112. Cursed Princess

Somin and Pomchun

Grabbing a small black bag Somin put a sketchbook with pencils and an iPod in. What if she feels like listening to music? Finally, she added a romance book to read, the new one she treated herself to.

"Yet to come"

A story about a struggling musician trying to make it big in the new city. What will happen when he meets the upcoming new singer? They have to fight about the spotlight and put the unexpected feelings aside as the producer will give chance to only one of them.

How original. She scoffed but looked forward to it anyway.

Clouds were lazily moving on the blue sky, light wind caressed tree leaves and the Indian summer was here. The last chance to feel warm before the snow fell and covered everything like a blanket. Outside, she stopped to enjoy the warmth of sun rays on her skin, closing her eyes to savor the moment.

I deserve to treat myself, I don't want to live in misery anymore.

I'll be good to myself.

What will Teho do today? Remembering him to stay too.

He could do me, jeez don't be so cringy Somin. She laughed at herself.

This day, this strange city made her more adventurous. Her tiny strides were slowly leading the way to the city center. Her steps trailed the path alongside the river, which was near. Water was sparkling with excitement as a light wind made tiny waves to make it move. She smiled happily and remembered home.

...

Nine-year-old Somin ventured deeper into the forest, walking lazily alongside a sparkly hill stream with her brother. He rarely went to nature even though the round hills were close. There were only a few bus stops behind the city. But when the younger sister pleaded and he saw her doe eyes with hurt in them, it was a dead giveaway, he'll accompany her. She was too young to go alone anyway.

Both siblings carefully avoided bigger stones on the badly maintained path and young Somin looked for the sweetest wild strawberries under the larches lining the road. Pomchun stopped, leaving his sister to get a handful of them, sitting in the shade of one such tree. She giddily fed him from her small palm and the handsome brother made it fun, taking one juice strawberry aside.

"Wanna hear a story?" the older boy asked and the shy sister nodded excitedly.

These ventures alone in the woods without parents were the most rebelling she ever did as a child. Somin trusted her brother to protect her and the older boy wasn't easily afraid.

"Between the tall larch trees lived a young princess," he started and Somin let out a small wow.

She sat next to him on the hillside and fed him more strawberries that her small hands enveloped.

"She was cursed," he continued. "That's why she lived there alone."

"What was the curse about?" the young sister asked, intrigued.

"She couldn't talk so everyone who crossed a path with her, just ignored her, after she couldn't say her greetings back." He reached out and pressed the top of her nose, which made her smile.

"That's so rude," Somin said.

"The princess hadn't remembered who cursed her and when. Her kingdom was the forest and her servants were the animals. She was in tune with nature, but she missed the company of someone special," he paused.

"A prince?" Somin asked and covered her mouth with excitement.

"A prince. But how can she acquire such a man when she couldn't speak even with the most ordinary pilgrims? They avoided her in fear she was a trickster fairy who'll lead them into swamps to their death," Pomchun made a sweet story suddenly become more sinister which the child sister loved.

"Maybe the fairy cursed her," Somin offered.

"Maybe," he lowered his voice, "but that's not important. She lay on the moss in her flower dress, she weaved herself, and wondered how to attract attention once the prince found himself wandering her way," Pomchun said.

"Oh, she has a flower dress?" Somin's attention went astray.

"Yes, they're white. Made of daisies and she had the prettiest flower crown from every meadow flower you can imagine," he added, losing himself in entertaining the young gullible girl.

"Were dandelions in her crown?" Somin asked and put another palm full of sweet strawberries to his lips.

"Of course," he smiled and ate them up.

"And thistle?" the sister asked.

"Sure why not, everything she liked," he said.

"So what did she come up with?" Somin wondered.

"Purse your lips, Bambi," he said. "I'm gonna show you."

She closed her eyes and fidgeted in between the thyme which made its beautiful smell go into the air like perfume. He put her long free hair back and gently pulled her chin up. Then, he used the strawberry like a lipstick, making the young sister's lips red.

"Pretty," he sighed when she opened her eyes.

"You see, she decided to be more visible. Strawberries made her lips beautifully red and all the animals praised how stunning she was," he said playfully.

"Really?" Somin asked.

"She went around and found a coal ash to darken her lashes and brows," he continued.

"And it made her the prettiest?" His sister smiled, eating the red from her lips.

"She truly was the most gorgeous one there was." He caressed her chin and stood up to pick up dandelions from which he weaved a small crown for her.

"Like you." He finally saw a spark in her incredibly sad eyes.

"Did everybody notice her after?" Somin asked.

"Not everybody. She waited for the prince, so why would she try to dazzle those rude pilgrims who ignored her anyway. She just danced around her forest and waited for the one prince, who'll notice her beauty and teach her how to speak," Pomchun concluded.

"Really? Do princes have this ability? Won't he go away when he sees she can't talk?" Somin was doubtful.

"The right prince will know. I'll tell you a secret." Pomchun leaned closer to her.

"He has dreams about her every night. She dances in them and is incredibly beautiful even though she's silent. So he got on his horse already and now he has to travel the world to find her forest." Pomchun wanted to sweeten the end.

"And it'll break the curse?" Somin asked.

"Absolutely." He brushed her long black hair with his fingers.

"Wow," she let out.

"So remember Bambi, even if everybody isn't the nicest person ever, don't put yourself down for them. Just wait and be yourself," he concluded.

"I don't need anybody when I have you," she retorted.

...

I miss him so much. Somin realized sadly, her hands itched with wanting to call him.

I shouldn't bother him, he has a tight schedule. She remembered.

The small neighborhood in which the dorms were, opened, making space for bigger and taller buildings.

New world, let's see.

...

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