Chapter 20: Love At First Touch

Raffy woke up inside their room in the hot spring sweating heavily. He got up thinking that what happened to him was only a dream. When he went to the mirror to check himself, he noticed that he had a bracelet just like that of Joed. He looked at it closely and saw the word "Fire" engraved on it. Raffy hurriedly got out of the room to tell the others about what happened to him.

He first saw Pinggoy and told him what happened at the volcano.

"So you mean that you have the powers of the fire guardian?"

"Yeah. I have a bracelet just like Joed. The word 'Fire' is engraved on it, meaning that I am indeed the fire guardian. By the way, did the volcano outside erupt?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Did you cause that eruption?"

"Yes, and I tried to hold back the lava that was going to destroy the spring. But I suddenly fainted."

"So it means that you didn't hold back the lava?"

"No. I did. Well, I think I did. After I lost my hold on the lava, I heard someone use Joed's power."

"Maybe it was really Joed, you only didn't see because you fainted."

"No. It was not Joed. Actually, it was a girl. I saw her, she looked like an angel. And…and she held my hand, and I felt like I was in heaven. But then she let go. The next thing I know is that I'm in our room."

"You're pathetic Raffy."

"What? What did I do?"

"Can't you see? That was only one of your fantasies. I can't believe your telling me this."

"Fantasies? Hello? The volcano erupted...I am sweating heavily meaning that I was in the volcano...I have this bracelet that clearly shows that I am the fire guardian."

"I have another explanation for what happened to you."

"Oh really? You really are the smartest among us here. Okay, tell me."

"You woke up inside your room because, firstly, you went up there to sleep. You were sweating heavily because you were dreaming that stupid fantasy of yours. And apparently, someone among us, or even the personnel of this spring, put that bracelet on you while you’re sleeping."

"That is really smart of you Pinggoy."

"Thank you."

"How about I show you my powers? Then will you believe me?"

"Okay. After all, seeing is believing isn't it?"

Raffy snapped his fingers, confident that he will be able to conjure a small ball of fire. Unfortunately, he still could not do it.

"So Raffy? Where is it?"

"I don't...I...But I did it before!"

"You did it before...while your dreaming. Anything can happen inside your dreams. Okay?"

"But..."

"Enough talk Raffy. I'll see you around okay?"

"But..."

"Okay?"

"All right. See you around."

"Good. If you need me, I will be at the foot spa. Oh, and the others are eating at the bar. You better tell them what happened. Just don't let them think you're crazy."

Raffy bid goodbye to Pinggoy and went to the garden. He still cannot help but think why his powers did not work.

"Maybe it was that girl. Maybe, when she held my hand, she absorbed my powers. After all, Vladimir said it was possible. Only, I am not dead. She can only take it from me once I'm dead."

Raffy stayed at the garden until dusk thinking of what happened to him. After some time, he convinced himself that it was just a dream. In anger, he removed the bracelet and threw it away. The lights in the garden suddenly lightened. He was about to go to the bar to join his friends when someone stopped him.

"Excuse me. You dropped your bracelet."

"Oh, you can have it. I don't want it anymore."

"But it's yours. I can't take something of which isn't mine."

"Miss...you can have it. Really, I do not mind."

"No. This is yours and you should have it back."

The girl held Raffy's hand and put the bracelet in his palm. Raffy recognized the touch of the girl from before. It was like the touch of the angel who saved him at the foot of the volcano.

"You're...you're the one who saved me."

"Like I said, I can't take something of which isn't mine. Goodnight to you."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. And by the way, what happened before is real. You really are the fire guardian. Goodbye."

"Wait...can I at least see your face?"

"Maybe some other time, Raffy."

The girl slowly walked away and left Raffy alone at the garden. He could not believe that it really was real. Before heading back inside, he took a last look at the direction she went. He thinks he is already in love with the girl.
He hurried to the others while putting the bracelet back on his wrist. Suddenly, something hit him in the head that made him stop.

"How did she know who I am?"

Raffy slowed down to a walk towards the others while thinking how she did that. Only the guys and the spirits know their name. Even the minions of Quirella do not know their names. Raffy thought of these repeatedly until he was with the gang.

"Hey Raffy! Pinggoy told us that you already got your powers." Ramch told Raffy while eating his food.

"I did."

"Will you show us yours?"

"Yuck Ramch. You want Raffy to show you his you-know-what?" Paolo said who just got back from the bathroom.

"Not that Paolo! You are disgusting. I mean his powers!"

"All right. Will you Raffy? Please?"

"You're not angry with me anymore?"

"Of course not. I was just exhausted with the climb here that it went to my head. I'm sorry."

Paolo's apology somewhat lightened Raffy's spirit so he decided to show them his powers.

"All right, I'll show you. But not here. There are too many people. Let's go up to our room."

The gang headed for the room excited to see Raffy's powers. While heading to the room, Raffy saw the girl from before. He was not sure that it was she because he did not saw her face. But her smile and eyes somehow told Raffy that it was she. Raffy just smiled back and continued walking to their room. He just then realized that what he saw was an exact look alike of Justine. She was Justine. This made Raffy's heart jump that it almost leapt out of his chest.