Hailey's Point of View.
"It's Wednesday!" I exclaimed to myself after I watched the sunrise. I walked to my table which my calendar is on.
'Wednesday. Second check up day of the week.'
"Hailey, I already put your essentials needed to get ready. It's in the bathroom. After you get ready, just go downstairs. I am also done cooking our meals." I heard Yaya said from outside my room.
"Okay, Yaya. I'll go downstairs after I take a bath and change!" I responded gladly to her.
"Don't be too excited. You might slip in the bathroom. Be careful, okay?" She said before I heard her footsteps walking away from my room.
After the other night, I told myself that I won't cry because of painting anymore. I told myself that I'll pursue on finishing an artwork when I am really ready. I won't push myself into that situation anymore.
I also red about the competition and told Yaya about it. I think it's the perfect way to make myself ready to paint again. The competition goes like this. They will recruit people to join and then they'll be the one to let those people travel around the country. They won't push you into the competition right away.
When I told Yaya about it, she was hesitant to agree with me but I told her that in this way, I'll grow.
"This is really it." I told myself and let out a deep sigh before walking to the bathroom. I smiled and bit my lip.
Asher's Point of View.
"It's the registration day." I told myself and gritted my teeth. I may look like crazy now but I waited for this. I slapped myself out of nowhere.
"This is real. I am not imagining. I won't mess this up." I told myself and caressed my cheeks because it hurt when I did slap myself.
My phone beeped that made me turn my back and look for it. Once I found it, texts from them were the first thing to pop up.
From: Dara
We are outside your house now. Take your time getting ready.
From: Inez
Ash!!! Wake up! We are outside your house now! I am so excited! Please, hurry! We might not make it!
From: Cassian
Bro, wake up and get ready. Inez is so loud. My ears might pop anytime because she won't stop screaming. Please, have mercy.
I chuckled at what Cassian texted me. Inez being Inez. She was the first one to react when I told her about the competition. Our youngest.
I told them about the competition yesterday and as usual, Dara was cool with it. It was expensive so I didn't really expected them to decide right away. Dara is willing to pay for everything. When it comes to money, she is the one that you can call on.
"Okay. Let's get this started. Hailey, I will paint with you someday. I'll meet you. Wait for me." I said to myself and then pulled my towel before walking in the bathroom.
Hailey's Point of View.
"Good morning, Yaya!" I excitedly greeted Yaya when I am on my way to her.
"Be careful! You might trip!" She warned me and I followed her. I walked slowly.
"I am not liking this idea, Hailey but if this is what makes you happy, I am with you. I will try to help you in any way, okay?" She said when she saw me sitting on the chair in front of her.
"I am turning 18, Yaya. I will be fine. Well, I am not really sure but I will try to come back healthy. I won't be silly there. I just really think that this is a prison to me. This house. This disorder of mine is becoming my chains and I am ready to let go of all of it now. I just need at least one person that believes I can do it." I answered her and I felt her hand on mine.
"I believe in you, okay? You're brave enough to conquer your fears and that's already a big thing. I am so proud of you." She said while looking at me.
"Thank you, Ya." I responded and smiled at her.
"Okay. Let's eat so we can go to your check up and register you on that competition after." She said and then let go of my hand.
My smile remained on my lips even while we were eating. I am not sure on where will I come to after I do this but one thing I am sure of is this is what makes my heart feel alive so I will do my best to chase it.
Asher's Point of View.
"Where are you going?" I was shocked when my mother was the first one I saw when I opened my door after I get ready.
"Outside, Mom. I'll go to the studio." I lied. I don't think she will be happy if she will know about the competition. She never liked me doing art after what happened years ago.
"No one will coming out from this house! No one!" She yelled at me that made me cover my ears.
"But, Mom-" I was about to complain but then she slapped me. It made me look sideway for seconds.
"Asher, I said no one. If you get out of this house now and go to that stupid studio of yours, I won't let you come home here again. You won't be able to see me and your siblings again." She said and when I looked at Lili and Aaron, Lili is already crying. Aaron is looking at me, he's telling me to go while wiping Lili's tears.
"I will come back. I will come back and prove you wrong, Mom. I will come back and prove you that art will bring me up." I said and then ran away from her. I heard her call my name loudly but I didn't look back.
I saw the van and then Inez opened up the van for me with her smile. Cassian is already motioning me to hurry up and Dara is ready to drive in the driver's seat.
I am going to free myself from the chains of the past. I will prove all of them wrong. I will make them proud of me. I am not a disappointment, a walking disaster and a worthless boy. I will make my name through what I love. Art.
"Let's go!" I heard Inez exclaimed and closed the door. Dara drove away when I got in.
"I won't have a home to come to after this so we better do this, okay? I risked everything for this." I said to them and chuckled.
"We won't go home empty-handed, Ash. I promise you that." I heard Dara said and that made me smile.
Hailey's Point of View.
"Your case is getting worse and worse, Hailey. I advice you to stick to your daily routine and take your medicines. There's a big possibility that you'll just wake up one day not being able to do anything." The Doctor said after she checked me up.
"Doc, I am getting better. I can feel it. I can feel myself being able to be feel alive again. It's not like the first days that I got diagnosed. I am making a change." I answered her but I received a sigh from her and a shaking of her head.
"Your immune system is being more weaker. Your disorder is growing into you more. You're not making any improvements, I am sorry to tell you this but your case is hopeless. All you could do is follow your routine and stay home. That's the least you could do if you want to live more." She answered me that made me let out a deep sigh.
"Here. This is the list of all your medicines for the week. Come back after a week and I'll do a check up to you again. Put into mind everything that I told you, Hailey." She added and gave me a piece of paper. I stared at it. It has so many things written on it.
"That's it for today. Make sure to go home after and take your meds." She said and that was my go signal to stand up. I let out a deep sigh. I put the paper in one of my pockets before opening the door.
"So, what happened there? Did the Doctor allowed you for the competition, Hailey?" Yaya asked when she saw me walking out from the room.
I smiled and said, "She said I was getting better. I am okay to attend the competition, Yaya. She said I just have to bring my notes with my schedule and also my medicines."
"That's great to hear!" Yaya exclaimed when I answered her. I am lying to her now but this is the only way that I can make it to the competition. This is the only way.
If I will die, at least I will die chasing what I really want. That's what I think now. That's what I think the most important to me now.
"Let's go?" She asked me and held my hand. I forced myself to make my smile stay pasted on my face.
"Oh. Your mask." She said and pulled a mask from her pocket. She made me wear it before we walked to the parking lot of this hospital.
We got in the car and the driver immediately drove us away from the hospital to the mall. I already know where we will go to register.
When we reached the mall, I felt Yaya held me tighter. It brought me back to a memory.
"Mommy, I want to paint again." I said while wiping my tears as I stare at my painting that is all ruined now.
"Hailey, how many times do I have to tell you not to touch these things again? These will just make your anxiety and disorder worsen! Why can't you understand that?" I heard her said to me with her loud voice.
"I want to paint again, Mommy. I want to do an artwork again. Please, I am so close to it. I am so close to do it yesterday if only you let me." I said while still crying.
"You're so close on embarrassing me in front of so many people yesterday, Hailey! I told you not to go out again. It's for your own safety. Why can't you just do as what I say?" She yelled at me that made me hug myself.
"Starting from now, all of these painting things will be burnt. I won't see you painting again. Do you understand me?!"
I shook my head to brush that memory off. I won't be in that situation again. If it makes me risk everything so I can do painting again, I will.
"I will be okay, Ya. Don't worry too much, please." I said and smiled before getting off pf the car. We walked in the mall and before I continued to walk, I let out a deep sigh.
It's now or never.
* * *
"Name, please?" The girl in the desk asked me that startled me.
"Uh... Hailey. Hailey Leigh Alvarez!" I answered and then I saw her writing it down on her paper.
"Age?" She asked me a different question that I just answered.
"Make sure that the contact numbers are updated because we will contact you tomorrow for the announcement of the competition. If we can't contact you with the contact number that you will put there, we will look for other participants right away." She said to me as I fill up the form that she gave me.
"Name, please?" I heard her ask that made me look at her assuming it was me who she was asking. It wasn't me so I moved aside.
"Asher Blake CaƱoza, Dandara De Verra, Maria Inez Gomez and Cassian Blue Guevarra." I heard a voice of a boy answered her. Once I finished filling up the form, I gave it to the girl. I noticed someone staring at me that made me look around.
"We have a special guest for today! It's Ms. Olivia Z. Bautista, everyone!" I heard someone said loudly that made me look to the front which I regretted right away.
"Hailey?" I red what Mommy mouthed when our gaze met. Why is she here? I am not expecting her to be here. I thought she's busy that's why she can't visit me? What is happening? I am so dead right now.
Of all the people that will see me here, why her? Why Mommy?
I saw her glared at me. I am really doomed.
Asher's Point of View."You guys haven't eaten yet, right? Why don't we grab something to eat before going there?" Dara said when she caught me looking for foods."What? You haven't eaten before you drove to our house?" I asked them with my eyes wide open."Inez was so excited. She called me so early just to say that she's already in the studio so I had no choice but to go there early." Dara was the first one to answer."Same, bro. I got a call earlier. I guess it was just 5 am by then when I got a call from her. I was also shocked and hurried to go to the studio. I had no time to eat." Cassian answered after Dara. After I heard Cassian, I turned my gaze to Inez who's smiling awkwardly at all of us now."I also didn't eat breakfast. Hehe. I'm sorry." She said that made all of us shrug our shoulders."I got too excited, yes! Who won't? This is the first
Asher's Point of View.So, what am I going to text her? Uh... I want to paint with you, please join our group. No. That's too demanding. What if she doesn't know me? I might sound like a creepy man.What about hi, I saw you in the registration desk earlier. Are you still up for the competition? Nope. Not that. It's too... I don't know."What are you doing there?" A voice of a girl suddenly asked me from my back that startled me. I almost threw my phone because of that."You startled me! I am busy thinking!" I exclaimed and saw that it was Dara. She sat on the grass beside me and peeked to the phone I am holding."What are you doing? Thinking? Of what? You're just spacing out, typing something on your phone and then back to spacing out. You're being weird, Ash." She asked me and I was hesitant to tell her what I am really doing but I still did."I am thi
Asher's Point of View."Hi." She said and then waved her hand to us that made me stare at her. She's really Hailey. Her eyes says it all but why can't I see the same eyes that I had seen years ago? She seems so... different now.Is she really the Hailey I met years ago? I expected so much from her. It's not like she disappointed me or what but I don't feel the feelings I want to feel towards her. I don't know why."Hailey! Are you coming?" I heard Dara asked her loudly when we are all ready in the van. I saw her smile and then nod.She ran to us and I move aside to give her space. I still am shocked because I finally meet her but it seems like she can't remember me? Or is it understandable because it's been years? I don't know.Hailey's Point of View."Do you want somewhere to stop by or what before we really proceed to the venue?" I heard someone asked
Hailey's Point of View."What is life for you?" Inez asked after pulling out a piece of paper from the fishbowl in front of all of us.It made me stare at the bonfire for a while. What is life for me? I don't know?"Honestly, I don't know. I've been imprison in my own house since I can't remember when it started. I haven't lived the life that all of you probably is living with. So, I don't know." I answered while still looking at the bonfire in front of me. I smiled before looking at them."What do you mean by that, Hailey?" I heard Dara asked me and I just let out a deep sigh as a response to her. I was about to answer her but someone stopped me from doing so."She's done already with your question. I'll go second now." I heard someone said that made me look at who it was. It was Asher. He got the bowl from the front and pulled a piece of paper. He then gave it to Inez
"Hailey Leigh Alvarez."I stood up and pasted my widest smile on my lips as I walk towards the stage.Seeing people here feels surreal, I never imagined I could be here after all the things that I've been through. Despite all of those, I came this far.I breathed out when I am already in the front of so many people clapping their hands on me. The people that once treated me that I could never get in here. That I could never fulfill something by myself.As I look at my parents who are in the very front of the stage now, I tried to smile at them but I just can't make it real. I still hold grudges to them because of all the things they have done but I must also thank them. If they didn't do what they did years ago, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't prove my worth."Thank you for being an inspiration to others and also to us. Thank you for being brave enough to survive even if
Hailey's Point of View.Looking at the sunrise from my window is part of my daily routine everyday. I always look forward for another day, for another sunrise."Rise and shine, Hailey!" I exclaimed after sighing. I already started another day. Another day of my cycle."Hailey, are you there?" I heard Yaya's voice from outside of my room. I am still looking to the sun that just rose."Yes, Ya. Let me get ready first. I'll just go downstairs after." I answered her and turned my back to look for my robe."Your robe and things to get you ready are already in the bathroom. I'll wait for you downstairs. We'll leave by 2 pm. That time is your schedule for today." Yaya said as if she red my mind. I nodded to myself and walked to the bathroom."Oh, wait. Where are we going, Ya?" I asked her when I got what she said earlier. I don't remember anything that I plann
Hailey's Point of View."I told you to stay in the car, Hailey. What if something happened to you there?" I heard Yaya said when we got in the car.I bowed my head because of embarrassment and sorry when she started scolding me."I'm sorry, Ya. I just really wanted some new things for painting. I didn't mean to make you worried. I'm sorry." I said while still bowing my head in front of her. The car already started to move."It's okay, okay? I was just worried about you. You don't need to bow your head, Hailey. It's just that you already know the situation between your parents, right? I won't scold you if you want to buy new things but do it with me. Do it without letting someone see you." She said with her calmest voice."Also, you already know that you have a weak immune system, right? There's so many bacteria transferred by just interacting to a person with no alcohol. I va