Miles Away

Chapter 2

change 

verb \?ch?nj\ 

: to become different 

: to make (someone or something) different 

: to become something else

September 27, 2013 

Subspace Café, Philippines

Marie Heather Plaza-Holland enters the café clumsily hitting another customer's head with a shopping bag and hits another head behind her as she apologizes to the first stranger then drops her shopping bags as she apologizes to the second one.  

"I'm so sorry, I was just-" 

"It's okay miss, just please be careful next time." the second stranger replies and Heather raises a hand in shame. She picks up the shopping bags and walks towards the two guys in the farthest couches of the coffee shop. Both of the guys quickly sat up straight to hide the laughter they once were in while watching the comedic play of hitting heads by the entrance. Hen-chan, a hobo who was facing Symonne, a boho; coughs to signal the nearly approaching disaster, Heather. 

"You made me walk all the way from The Podium to this place!" Heather exclaims as she slips onto the seat beside Symonne who smirks.  

"Well dear, we didn't know you were carrying stuffs." Symonne sarcastically apologizes in monotone and Hen-chan hid his grin behind the Lenovo tablet he was using. 

"I know you both saw me out there." Heather rolls her eyes and took a cheese fry from Hen-chan's plate. 

"Yes we did. Idiocracy is a form of entertainment." Symonne replies then Hen-chan bursts into laughter slamming the end of his table. Heather shook her head knowing this is one of those casual coffee conversations with friends that nearly turns into something more enthralling when coffee starts getting in their heads. No need for alcohol indeed, just their thoughts and coffee. 

"So how were you for the past weeks? We haven't heard from you." Symonne asks lifting a leg on his seat putting his arm on his knee comfortably as if he's on a couch at home.  

"I'm good, for now. But I haven't been sleeping well." Heather leans back on the couch and calls for a waiter. 

"We can see it, your eye bags are getting more expensive." Hen-chan points out.  

"Is that supposed to make me laugh?" Heather asks and both guys nodded.  

As a third person observer, Heather's eyes are really the darkest shade of brown. Beautiful yet you'll see a bit of pain when you look in her eyes. Dark circles were forming under it and it does look heavy. Although Symonne and Hen-chan also have dark circles under their eyes, they are physical results of staying up late due to work while Heather's are caused by lack of sleep and maybe a bit of crying.  

"Why haven't you been sleeping well?" Symonne asks taking a sip from his coffee.  

"I've been thinking a lot about things lately, I'm in a stagnant state obviously." Heather answers wearily and Hen-chan nods. 

"So you're telling us, it's back?" Hen-chan leans onto to the table putting his hands under his chin.  

"Call it walking depression." Heather answers.  

"Tell us about it?" Symonne asks and Heather sighs.  

"About walking depression or what's bothering me?" Symonne and Hen-chan looks at each other and instantly had the same thought in mind. The waiter comes and stands beside Heather ready to note down her order. 

"We all know about depression dear so what is it that's bothering you lately?" Symonne asks looking directly at the waiter and he points a finger at his chest to clear if Symonne is asking him that question.  

"Me?" the waiter asks and Symonne nods.  

"My girlfriend's been texting me 24/7 even at work it gets so annoying." The waiter answers and Hen-chan looks at the waiter to see any signs of possible homosexuality. 

"How about you Hen-chan?" Symonne points his finger at Hen-chan. 

"If this waiter is gay?"  

"I'm bisexual." The waiter replies narrowing his eyes.  

"I don't see where this is going Sy." Heather tells them.  

"Why don't you take your order first ma'am?" The waiter suggests and Heather does. Just as when the waiter leaves, Heather recovers from the confusion and Symonne starts talking. 

"Heather, you're 17! If I were you at this state, I wouldn't feel so useless. You could do lots of things, learn to play the guitar-" 

"She knows how-" Hen-chan interrupts. 

"Read books-" 

"I have been reading a lot." Heather interrupts. 

"Watch good movies-"  

"She only likes Edgar Wright movies." Hen-chan points out. 

"Write a story-" 

"That's why you called me here right? To let you read my draft?" Heather asks and Symonne sits up straight like a child interrupted from his thoughts about Barney the dinosaur. 

"We can read that later. Right now, we have to figure out your possible sources of happiness." Hen-chan stops Symonne's excitement for a new project. 

"Happiness does not exist." Heather tells them.  

"How so?" Symonne asks curiously, finding this version of Heather really sad. Although she really is sad on the inside no matter how noisy and goofy Heather is normally. 

"No one is completely happy. We reach the point wherein we feel much fulfilled because we got just what we wanted but then we go down once again and feel miserable when there comes something else we want but cannot have ." Heather speaks convincingly. 

"So basically, you're saying that happiness is only about wanting and having?" Hen-chan asks perplexed 

"Happiness is a state of mind Henry. Discontentment is its antonym." Heather replies and I as a third person (whoever or whatever I may be) do understand what she means and obviously Henry doesn't while Symonne contemplates.  

"So you're saying, acceptance and appreciation is the only thing that exists?" Symonne asks and Heather nods in honor.  

"If you're living by this existentialist belief, then why are you depressed? Surely you're not helping yourself."  

"Because that doesn't really help." Heather looks at Symonne for the first time during this day.  

"You see, depression isn't an illness, it's an adaptive mechanism. It means I have to make some changes in my life." Heather finally smiles forcefully, the first time this day.  

"That's why you went shopping ma'am?" The waiter comes back serving Heather her Resse's cheesecake and Caramel Macchiato. 

"Yes and the fact that I ordered Reese's instead of blueberry and Caramel instead of a Latte." Heather looks at her own order in amusement, wondering if she'll ever get to finish them knowing she never really liked these flavors. 

"CHANGE?" Hen-chan asks. 

"Change." Heather winks at Henry before taking her first bite of Reese's cheesecake, her first bite on CHANGE.

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So the first two chapters were a glimpse on Philippe and Heather's characters and if you already loved them (specially Philippe oh my gosh) I'm very grateful for those of you who would contiue reading. Don't expect for a sudden plunge into a climax because I want you all to crave for more as you read on. I also would appreciate if you leave comment my darlings :)

Ilsym <3 -Eyzell