Mariposa

The Portal Closes

EPISODE EIGHT

KYLE'S POV

"Again again again!" Mari squealed for the one hundredth time.

"No, there's no way I'm going on that ferris wheel again!" I said as I walked on, clutching my stomach tightly. Gosh, I feel like throwing up.

"Come on, I promise this is the last time." She begged.

"You said that 15 this is the last times ago. No ma'am, ain't falling for that again." I said and she rolled her eyes

"No, pretty please?" She poutingly begged.

"No and that's final."

"You're mean." She said as she folded her arms on the chest with a frown. I stuck out my tongue teasingly at her.

"Come on, let's go eat." I took her hands and we made for the restaurant in the park.

"Yay! Food." She squealed

We walked to the food counter and we were welcomed by the sweet aroma of different dishes.

"So what do you wanna eat?" I asked Mari as she looked at the foods one by one with hunger written in her eyes.

"I dont know. They are all attractive." She said, staring hungrily at all the foods.

"Just pick." I said.

"Okay. I want this. This. Three of that, one of this. Oh! This looks delicious give me this too. I think I'll take this one too..

In short, Mari ended up buying : a pizza box, three sausage rolls, four doughnuts, two hamburgers, a box of French fries and five chicken wings. I only got a hamburger with pineapple smoothe.

And believe me when I say she's doing justice to the food, she is. She has finished the pizza and the rolls. Now she's doing justice to the doughnuts. I just watched in awe as she devoured the food. Sprinkles of the doughnuts were all over her mouth. Her hands were filled with chicken sauce and she doesn't feel embarrassed one bit. I stared at her stomach and then her face. I'm just wondering how her tiny body is taking in this much food.

"This tastes so good." She moaned in enjoyment.

"You're sure you're gonna eat all these?" I asked.

"Yes." She said as she took a bite out of the third doughnut. "All of em." She added.

"Okay"

After our meal, I suggested we rested but Mariposa wasn't ready to rest. The adrenaline rush in her system isn't quenched yet.

"I want the fluffy thing. I want the fluffy thing." Mari kept whining as she pulled me to the cotten candy stand.

"How much for the cotton candy?" I asked

"50cents." The seller replied

"Three, please."

"Yay!" Mari squealed as we collected the candy. Of course, Mari took two and I took one. We had a lot of fun. After we left the park, we went to a garden, an artificial one built for tourism. Mari was so happy that she squeezed air out of me in the name of hug. Too bad she's leaving in less than three hours. She's so fun to be with. We went to the cinema, went sight seeing and presently, it's getting really late.

"We gotta get you home so you can get your dress."

"Oh, I forgot I was gonna return back." She said as she sighed sadly.

"It's okay Mari. Everything is gonna be fine." I assured.

"I know but, I wanna leave and at the same time I don't wanna." She said as she turned to face me.

"I understand how you feel but you gotta go back. You have to go back to Novah and your friends." I said

"I guess so." She turned her head to the window and I sighed deeply.

We've picked her dress and we are on our way to where the portal is.

"I don't wanna go." Mariposa wailed, finally bursting into tears.

"No, no Mari." I pulled her into a hug, patting her back.

"Why is it so hard to let go?" She asked, sniffing hard.

"Mari." I pulled her away from the hug. "You can't stay with me. You belong in the garden, with Novah and the others. Think about how worried, sad and heartbroken your grandpa will be if he finds out you came to earth and you didn't return." I said, looking intensely in her eyes.

"You're right. Thanks Kyle, kinda miss him tho." She chuckled as she cleaned her eyes.

"I know you do. Now go back before Novah comes back. You don't want him to get mad." I said

"Yeah." She walked towards the portal and then she stopped on her tracks before running towards me hugging me tight.

"Thank you Kyle. I'll never forget you." She said, trying to stop the tears.

"Me neither." I said, hugging her tight.

"I'll miss you Kyle." She said between sobs

"Me too, Mari."

She pulled out from the hug and walked towards the portal.

"Bye." She said as she waved

"Bye Mari."

As she walked into the portal, a force...a very strong force blasted from it making Mari and I to fly away, hitting our backs on a wall. I groaned and stood up only to see Mari on the ground. I hurried to her and picked her up.

"Mari, Mari are you okay?" I asked worriedly, patting her cheeks. She opened her eyes and hurried to where the portal was. That was when it dawned to me that the portal was no longer there. The only thing there was a wall. What the hell?

"No, no, please open up. Open up, please. I wanna see my grandpa please, open up." Mari screamed, hitting the wall with tears streaming down her eyes. I rushed to her and pulled her into a hug.

"Mari, calm down please" I pleaded

"No, let me go! I wanna go. My grandpa needs me. I wanna see Claudia." She said as she sobbed, trying to break free from my grip but I wasn't gonna let go.

"Mari. You gotta calm down. The portal." I paused as I gulped. "Is closed."

"No!" She screamed.

"No" She kept whimpering, holding me tight and wetting my shoulders with her tears.

What I don't get is that the portal isn't supposed to close this early. It's just 8.30p.m and 9pm yesterday, I was still in my car. It's not even up to 12hrs since it opened.

"So, I won't see grandpa again?" Mari asked and seriously, I don't have an answer to that.

"I don't know, Mari. But I'm sure you'll see him soon. Believe that okay?" I assured and I felt her nod against my chest. I pulled her out of the hug and tried to pull her up but she hesitated.

"Mari, we have to go." I said as I tried to pull her up again.

"No, you go along. I'll wait here. The portal might open again and if I go, I won't know so let me just stay here just in case." She said as the hugged her legs to herself.

"Okay, I've had enough of this." I said in frustration as I pulled her up with full force, despite her hesitation. I carried her in bridal style and surprisingly she didn't fight she just rested her head on my chest. Weeping of course. I helped her balance well on the car seat and I got into the car and drove home.

We got home and I glanced at Mari. She was already asleep. I sighed and got out of the car to carry Mari out. I carried her out and I proceeded inside.The lights were on that means Cole is home. I rang the door bell and Cole opened the door.

"Hey dude." He greeted

"What'sup?" I said as I entered

"Mari is asleep?" He asked

"Yeah, had too much fun she fell asleep in the car on the way home." I replied as I proceeded up the stairs.

"She must be really tired." He said and I hummed.

"I should go lay her in one of the rooms"

"Okay"

I got to the room and I walked to the bed. Gently, I laid her on the bed. I removed her jacket and covered her with the duvet. I gently brushed away the hair covering her face to the side of there head. She looks so peaceful while sleeping. A tear escaped from her eyes and I wiped it away with my thumb. She's really hurt.

But, this is funny though. Just this morning, she was screaming that if she had a chance to go out of the forest, she'll never come back but here she is, crying in her sleep.

I knew she can't do without her grandpa. I sighed and made for the door. I held the door knob and took one last glance at her before putting off the light and walking out, closing the door behind me. I, too need to rest.