Reaching the Sky | ✓

4

Life is full of twists and turns. It isn't always about rainbows and butterflies but in my case, it has always been agony and chaos. I don't know how brave I am for still not losing in the battle of life. Maybe all the pain has numb me.

These pain has always been my best friend. Honestly speaking, since then, I would only overcome pain by adding more pain. Maybe if pain has a meter I am on the highest level but ironic that we feel it everyday, yet we don't know how to properly measure it. Unlike electricity, body temperature, humidity and so on.

I stared at the sky as they slowly turned to crimson red. I have been here at our mansion's rooftop contemplating of things that happened lately.

Was there still a chance for us to be better? I don't think so. I looked at my phone when it vibrated, Kira has been messaging me nonstop since the booth scene happened.

My forehead creased when I saw an unregistered number. For an unknown reason, a smile crept on my lips as if I knew who sent that. It was a short message of encouragement.

Times like these made me realize that I am not fighting alone, I have these people to support me. I shook my head and closed my eyes feeling drowsy.

Stop drowning yourself in the abyss of pain, Maurice. I mentally scolded myself.

When I went down for dinner, I saw how shock Manang Neri is. She didn't know I was here. I raised a brow at her and smirked. You will never be able to touch me again.

"Anak do you want some afritada?" Dad asked, I shook my head and asked my mom to hand me the bowl of adobo instead.

Patigasan na lang tayo ng mukha ngayon. Natahimik ang Daddy habang matamang pinapanood ang ginagawa ko. Dahan dahan din ang naging pagsubo ko ninanamnam ang bawat pagkain, mabuti na lang at walang alam ang matanda kaya sigurado akong hindi niya ito malagyan ng lason.

"What do you want to talk about Mom?" I asked breaking the silence. She sipped on her water before nodding.

"Your school's registrar emailed me asking if you could join the national convention for young biologists. That will be held in Nueva Vicencio, September pa naman iyon. Pag-isipan mo kung kaya mo ba."

"Okay po." I nodded, she gave me a warm smile.

"Anyway, I would never hinder your dreams but I was just shock when you entered STEM, I thought you wanted to be an educator? Though you can be a Math teacher given it was related to your strand." She asked.

"I want to enter the field of medicine, Mom. Gusto ko pong maging psychiatrist, gusto kong malaman kung paano tumakbo ang utak ng isang tao. Gusto kong gamutin ang mga taong may problemang pang kaisipan, lalo na po iyong harmful sa kapwa. Mga nananakit, pisikal man iyan o emosyonal. At least at some point in my life I would be proud na may ambag ako sa lipunan. Na hindi lang ako isang palamunin."

Sinadya kong lakasan ang boses ko para marinig nilang lahat iyon at maging ang determinasyon sa boses ko ay sinigurado kong maririnig.

"Wow ate, excited to call you as Doc. Alextre, you're gonna be the second doctor of the family if that happens. But I know it will." Proud na sambit ng half sister ko.

"I will make my own name Maureen. I will not follow anyone's path. I would dictate my tracks. Excuse me, thank you for the food. Manang Neri, glad you didn't add poison here." Ngiti ko sa kaniya. Kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya at pag-igting ng panga kaya marahan akong napatawa.

"Oh huwag po tayong tense, ganoon naman talaga, walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag." Dagdag ko pa bago nagpaalam sa mga magulang ko, nakasunod sa akin ang Daddy hanggang sa marating namin ang gate.