Aligning the Stars (GXG)

XIII -Darklight

Astrea

Hanggang ngayon ay ramdam ko pa rin ang pagpatong ni Ms. Elise ng ulo niya sa balikat ko. I wondered if she even heard how fast my heart was beating because of what she did.

It's currently 5:07 am.

Maaga akong nagising dahil kapag nasa ibang bahay kasi ako natutulog ay naninibago talaga ako. Kumportable naman ang tulog ko pero kusa nalang akong nagigising ng maaga kahit antok pa ako.

Nag-ayos lang ako ng kaunti dahil balak ko sanang maglakad sa labas, sayang naman kasi kung maghihintay pa ako dito sa kwarto at hindi masulit ang ganda ng probinsya.

Oversized hoodie,white pants at nag rubber shoes lang ako bago lumabas ng kwarto. Ang tahimik ng buong bahay kaya naman ay dahan-dahan lang din ang mga galaw ko.

Once I got out, I didn't expect to see Ms. Elise walking Moon with a harness leash. She's also awake? Nakaayos na rin ito kaya naman ay napatikhim nalang ako para makuha ang atensyon niya.

"Oh, Aster!" She says when she notices me, "You're awake so early."

"I could say the same thing to you, Ms. Elise."

"I wanted to go out for a walk." She simply answered with a smile, "Moon was awake when I went to check on him, so I figured that we'll take a stroll outside. Do you want to come with us?"

I wouldn't say no, that's for sure.

Tumango ako sa kanya at nilapitan ito. "I don't have anything to do and I'm already awake, so let's go."

We started to walk and she made me listen to a song she has on her airpods, she shared one pod to me kaya pinapakinggan ko kung ano man ang naka-play sa cellphone niya.

It was the song she sent me when I couldn't sleep.

"Le Cygne." I uttered.

"So, you really listened to it."

"It's.. I've been listening to it ever since you sent it to me." I played with the hem of my hoodie, "Hindi na ako makatulog kapag hindi ito pinapakinggan. It helped me a lot."

She was looking at me like she didn't believe what I was saying. But it's the truth, I found myself na nakakatulog kaagad once I listened to it every night.

"Do you like classical music?" I asked her.

She nodded, "I practically grew up listening to classical music. It's a part of me. Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Delibes, Saens.. they're just a few artists whom I adore."

"Le Cygne means 'The Swan' po diba?" It brought my attention to the painting that is hung on the foyer, it's not a coincidence that she might just like.. swans?

I heard her let out a soft chuckle, "Yes it is. Why?"

"Mahilig po kayo sa swans?"

Mas lalo itong natawa at umiling, "...I like ballet. When I started to like classical music, my mom would always bring me to every ballet show. The first show I ever watched was 'Swan Lake', watching them dancing beautifully made me grow interested in ballet."

Oh, that makes sense. Nakalimutan ko na ballet dancer pala ang kapatid niyang si Vida.

"Kaya pala.."

"Kaya pala what?"

"..The painting I always see in the foyer. She's a ballet dancer, hindi po ba?"

She had a sad smile on her face as she avoided her gaze, "Mmhm. You're quite an observer, Aster."