I have never seen such a beautiful sight of seeing my youngest brother and his girl's romance. I wandered around the hill as the cool breeze was drying my damp hair. Me, Derek, Nadia, Aquene (my adoptive older sister), my adoptive brothers and (soon-to-be) sister-in laws, ran down to the green garden again. We were like little children, playing inside in the island, laughing and chasing each other. We came out to the sandy and wet shore, it looks so blue and serene. The soft little hands of the waves rubbed against the sand back and forth. We ran together to the waters, splashing each other.

Others fell down in the waters and got wet again. Well, it ain't matter; we love to get wet while there are rainy days or not. Some of my pairs, including Derek and Nadia were embracing then kissing. This island that I've lived for five years, is a paradise for everyone. However, I feel bad about Derek and Jason suffering in that situation our parents had. I never knew that he came here in this island to forget about the situation. I was a bit concerned about my middle brother Jason and my parents. I'm glad that he and Nadia took care of each other and they're safe and sound like always.

I looked down to the waters, but suddenly I found something that caught my eye; it was something shiny. I grabbed the shining object and it was a beautiful, clear, and shining, light blue gemstone. Light blue is definitely my favorite color. It is completely cut and round, with a golden frame surrounded it; inside of the gemstone, it shaped like a multi-pointed star. It looks modern and unbreakable. It's like the size of my hand, I could just grab it and never let go. I have never seen a real precious stone in my whole life. Seeing real gemstones made my heart jump out. I really love gemstones. I felt the smooth surface on the gemstone that I could just glide my hand on it. I rose the gemstone up as the shining sun's rays passed through the gemstone, to my eyes. It was so transparent that I could see it clear as a window.

I was so caught attention to this gemstone that I have no idea where everyone went because they're gone. Although I walked through the plants and small trees, climbed up the hill step by step, and saw everyone sitting on grassy field. They saw me standing far from them, so I walked towards them.

"Mariana! Where have you been?" Wayna exclaimed.

"We've been worried." Sayen spoke as I understand that I took a while to get there.

"I know, my eyes got captured by something interesting." I spoke.

"What is it?" Knoton asked her curiously as I outstretched my hand with the gemstone on it.

"This." I spoke as they were amazed to see the beautiful gemstone I've found.

"It's beautiful, Mariana." Ashkii amazingly spoke.

"What kind of gemstone is that?" Nova asked as I didn't know what kind of gemstone is that.

"Honestly, I have no idea what kind of gemstone is that." I admitted.

"It kind of looks like a sapphire." Chayton guessed.

"Chayton, a sapphire is dark blue or just blue like Nadia's wearing it as a necklace; this is not a sapphire." I chuckled.

"So, what is it then?" Migisi asked.

"I don't know." I spoke as I stared to the gemstone on my bare hands.

I walked through the group of my siblings, and I sat in front of the tipis, to keep thinking what type of gemstone is this. I looked the bright sun; I know it's annoying my eyesight, but anyways I rose the gemstone again on the sunrays. The multi-pointed star shape gets brighter as I brought it down again.

"It kinda looks like a sapphire, like Chayton said, but it's not. What is it?" I thought deeply.

I looked through the gemstone and it looks like a kaleidoscope. I'm sure it's not a diamond. Nor a sapphire, not even ruby or emerald. What is it? Suddenly, a flashback came in my mind when I was nine years old. A springtime at my childhood moments in Oklahoma City; my kind-hearted, fourth grade teacher gave us a special class about gemstones. I was closely paying attention about gemstones. She showed us a collection of colorful gemstones on a blank pillow. I took a look on the same gemstone I already found. I remember the precise moment between me and the teacher.

"Teacher..." I asked her.

"Yes, Mariana?" She responded kindly.

"I love this gemstone, it's so beautiful and it's definitely my color." I spoke.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"That gemstone you loved, is called a blue topaz." She explained.

The word "blue topaz" had echoed in my ears, that this gemstone I already found is a blue topaz. Speechlessness came out from my mouth; I felt a lump in my chest that I just want to rocket out for joy for finding the gemstone I loved over a decade ago. I ran at a certain amount of speed like I have some exciting news.

"Hey guys! I know what kind of gemstone is this!" I exclaimed.

"What? No wonder!" Migisi exclaimed.

"No wonder!" The others exclaimed in unison.

"This is my favorite gemstone ever since I was a little girl." I eagerly spoke.

"A blue topaz." I introduced the blue topaz in front of everyone, as they were amazed.

"Oh my God, how did you know it's a blue topaz?" Nova asked curiously.

"I remember the time in my elementary school years, my fourth grade teacher gave me a special class about gemstones. She has a collection of different kind of gemstones. My eyes were captured by its beauty, I could've only stared at every gemstone in every minute. But the only gemstone that I felt enamored was the light blue gemstone. I took a longing look on it; my teacher understood that I totally loved this gemstone. I asked her what kind of gemstone is that, she told me those words 'That gemstone you loved, Mariana, is a blue topaz'. When I heard those two simple words, I knew that the gemstone I've already found in this island is, a blue topaz." I explained.

"Wow, sounds like you've got a good memory after hard years went by. Although, I can hardly remember. I was a little kid." Derek spoke as I remember his times of his early childhood.

"Yeah, but it's a good thing that you've got the chance to see a real, blue topaz." I spoke.

Suddenly, a question came out in my mind: How does a blue topaz work? I'm like, Good question. But I have absolutely have no idea.

"You don't know how does that work?" Wayna asked as I shook my head.

"I could hardly believe that this blue topaz doesn't really do anything." I chuckled.

"Oh, well." I shrugged my shoudlers.

"I'll keep it on my small treasure chest." I spoke as I walked towards to my tipi.

Suddenly, I stopped. Why did I stopped myself? I forgot. Wait, I haven't showed it to my sempul. I went to our father's tipi; I saw him sitting with his legs crossed, and sewing something, like a scarf or a shawl.

" 'Ite, you're back." He spoke kindly in English with his accent. I was so surprised that he spoke English for the first time, I didn't even know how to say.

"Yes, I'm back." Those are the only words I said.

"Father, I just want to show something interesting." I pleaded kindly as I showed the blue topaz in front of my adoptive father.

My father looks amazed by seeing the beautiful gemstone shining to his wrinkly eyes.

"A blue topaz." He spoke as I was surprised again.

"How did you know, father?" I asked him.

"Because in my adulthood, I was a hunter of precious stones. I found gemstones on cliffs, caves, anywhere in this island. After I found some it, I made them as necklaces, bracelets, even earrings. But when I started to age and my health is like lowering down, I felt bad that I can't do it anymore." He explained to me about his times of his adulthood till today.

"Why, father?" I asked as he sadly shook his head.

"Father," I kneeled down to him.

"It doesn't matter if you're too old to keep finding gemstones. I loved gemstones when I was a little girl and I never get too old to keep loving them." I spoke as an advice for him.

"Your wife's spirit has left in my heart, father. I'm sure her good spirit will continue to grow eternally. You're not alone." I advised him with my smile, and he smiled back at me.

"Have you still heard about your biological parents?" He asked me as my smile faded and I sighed.

"I guess the situation is still worsening. I'm also worried about my middle brother Jason." I sadly spoke.

"Jason?" I'm sure my father might not know about Jason.

"He's my biological brother...like Derek." I spoke as he understood.

"I see." He spoke.

"Anyway, the blue topaz is beautiful. It looks very modern and unbreakable." He spoke while looking at the blue topaz.

"That's what I thought." I chuckled.

We just paused for a moment while he took a look of the blue topaz.

"I am certain that this gemstone you showed me in your hands, has a very significant meaning." He assured.

"What is it, father?" I asked him because I was curious about the symbolism of the blue topaz.

"I cannot tell you, 'ite. Try this gemstone and you will see the meaning of it." He spoke as he gave the blue topaz back to me.

I looked at the blue topaz, then to my father, and he smiled to me.

"Etrìpa syayvi, Mariana. I believe that you can do it yourself." He wished me luck, to discover the meaning of the blue topaz.

"Sempul, irayo." I thanked him as I walked out from the tipi.

Well, I'm sure that he can't tell me the meaning of it. He told me that two ways I should discover its meaning: try it and I'll see. God knows that I can't doubt or ask why. So I added the third way to discover its meaning is, have faith. Try, believe and see. I will never give up.

I went in my tipi to look for the small brown chest I have for four years. It looks very old and dusty before, but good thing I polished it. I opened the top of it, I always knew that there's nothing but a nicely folded scarf like a small pillow. I put it in the treasure carefully, because I know it's unbreakable. I want my gemstone, however, unscratched or unspotted. I closed the lid slowly and locked it carefully. I walked out from my tipi and sat with my legs crossed to relax a little. I looked up the sky, filled with cerulean clouds walking in the air.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching to me. It was Derek, whose I'm pretty sure that he wanted to talk to me.

"Hey, Mariana." He greeted as I smiled.

"Hey, Derek." I grinned as he sat next to me.

"Where have you been for a while?" He asked me as I sighed.

"I showed to my father the blue topaz, and that reminds him years ago. When he was an adult, he was a gemstone hunter." I spoke as I saw Derek's surprised look.

"Really?" Derek asked surprisingly as I nodded.

"However, like today, his health is lowering down little by little. Fortunately I told him that he'll never be too old to keep finding gemstones. My passion of gemstones never gets too old. Your passion of adventures, never gets old." I continued and we smiled to each other.

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Sempul means "father"

'ite means "daughter."

irayo means "thank you."

Etrìpa syayvi  means "Good luck"