and so the story began

Chapter 1: Ken, Kento, Kentaro

Chapter 1
Ken, Kento, Kentaro

Madison

[Hija, pasensiya na. Akala ko kasi bukas ka pa darating. Hindi tuloy ako nakapag-ayos d'yan.]

"Okay lang po, 'Nay. I can manage."

[Pasensiya na talaga. Maaga na lang ako bukas na pupunta d'yan. Hindi ko kasi natanong kina Sir at Madame.]

"Sige po."

She asked me about how my day went, if I already ate and so on. I told her that our neighbor from across the street gave me food to eat. Our family knows them kaya it's not hard for me to trust them. I bet I'm starving right now if not for the neighbor.

Oh, Ken looks like he went straight out of an anime, manga, manhwa, webtoon and the likes. I was a little bit starstrucked because of his looks, especially, his eyes. Ang naaalala ko, madalas ako mainis sa kaniya noong bata pa kami. He was---no, he is very chatty. Still, very chatty.

He was wearing a blue jacket and the logo is familiar. He is attending to the same academy where my parents transferred me. Gusto ko sana magrequest na samahan niya ako bukas but that might bother him since matagal na kaming hindi nagkita tapos madalas pa kami mag-away dati. And I remember, I'm not used in asking help from others.

I'm not bothered being transferred in different school. The students in my former school regard me as 'weirdo' just because I don't usually talk to people. Not because I'm afraid of them or something but because I know how fake they are. I also heard one of my classmates called me 'mayabang' when I'm not even doing anything. Ni minsan hindi ko nga sila nakausap. Hindi ko rin alam na kaklase ko pala sila kung hindi pa sila nagsalita ng mali sa akin.

When I caught them talking shit about me, they immediately threw their selves out of the room. Sila na mismo ang nagpunta ng sarili nila sa detention because they knew what would happen if I'm the one who confronted them.

I'm also used to be alone. It's better this way than to spend time with people that'll eventually talk behind my back. My parents are both busy with their work that they can't call me and ask me if I'm okay because I'm barely living. Nakalimutan na 'ata nilang may isa pa silang anak. Tatawag lang sila kapag tapos na ang exam or bigayan na ng report cards to check if I'm doing well in my studies.

Katatapos ko lang kumain. Muntik ko nang maubos. I remembered that I need to left some for tomorrow kasi wala pang stocks dito sa bahay. I'm inside my room the whole day, covered up in blanket while trying to sketch. Crumpled papers were on the floor. There are some on bed and I didn't bother my self picking them.

The gloomy atmosphere of the house makes me want to cry but there aren't any tears left. My eyes met mine through the mirror beside me. People often have hard time reading what my face is trying to say. No matter how I wanted to show emotions, my facial muscles just won't cooperate.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto and just walked to where my feet will lead me. I ended up stopping in front of a door that I can't even hold the handle. Memories started to fill my head. Memories of him, painting in this room, doing artworks and stuffs.

Those were the memories from those days where I can still see how bright the sun was, how vibrant the blue sky was, how flowers come with different colors, how he used the colors to fill the space to make an artwork which have sense before.

I can no longer appreciate the summer. I just want to just rain and rain so that I could lay still on my bed.

"Madison, hija."

My mind was awakened when Nanay Des called my name. I usually stay late during nights and it's weird because I slept peacefully last night that it feels good. What's weirder is that before I close my eyes, Ken entered my mind.