Burning with the Breeze

1: Hello, Manhattan

CHAPTER 1
[ Hello, Manhattan ]

Aurora

"After long, long years, we are back here in Manhattan," said my mother while stretching her hands upwards. Her body made a sound as if her bones were twisted. My mother is in her early 50s but she looks exceptionally young with her brunette wavy hair and mid-size body.

"It was a long day and it was a long ride," Damon, my older brother who's in his usual cardigan shorts and black shirt, shook his head. As the most athletic person in the family and unfortunately, the only guy among the three of us, he was tasked to carry the baggage all the way from the airport up to here.

"Put all of that in our rooms upstairs," my mother ordered him. She then excitedly jogged her way to the kitchen. As a Master Chef fan and a self-proclaimed cook herself—well somehow she truly is— she surely missed her estranged place.

Damon on the other hand, sighed with frustration. I can imagine his brows narrowing and his nose emitting hot gas like an ogre.

"Aurora?! Come here. Help me."

I turned my head to face him and I couldn't be more accurate about my earlier prediction because all I can see now is my brother's blazing eyes throwing fiery daggers at me.

I laughed hard at his reaction and ran to the porch.

"Aurora!" he shouted frustratingly.

"Be careful not to ruin my art materials!" I shouted back while slowly fading from his sight.

I relish every chance I get to push Damon's buttons and witness him roll his eyes in frustration. Damon is a type of brother who would make your life feel like hell and annoy you the best he can. Perhaps it is his unique way to show his brotherly affection. While it was hard to grasp his ironic form of love initially, I've learned to jive with it as I've grown up. So right now, this is me showing that I love him too by making him carry all the baggage to the stairs.

We are blessed with the warmth of the sun and refreshing ambiance this morning. I wandered my eyes around the neighborhood. Every view felt peaceful and comforting. There was a flock of birds travelling in a v shape in the sky and two puppies playing with a ball outside our fence, barking at each other tirelessly.

I cannot help but smile. Manhattan has always been known as one of the best villages to live in, offering its natural landscape with robust greenery, humble and friendly people, and longstanding traditions and celebrations that keep the residents close to each other and share a harmonious lifestyle.

I took steps closer to our wooden gate and explored my eyes more around the village.

Aling Rosa's sari-sari store beside our house is still there with enhanced accommodations now thanks to the seemingly newly built concrete benches and a golf umbrella in front.

The once barren fields are now filled with rice, corn, lettuces, and tomatoes. A variation of livestock such as chickens, cows, goats, and carabao can be seen around the area as well.

I wonder how does the lighthouse from afar looks like now. It's one of the well-sought attractions here in the village due to its impeccable beauty. I might visit it soon.

I noticed a few more things that are unusual. This place had undergone metamorphosis while we were away.

My family and I had to go to the United States for a while since my dad passed away. My mother had no stable work at that time.

My Aunt Michelle, who didn't have a child, brought us to the US. She is a head nurse there. She helped our mother to get a job in a restaurant. My mother was an HRM graduate, by the way. Our Aunt supported me and my brother, Damon, at school while our mother was earning money.