"That's a great idea!" the princess of Solaria squealed at the top of her lungs. She immediately stood up and pulled the rest of the Winx to follow her. In a matter of a minute, we Specialists were alone at the beachfront and decided to pack up the towels and umbrellas we were using.

"Do you think it's alright to leave them alone?" Timmy asked, adjusting his glasses as he picked up the cooler.

"Timmy, they're the Winx! And besides, I don't think any evil entity is going to visit Minerva. The sun shines the brightest here so their dark magic won't be much of use here." Brandon replied. "For all I know, the girls might just end up going shopping."

We all laughed to ourselves and proceeded to the barracks to decide our sleeping quarters. The Silvertail was just a few meters away from the coastline and indeed the infrastructure was as glorious as the red fountain. There were no guards nor gates but it was well protected by force fields operated from the central tower and there docked five large jets and several jet-powered hoverbikes. For us specialists, this was a really beautiful area to train and to become a station for missions. Our trip to Minerva plus getting a chance to stay at the Silvertail will surely become an envy. However, to our dismay, the room that could fit all six of us were already occupied, leaving only the twin-sharing rooms available. I can see Sky and Brandon scratching there heads on who stays with whom.

"How 'bout Sky and Brandon, Helia and Riven, and Timmy and I share rooms? There's about six rooms available and we can let the girls divide the remaining three by themselves." Nabu proposed.

Brandon nervously laughed. "I kinda promised Stella that we'll spend the night at Minerva together so we might head out tonight."

Riven gave Brandon a rather strong hit on the shoulder and smirked. "In that case, Musa and I can go out too, I wanna take one of Silvertail's hoverbikes for a spin, I wanna know if they're as good as the ones we have in Red Fountain.

Nabu sighed and looked at me with eyes of sympathy. I guess pairing up couldn't be helped, Minerva is indeed a beautiful place and these guys would take the advantage of wooing their girlfriends. "Well, looks like everyone's got their schedules filled tonight, so Brandon, you and Stella can take the 1st room, Musa and Riven on the second one. Sky, Timmy?" Nabu turned his head to the other two who simply smiled.

"Timmy, you and Tecna can have the third; Sky and Bloom, the fourth." he continued.

As soon as the guys got their card keys, they went ahead to check the rooms. I sighed, it was as if the others immediately forgot my current situation, but I don't want to be a roadblock on this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit paradise during a mission. If there was to blame, I can only blame myself for letting myself be in this situation. Nabu smiled and said that we can share the other room since Flora and Aisha were bestfriends and they wouldn't mind bunking in together, however, before Nabu could give me our card key, his phone rang.

"Oh, alright. See you later."

It was Aisha and hearing their call, I was once again in a deadly pit.

"Sorry Helia, Aisha would kill me."

Looks like Nabu's staying with Aisha. I simply smiled at him. "I can manage." I replied.

"Helia, I know the guys and the Winx may seem to forget ans shrug your situation off their minds but believe me, they want you and Flora to patch things up. Judging by the situation, the guys already called them and it seems that they want you and Flora to have the day all for yourselves."

"Uh, about that." I stated in a low voice. "Flora and I already had the talk. It really didn't give much of a closure but I was able to tell her about my situation with Krystal."

Nabu folded his arms across his chest, seemingly interested to what I've just said. "And, what did she say?"

"She congratulated me." I replied. My heart sank, remembering our small talk earlier.

"You should realized that she's not okay with that, Helia."

"I know, but what choice do I have? I can't keep lying to her forever. I can't hide the fact that I'm engaged to Krystal."

"You're still lying Helia, there's still something that you're not telling her." Nabu said. He was right, I was still keeping the truth away from Flora and I still stand by my decision that it was for the best. Nabu handed me the card key to the sixth room. "That's by the terrace, fifth floor, best view."

He left me still pondering with my thoughts and trying to come up with ideas on how I'd spend the whole day and night with Flora. I already had the chance to talk to her earlier, but to spend the whole day with her would be an emotional torture. I can't count how many times I've let out a sigh, and it was just noon. I dug my own grave and jumped right in, for whatever reason remains, my feelings for Flora and the lies I continue on committing are contradicting and kills me by every minute that passed by. I'll give it another shot, maybe I had the wrong foot forward earlier and I did not properly convey my feelings to the fairy of nature, but I still have several hours in my favor, before Krystal arrives.

I took the elevator to the fifth floor, and on it was the rooftop greenhouse. Indeed, it had the best view and I kept on reminding myself to thank Nabu for this favor. All the walls were made of glass and it overlooked the beach of Minerva. It was also the spot to view the sunset later, I internally patted myself in the back, now I have something to show Flora and seeing her delighted will somehow ease the tight feeling in my chest. I have to break her facade, and by doing so, she'll be able to tell me how she really feels and maybe that moment will give me all the strength that I need to overcome my dreads and despair. I swept up my phone and called her, it rang for a while before she was able to pick it up.

"Helia?" she answered.

"Uh, yes, its me. I really don't want to be the bearer of bad news but-" I nervously chuckled.

"It's okay, Helia. I know, the girls already told me. We'll be back in Silvertail in about an hour, so uhm... see you there."

"Yeah, see you... oh, and by the way, it's on the fifth, I'll be waiting in the greenhouse so I can give you the card key."

"A greenhouse?" her voice raised pitch, obviously excited with the newfound feature in our floor. "Can't wait to see it!"

"I'm sure you'll love it, Flora."

"I sure will. See you, Helia."

She ended the call, and before she was able to cut the line, I can hear the girls cheering for her, unknown to them that we already had the talk. As far as I remember, Bloom and Tecna knows our situation and about my engagement to Krystal, obviously, Sky and Timmy can't keep secrets from them. I sighed, and hopefully the last sigh I'd be giving out today. I opened the room and saw two beds on each side of the room, thankfully, this would avoid an awkward sharing at the bed, or yet I'll be sleeping on the couch. The room had one side of it face the ocean and again, was a wall made of glass. I laid my bag down and decided to kill time and paint the roses in the greenhouse.


1:00 PM

Crimson Lake. That was the color of the rose in front of me, and with every stroke of graphite unto the paper of my sketchpad, my mind meditated and I somehow felt peace. I remembered the days where I'd spend the entire day at Flora's personal greenhouse where she grew blue roses just for me, just for me. I already lost track of time and as the elevator bell snapped me out of my daze, I found myself drawing a portrait of her, I realized how I was able to memorize every feature, every strand and every bit of her, my hands freely glided on their own.

I closed my sketchpad to greet Flora, but as the elevator doors open, my hear fluttered in a sight of her in a white sun dress, the cloth was thin and sheer enough to show silhouettes of her legs and her waist, and hair was just down, no accessories, just her in all of her beauty. I was speechless and at loss for words.

She looked away for a moment and her face turned red, and I'm betting mine was as red as hers; "I'm sorry but the girls and I went shopping and well, they said that this one's the best to beat the warm weather here in Minerva so I bought one for myself. Is it too much?" she shyly asked, fidgeting on the thin satin.

"No, it's fine." I whispered, trying to contain and save myself from embarrassment. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you." she blushed, still diverting her eyes away from me. For a moment, it feels very nostalgic. This feeling with Flora, I feel so much at ease. "Oh, before I forget, I got you something to eat. I noticed you haven't eaten since you woke up today so I got you a salad and steak, is that okay?"

"You didn't have to, Flora, but thank you, I appreciate it." I smiled and took the bag from her hands, my hand brushed hers. I looked down and remembered about the gem I saw, curiosity still taking the best of me. I looked and saw that she was still hiding it behind her golden bracelets. She pulled her hand away as soon as the bag was in my hand, probably noticing that I was looking at her wrist.

"Something wrong, Helia?" she asked.

"No. But Flora, I need to ask you again, are you alright?"

She simply gave me a smile and giggled; "For the last time, you don't need to worry about me. I'm fine. I wouldn't join the mission if I'm still feeling sick, so really, Helia, I'm okay."

I give up, asking her directly won't do. "If you say so, I said in a lower tone."

I took the food and gave her the card key. Flora was truly in love with the green house and stayed with me there as I ate the meal she brought for me. I looked at her and she at me, we exchanged smiles and talked about the greenhouse and the little town of Minerva. We both were avoiding the real questions, but if conversations like this can help me regain my confidence around and and gain her trust once more, then I'm alright with it.

Suddenly, the elevator bell rang once more. We both looked curiously at the elevators door as they swung wide open, only to reveal a man in a specialist uniform, his hair as black as the midnight, his eyes were silver as the glitters of sunlight that illuminated at the horizon. I was surprised to see an unexpected visitor in our floor, and as far as I can remember, there's only one room here.

"I'm looking for someone named Flora?" he casually asked and Flora, to my dismay, immediately stood up to greet him with excitement in her eyes.

"Yes? I'm Flora." she happily answered. My stomach feels like there were tons of butterflies in them, and fist clenched at the sight of her and this stranger talking.

"I was told this belongs to you." he replied, holding one of her flower earrings. Flora gasped and held her ear, realizing she actually lost it earlier. I was about to lose myself as well, the feeling of jealousy overflowing and knowing that there's nothing I can do since I'm no longer her lover. I glanced to the other direction and ignored their little chat, trying to convince myself that I wasn't affected, but I really was. I stood up, excused myself and headed outside. I slipped the card key into Flora's hands so she can open the room whenever she wanted to but as for me, I don't think I'll be coming back until my head cools and the stranger leaves.

2:30 PM

I found myself skipping stones at the calm beach. What once was filled with exciting waves that enticed people to swim was now a calm and quiet sea. I figured that in this heat, people wouldn't really be staying to long under the sun, it was a good thing that I happened to grab one of those umbrellas on my way out. I though about nothing and tried to clear my mind, about Flora, about Krystal, my mother, the queen, and everyone. What was I missing? Everything is going the opposite way, there must be something wrong. But one thing's for sure though, I now know how Flora must've felt when she learned that I was engaged to Krystal. This feeling sinks into my stomach and makes me want to rip it out apart.

I'm being very childish. At that moment I stormed out the door, I only admitted that keeping the secret away from Flora was useless and I cannot deny the feelings I have for her but setting things straight now, it's more than difficult. It's already impossible. I kept rambling to myself, negativity just got the best of me.

"You didn't have to leave." I heard her voice that made me turn my head to the side quickly. She sat beside me, handing me a glass of fruit juice. "I made it myself, try it."

"I just wanted to see the view up close." I replied.

"We already did earlier."

"I wanted to see it again."

There was a pause.

"What do you think we should do, Helia?" she asked me, my eyes still at the scenery. "Us being friends, I don't think it will work out."

"Flora, can we be honest with each other now?" I seriously replied. I looked her in the eyes and took her hand, mindlessly, making her spill the fruit juice she was holding. "Tell me everything you want to say." She stared back into my eyes, glittering from the tears that wanted to fall. Those emerald eyes of her, gentle but mysterious. Despite the cheerful atmosphere she emits, I know, there are many secrets this lovely creature hides.

"I am honest with you, Helia." she inhaled sharply before placing her other hand on top of mine. "It's just-"

"It's just what, Flora?" I did not realize my tone rose. Her eyes were glazed and she bit her lip, her hands clasped tighter onto mine. Finally, I broke her mask.

"It's just that I can't trust you anymore, Helia!" tears ran down her face, her hands grasping mine tightly. I can feel her frustration that she held on for weeks. "I can't trust you, but I wanted to. I wanted to believe that there's something behind you breaking up with me, but learning today that you're engaged to Krystal, it just shattered my hopes." she cried. I didn't know what to say, heck, I didn't even know how to comfort her now. "I joined this mission when I learned you were joining too, I had high hopes that you'd say you were wrong and we can be back together, but the only thing's wrong is that I expected something... something to happen." she continued to cry, releasing her tight grasp on my hands to wipe her tears away.

"Flora, I'm really sorry, it wasn't my decision to be engaged to Krystal." I was defending myself from my own mistake. "I didn't want to leave you."

"But you did, Helia."

I was crushed. No words could hurt more, but this conversation may be painful but this is the opportunity that I can be honest with her, with her true feelings. "Flora, please, listen to me. My mother and the queen of Linphea made the agreement about the engagement, I was actually surprised when I heard the news. I accepted it because I wanted to protect you from what they might do if I decline. I know the queen, Flora, and I definitely know my mother, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants."

"How can I believe you, Helia?" in between sobs, she managed to push out words. Her tears continued to flow and I know how heavy her heart must be feeling now. "How can I believe... someone who left me in the dark, I was... I didn't know what to do. So how can I believe you?!" her voice was already high and loud, she was breaking.

I gritted my teeth, I can't keep on defending myself, I know it's my fault and she's really hurt. My mind went blank, my eyes went hazy and my heart could explode any minute now. I reached to grab her wrist, pulling her close to me as everything around us became a blur. Inch by inch, I became closer to her, her face, her hair, everything, was now closer. Her eyes grew wide and her pink lips parted. My hands acted on their own, cupping her face, holding her soft cheeks that I longed to touch, and I could only close my eyes as hers did so as well and let fate decide whether my true feelings will reach her.

Finally, the dreadful gap of despair between us closed.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally, right? But please, stay seated for more emotional rollercoasters to come. Thank you very much for the reviews you guys left, it's what keeping me alive and going to finish this fiction. Next chapter to be uploaded on Wednesday since I'll be finishing some art commissions tomorrow. See you then! Read, rate, review.