Dear, Jack

"I don't care, I still hate you." those words came out from my mouth as my voice raised up. His eyes were mocking and his lips were curving up into a smile as he stared at me as if I was saying a corny joke. I tried to be mad, I tried to be angry, but I really can't when it comes to him so I just pretended that I'm mad, so then maybe, I would look like I am mad.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that joke." His words were sincere and believing. And of course, I trusted his words. We have been best friends for ages, and he never broke my trust. I stood up from the bench and started walking away. I was digging my hands into my pockets for some money, but sadly, I don't have any money now. I'm just poor. Our family doesn't get enough money for me to study in a prestigious school. But I didn't complain about it.

I was expecting his footsteps to be just behind me while walking but it felt like he didn't follow me. I stopped walking and turned back, searching for him. My eyes landed on his tall figure, the lady gave him two cones of ice cream as he paid, just at the distance. He was rich, his house was huge and he could buy anything he wanted just by digging from his pockets. I am just a rug compared to him. He is gold, I am dust. He is rich, I am poor. He is famous, I am a nobody. We are two different persons in this world. And as sorrowful as I can be, I always think about what made this world. I love the galaxy. I love the universe, I love stars, and I love the night.

"Here, eat this." He came up to me, giving the other chocolate-flavored ice cream. "I know you're hungry." He stared at me. I thanked him and licked the ice cream. It was 8:00 at night. I have so many problems to face. I have to earn money to feed my family. I have to get home. I faced my friend, "Hey, um, you should go. I have to get home, I have a lot of things and chores to do." I said with urgency in my tone. His eyes froze to the ice cream as he watched it melt. "Thea, we've been best friends for life. I've taken you to my home for a lot of times but you never let me go into yours. When I always offer to bring you home in the late night, you would always decline and leave me without another word. You're a lot like . . . " His words paused. I waited. But he pressed his lips together and stopped. I wanted to know what he was about to say but I didn't want to push it. I sighed, "I don't want to look like a friend who is only taking advantage of what you are and what you have. Look at the people in our school, they hate me because they think that I am only using you for money and they keep on saying that I will just leave you in the end because I was never a real friend. And I don't want to look like that person in their thoughts. That's why I keep on declining. I'm sorry, Jaycob." I finished off with another sigh and silence came into the air. We were left with nothing to say towards each other for quite some time. I keep on waiting for him to talk to me, but I think he is mad. I am a mistake anyways. Oh dear, what was I thinking? I'm wasting my time again, I don't need to settle my thoughts for now. It's 8:15. I really have to go. I started running away from Jaycob. But before losing my sight to him, I turned my head and shouted, "Thank you for everything, Jaycob! I'll see you maybe in a couple of days. And sorry for everything too!" I ran along the streets and never stopped until I saw a tricycle passing by. I waved and hopped on. "Please take me to Youngstown Village, Cainta Rizal." His engine roared into the night, "Sure, miss." The driver said. The winds tangled my hair together through the night. And suddenly, my mind drifted to the person I have been looking for my whole life when everything was alright. The person whom I can't help thinking of every now and then . . . but I miss him. I guess I am the only one who has feelings for him. Even though I don't know where he lives, or I don't even know if he is alive up to this day, I will always remember him. I will find him one day, when everything is back to the way it was supposed to be.

"Here we are, miss." I got my bag and gave him a bit of my little left money, "Thank you." I said as I stepped out, he gave me a nod and drove away. I started walking to my house. I held the door knob, I heard screams and shouts inside. My head tilted down. My family is fighting again. Will there be a day in my life that they would stop fighting for once? I hope it happens. I opened the door and as I just expected, they were raising both of their voices out. I feel the neighbors hating us because of their endless fights. If only I can stop them, I already tried. I started walking going up to my room.