AMA-Con: The Compilation

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Written by: @yxtxe 

Prompt: May-December Relationship 

Prompt by: @maichardism

***

Then

"Pero nay? Why do we have to move to an old house? Akala ko ba lilipat tayo, eh bakit yung lilipatan natin luma parin?"

"It might be old for you, but it's definitely a new beginning to us. Also, Maine, it's special to your father. It's their ancestral house. Tsaka, wala namang sinabi ang Tatay na doon na talaga tayo, it's just for a few months until matapos na ang work ng Tatay mo doon."

"But... We're quite settled here already, wouldn't you miss this place?"

"I would, Maine. Pero wala ng pero pero, pack your things up. Come on, dadating na yung moving-out van na ni-rent ng Tatay mo."

It was the summer of 2006.

"Maine, how's your room?" his father peeking at the door, checking everyone but most especially Maine.

Maine never liked the idea of moving into something different. She never liked the idea of changing anything, ever. She has her ways. But what can a ten year old exactly do on times like this anyway?

And so she nodded holding up a thumbs up.

Eh wala naman akong magagawa. She said to herself.

She stood and decided to reach for the box her dad just left at the door. Well, these boxes are heavy.

She placed the boxes in the middle, and vividly scanned the room.

Pink floral wallpapers. Meh. I can live with it.

An old, white rocking chair beside a huge full-body mirror. God, I hate big mirrors.

An almost walk-in closet that creaks with twelve pieces of hangers hanged inside.

A bookshelf with five dusty abandoned books.

Used up candles on a small coffee table near the window facing the garden.

Two small chairs near the coffee table.

And lastly, someone else's old bed, which apparently, will be hers now.

She stomped her feet pushing away the thought that someone who might be dead now has slept and stayed on this exact room and has slept in this exact bed. Stop it, Maine. Stop thinking about ghosts-- about someone who would freakishly and suddenly show up from that closet across you. Stop. She kept reminding herself.

She heard a knock and she was just about to scare herself again with her thoughts until she saw Coleen.

"Ayoko dito! Ayoko dito. Dito ka nalang pag gabi. I couldn't stay here alone. I just.. Coleen, dito ka nalang mamaya. Please?"

She was on the verge of kneeling down just to beg Coleen to stay for the night.

"Fine. Only because my room is just too scary as well."

They have always been the closest amongst them. They have always shared beds, and coloring pads and other 'kakikayan' stuff since Coleen always had the trendiest girl things. Maine wasn't like her; she was out of the box. And while Maine stayed plain and simple, she was extravagant. She was Maine's reminder to loosen up, to make friends whenever there's a family gathering or a party. She helped her in everything. Including times like this-- un-scaring each other on a really, really.... really scary house.