Don't Touch Me (GL) [Completed]

Prologue

Started writing on November, 2014

Story completed on April, 2016

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Nagmamadali akong pumusta sa kama ko at pumuwesto sa headboard nito. Inalis ko yung picture frame na nakasabit sa dingding na ka-level ko lang kapag nakaluhod and sumilip sa eye-sized hole ng dingding. Pagkauwi ko from school ay ganito lagi ang daily routine ko.

I smiled. There she is again—my Star.

Palagi na lang siyang nagbabasa kapag nasilip ako. Kita mula rito sa butas na sinisilipan ko ang kama niya at lagi lang siyang naroon at nagre-read ng mga books niya.

I was love-struck when I first saw her. She's so pretty! Unang kita ko pa lang sa kanya, I know myself that Star is the one I will be spending my lifetime with. I don't care if adults won't believe me, I don't care if they will get mad if what I feel about her is not right. Hindi 'to crush lang or puppy love. Even if I'm just a kid, I know what I want.

I want Star.

Since she came here, I'm always looking forward to be close to her. Pero madalas itong nakakulong sa kwarto niya and I don't even know why. I tried to convince my parents to get close to her but they don't want to. I felt bad for her dahil puro books lang ang company niya and because she doesn't have a social life.

Even her mother—Yaya Stella—never ko itong nakita na lumapit kay Star ng madalas. Ang gulo.

Nag-focus ulit ako kay Star. Medyo nalungkot ako habang tinitingnan ko siya. Her name justified it—just like the star in the sky, I can look at it but I will never be able to reach and touch it. I wish I can play with her. Mamamasyal kami and magkukwento ako sa kanya ng mga nangyayari sa'kin sa school. Siguro, ang saya no'n.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang inangat niya ang suot na sando. Napapikit ako at kinapa ang picture frame at isinabit ulit. Saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.

"That was close," I said to myself, "muntik ko na siyang masilipan while she's changing her clothes."

I straightened my posture when someone knocked on my door and opened it after. I saw my Mom smiling at me. "Hi, baby Shannelle."

"Mommy, I'm a big girl na po." I pouted my lips.

She laughed. Lumapit siya sa'kin at hinaplos ang buhok ko. "Well, you're still my baby," she said, "how's school?"

Humiga kami ni Mommy sa bed ko and I hugged her. "Okay lang naman po." I answered. There's nothing really interesting about school. "Mommy, can I ask something?"

"Sure." She nodded. "Anything."

"Why Star doesn't go to school like me?" It's been bothering me for a while. I've been schooling since I turned five na kasi and yet ever since Star and her mother lived here, I never saw her wearing school uniform. Naisip ko before baka magkaiba lang kami ng school shift, pero may one time kasi na absent ako. Still, I saw her na nasa kwarto pa rin niya.

"Because Star is already a genius na." My Mommy answered.

"Really?" Napabangon ako, I suddenly felt amazed. Pwede pala iyon? A brilliant idea came into my mind. "Can she tutor me?"

That way, I'll be able to be with her.

Mommy shook her head. "No." My high hope quickly went down. Hindi ko mapigilang malungkot, parang may masakit sa heart ko. "Star is special that's why she can't tutor you."

"But..." I trailed off. Pinipigilan kong maiyak. Big girl na ako, eh. "I want to be close to her. Gusto ko po siyang makalaro."

"Even if you want to, hindi kita mapagbibigyan sa gusto mo," sagot niya.

"Why?" I asked. "Why can't she play with me? Why can't she tutor me? Why no one is talking to her? Wala ba siyang friends? Why?" There's so much questions running in my head. I just want to see her and play with her—to be with her. Bakit naman bawal? Ang unfair naman. "Mommy, I want to know why."

Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat. "Because she's sick, Shann."

My eyes widened. I quickly felt worried and scared—not for myself—but for Star. "Is...is she dying?" I gasped with my own question. My tears started falling which I quickly wiped away but it keeps falling. "I don't want her to die!"

Hindi ko pa nga siya nakakausap, eh. Ni hindi pa kami nakakapaglaro! I don't want her to die. I'll be lonely if that happens.

"No, no." Umiling siya. "Hindi, Shann. She's not dying, okay?" She wiped my tears and hugged me. I clenched her dress. "She's not."

"R-really?" I looked at her and I can't help but sob. She nodded quick. "Then...a-ano pong sakit niya?"

"Star has haphephobia."

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