Light Up The Spark

Chapter 2

Freedom

"Let's just go, Aly!" Inis nang sabi ni Kenzie.

It's been an hour since we arrived here in the mall. Kanina pa lumagpas ang oras na dapat magkikita kami ni Hamlet, my boyfriend pero hanggang ngayon ay wala parin siya.

"When was the last time he called you? Maybe he has..." Hindi matuloy - tuloy ni Kenzie ang susunod na sasabihin.

Alam ko ang ibig niyang sabihin. I can sense it too, but I just want to give him chances, hear his explanation and give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he is my first boyfriend.

"Why don't you roam around first? Shopping? I'll just wait a bit more."

She sighed and shook her head. "You are always so generous in giving chances." She said before leaving me to go shopping.

Kenzie is my first best friend. To be honest I thought I would have a hard time adjusting to a new environment, but meeting her, who is a very outgoing and proactive person, parang nahawa din ako or maybe I had those traits all along and meeting Kenzie just activated it all.

My life here in Australia felt so surreal. It was like a dream come true. I join school activities, mingle with other students and excel in school works. My classmates like me here, they even elected me as the class representative. I have friends, a best friend and even a boyfriend.

Speaking of, where is he already? I tried to call and text him, pero di sumasagot. Hindi ko alam kung darating pa ba siya, he has been cold for several weeks now. Pero baka busy lang diba?

Have you ever heard of the Koi Law? The Koi Law argues that the growth of a koi fish depends on its environment. The koi fishes will grow so much bigger and better when they are in an open river compared to a small aquarium that has limited space and resources.

Like the koi fish, I felt like I started to grow endlessly when I changed my environment. I felt limitless with the complete freedom I have. I started to bloom.

I'm independent here since I live alone. Ako ang gumagawa ng lahat para sa sarili ko, from budgeting my allowance, grocery shopping, cooking, doing laundries and cleaning. I can go to wherever I want, alone, without bodyguards following me, I control my own schedule here and I am free of worries from being liked by people.

It's a complete opposite of the life I used to have but I love this one so much more.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang may biglang umupo na babae sa upuang kanina ko pang tinititigan.

"Hi... I hope you don't mind. There's no vacant seat left." She said apologetically.

"It's alright, I'm about to leave anyway." Sabi ko nalang at napag-desisyunan na puntahan na si Kenzie dahil mukhang hindi na talaga darating pa si Hamlet.

Habang nagliligpit ng gamit ay napansin kong hindi mapakali ang babae at panay ang paghinga niya ng malalim. She is probably in her mid – 20s and she kind of looks Asian.

Tumayo na ako at papaalis na nang dumating ang kasama niya. I was about to be jealous na buti pa siya sinipot ng ka-meet pero natigilan dahil nakita ko ang mabilisang pagtubig ng mga mata niya. Her eyes are suddenly looking scared. 

He snapped his fingers at her nang napansin na hindi siya makapagsalita. "Is there any problem? Make this fast dahil may susunod pa akong schedule." He stated.

I knew it, they were Filipinos too! Dahan – dahan ako bumalik sa pagkaka-upo, masyado naman nang occupied ang dalawa kaya hindi na ako napapansin sa gilid. I just felt the urge to stay and help out a bit on their situation because the girl is definitely breaking down right now.