Why Do Stars Fade?

Chapter One

Chapter One

I was that type of girl who goes out to party every night. I was that type of girl who was popular among boys and girls. I wasn't that type of girl who cares too much for her grades, as long as I wouldn't get failing grades and I was passing, it was all okay for me, but, don't get me wrong, I also study and read books, but those were rare times, I wasn't really much of a reader back then. I had a big circle of friends, but, there were only two persons I considered my bestfriend, Yna and Jessica.

I lived alone, yes, alone, in a big, big house, which was the only property my parents left me. My parents died in a plane crash in one of their trips, if I hadn't force them to let me stay home, I would eventually be dead, too. I was devastated when they died, they were the best parents, my Mom who was very kind and caring, my Dad who was serious, but he was the sweetest Dad. Until now, I'd still be crying over the fact that they were gone so early and in an unexpected way.

I went to a school not far from my house, St. Claire's Academy, a private school, my parents left me a fortune enough for me to live day by day and pay for my school stuffs.

My school life was never boring, I always hung-out with my friends and colleagues, but, still, my days always end up with me, being alone in my own house, in my own room. The truth was, I just used those "fun" to forget all the thoughts that had been eating me up since the death of my parents, because, I had been alone since then, yes, I had Yna and Jessica, but, even them couldn't ease the loneliness I was feeling.

One time, after a fun night in a club, I couldn't take all my thoughts, so, I went out, never minding the cold air, the silent and dark streets and my silly drunken state. I walked, and walked until I reached an abandoned park. It was the park where my parents usually bring me, I couldn't take all the memories that has been flashing through my eyes, so, I cried, I broke down. Then, a baritone startled me making me stop from crying.

"Akala ko multo." With my tears-stricken face, I faced him, he was holding a white hanky, his face was serious, without even a hint of humor albeit his remark. I tried ignoring him, for, I was embarassed that someone had to see me in that state. I wiped my face and looked away. I thought he would go away. I was wrong though.

"Take this, this doesn't have any chemical in it."

He sat beside me, took my hand and placed his hanky on my palm. I looked at him with wide eyes, I remember him staring right back at me, I remember looking away from his stare because it was making me uncomfortable. I didn't know him, why would I trust someone who just appeared somewhere telling me he thought I was a ghost. But then, I found myself wiping my tears using the hanky he gave me.

"Who are you?" I managed to ask after a long silence. I remember staring at his calm face, he was staring at the broken swing in front of us.

I thought he didn't hear me back then,  so, I shut my mouth up, not wanting to repeat myself.

Well, why would I want to know his name anyway?  I remember asking those words to myself.

But I was wrong, he turned to me, his obsidian eyes staring right through my soul. I remember myself shivering not from the cold night air but because of the stare he was giving me.

"The tenth brightest star located in the constellation Orion."

Right now, thinking of that moment, I want to laugh at myself for being a dumbass during that time, I didn't get what he said, so I just stared at him, showing him my "what-are-you-talking-about" look.

"Someone's not studying her lessons well." He said which made me dumbfounded. The corner of his lips lifted up a little and I had to stop myself from staring too much. I was insulted a little bit so I racked my brain, remembering all the previous lessons we had about those constellations in Science. I almost laughed when I realized what his name was, it was Betelgeuse.

"Well, your name is quite funny." I told him, not realizing, I was already talking comfortably to him, that I had forgotten I broke down, that he had managed to break the walls of loneliness I felt. I didn't realize I was already baring myself to him.

I remember myself copying him, I also looked at the sky, the sky was so full of stars that time, they were blinking above us. I stretched my arm upward, as if trying to reach for one of the stars.

"Do you believe that dead people become stars?" I asked without looking at him. He didn't answer, probably, waiting for me to continue, so, I did.

I guess that was what I needed, someone to talk to, someone to listen to me without pitying me, because I was tired of them pitying me. I didn't need their pity.

So, I talked to him, bared my self to him, I didn't think of the consequences, I just wnated to let all my bottled feelings out, and I'm glad I did. He just sat there, listening to me, he never said a word, he never looked at me pityly. He just listened, comforted me with his presence, and it was funny, because, I didn't even know him, yet, he was conforting me, as if we had known each other for a lifetime.

"It's already two in the morning, you should go home."

He told me after a long stretch of silence, I didn't realize I was already talking to him for three straight hours. He stood up and held his hand to me, at first, I hesitated, but I thought, I already bared him my life, why would I even hesitate to accept a single help from him, so, I accepted his hand. I didn't even realize, my life would change after that one night.

He walked me home, but, after that night I never saw him again, I tried going back to the park where I met him, but, I didn't saw him, back then, I couldn't understand myself kung bakit gusto ko siyang makitang ulit, makausap.

"Why would I even want to see him again?  Why would I exhaust myself, ni hindi ko siya kilala, besides his name, Betelgeuse, I don't even know anything about him."

I remember me, convincing myself about not looking for him anymore by telling those words to myself. He was just someone whom I just talked to, just someone I shared my life with, he was just no one, a stranger, or so I thought.

I tried to get Betelgeuse out of my mind, I convinced myself that I was never going to see him again, but I was wrong.