Time stops…
I don’t even know where Cassy and her minions get the nerve to visit mom’s funeral. The audacity they have is incomparable.
“Hey, what do you guys think you’re doing here? Seriously? This is not a show.” Lea asks Cassandra as she gets close to mom’s coffin.
Cassandra snorts. “We come here with good intentions. I know this is hard for Angel to lose everything, right? Not just her mom but also Maddox.” Cassy says the latter with a hint of tease. "That's why we're here to ease her pain. I know how it feels to be left alone."
“Cassandra…”
I can’t be wrong, I know exactly
On my first day without mom, I visited our old apartment in the hope of reminiscing about those times with mom in our nest. I fix the things mom left as well as my room for me to stay in. Everything is in chaos.There are spider webs on the ceiling, and dust on the sofa and on the floor. The apartment smells like an old building that hasn't been used for years. I can’t believe how much dirt it accumulated during the short time we’ve been staying in Singapore and at my mom's funeral.I start cleaning the small living room, the kitchen, and the dining area. It took me almost an hour to finish even in just a small area. Next is my room before cleaning my mom’s room. My room is just as messy as the living area. I have to put some of the papers in the trash to make space for my school materials.
It’s December 24, the loneliest Christmas in my life without mom. This is the only yuletide season that I don't like celebrating. I've never felt like having Christmas since mom was in her bad condition.Dad asked me yesterday if I’d want to have an out-of-town vacation with my friends but I declined. I don’t want to leave the city as it seems like leaving mom. I know dad couldn’t ask me to join them for Christmas since his wife would be against it. So, I told him I'm staying in my condo.I'm having instant food for breakfast as I am starving already. If mom was here, she'll surely prepare something nutritious for me, she won't settle for instant breakfast.The doorbell rings while I'm eating my morning oatmeal. I wonder who would want to visit me as
“Mad?”Maddox pulls me close to him and wraps his arms around me. My hands voluntarily wrap around Maddox’s body. He is warm, unlike the Christmas weather. My heart is pounding in my chest like the beat of a drum as we keep our bodies close to each other even more.We are both speechless until I hear Maddox cry. I feel so bad for causing so much pain to him. I hate and blame myself for every hurt Maddox is bearing. I gently pat Maddox’s back.“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Mad.”“It’s okay.” Maddox loosens his arms around me. I glance up at Maddox, trying to make eye contact with him.I can't
Our perspective on love changes as we grow old and as we become a better version of ourselves. We may look at it as sweet, pure happiness, and pleasure. On the other hand, we may look at it as sadness, sacrifice, and suffering. At a tender age, most of us don't ask much more than to be with someone we love, no matter what the circumstances may be. Lucky are those in these shoes because not everyone gets to experience this at an early age. Pure love is beautiful in every way; even it does not last too long. At least to someone who believes that beautiful memories are enough even if they don't end up with someone they love. But whether you end up with someone you care about, you are blessed to share the joy you have with someone you value. It may be hard work to keep the
ANGELIQUE Today is my first day of school as a junior high, where I have a new family. Our glass room, in minimalistic design, smells lavender, smells expensive, and flawlessly clean, unlike my former public school. However, it was clean but not this expensive. I'm freezing at a low room temperature, which I am not used to, we don't have air-conditioning in public schools and even at home. Even the cold temp in this world is not shared equally for the rich and poor. "Go ahead, Ms. Carpio, introduce yourself," said the teacher. My new classmates stare at me like I'm some sort of shit. I manage to hold my head high before I start t
During our last subject in the afternoon, I am still contemplating whether I should approach the lonesome boy sitting on the row where I am seated. Nothing changes as he seems to know only one direction, and that is the whiteboard. He only moves his head up to the board and down to his laptop. I jolt to the ring of the bell, which indicates that the first day of school has ended. I gather my things, put them in my bag, and wait for the entire class to go out of the room. Cassy and her friends glance at me before they leave. I just shrug my shoulders and look away. My eyes land on the lonesome boy who is heading to the door. I took the opportunity to jog after him, hoping to approach and thank him for the favor he did to me. "Hey," I said, my voice barely came out. The lonesome boy didn't even bother to look back; probably, he has
I watch mom having her breakfast with me at the same table. She looks like she has a good appetite today, unlike some days, where she skips a meal. Mom has lost weight for the past few months. It was hard not to notice it. Her beautiful face sags a little bit, her eyes sunken, and dark marks encircle in there as well. She must have a lack of sleep working hard to make ends meet. "Angel? Finish your food," Mom commands when she catches me staring at her. "Is there a problem at school?" She asks as she puts down her fork. "No, no, mom, nothing wrong. The first day of school went smoothly." Should I ask her? I can't decide. The distinct inter
As I step out of the car, the surrounding becomes vivid on the way to our building. Our campus is vast, quiet, and organized. I could hear only the sound of the expensive car engine and horn. The buildings are towering, complete with sports and academic facilities for rich kids. For the last four years in high school, the one I had was massive and had the same facilities for students, but it was noisy and overcrowded. At the back of the buildings is a mini-park or man-made forest. I halt myself and savor the tranquility it brings me just by looking at it. I love nature, I always do. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, imagining I'm inside of the forest. The air is clean and pure. A corner of my lip curls up to the realization, in time that a hand taps on my shoulder.