Mirage

fifteen

They finished eating and was on the living room. Aliyah have her laptop on her lap and was writing her article while Mira was busy checking Aliyah's bookshelf.

Aliyah somehow managed to convince Mira not to go yet. And Mira didn't argue much about it too.

At the book shelf, Mira saw a poetry book and was intrigued by it. She was reading through it as she went to the couch to sit beside Aliyah.

"Oh that's one of my fave poetry book." Aliyah noticed what Mira was holding.

"Really?" Mira looked up from the book.

"There's a line there saying, it must be wonderful to live how life is supposed to be lived." Aliyah paused for a moment and smiled wistfully. "It must be freeing just to see how the birds sing, to feel the wind touch your skin, and dance with the flowers on the grass field, ano?"

Aliyah was talking dreamily, she looked genuine and Mira was entranced. She talks as if she's in love...with life. Mira was envious.

"Hmm, I don't know."

Aliyah glanced at Mira. "Have you experienced it?"

"Experienced what?"

"To love life."

Mira was quiet. She remembers how she had friends, she enjoyed playing sports in school, she loved hanging out with her family, her siblings, she was happy when she joined a dance troupe in high school. She was loving life then. Right now, she doesn't know.

"I don't know."

Aliyah stared at the girl for a moment and nodded. She doesn't say anything and let Mira have her moment.

The ticking of the clock was the only thing to be heard in Aliyah's apartment. The two girls were quiet in doing their things. Mira was still reading the book when Aliyah shut down her laptop and stretched her arms.

"Finally! Finished."

Mira closed the book. "Tapos ka na?"

"Yes, final revision na lang later. Pero finish na."

The girl nodded.

"Let's go!" Aliyah exclaimed suddenly making Mira look at her confused.

"Go where?"

"To the park, dali! We're going to love life today." She smiled wide and excitedly held Mira's wrist to make her stand up.

Love life...I wish I could love life. That was what Mira was thinking now that they were in the park. Aliyah showing her the pet park, where there were barely dogs at this time.

There was one golden retriever running around the playground. Mira noticed this and pointed at it. "Para kang golden retriever, energetic."

"What?" Aliyah looked at her in disbelief. "I'm not a dog!"

Mira smiled and crossed her arms.

"Diba ikaw ung pet ko dito?" Aliyah squinted and pointed at Mira.

It was a bit windy and the sunlight was just enough for Mira to like the weather.

When observing the park and thinking about what Aliyah said earlier, she can't help but feel a bit difficult in loving life as Aliyah would call it.

What would she love? How the sun is doing its thing? How the dogs tiringly play at the park? How the wind was messing Mira's hair?

"Hey Mira pet."

She got out of her thoughts when Aliyah called her.

"Not a pet."

Aliyah then suddenly grabbed a hold of her hand and started running. She was surprised at the sudden force. Mira tried keeping up with Aliyah and tightened her hold on the girl. Why the hell are we running?!

Feeling her hand slipping away from Aliyah's, she tried to run faster. But then she lost the girl's hand, Aliyah looked back at her and shouted. "Bagal mo!"

She run and run, trying to catch up on Aliyah. She could feel the air on her skin, her feet felt light on the grass.

Then she stopped, trying to catch her breath, she was in the middle of the field. Mira looked around and saw Aliyah waving at her from a distance away. The sunlight was lighting her, emphasizing her frame. Aliyah's hair was being carried by the wind as she tucked in some strands behind her ears.

Aliyah looked beautiful. She was full of life.

"Wow."

There was it. The warmth, the flame. This is what Aliyah always unlocks in Mira without doing anything special.

If this is life, she could love it again.

Mira sat on the ground and tried to steady her breathing. Aliyah jogged in front of her. "You okay?"

"Bat bigla kang tumakbo?"

Aliyah laughed." Wala lang."

"This is what I did when I was a kid. Tinakbo ko ung isang malaking field and just felt free. I wanted to share it with you."

Mira shook her head and just laughed. She laid on the grass and continued laughing. "You're crazy."

Aliyah sat beside her and smiled. "Maybe." She shrugged her shoulders. Aliyah wiped off Mira's forehead. It made Mira stop laughing and looked at the girl.

"Thanks." She mumbled and sat up.

"Sooo," Aliyah started. "Did you feel it?"

"Feel out of breath after running? Yes, I did."

"No hindi yonnnn." Aliyah pouted.

Mira stared at her. She hummed and shrugged.

"Maybe."

"What? Ang daya." The girl laughed.

She did feel it. She felt the fire inside her, igniting again.