Beneath the clear blue sky

Beneath the clear blue sky chapter 2

CHAPTER II

NOTHING HAS CHANGED

             It was a pleasant surprise to see her again.All my doubts,fear and longing have faded,once I saw her face.That longing feeling I had until I saw what I have been waiting for grew dim.I remember how I used to despise her when she left me and my  dad in this cold stone house.The apples have ripened,the leaves have fallen and decomposed on the road,finally the snow set in its place.Seven long months have gone by,without her.Honestly,it has been really tough.My dad has been silent towards me,just a few 'good morning' 'how are you?' 'goodnight',thats the exact words that makes up our daily conversation,like a broken record.My dad usually does not show his true feelings,if I would have to describe him,he would be a stone,a silent one.Lana came up to me,hugged me tightly and said 'god! I missed you,you have grown so much,did you missed me?.What am I suppose to say? that I hated her for seven straight months and now I'm fine with everything just because she came back?. 'everything's fine'  I

lied to her with a smile.'You have not changed at all' she giggled.

                'Hmmm? black or red?',holding the two shirt slightly apart,which one goes well with black pants?.Is that even an issue?.The only issue I know is that school is  reopening and all hell will break loose.Is that even an issue? or is it just me?.'This one would be perfect for you'.A red head girl handed me a light green shirt.'Thanks,I thought so too' I replied.

'Im Vina by the way and you are?'.

'Im Lian'.

'Do you live around here?'.

'Yeah,I actually go to Southport High'.

'No kidding? I'm actually a transfer student from Minnesota,I guess i'll be seeing you more often'.

'I guess'.

'See you soon then!'.

'Ok,see you'

                  'Who was that girl?,is she your girlfriend?'.Lana never fail to annoy me.'I just met her,she told me she's a transfer student from Minnesota' I affirmed.'Shut up,sooner or later,she'll be eating on our dining table' Lana joked.It was not funny at all,I don't understand why Lana is laughing at this kind of matter.But i laughed at it anyway.

                  While walking along the long stretch of restaurants in the mall.Lana and I finally made up our mind and went to Red Rooster for lunch.I swear,their spicy chicken wings are the best and they are literally red,red as in blood red.I wonder how they make it so red,but then i again,its not an issue.I could not keep my eyes on my food,the place  have changed so much.I guess it has been awhile since I went here for a meal.The neon blue paper posted on the wall caught my eye.'Want to be a crew?'.why not,school is reopening anyway and I need my weekly allowance.That is an issue!.I stood in confidence,as I turn,someone slipped,chicken wings were thrown in the air.Unfortunately,the wings missed my face.It was the orange juice that embraced my face with welcoming arms.It was the best shower I ever had.

                   Somehow I felt happy at that moment.Usually i would pretend to faint,just to get away from the embarrassment.In practice,it would only make the situation a lot worse.But this time was different.Everything just stopped for awhile.A staff handed me a pack of tissue.'Here,this would help you dry'.'Thanks'.'I think thats our cue to get out of this place!' Lana exclaimed.Before the staff turn away,I asked for a crew registration form.I quickly filled it up and passed it to the same guy who gave me the tissue.'So you're name is Lian' he noted.'I guess' I replied with a wide smile.'My manager might call you' he informed then turned away.So do i get the job?.That is the issue.

                      It was freezing in the backseat.It never felt so wide and unsafe.The smell of old leather was strong it reminds me of the vintage leather jacket i purchased at a thrift store few weeks ago,i just had to get it.I don't see it as a desire to own one but an investment and I mean business.the asphalt has been bumpy,but surprisingly it does not smell as it would in the past.Sometimes I wonder why roads are made of asphalt,I mean,why not marshmallows,that would be awesome,then the poor and homeless would never feel hungry again.But then again that was just me being in a state of day dreaming.Wouldn't it be great if once it isn't just an imagination?.

                        I peered my head out the car window,let the gust of wind caress my face like it never did.I stretched out my arms and give in to the solitude of the moment.I finally closed my eyes,my head was clear as a white canvas.A familiar face flashed right before me,however it was blurry,I couldn't figure who it was.Somehow she look much like someone I used to know,someone who was very close to me.The image gradually became sharp as it moves towards me,Then my heart beat fast.It felt like I was shot in the head when I eventually realize it was my mom.My eyes were leaking.The moment was so innocent,just like the white winged dove sings a song.Lana noticed me crying in the backseat.She immediately stopped the car and sat beside me.I could see the fear in her eyes.Lana hugged me tightly as if the world would end the next minute.She looked at me in the eyes and wiped my tears with her shirt.

                       Tonight the moon was full.Like a pearl gleaming in the pitch dark sky.However,the stars were shy tonight or I guess its too early to gaze at the stars or its just gonna rain.Lana and I happily entered the house,like it was our new home.Dad was sitting on the stiff couch.There was a moment of silence.'Lian go to your room' Lana tapped my shoulder.I slowly climbed up the steep flights of the stair hoping to get to hear what would my dad will say.I closed the door behind me and lean against it.

'Why did you come back?' asked dad.

'You need help and Lian needs me' Lana holding up her tears.

'You don't have to,nobody need you here'. 

'I am still your daughter! and you are still my dad! and i missed you' wiping the tears on her cheeks.

'You became a stranger to me when you turned your back against me and walked out that door'.

'I came back here because........because i made a mistake' looking down and slowly shaking her head.

'You came back here because you need us,you need help' said dad giggling.

'No,you're wrong,I came here for your forgiveness' Lana kneeled in front of dad bursting into tears.

                I was peeping from my door,I just couldn't help it.Lana's thick black mascara was smudged,her hair was all over the place,I have never seen her so messed up like that before.She was shaking,terrified of the situation,fearing what will happen next.My dad raised his hands.I wanted to stopped him,but he was too drunk that night that it scared me that he might vent his anger on me.He always does that.I remember a few days back,my dad came home drunk and he was hungry.That night I forgot to prepare dinner,he was so angry that he actually pushed me down the stairs.It was a horrifying experience,it hunts me at night when I'm asleep,I get nightmares because of that.

                 Lana was screaming begging for my dad's forgiveness.Our eyes met but she closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands.I felt her pain,I may not know what she have gone through but seeing   my only sister like that was heart breaking.Dad gripped Lana's arms and dragged her out of the house and slammed the door on her.It was then it started to rain.Lana was looking up as the raindrops hit her face and I could not figure out if she was still crying or not.I came out of the house,she was standing on the sidewalk soaking wet.I came up to her and wiped her tears with my shirt and told her 'Everything will be ok..in time'.We hugged each other in the pouring rain as the downpour became stronger and the lights were killed.

                   The rain had stopped then stars came to light.I wish I could hug her like this forever.I felt safe and I hope she felt the same way too,like there was something stolen from me a long time ago and that missing piece came back and brought me to life.Lana was the missing puzzle piece,without her,my life would not be complete.But then,although she came back,it still feel like there was  something missing,something that would finally complete the picture,something I have been longing for to ease this feeling,but I don't know what it is.I can feel my mom's presence everywhere as if she never left the world at all.Although my dad has been always at work and does not like having conversation with me for too long I can still feel his presence.But as the days goes by this feeling grow deeper,the feeling of missing something becomes bigger.Maybe I'm just excited for what will happen next,what's in store for me,my life is not a movie,sometimes I wish it was.Lana waved goodbye to me as she turned the car engine on,I waved back.As I walked towards the door I heard a loud crash behind me.I turned around,I couldn't see anything but the blinding head lights,then all the stars shine starts to fade.