Other Side of the Screen

Chapter One: The Beginning

Katie sat there, playing Minecraft on her phone. She was playing on a famous, well-known, and successful server called 'Voltage'. She was new there and the players, Admins and the server owner welcomed her and gave a gift from the owner. An iron sword with sharpness I and a full iron armor with protection I. She met a lot of friends there. All the people were friendly and fair. The server had a great anti-cheat system, so no one has to worry if someone decides to hack or cheat their way.

In the server, there's this thing called a 'Plot' where you can claim it for free. You can build anything! Its a huge personal plot everyone can claim, but a maximum of 2 plots per person. You can also visit other people's plot and look around and explore! Katie decided to build a classic 2 story house made of dark wood, logs, and cobblestone. She decorated the place with flowers, fences, grass, carpets, crops, and more. It took hours for her to build it and costed a lot of coins.

She called out her friends, to show her plot. There was her house, along with a fountain and a gorgeous pathway and beautiful garden with a pond and tables and chairs. All of them loved it. There's this thing where you can access it to the public or make it private. She made it public and her friends promoted her plot saying there's going to be a party.

Her friends and other players loved it! Even some admins were there to check it out! Everyone had fun and took screenshots of her gorgeous build. One of the admins convinced the server owner to visit. Everyone was shocked, because the server owner doesn't usually visit players. He only goes to places if there's a problem. "You're such a good builder!" The owner complimented. The chat was spammed with shocked faces or "gg" because the owner doesn't talk or compliment to most players.

The owner decided to give her 'Tp Perms'. She has and was granted the power to TP (Teleport) to other people and give them a helping hand. Though she cannot build or destroy blocks. She can guide them to build awesome things.

A voice called out to her. "Anak, can you come down here?". Katie lived in the Philippines, but they don't use much Tagalog, which was the country's language. 'Anak' means 'son' or 'daughter', depending how you use it. She responded "Bakit, inay?" (Why, mom?). Her mother didn't reply. She groaned and stomped her way downstairs. She stomped on each stair of the staircase.

She had to leave the game. Everyone sighed and groaned. "Katie, stay!" Her internet friends tried to convince her, but Katie had to go. She promised them to meet again tomorrow.

Once she reached down, she had to pass through the living room. Her father was there on the sofa watching television. "Katie! Why are you stomping on the staircase!?" Her father scolded. His father got mad but making his self calm as possible. He walked towards Katie. "Please act your age, Katie. Don't stomp on the stair case again because if you do, you might slip!" He continued. Katie apologize and made her way to the kitchen.

Her mother was there, beside the refrigerator, angry. "Ma, what's wrong?" Katie asked. Her mother pointed at the refrigerator. "Ano? Whats wrong with it?" (What? What's wrong with it?) Her mother grasped the handle tight. "What's wrong?" She mimicked. "There's no food for lunch! I told you to go to the palengke!" Her mother shouted at her.

A 'palengke' is a public market. Its like a grocery store, but palengkes can be found anywhere. They sell lots of things! Food, movies, clothes, toys and etc. Its always crowded there and noisy. Unlike a grocery store, a palengke can be dangerous since it has no security whatsoever. There can be possible thefts and kidnappings around. Katie is just grade 6 and needs company. Her mother needs to stay home, while her father needed to rest since it his day off.

"Go call your kuya!" Her mother demanded. A 'kuya' is a way or form of respect to someone who is older than you. Especially if its a man. While the term 'Ate' is for women. Katie nodded and climbed upstairs. There was a long hallway. It has white walls and a purple-ish magenta carpet. Each side had 2 doors. On the left is her and her brother's room, while the right is her parent's and Tita's (Auntie's) room.

She went to her brother's room and knocked gently. "Kuya, can you come with me to the palengke?" She asked as she slowly opened the door. Her brother was there on his bed, studying. There was books, notebooks, crumbled up pieces of paper everywhere! "I'm busy studying for chemistry test tomorrow!" Her brother said. She added "Sabi ni mom!" (Mom said so!). Her brother sighed and shut his book and placed it aside.

Katie went to her room and changed to her favourite grey shirt and black denim pants. She tied her long hair into a ponytail. She grabbed her phone and earphones and stuffed it into her bag. "Ma, do you have the list?" Katie shouted. Her mother replied from downstairs "Oo. Dito na!" (Yes. It's here!). Katie walked through the hall. A four-legged creature stopped in her way. It glanced at her. He had a tail, waggling left and right. "Hello," Katie greeted with a sinister tone. "We meet again, Mr. Wiggle Butt." It was her dog, a corgi. He wagged his tail and happily barked with an excited jump.

Katie rushed downstairs. Surprisingly, her brother was already there, all prepared. "Kuya, I didnt see you or hear you go downstairs." Katie said. He just laughed.

They kissed their mother and father on the cheeks and left the house. They had their budget. It was around ₱300 (300 pesos). Pesos (₱) is the Philippine currency. They walked through the neighbourhood.

They were greeted by neighbors. They gave friendly smiled and waved.

"Okay, so..." She paused as they both stood there in the sidewalk under a giant thick tree. "Should we find a tricycle?" She asked him and looked around. His brother didn't respond. He had earphones on and was busy texting people on his phone. "Are you even listening?!" Shouts Katie as she pulled one of his earphones off. He apologized and explained. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just texting my friends. I was listening and maybe we can go by foot or tricycle.". Katie thought of it out.

Our budget is only ₱300 and if we go by tricycle, we will have to spend ₱16. If we ride, it will take around 5 minutes. If we go by foot, it will take 15 minutes to get there... Ah, we'll go by foot!

"Kuya, we'll just go by foot." Katie said. He nodded and they both walked to the palengke.

As they arrived at the pelengke, they went to a little store and bought themselves a bottle of water and then they went straight in. It was noisy and filled with people. There are people shouting, convincing people to buy their products. Katie pulled out her list of foods to buy:

1 1/2 kilo of meat
1 1/2 cabbage
2 peices of potatoes
1 pork cubes
2 onion

"Okay," Katie said as she read through her list

Her brother helped her buy the foods on the list and the last thing they need to buy is 2 onions. "Kuya, can you bring these other stuff?" Katie asked her brother while they we're walking to one of the stores. They saw this woman, around her 50's selling onions, vegetables, fruits, and Filipino snacks. "Here! Onions." Her brother pointed out.

"Ate pabili po ng dalawang bawang" (Ate, I'll pick 2 onions please) Katie politely asked the storekeeper. "Eto na po yung dalawang bawang" (Here's the onion you needed) the storekeeper gave her. She paid the money and left.

"Kuya! Here's the onion that we need" Katie said handling the onions to her brother. "Ok. Let's go home."