Crushed

Prologue

Prologue 🌻

"What's the movie?"

"Another one from my famous collection of love stories."

The girl shook her head, amused. "I guess I should've expected this from you."

"Why? Aren't all my choices amazing?"

"Mama. You're unbelievable."

It was dark in the living room, especially since it was that time of the week: Sunday night. It would've seemed unusual for others since the next day was a school day, but it was almost completely normal for her.

Almost. She never knew the reason why she always felt nervous before a school day.

"Grab the snacks from the kitchen, would ya'?"

Not wanting to disobey her mother, and since she was hungry herself, she stood up and headed for the kitchen, putting a strand of her long black hair aside as she walked.

Chocolate brown eyes wandered across the room as she headed for the refrigerator. She bit her lip, suppressing a smile as she snuck in a bag of potato chips along with the snacks.

While she walked back to the living room, her eyes widened when she heard the familiar introduction of one specific movie. She urged her feet to walk faster.

"Mama!" She exclaimed.

"Yes?" Her mother replied, a smug smile drawing itself on her face.

"That's my favorite movie! You said it was one of your--- nevermind." She sighed.

"I did say that all my choices are amazing."

"Omigosh," she breathed as her mother began to laugh.

"I'm just kidding, deary. Come now. The movie's about to start."

She didn't hesitate to plop herself on the couch, putting the snacks on the coffee table before her. Although, the bag of potato chips remained in her grip. She turned away from the television as she opened the bag.

"What is that?" Her mother asked, trying to peek from behind her shoulders.

"Nothing," she responded, a bit muffled due to the chips shoved in her own mouth.

The woman shook her head. "I should've replaced that thing with the candies your brother wanted."

"Hold on a moment, mama." She said with a pause before she smiled sweetly. "I'm your child, too."

"Yes, yes. I know that." Her mother responded, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Silence overcame them as the movie continued.

✳✳✳

As the movie reached its end, she yawned while her mother turned the TV off.

"I'm off to bed now," she said as she rubbed her eyes. "Good night."

"Good night, deary." The woman replied.

The girl was about to leave the living room when her mother made her hold a pile of CDs.

"Don't forget to place these in the drawer," her mother told her. "Try not to wake your father or brother up."

She nodded and soon proceeded to her room. As she climbed up the stairs, she noticed a picture frame rimmed with gold-like material. There were two people on the photo with bright and genuine smiles on their faces.

One was in a fancy black tuxedo.

The other one was wearing an elegant white dress and a veil.

It was a portrait of her parents on their wedding day.

They look so happy together, the girl thought to herself.

She soon turned the door knob leading to her bedroom. The room was quite small with a twin-sized bed, a study desk, a closet, drawers and bookshelves inside.

Her favorite place was by the window where she would observed the night sky for most of the nights.

Before placing the CDs back in the drawer, she shuffled through the pile that she was holding. As expected, most of it were cheesy love stories. Some even have kissing scenes as their cover.

The girl chuckled. "Yuck."

Glancing at the window, she stood up and decided to do a bit of sightseeing. She gazed at the luminous stars as a million thoughts were going through her head.

She sighed and thought of something she can't imagine herself thinking.

When will I ever experience romantic love?

xxx

Photo source: wallpaperscraft.com/download/window_starry_sky_night_115518/3840x2160