APPLES

She was dozing off while in her class, she stayed up all night just because she can’t stop thinking about what Alvah said. The aftermath of all the memories that has come back to her was overwhelming her again. But she couldn’t help herself from smiling.

After everything, she remembered her again. And she’d like to believe that the idea of her remembering her again is something special.

And now, she’s on her way to learn how to become a Jinni herself.

“Miss Peddington!”

Her professor’s voice startled her that she almost fell from her seat.

“You’re daydreaming again.”

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about my—” she looked around noticing that everyone was now looking at her conspicuously, “my story draft.”

She sees her professor crossing his arms against his chest, now getting his attention.

“Well, I’d be very interested to know what you have already made. You’ve been quiet a procrastinator lately.”

“Well,” she twitched her head sideways, not expecting the kind of question her professor has asked her. And the implication that she’s been delaying her output was quite accurate, “I haven’t really written anything yet.”

“Boo.” She heard it from somewhere in the back side of the entire room, she turned her head only to find Lance sitting in one of the chairs at the back row.

Her eyes grew wide at the sight of his teasing grin.

“Miss Peddington? I really hope you’ll take this class more seriously. Right now, you just seem like an irresponsible young adult simply living in this world like they don’t have any purpose in life. Is that what you are Miss Peddington?”

She was suddenly baffled by her professor’s statement. Was she really someone who has no purpose in life? Someone who walks the face of earth unsure of what she is living for.

“Mr. Bailey, that’s not fair. Everyone in this world was created for a reason.” She remembers her journey to the 24^th century B.C. How she witnessed the actual creation of earth and the entities that were supposed to live on earth. Each one of them has a purpose. A reason why they exist. And she knows, she too has one.

“Really? Then what is your purpose?”

She wondered why he is suddenly so hard on her.

“I am yet to figure that one out. Who knows? Perhaps I am one who could make anyone’s dreams come true.”

He let out a smirk and she could only stand there, thinking if what she just said was ever going to be possible.

“Then do something Charlie!”

In a quick second, the room has turned intense. People who were already looking started to bow down their heads, avoiding their professor’s eyes.

He heart fluttered from the sudden change of her professor’s tone. He looked infuriated with her and the feeling it caused her was not one she’d like to have.

She felt attacked. Furiously, she started to open her mouth again only to be stopped by his incessant words.

“You can keep telling yourself that you are great Charlie. But greatness comes when you learn to start building something and not just relying on the ideas of it.”

Her supposed outburst was suddenly stopped when she realized that he was right.

She is not doing anything to be considered great. She simply thinks about being one but never really put her thoughts into action.

“I—”

The school bell rang and soon, everyone stood up, rushing to get out of the room that was once filled with tension.

She stiffened a sob and gathered her things, not even thinking about speaking to her professor again.

“Don’t even think for a second not to continue with my classes Miss Peddington. Coz if you do, you’re just telling everyone that I am right.”

She heard those words that tainted her sanity instantly. She walked out of the room as fast as she can, hoping that the pain caused by those words would soon disappear. She’s never been a cry baby. But the reality brought upon by her professor just hit her hard.

Without turning back, she proceeded to the ice cream track she usually seek refuge with after her classes. This time, she asked for two scoops of ice cream in a cone.

She was silently licking off the ice cream from it’s cone when she noticed someone sit beside her, noisily slurping his own ice cream.

As she turned to look who it was, Lance’s grinning face welcomed her.

“Mind if I join you?”

She didn’t respond.

“Look, I know what he said was sort of embarrassing but, I guess he wouldn’t exactly say those words if it wasn’t for a good reason.”

She sighed, fully knowing well that her professor was indeed right.

“Maybe I should just give up writing.”

“Why?” he was busy licking the side of the cone where some of the ice creams were now dripping.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to write the best novel I have build up so much in my mind. It’s as though there’s this huge writer’s block that’s causing me to blank out.”

“You just need a little more inspiration.”

“Right, where should I be getting it?’

“Isn’t there anything that recently changed in your life? Something new and intriguing.”

“Well, there is. But everything he said just hit my nerve so hard.”

“Then prove him wrong. Prove to him that you can be everything your mind has set out to be. You just have to start.”

She turned to him and smiled.

“Thank you!” then something hit her.

“Wait, why were you in my classroom today? I don’t recall you as someone who is studying in the same school I go to.”

“Oh, I just sneaked in. Do you know how easy it is to get inside that school and pretend to be a student there? So easy.”

“That is so not safe.”

“Totally.”

“Wait,” she turned to her watch and realized that she’s late. She hurriedly stood up and throw her remaining ice cream on the bin. “I’m late. I have to go.”

“Go where?”

“I can’t tell you. I’ll see you later.” She shouted as she dashed to the road leading to Alvah’s mansion. She was running out of breath the moment she got inside her salon where she would usually find her.

“You’re late.”

“I’m sorry, I was grabbing some ice cream before coming here. My professor was giving me a hard time today.”

“That is definitely not my problem.’

“I know... I know, I—m” , she was panting so hard that she bent her body forward trying to catch her breath.

“I hate people who do not respect time.”

“It won’t happen again. I’m sorry.”

She attempted to sit down only to see Alvah stood up from her couch.

“Oppss.. okay.” She started following her towards the library where she was first amazed of the place.

“Today, you will stay here.”

“Wait, what do I do here? Is there some sort of magic class I have to learn inside?”

“No. Today, you will read.”

“Read?”

“Yes, read.”

“Wait, that’s funny.” She started to chuckle.

Alvah’s expression never changed but instead, has grown serious by every minute she was laughing.

Then she stopped.

“Wait, you’re serious?’

“Do I look like anything other than serious?” she crossed her arms against her chest.

“No.”

“Then I am serious.” She clapped her hands thrice and out came flying various books taken off from the edges of the shelves.

Her eyes grew wide in amazement as each of the books looked like soldiers up in the air flying in unison and into one of the round tables in the middle of the huge library.

About three stacks of books now piled up neatly on top of the table.

“I need to read all of those?’

“Yes.”

She came near the table and found them to be old century books.

“Wait, these are aged.”

“Yes, they are. But just like wine, they became better as the years grew.”

“Wait, why do I need to read? Is this even part of your training?”

“Everything that I ask you to do, is part of what you need to learn to become a Jinni. Today, you’ll read. I’ll have someone bring your dinner in here.”

“And I need to finish all of these tonight?’

“Not necessarily.”

“Oh, that’s cool. I don’t really think I can read all of that tonight.”

“One thing though, do not just read. Understand.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“I’m serious Charlie. Read not just with your eyes but with your heart and your mind. Sometimes, books are the most magical thing you will ever find on this earth. All you need to do is begin.”

She flinched the moment she heard those words. They were oddly familiar.

“Where have I heard those same words?”

“I’m sure it’s no one in particular. Now, you must go on.” Alvah started walking away from her.

“Wait, can’t I at least get some water?”

“I’ll send in some apples.”

“Apples?”

“They’re juicy and won’t have you going to the bathroom every now and then. Now read!”

She sighed, finally looking at all the books piled up in front of her.

“Right.”