How It Is

Chapter 1: Orange Hue

It's 6:00 am now.

I often stare at my window sill making sense of all that comes to my mind this early in the morning. My short, brown hair in my face, the sunlight hitting my golden-brown skin. Everything is just as it is.

Lately, I think that being this age tires me, especially noticing that I'm growing up now. I couldn't imagine what stressful events could happen in the future. Well, I can't do anything about it so I'll just leave it as it is and look at the bright side of things. This is my motivation and mindset as I'm getting old... it helps me--- I guess?

Positivity is my mom's middle name. She has told me countless times that whatever goes wrong, you'll figure it out as long as you are positive and then you'll make something out of it. She still tells me this when I feel down or something. She is the best when it comes to me, cooking, and her job! One thing that always come to my mind is "Geez, I don't know what I'll do without mom." I could NOT bear to think what's gonna happen when mom is not here.

"Reed, breakfast time!"

Speaking of my mom... that's my cue.

As I tiredly walk down our short stairs, My mind came to a blank, then my train of thought gets working again but it's too serious now. What I mean is that I sound "emo" because of suddenly saying lines of my own quotes about the world or life and stuff.

Life is like our staircase. Even if we're tired we try so hard to reach something, at the end we think that all our hard work is meaningless since we're all out of joy and energy along the way. "Okay, my mind is going to contradict with my thoughts again.", "Oh boy, here goes."

But that's life! "There it is." even if we were tired, at least we got it to the end! We have reached our goal and I think that's what matters.

Relating what I said to my life, I think about it.

I sit at our sofa looking at the floor, mind empty. "Is everything okay, hun?", mom said. I turn and look at her hurriedly in the eyes. She repeated her question. "I said, is everything alright?" I double look at her then I say, "Yeah mom, heh. Sorry, uh, just my weird contradicting mind just got empty, no biggie!" My mom looks worried, as if she knows that I'm going through such teenage stuff and stressed out. Well, I think I make it look pretty obvious myself.

Mom grabs my hand and twirls me around then snuggles me. "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." She says while she put my head close to her chest. "It's Dr. Seuss." We giggled and gave each other big hugs. "I love you, anak."

"I love you tons, ma."

If you are wondering, yes I am Filipino. I am full Filipino who just lives in America for 8 years now. We live in Persimmon Ville and our life is pretty much normal. My mom works in a library and I'm a student in eight grade, turning ninth in the next three months. It's summer so I spend most of my time in our house.

My mom leaves at 6:50 to get the library up and running early, while I stay indoors doing whatever I want, as long as I clean up afterwards.

I suddenly hear a loud thump outside our window and surprise-surprise, It's my bff, Alejandro or Alejo for short.

"Good morning, bonita!" he said almost shouting.

Oh great, teasing me this early in the morning.

"What is it Alejo, why so early?"

"You said, when I'm bored, I should make you raisin muffins since it's your fave! Well, I got bored this early then thought that this is the time to do it!"

He took it way too seriously. I only said that because when he's bored he dances on video for fun and sends me like A THOUSAND of 'em. Are you kidding me, he doesn't know how to dance! Well I love seeing him happy but he does look kinda goofy.

"Awe, thanks Alejo! You're really such a good friend." I look at him all flirty and twirl my hair "jokingly".

Why does he look so flustered?!

"You weirdo, hermosa" looking away with his face red.

I laughed at him and he did the "tsk" sound. He's overly-flirty to other girls but sucks at it when it comes to me. I kinda like that so it's not all that weird with us.

"Anyway, meet me at our spot later at 2:00 pm and bring your binoculars! See ya'!"

I spend the whole day reading books, looking for knickknacks, or raking outside. I feed the cats on our street and sometimes give them baths when some of them are too dirty.

11:00 am already.

I cook my own food everyday since mom isn't home by 5:00 pm. As I eat, I stare at the beautiful outside world on our big window in front of our table. I just wish I could capture every second of it. After I wash our dishes I go back to my room and flop on my bed.

I fell asleep and completely forgot that I have to meet up with Alejo. I woke up at 1:30 pm and hurriedly dressed up and went to our spot even if it's still early. Alejo is always too early and complains that I'm late even if I arrive on time!

As I'm walking down the road, I saw someone opening a new shop. I wonder what it is.

I head off to our spot which is at the back of the park. There is a picnic blanket and small stools for us to sit on. We talked about what we did this day and the other day and talked about how we love cats so much.

4:00 pm, the sun is already setting.

"Bonita, grab your binoculars and take a look at that increíble sunset."

He said he likes seeing me happy and I'm happy when I look at nature or at the rising and setting sun.

As I look, it weirdly hit me a great feeling. I felt soft on my feet, eyes wide open.

"Hey, you okay?" Alejo asked.

"I don't know why I'm tearing up. I'm not dramatic but for this sunset, it's an exception. The sky is in an orange hue and it's magnificent. I think I love orange now.

He smirks at me and says, "I knew you would like it."

"Dude, I love it. Thanks for showing me this!"

"De nada, bonita."

"By the way, Reed. I saw something on our block, we should try it out!"

"What is it? Is it the new workshop I saw?"

"Correct, bonita! It's an art workshop and it's their opening tomorrow. It's free since my aunty owns it!"

An art workshop, huh.

"Let's try it, Alejo!"

To be continued...