The Sky and You

Chapter 14: Same But Not The Same

New Year. Keun Suk thought nobody would remember him or even bother to greet him on New Year's day but alas, his phone kept ringing non stop ever since last night. His parents called and told him to come home and spend the holidays with them, even his friends asked him to join their parties but he declined them all and decided to spend it at home, alone... again.

The sky looked the same as yesterday. Nothing special, except for the moon and the star that are almost but not quite close to each other. Unconsciously, one arm reached for the heavens as if measuring the distance in between them.

"So near yet so far," he whispered the words as if something would change if he say it.

When the clock strikes midnight, with a champagne in his hand, he raised it in the air and offered a toast to the now spectacular sky. Fireworks have filled the sky with bright colors but in his eyes, only the moon and the star next to it shines the brightest.

"Wherever you are, under the same sky, under the same moon and stars... Cheers! Another year... Happy New Year... Belle," he lamented.

*

Weee! Boom! The sounds of firework filled her room. The merry laughing of people, the crackers crackling and hornpipes blowing signals that the year has changed again. From her window, she enjoyed the beautiful flowers that bloomed in the sky that night. With a tissue in her hand, she wiped the tears that are falling from her eyes and simply blew her nose.

A knock on her door distracted Belle from fantasizing over the fireworks.

"Ate!!!" (big sister) she heard her sister calling, "Mom said its time to eat. Come down." She heard her walk away from the other side of the door but then she came running back again, "and Mom said to stop crying... or else you'll have bad luck for the entire year." Bea added, giggling.

She pouted. Belle returned to her study table, closed her laptop and for the last time looked at the beautiful fireworks.

Apart of her heart is aching. As she look at the sky she couldn't help but feel the emptiness she always feels and its saddening.

May the year ahead be as spectacular as the fireworks that colors the sky tonight... and I wish it fills this emptiness in me, she prayed.

She went down and join her family to celebrate the New Year together. Her mom was busy taking out the food and setting them on the table. She found her dad and sister, Bea, outside. Her sister was busy taking a video of her dad who was lighting a fountain on the street. It was so noisy. Her little cousins were running around the house, some of the men were lighting firecrakers on the street, some where running dragging empty cans tied on a string and some even pushed the horns of their vehicles, anything that could make a loud noise to drive away bad luck as they say.

Smiles and laughter is every where. It was a sight to behold. Somehow, the emptiness in her heart lightens.

"Happy New Year!!!" her friends Abby and Tanya greeted her on video call.

"Happy New Year guys. I miss you, especially you Ab... Don't forget the souvenir, okay?" The two girls laughed. Abby is currently in Cebu because her parents decided to spend the holiday with her grandparents.

"How could you!" snapped Abby. "Did you really miss me or you just want souvenirs?" she said pouting.

"Ha ha ha. I miss you too Ab. Don't forget mine as well okay?" said Tanya who was laughing so hard.

"I'll think about it. If I don't feel your sincerity, you won't be getting any," it was her turn to tease both of them.

"Don't be like that Ab, you know we really do miss you and besides its New Year. You should share your blessings... for prosperity, right Tan?"