Chapter 4: The Mysterious Tree

Late one night, Gwen couldn't fall asleep. She tossed and turned in bed, forcing her eyes shut, but sleep refused to come.

Finally, she sat up and slowly walked toward the curtain, which swayed gently in the cool breeze coming through her bedroom window.

She frowned in confusion.

She was certain she had closed the window before going to bed.

"Why is it open?" she wondered.

As she looked outside, her eyes fell upon the enormous tree in the distance, surrounded by its beautiful gardens. Beneath the bright moonlight, the flowers shimmered with an almost magical glow.

Once again, she found herself staring at the tree, completely mesmerized, as though it were silently calling her.

Without thinking, she quietly made her way downstairs and slipped out of the house.

She slowly walked toward the garden.

When she finally reached it, she stepped inside. Countless flowers of every color and variety glowed brilliantly, illuminating the entire garden.

But when she reached the place where the giant tree should have been, she found something completely unexpected.

Instead of the tree, a breathtaking world stretched before her—a place more beautiful than anywhere she had ever seen in her life.

Glowing butterflies fluttered through the air among dazzling flowers. A crystal-clear stream flowed gently nearby, filled with lively fish swimming beneath the surface. There were gardens overflowing with every kind of fruit and vegetable imaginable.

Ahead stood a magnificent archway decorated with lush leaves and blooming flowers, as if a grand celebration were taking place beyond it.

"Wow... This place is incredible. I've never seen anything this beautiful before," she whispered to herself.

Curious, Gwen walked through the archway.

Beyond it stood a magnificent kingdom.

Elegant dining tables were covered with delicious food, surrounded by finely crafted chairs. The walls and floors sparkled as though they had been built from marble and diamonds.

"Wow... The food looks so delicious—and healthy too. I could live here forever."

As she wandered farther inside, she noticed a group of beautifully dressed people talking among themselves.

Frightened of being discovered, she quickly hid beneath one of the tables.

She couldn't understand a single word they were saying, so she remained perfectly still, listening from her hiding place.

"I wish Mom, Dad, my brothers, and I could live here instead," she whispered. "We'd never have to struggle again."

The thought of her family suddenly filled her heart.

She realized she had to return home before they noticed she was missing.

But there was one problem.

She had no idea how to get back.

Quietly crawling toward the enormous doorway leading outside, she slipped through it unnoticed.

The moment she stepped out, she began running.

She ran as fast as she could, desperately searching for the garden where she had entered, but every path looked unfamiliar.

"Oh no... Where am I? How am I supposed to get back? I think I'm lost..." she cried, her voice trembling.

Suddenly, she remembered something the elders often said:

If you ever get lost, turn your clothes inside out, and you'll find your way back.

Without hesitation, she turned her clothes inside out and continued running through the dense forest.

She passed countless trees and plants bearing every kind of fruit imaginable.

Along the way, she picked several bright red wax apples and carried them as she ran.

She kept running until she finally found the flower-covered archway that led back to the garden with the giant tree.

As she rushed through it, she tripped on the concrete path and fell to the ground.

Only then did she realize she had finally escaped that mysterious, enchanting place.

"Thank goodness... I made it home!"

She hurried back to the house, nearly stumbling again in her haste.

When she arrived, her parents and siblings were still asleep.

She quietly returned to her bedroom, placed the wax apples on the small table beside her bed, and immediately fell asleep, exhausted.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The loud knocking jolted Gwen awake.

It was Angelo.

"Alright! I'm awake!" she shouted.

She climbed out of bed, opened the door, and glanced at the clock.

It was already six o'clock in the morning.

Then her eyes suddenly fell upon the table.

"H-Huh?!"

She gasped in shock.

Hearing her scream, Angelo hurried back upstairs and rushed into her room.

"What happened, Ate? I've been trying to wake you up for ages," he said.

"W-Where are the... the..."

"The what?"

"The fruit... I left it on the table."

"What fruit? There's no fruit here. Besides, this is the first time I've come into your room today."

"That's impossible..."

"What are you talking about, Ate? I don't understand."

The bright red wax apples she had brought home the night before had completely disappeared.

In their place were nothing but scattered leaves.

"Why are there so many leaves on your table?" Angelo asked curiously. "Do you have a school project that requires leaves or something?"

"Umm... n-no. I just needed some leaves, so I picked them from the plants downstairs last night," Gwen lied.

"Oh, come on, Ate. Let's go. Mom's waiting for us downstairs for breakfast."

"Alright... I'll be there in a minute."

After Angelo left, Gwen remained frozen in place.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

The fruit she had carried home from that mysterious place had somehow transformed into ordinary leaves overnight.

Slowly, she walked to the window.

Her eyes searched for the giant tree standing in the distance, surrounded by its beautiful gardens.

For a moment, it almost seemed as though someone—or something—was carefully watching over the place.

Gwen had barely escaped after getting lost in that mysterious realm.

What secrets lay hidden behind the giant tree?

And what connection did it have to the red roses... and the mysterious letter???

Find out in the next series of Red Roses and the Mysterious Letter: The Balete Tree \=)

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