Chapter 2

Deception...

The smell of burned charcoal mixed with the aroma of the barbecue was strong in the air. The ten countries were having a barbeque party and it seems to be going very well. Singapore got herself into a hyper mode and was the central focus of the whole party. Her short ginger brown hair, tied in a pigtail stood out as she run about with jokes.

As she ran about, she suddenly lost balance and fell, not onto the cold hard ground but into a man's arm. She looked up with alarm, just to find herself in Indonesia's embrace. "Singapore, are you okay?" Without a reply she pulled herself out of Indonesia's arm and ran back into her room. She remembered vividly about that time…

The morning air was crisp and cool. Little Temasek was having the daily routine of visiting the sea. "I wonder when China will visit me again. He's been gone for so long but he only stayed here for a day!" Temasek pouted as she dipped her small tender feet in the cool, salty water. The wind blows at her small frail body, which she stood strong against as she gazed deeper and deeper into the horizon in a trance.

"Is that you Temasek?" A low manly voice asked. Temasek turned around to see Majapahit. "I am," Temasek replied and her hands tapped the cold hard rock next to her, telling Majapahit to sit down. He positioned himself in a comfortable way and dipped his feel into the water like Temasek. "Why do you look so sad?" Majapahit inquired as he gazed at Temasek's oval face accompanied by her long ginger brown hair.

"It's just that…" Temasek starts to explain, "Everybody is busy with their own stuff, I feel left out and alone…" She hung her head in disappointment. Majapahit smiled and placed his right palm onto her right shoulder. "Don't say that," he comforted, "You do realize that I'm here don't you? So you are not lonely now!" Temasek's mind got into a confused state, but the words gradually became coherent to her.

"Then, will you be my friend?" Temasek took out her pinky and looked at Majapahit with puppy eyes. "Of course, I will be," Majapahit linked her pinky with his and they played their hearts out; picking wild berries, climbing trees and dancing to the wind; till dusk. Majapahit was ready to return to Indonesia. "Majapahit," Temasek called. He turned around in surprise to see the smiling face of Temasek. "Thank you…" Majapahit nodded and turned away.

Singapore hugged her knees tighter. She knew she was a fool that time, a big fool. With her body leaned against the painted wall of her room, she let the memories replaying in her mind.

Meanwhile, all the countries were puzzled at the sudden response from Singapore. Indonesia knew what is behind the whole thing. He kept quiet as his breath become deeper, trying to hold the guilt that lies in him.

Majapahit walked along the shore of Temasek. A blue misty aura was aloft in the morning as the wind rushes past his face. He walked on, till a large rock appeared in his vision. There a figure stood, greeting the sun rise of the day. The figure realizes his presence and waved to him. Her dress was fluttering to the direction of the wind and her brown hair gets entangled in the breeze. "Temasek," He waved back and ran towards her.

"Well, you came to visit me today?" She grinned and grasp Majapahit's hand, leading him into the heart of a forest. "Where are we going?" He asked, puzzled, "I'm showing you something," Majapahit looked around, everything that he see is just trees and plants. He was still wondering why she was so worked up about something.

A beautiful light behind a curtain of vines greeted both of them. Majapahit parted the curtain of vines and he was shock by what he saw. It was paradise. Birds were flying freely in the sky, monkeys and other animals, bringing life to the whole green jungle. "Temasek, this is lovely." He praised and patted her head.

She blushed, "Well, if you like it, teach me Majapahit Terracotta," she demanded. Majapahit nodded and they started, using lumps of clay. Temasek watched him swiftly bring up a beautiful pottery, with his eyes and mind all concentrating on the clay, not letting a flaw to be formed on it. The result was simply magestic.

"Wow!" Temasek awed and looked back at her mediocre handiwork. She sulked looking at how bad her Majapahit terracotta work was. Majapahit smiled, "Its okay, this is your first try after all." He placed his hand over Temasek's and guided her. Temasek sat still. It was awkward and her face was burning.

Her mind was too full of thoughts that she lost her balance and both of them fell to the ground. Temasek was expecting the cold hard ground to hit her with a thud but instead it was the broad wide chest of Majapahit that she got contact with. "Uh… I'm sorry!" There was a heartrending reaction in her. He whole head was burning but she used a lot of effort to pull herself up, away from Majapahit.

A big gap of silence continued. "um… That's all for today…" Temasek ran into the forest, leaving Majapahit alone. "Its time…" he smirked and made his way out of the forest.

Temasek was shocked. That reaction, those speeches… they were all so unexpected. She rolled around on her bed replaying the embarrassing scene. Temasek really do not understand the feeling that made her burning inside.

From that day onwards Majapahit's visits came to a pause. Temasek was lonely and looks at the sea, waiting for him. A day passed, followed by weeks. Little did she know what her fate was going to be. She longed for the mature Majapahit. "What's on your mind, little one?" The sultan who was out on a stroll asked. "Your majesty… Its just that, Majapahit never visits me again… what is this feeling? I feel empty and sad, as if I am only a half of a whole."

The Sultan smiled, "It's a very complicated thing indeed, isn't it?" the Sultan patted her head. "That's called love, Temasek. That's love" Her eyes widen. Love? She was in love with Majapahit? Everything became understandable, and her head felt like exploding. "How do you calm this feeling of mine, your majesty?" She inquired further. The sultan gave a smile, "When you are in love, you confess, no?"

Just then, there was a loud sound of a horn blowing. Temasek knew who was coming. Her feet dashed off with great speed. She have decided what to do, she was going to confess to Majapahit. Along the horizon was a long line of Majapahit's ships. Temasek waited and waited, for her loved one to appear.

Majapahit's troops went ashore where the little naïve Temasek waits. "Majapahit, I…" something was wrong. Temasek looked into his eyes. It wasn't the kind, mature Majapahit anymore. Instead it was filled with devilish aura, evil and hatred that it frightens her. "Majapahit... are you ok?" she asked cautiously.

He ignored Temasek, who was captured by his two burly guards. "Majapahit, what is this!" Temasek demanded an explanation. Her blood was boiling from anger as she tried to wriggle out of the tight rope, which immobilized her. The soldiers went into formation. "Charge!" Majapahit ordered.

The soldiers took his order. They thrust their sharpened blade into people, like blood thirsty beasts. "No! Don't!" Temasek begged; her eyes full of tears. She tried to get out of the ropes frantically. The children were cut up, the aged were not spared, and everywhere was the stench of death. The red vial liquid was smeared on every floor, tree and wall. "Why are you doing this?" Singapore screamed. "It is my duty…" that was all he said and he turned away.

Temasek was set free to roam on the lifeless island. A storm was brewing in the sky and soon it rained cats and dogs 'Everyone is gone…' she mouthed the words softly, tears slowly falling down her cheeks. She stumbled across an infant. He was small, but now he was just as lifeless as a doll. His stomach was slashed open. Temasek lifted the infant and held it close to her. "Why!" She screamed with all the powers mustered in her lungs.

Singapore cried. That memory was unbearable. She sobbed as the memory kept replaying in her mind. Majapahit killed everyone just because it was his duty? She know that Majapahit have died. And now it is Indonesia which was left. His face resembles Majapahit a lot. But she no longer love him. Her eyes were now filled with dark hatred for him. That face that comforted her was the one that stings her with the most poisonous venom.

It was then that Singapore learned to not trust people so easily.

The sun was out again like it used to. But this time there was nobody. All the people have rotted into mother Earth. Only Temasek was left. After a long period of time it was flooded with trees and became a savage island. "At this rate China is not going to visit me anymore. Nobody would. I'm forever alone!" she cried, placing her face onto her palm.

'Roar!' there was something in the bushes that made her jump with fright. "Uh… Who's there!" her hand was trembling with trepidation. A large feline beast jumped out of the thick dense woods and onto her. It's mane was black it had a reddish brown body. "Ahh! A lion!" She struggled out but the lion's grasp was inescapable.