THE UNIVERSE THAT MISSED US (1st look)

Part Eleven

THE ALIEN TALK 

BY EMILY 

It has been a "thing" with me and Austin to cheat home chores every Friday afternoon because this is the only time of the week we get to hang out together without feeling guilty that our parents will be looking for us at home.

After the class, he and I usually ride our bikes on the way to our favorite spot just somewhere above our village wherein the whole city could be viewed from afar.

This part of the city was our little haven— "Finally, we get to be in our own universe" He said sitting right beside me in this big roadblock left undone by the government as if it was meant for us to find to this dead end.

I looked at him and smiled. He was at ease looking up to the twilight and like a child, raised a hand hoping he could touch the tangerine sky. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "Do you see that?" He asked as I held my head up to the sky to see what he was trying to show me.

"I swear I'm gonna maneuver one of those someday." He vowed to himself and coincidently pointed out an airplane passing by.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya. "Akala ko ba gusto mo maging astronaut? That's what you told everyone before..." I sarcastically joked and continued. "I even remember how you would make those silly white huge helmet out of those crappy boxes and pretended to be one then climbing up the sofa holding a sword made out of sticks and I pretending as an alien you fought when we were little."

"Those days gave me unnecessary bruises, by the way." I complained and rolled my eyes.

"That was my childhood dream Em. Kailangan ko nang maging practical ngayong mag co-college na tayo." He crossed both his forearms to his chest.

"At least if I were to be a pilot I can still fly and look down on you." I raised a brow and glared at him.

He chuckled. "I'm kidding. I still want to be an Astronaut but as I grew older I realized I had to compromise. Sabi kasi ni mommy na huwag masyadong mangarap ng mataas kasi mas masakit ang bumagsak."

I nodded agreeing to what he said because my mama would definitely say the same thing. I don't know what else makes sense to what our parents always remind us. I too, is scared to fall, so I just have to blend into what everybody thinks so I'll get by. 

I took out my sketch pad and began to draw since we don't have any other choice, we should settle for what we have and make it work.

"I can't believe this is what we're ever gonna be." Austin clasped his fists as he lightly threw a punch to the side of the roadblock we were sitting.

He continued. "I can't wait to get out of here with you. This place is a dead end."