Mirage

seven

Aliyah and Mira were walking by the park. There were also people walking their pets and people jogging, doing their morning exercise.

Mira didn't look like she was having fun nor does she actually look like anything. She was always sporting that no expression look. Because of that, Aliyah stopped in front of her. The girl crossed her arms and said, "Bakit ba ayaw mo ngumiti?" Mira raised her brows.

"Wala naman akong ngingitian?"

"So, you need a reason to smile?"

She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking, passing by Aliyah.

"Hey wait." Aliyah jogged to catch up to Mira. "I'm curious. Ano full name mo?"

Mira side eyed Aliyah, "Why?"

"Wala lang? I just want to know my neighbor's name. I'm Aliyah Villanueva." The girl smiled as she started stepping on stone by stone like a kid.

"Para kang bata." Mira said making Aliyah frown at her.

"No, I'm not! Baka ikaw."

"Yeah right."

Aliyah was looking at the stones as she stepped on it. "So ano ngaaa?"

"Secret. Hulaan mo."

"Ano initials?" Aliyah said eagerly.

She looked at the girl, amused. "M, J, A."

"M for Mira, obviously." The girl chuckled. "J for, hmmm." She stepped out from the stones and stared at Mira who also stopped walking, waiting for Aliyah.

"Janna?"

Mira shook her head, "No."

"Jia?"

"No."

"Jasmine?"

"Mira Jasmine? Hindi bagay." Mira said and continued walking when she saw a bench.

"Gosh ang daming J sa mundo." Aliyah followed Mira to the bench but didn't sit.

"Jemaline?"

"San galling ung Jemaline?" Mira almost wanted to laugh because of that random and uncommon name.

Aliyah pouted, "Konting hint pa."

"You don't want to sit?" Mira asked the girl who shook her head no.

"Four letters." Mira continued to say.

"Four letters? Uhmmm, Jess? Double s yon!" Aliyah exclaimed. "Jina? Joey, wait ang funny kung name mo is Mira Joey." Aliya laughed out loud at the thought.

Mira rolled her eyes, "Bahala ka diyan."

"Okay sorry sorry." The girl tried to contain her laugh. Aliyah then noticed that there's an ice cream vendor nearby, "Hey gusto mo ice cream? My treat!" She didn't wait for a reply and immediately went to buy ice cream.

'She has a lot of energy, para siyang aso tas ako pa ung pet huh.' Mira didn't notice but she was smiling.

She stood up from the bench and followed the jolly girl to the ice cream vendor.

"Ano pong flavor meron kuya?" Aliyah asked.

"May mangga at keso ineng." The vendor said.

"Dalawa po ung 20 pesos."

The vendor started scooping ice cream and when it's stacking up, he said "Gawin kong special ineng." He smiled and made a flower shaped ice cream.

"Thank you kuya." Aliyah grabbed the generous amount of ice cream from him and gave it to Mira. "Here."

Mira quietly grabbed it.

After paying for the ice cream, the two started strolling the park again this time they were both silent.

While Aliyah was happily eating her ice cream, Mira was slowly tasting it like she has a lot of things in her mind. Aliyah noticed this, "Ayaw mo?"

She shook her head, "Hindi, first time lang kumain ng ice cream ulit."

"Really?" Aliyah was shocked as she looked at the girl. "Serious? Bakit, kelan huli mong ice cream?"

Mira didn't respond but stopped walking. "I'm going back."

"What? Already? Hindi pa tayo nakaka abot sa pet's playgroud."

But the girl already turned around and walked back to the path they passed earlier.

Aliyah couldn't do anything but follow the girl. By the time they were back in their compound, Aliyah already finished her cone but Mira still has hers in hand.

"Mira." Aliyah called.

The girl stopped right in front of her door; Mira waited for what Aliyah was going to say.

"Thanks for coming to the park." She smiled.

"Thanks, sa ice cream." Mira replied, "Mira Jane Angeles, full name." After saying that she went inside her unit.

Aliyah's smile widened, "Mira Jane, pretty name."

"Kainin na natin ung ice cream, Mom pleaseeee!"

"Yes Mom, ung strawberry flavor!" Mira exclaimed with her brother.

"You two, wait niyo muna mailagay ung groceries sa ref. Help your sister."

The two siblings scurried over the kitchen to help their older sister. After finishing putting the groceries away, they immediately grabbed the ice cream.

"Hoy pahingi rin ako! Wag niyo ko ubusan." The older sister said.

"Hep hep! Wala muna kakain ng ice cream!" Their dad appeared holding a cake with Mira's name on it. Their mom was beside the dad making sure the candles are safe. They started singing happy birthday to Mira.

All Mira could see was the fire from the candles suddenly going off and her mom putting flame on it again. Then it got bigger and bigger and bigger until the flames started engulfing Mira---

"Ouch!" Mira groaned. She bumped into her drawer after feeling a sharp pain in her head.

The girl cupped her own temples still feeling the headache. She could still see fire in her eyes so she shut it close tightly, trying to put the flames away.

Mira sat on the ground, next to her bed. She hugged her knees to her chest and breathed heavily. She could feel sweat dripping on her neck.

Outside her room, by the door way, her ice cream from earlier was now a mess on the floor.

And the girl stayed still sitting on the ground, her head leaning on her knees, till she fell asleep.