after the turn in front."

Right after Zoe said that, the driver who was driving turned the steering wheel following the then curved road. I watched the trees outside my window begin to sparse, and then there was a bright blue glow that I seemed to know what it was.

"Sea!"

I opened the window, and what I said was true. It really is the sea! The sea was clearly plastered beside my window when the tree was no longer hiding its beauty. A natural sight I've never seen in McReych!

"It's so pretty!" my screams are happy to be dazzled. My unraveling hair was also hit by the wind and became a mess when my head poked out the window. Looking at a scene like this, I felt very happy. The restlessness I felt instantly disappeared. "Look, Zoe! The sea!"

Zoe laughed at me who suddenly looked like a child.

"Oh, is that the sea? I thought it was a mountain" Zoe joked.

...****************...