The Limits of Love

Chapter 1

Language doesn't matter. I like what I like.

I thought to myself as I sang "Can Do" at the top of my lungs. The music is blasting from my computer as I danced on top of my bed. I suddenly heard my mom calling me from downstairs, somehow inaudible. I turned down the music and shouted back.

"What?"

"Fred!" She shouted from the living room. "Come downstairs!"

I turned off the music before heading downstairs. Mom and my little sister, Claudia, are cleaning the house. In this household, Saturday is cleaning day, and it was only a matter of time until I was called to do my part.

"You have bad taste in music." Claudia said, giving me a disgusted look. "K-Pop is gay."

My mother gave Claudia one of her loud shushes, which seems to have worked in shutting her up.

"Sweetie." Mom looked at me, then pointed at the lawn. "It's time to mow the lawn. It looks like a jungle outside."

I peeked outside and she was right, it does look like a jungle. I went to the garage, took the lawn mower and started mowing the lawn. It's a good thing that I have dust allergies, which exempts me from doing housework that could trigger it. The smell of freshly cut grass wafts the air as I hum the tune of my favorite song.

As I was doing my job, a large moving truck suddenly stopped in front of the house across the street. I squinted my eyes as I make up what the movers were carrying; an expensive looking couch, a huge smart television and an obnoxiously big porcelain vase.

Seems like we're having new neighbors.

After Mr. and Mrs. Diaz moved out like a few months ago, the streets feel kind of empty, but maybe now it'll feel, I don't know, less empty?

"What's happening?" Claudia suddenly emerged at the front porch. "Oh, new neighbors?"

I nodded. "Want to guess what Asian race they'll be?"

Claudia laughed then shrugged. "I bet they're Filipinos too."

"Really?" I said with intrigue. "I wish they're Koreans this time."

Even though I didn't see Claudia, I felt her rolling her eyes.

"So you could harass them with your fanboying?" Claudia shook her head as she walked back inside. "Creep."

I grinned and shook my head before getting back to work. I finished mowing the lawn the same time the movers finished their job. I could tell it was almost lunch time as I feel the sun shine stinging my face a little, so I returned the lawn mower to the garage and went inside.

For lunch, mom cooked sinigang, although Claudia wanted to order some fast food. My mom always loved to cook, and thinks that cooking at home is cheaper than ordering food outside. I thought about it and did some calculations myself, and I personally believe that fast food is cheaper. We sat at the dinner table and ate together like any perfect family would.

"So," My mother swallowed before continuing. "School starts this Monday, are you guys ready?"

School, right. This year would be my last year in high school. Am I excited? A little. Maybe not? I'm not sure. I'm never sure. Claudia, however, still has 3 years before she starts having a crisis like I do.

"Fred." Mom's voice snapped me out of my trance, it seems like I zoned out because Claudia was giggling at me.

"Have you thought about college yet?" She asked as she sips from her glass of water. "Where you'll be going? What course you'll take? That kind of stuff."