'Til Our Next Eclipse

VIII

⚜ CHAPTER 8 ⚜

Indeed, the new world she's living in is something everyone would die to be part of. It's full of wonderful magics and creations, unicorns and legends, mysteries and histories. It's a fantasy that came into life, a fantasy made into reality.

However, for the past twelve years, the inevitable truth slowly marched into her. The sparkles have turned into ashes of pain and torment, and all what's left is the truth that is yet to come.

Just like how we, humans, grow up and our minds that were once filled with pure and innocence, eventually got engulfed by the dark, cruel reality.

Can you still remember? Who are you before pain changed you?

"HAPPY birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!"

Naalimpungatan ako sa ingay na narinig. Napaungol ako at umikot sa kabilang parte ng kama. Tinakpan ko rin ng unan ang aking tenga upang hindi makarinig ng ingay.

"Good morning, my dear Alora! Today's your special day!" Ngunit dinig na dinig ko pa rin talaga ang masayang wika ni tiya. I just replied with an irritated groan.

"Alora! Bangon na sabi!"

Hinatak nito ang unang tumatakip sa aking mukha. I moaned in protest. I still wanna continue my disturbed sleep! What's so special with birthdays anyway?!

Padarag akong bumangon. Kilala ko si tiya, hindi siya titigil kakatalak hangga't hindi ko siya sinusunod. Still, my eyes remained closed as my forehead remained creased.

"Come on, Alora! Make a wish and blow your candle!"

I breathed heavily before deciding to finally open my eyes. I just stared at the cake tiya is holding, I didn't bother to wish and just blew the flame off the tiny candle.

I'm actually no longer surprised that tiya would do this. Ganito naman lagi ang ganap tuwing kaarawan ko. I already expected this.

"Happy 18th birthday, Alora! Naku! Dalaga na ang pamangkin ko!"

Tiya approached me after placing the cake on the table. She hugged me dearly.

Napahinga ako muli nang malalim, pinatong ko na lang ang isang kamay sa kanyang likod, iyon na ang pagyakap ko pabalik.

"Can I continue my sleep now, tiya?" I asked, more like begged.

Napapatawa naman itong humiwalay sa akin.

"Okay okay. Get back to sleep now, sleepyhead."

Pagkaalis nito ng kama ay kaagad kong binagsak ang katawan sa kutson. I heard the door shut. Finally, I can now sleep in peace.

But who am I kidding? I know I can no longer continue my sleep now that I'm already wide awake. I clutched the pillow I'm holding. Kagabi pa lamang ay nangangamba na ako para sa araw na ito. I remembered praying not to wake up even just for this day. Oh, how I hate my birthday.

12 years... 12 years have passed yet I'm still here in this world, waiting for a miracle that someday, my parents will show up and we will go home and then we'll be all together again. I've waited, days, weeks, months, until it turned to years, then to a decade.

Tuwing kaarawan ko ay laging tumataas ang pag-asa kong babalik na sila. Of course, it's a birthday, parents are supposed to be there with you. Pero ilang kaarawan ko na ang lumipas, ilang kandila na ang hinipan ko at sinabihan ko ng aking hiling na sana ay umuwi na ang mga magulang ko. But until now, wala pa rin.