I tied my hair in a low ponytail as I continued painting my artwork. The only thing that needs some attention are the detailed part of the sky. You know, the formation of the clouds, the birds, and some shades on it.
After finishing it, I stared at it long enough to the point I started to hate it. Always like that. Everytime I wrote a poem, I read it over and over until it sounds very corny. It's a very weird habit.
I washed my hands and clean my nails that are now stained with paints. After some minutes, I went downstairs and sat down by the sofa. It's boring and I can't escape since my parents are here. Mom is in the garden and Dad is chit-chatting with our neighbor. There's always a time like this. Where everything just seems so fine but, it's not.
Yesternight, while staring at the ceiling, I imagined how pretty it is to lie on the ground while the moon is shining up above you with stars forming different constellations, that would be mesmerising. I want to experience that. But for now, it sounds impossible.
And I've been thinking about meeting new people for awhile, but honestly,I am socially awkward. It's hard for me to adapt new personalities since my life only revolves around here.
When I was like 9, my Aunt Nila came over to our house with her kids at my age. I was at my room that time when they came and I told Mom I don't want to go downstairs, but she protested and told me I will receive a new set of acrylic paint if I play with the kids. For the sake of acrylic paints, I let Mom won.
But the moment they saw me, they run to their Mom as if they saw a ghost. I didn't pay attention to them and continued walking going to the counter are in the kitchen.
My eyes widened when Aunt Nila's daughters played with my stuffed toys. I immediately run to Mom grab her by the arm and whispered something to her ear.
“ Don't let them play with my stuffed toys! Those are precious!” I said in a very low voice but in my eyes, you can already traced the anger.
Mom patted my shoulder and smiled.
“Just let them, honey. This is the first time they visit here.”
I stomped my feet as a sign of disagreement.
“ But Mom-”
“ No more buts,okay. Acrylic paints, right?” She said, raising her brows.
“ You just blackmailed me.”
We ate lunch together that day. While we are eating, this kid named Olivia asked me.
“Do you have friends?”
I nodded. She didn't specified it. I got a lot of friends. Fictional.
“ Really? You looked like you don't have any friends.” She said causing me to almost choked.
“Olivia, where are your manners?” said Aunt Mila giving her a warning look. She then faced me.
“I apologize for that, darling. She really needs a lot of discipline.”
“ It's okay. As long as she won't do it again.”
Before they left, Aunt Mila talked with Dad and Mom. I sat down in the sofa waiting for them to finish their talks then suddenly Olivia, and her younger sister, Yena, came closer to me.
“ Do you know any long word in English?” Olivia asked me while her arms are crossed and with her I-bet-you-don't-know face.
I ignored her, but I am mentally slapping her.
I saw her smirked and stood up as her Mom called them. They are already near the doorway when I called her. She then turned her head and all of the attention is on me.
“ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Since then, I told Mom that she should tell me first if there will be visitors so that I can keep my stuffs and hide them in my room. That day, I felt like it's really hard for me to befriend kids at my age. That's why I became socially awkward and get labeled as the 'lonely kid'.
While eating dinner, Dad and Mom are having their conversation about business. I suddenly feel out of place. After drinking a glass of water, I waited for them to finish eating since it's a very bad table manner if you leave the table when someone is still eating.
I took a half bath ang changed into my nightgown. I reread a book but my mind is somewhere else so I need to read from the top again. My eyes felt sleepy so I turned the lamp off and covered myself with the blanket. I am almost drifting to sleep when I felt like someone is throwing stones on my window.
I stood up and open the curtains of my window and saw someone in bike outside our house. I opened the window and saw an idiot. My brows furrowed and showed him my fist telling me I want to punch his face.
He took off his hat and open the zipper on his hoodie. He unfolded the paper and showed it to me. It says ' sunrise, together '. He then smiled and waves goodbye and left.
“ You haven't watched ' My Neighbor Totoro'?” I asked Tim while munching cupcakes.
He shake his head no. “ I don't even know what you are talking about. And animated movies are not my type.”
We watched the people past by us. The sun is almost rising and I'm done eating my cupcake. Tim and I talked for almost an hour. He told me about this place in Japan. He told me he wants to move to Japan because it is his dream place. Japan is really a dream. I got excited by the thoughts of Japan since most animated I watched are from Japan and someday, I hope I can visit or live in Japan.
I also took some pictures of an antique store we visited. I want to buy those pretty miniatures because it looked really cute. Tim asked me why I didn't bought the miniartures and I explained to him that if Mom would notice it If I display in my room.Might cause troubles.I really felt disappointed that time with just the miniartures. So I told myself, it's just miniatures, don't make it a big deal.
I was home earlier just to be sure I won't get caught. I was on my way entering the garage when Tim called me.
“ Kathareen, I-”
“My name is Zoe.” I lower down my voice knowing it's so early in the morning.
“Here.” He threw something in the air and I catched it.
A bracelet.
“ Friends?” he said, showing the same bracelet he gave me.
I give him a stare and a nod. I can't help but to smile as well.
“Bye, my stupid friend.”
My tears are continuously running down but my face stays blank. I can already feel how red my cheeks are. My shirt is half wet because of my tears and my heart is full of anger right now.“Since when?” Dad asked calmly but I know he's trying to fight his anger.I didn't respond and looked at them in the eye.They already knew about my morning escapes. It happens that the guard told Mom about it. It was not Sir Keil. A lady guard, the one I remembered who kept on staring at me.“I know I am not illed.” I finally said with cracked voice. Mom stood up from sitting in her chair and her brows furrowed in confusion and surprise.“What are you talking about, Zoe? Are you saying we're lying-?”“ Aren't you?”&n
The sun just rise when I woke up. I check the time and it was already quarter to six in the morning. The first thing I saw was the ceiling. A different ceiling from what I am used to. It is a new room I am waking up with. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my body. Then folded my blanket and arranged my bed.I got a very nice sleep. I stood up right away and started my morning routine. I walked outside wearing my leggings paired with an oversized white shirt and flat shoes. Tim reminded me that today will be a busy day for the both of us. We need to find a job right away. I am very nervous since I don't have any experience having a job.Guess this adventure is really for my first times. &nb
“ It was when our first customer came and then the moment he entered this restaurant, I heared him say 'what a monochromatic place', and I was like ' that's a cool name for a restaurant, it sounds freaking elegant'.” He sounds excited like he's telling the best story he read- he even mimic how that first customer uttered the words.That was what Sir Flinn said after I asked him how did they come up with naming the restaurant as ' Monochromatic'. His eyes are gleaming and I wonder that he doesn't know the meaning behind that word.Obviously.This is our first day of work- a work which I am not sure if we will receive a good pay. A work without proper contract or anything legal. It's really complicated right now.Miss Mia messaged Sir Flinn that she will take a day off
We started our day by getting off the dust. It was awful since it's early in the morning and we just took our bath to get soaked with dust. The exterior of this stall is really unattractive. It doesn't make the customers interested of what's inside. The color of the wall is too pale and is unmatched to the atmosphere of the interior which is pretty dark. Just by staring at the stall, it's really impossible to have atleast 5 customers per day.We left the apartment earlier than the other days. I also prepare clothes for me to use if ever I got too untidy from cleaning. Miss Chim prepared us packs of sandwiches we can eat for snacks. There's a strawberry jammed sandwich and the other one is coatwd with cheese and ham. She is really the sweetest.The most exciting part of today is meeting Miss Mia's kids. She told us that they come to vi
Timothy Williams lied. I punched him many times but it wasn't too much like what he truly deserves. Everytime I ask him “ Was it true?” or “Did you really saw them?” His forehead wrinkled and his lips are slightly open, then he would reply “ I'm... quite unsure, I think.. it's just me or maybe... my eyes are getting worse.” Then I would punch him, again and he would act like he's hurt and fall to the ground.I couldn't sleep properly because of it. Even though he already admitted it was a lie, there's still a part of me keeps on believing it.'Cause what if they are here?Are they searching for me?Are they worried?Will they take me back to that small village?And if they are really here, I shouldn't be afraid. They can't force me to go back to where I came from. Two decades are enough for me to get st
“Tim!” I shouted as I knock on his door. It's already 8 in the morning and he still didn't show himself for breakfast.I got tired from knocking and walked downstairs. I saw Miss Chim so I took the chance to ask her, but she spoke before me.“Oh, Kathareen. ” she said and then wiped his wet hands with her apron. “ Tim left earlier. He said it's an urgent emergency.”“Emergency?” I repeated for assurance.She nod and took some eggs in the refrigerator. “He don't want to wake you up since you are tired.” I froze. Speechless.After hearing it, I said goodbye to Miss Chim and excuse myself for not being with her in the breakfast table. I took the bus so I could be there faster. I got no idea what is the emergency all about.I can a
It was already weeks since Merliah's funeral. It was a day of loud cries. Seeing an angel inside a coffin. Her classmates came that time. They would say, “ She's just sleeping,right?”, “When will she wake up? We haven't finish our homeworks yet. Can you wake her up?”. It broke my heart into million pieces.I always keep my eyes on Kira and Miss Mia. I know, they are the most affected here. I would sometime catch Kira crying in the corner when no one's looking. I couldn't afford to see her like that. No words could comfort her, tight hugs are what I can give.Miss Mia- she's the bravest. When someone sends their condolences, she would give them a warm smile, trying really hard to not break down. I admire her that. I want to give her a hug every minute to let her feel that she's alone in this battle. Even though she's strong enough to carry all th
Miss Mia smiled brightly and clapped her hands. “ I love it!”Tim and I exchanged look of disbelief. It's just- like.. lighting.I thought they are just joking, but we are really opening tomorrow. TOMORROW. I kept on asking Sir Flinn what he meant by tomorrow. Then he took his dictionary and said," the day after today".They put the soft carpet covering the the dirty floor, then the lightings.Finalize the arrangement of chairs and tables. Placed the flower vase in the middle of each table that are being covered with soft white fabric.I scanned the whole stall and it was far from how it looked before.“How about the menu?” I asked Miss Mia.She gave me a proud nod.She patted my shoulder and