I SPENT FIVE YEARS IN SPACE

Year 3020.  I grew up depending on technology, following orders by the authorities and lived as if it'll be the last day of my life. No one knows if you'll be shot in the head while you're walking along the street for being useless or you'll be accused of something you haven't done and be arrested by the android robots to be used for a lifetime s*****y. I'm doing my very best to survive.  "Anak, tingnan mo." agad akong sumilip sa direksyong itinuro ni mama. A message popped in the netscreen,  [ Citizens of SouthEast Commonwealth, To all intellectuals who have passed the SECG examination, kindly gather at your division's city square today at 3 PM sharp. Anyone who dares not to attend will be charged and will be given a penalty. ] Ramdam ko ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko. It's happening again. It's an annual event. Every division will be picking an individual to be a subject for their experiments or should I say they're using us as guinea pigs for their f*****g absurdity. It was made to be some sort of honor, giving your life for the good of humanity, but it's just a f*****g reminder that we, commoners, will always remain under the government's thumb.  I snapped out of the thoughts when my portscreen vibrated, I got a message from him. Kian: Hey, I'll pick you up. Don't be nervous, we aren't lucky enough to be drawn out of a thousand people in this division. I chuckled, he's crazy.  Mabilis na lumipas ang oras, 30 minutes before 3 o' clock and we're ready to go.  "Ma? Ma? Tara na." I called out.  Nasan na ba 'yon? And then I heard the squeaks in our bathroom, shoot. Tinakbo ko ang distansya sa pagitan ko at ng banyo hanggang sa maabutan ko si mama na nakaupo sa malamig na sahig.  She's vomiting.  "Ma, okay ka lang ba?" I gently caressed her back, hoping to give her at least a pinch of comfort. "Ayos lang, tara na." she managed to stand up and wash her face bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay. Naabutan ko si Kian at si mama na naguusap, my mom looks pale.  Naagaw ko ang atensyon ni Kian dahilan para lumapit siya sa'kin, "Let's go, Princess of SouthEast Commonwealth." biro niya kasabay ng paglahad ng kamay niya.  "You want a princess to ride in a rotten pumpkin?" I pointed his hover in a horrible shade of orange.  Humalakhak si mama na ikinabusangot ng mukha ni Kian. "You're so mean." he stated and opened the hover's door for my mom. He glanced at me, waiting if I'll ride or not. "Make sure we'll get there uninjured." muling humalakhak si mama bago ako tuluyang sumakay. "Aye aye, captain!"  "Tsk, hop on." I commanded.  -  My knees are trembling and my heart is thumping like crazy as I scanned the city square. A platform is placed in front as well as a huge container of jumbled strips of paper. Everyone looks nervous as I am.  Android robots are roaming around and keeping everyone in order. One wrong move and you're dead meat.  Napalingon ang lahat sa lalaking bigla na lang tumakbo palayo,  3, 2, 1, He's dead. Napuno ng iyakan ang paligid kasabay ng bulungan. Lahat sila ay masama ang tingin sa nilalang na bumaril sa lalaking nangahas na tumakas.  These andro-bots are programmed to kill anybody who wants to disobey the rules and escape this horrifying event. Minutes have passed and the sirens of the emergency hover covered the spine-chilling atmosphere.  You better not run away if you want to live longer. I covered my ears as the deafening screech from the microphone echoed within the city square. "Good afternoon, Division 04!" I rolled my eyes, her voice sounds horrible. She's Ms. Iza, appointed chairperson of Division 04.  "Let's get started, ladies and gentlemen. Drumrolls please." she commanded, adding another weight of horror to the citizens.  Ipinasok niya ang kamay niya sa bunutan at hinalo-halo 'yon hanggang sa tuluyang makapili ng piraso ng papel na pagmamay-ari ng pinakamalas ngayong araw.  "Here!" aish, she sounds awful. "ID number, 10272018041020.." Ms. Iza stopped, hanging the two untold numbers midair. I glanced at Kian, he's staring at me. I can see the nervousness in his eyes and the tensing of his posture.  I gave him a reassuring smile as he smiled at me. "...19." Ms. Iza continued. My heart skipped a beat as tears fell from his eyes. The thing in my wrist beeped, it was the number of my ID chip. - I was a given a day to bid goodbye to my family after the division's officials oriented me about the experiment. My heart is bleeding, ayoko.  I wanted to protest and escape, but no one has ever survived after absconding from their filthy divisions. No one has the power to stop these psychos from sacrificing innocent people, the government is crazy.  I smiled bitterly while looking at the towering offices, shopping centers, apartment buildings and other technology-based infrastructures around me. I guess today will be the last day that I'll be seeing them.  The sun had passed overhead and was descending behind the sky crapers to the west. My heart sank as the sun set.  - Naabutan ko si mama na hindi mapakali habang naglalakad nang pabalik-balik sa sala. "Ma.."  She shifted her gaze at me and ran, "Anak.." and then started sobbing. She's in pain, I need to be stronger. "Tumakas na tayo rito, anak. Ayokong pati ikaw mawala sa'kin." she begged with tears in her eyes. "Ma, I can't let you die with me."  "Pero anak.." "Ma, don't worry. I'll come bac--Maaa!" I stopped midair nang bigla na lang bumagsak sa sahig si mama. - "Your mom is getting worse." Kian started after letting out a heavy sigh. I called him right after mom collapsed, he's smart and has been studying medicine. And yeah, obviously he's my boyfriend. He avoided my gaze and started walking towards the holographic fireplace.  "She has pancreatic cancer, stage 3." I frozed, what the hell?!  "W..What?! All this time alam mong may sakit siya pero hindi mo sinasabi sa'kin, Kian?!" I raised my voice, I'm frustated as f**k.  "Ayaw niyang malaman mo, I'm sorry. She doesn't want you to worry." he cupped my face and wiped my tears.  Damn cancer! - I gently sat down on my mom's bed. She looks beautiful in her chrysanthemum-embroidered silk robe even though she looks thin and pale.  I don't want to go, I want to be with mom. I want to take care of her, I want to stay with Kian.  But now that I've discovered mom's illness, my desire to stay here vanished like candle fire after I've blown it.  If I'll go and push through with the experiment, they'll pay me. The reimbursement money will surely help for my mom's medication.  In the other hand, if I escape with my mom, we'll spend the rest of our lives like f*****g fugitives. Sigurado ring hindi nila patatahimikin si Kian.  All I ever wanted was freedom. At kung ang kapalit ng kalayaang pinapangarap ko ay ang kapahamakan ni mama at ng lalaking mahal ko, I'll rather choose to stay behind bars and risk my life to keep them safe. - After I've reported what happened to my mom, they gave me another 2 days to take care of her.  They also sent me a book, they ordered me to study and memorize all the information written in the book. Sabi nila, the infos will be helpful for our mission.  And yeah, we'll be exploring the universe to find and conduct a research about a particular meteoroid.  Months ago, a special meteorite fell into the earth and they've found out that it's chemical composition has something to do with the experiment being conducted by division 12, our division's closest ally.  They were desperate to find it's origin and successfully traced thousands of the said meteoroids in the outer space, they're planning to make the meteoroids fall into the earth. It may sound ridiculous but at this era and with this kind of technology, even the impossible says I'm possible. Ni hindi ko alam kung ba't nila naisip na pwede nila akong isama roon, they said I'm capable of learning and I have the potential.  Whatever, curse you all.  Bahagya akong nagulat nang maabutan ko si Kian na hawak ang libro sa kwarto ko, he flinched the moment he saw me opening the door.  "What are you doing?"  "Hmm, the book they sent you looks interesting." he smiled.  "Kian.." I sat beside him and continued, "I'm really sorry, I promise I'll be back."  He looked at me with his gloomy copper-brown eyes, "It's fine, you and your mom matters more. Please take care of yourself okay?" A tear escaped his eye making my heart bleeds even more. I nodded and held his hand, "Just five years, okay? Please take care of my mom for me, get your doctorate degree and I promise to marry you once I come back. We'll get through this, and please stay alive. I love you, Kian."  He chuckled and gently lifted my chin with his free hand. I was caught momentarily dazzled by his laugh and stared at him, "I'm gladly accepting your proposal. I love you more, Chai." he stated and sealed our promises with a kiss. - After bidding my goodbyes, I was sent to the division's headquarters and continued learning all the things I need to understand before leaving the planet. They confiscated my portscreen so I had no choice but to cut my communication with mom and Kian off.  Kasalukuyan akong nagbabasa nang mapansin kong may nawawalang pahina sa libro.  I frowned but it looks like it's nothing to focus on so I just shrugged it off and continued reading. Weeks passed, and we'll be leaving tomorrow. A knock in my cabin's door woke me up, "Chai, go to the lobby, asap."  I prepared and went to the lobby, my eyes twinkled in delight when I spotted a well-known personality waiting for me.  "You're Chai, right?" I nodded, she's so pretty! "Meet Flight Lieutenant Saoirse Titania, you'll be spacemates for five years so you better befriend her now." Ms. Iza introduced the finest female pilot I've ever seen. "Am I late?" a low baritone voice filled my ears. "And here's Space Commander Kayden Ace Constello, they'll be the commanding officers and they will lead the entire mission."  They both smiled at me, this division has the finest and the sexiest pilot ever.  - After a lot of terms and phrases na halos hindi ko na maintindihan dahil sa sobrang kaba, I finally heard the robotic voice echoed, "Ready for take off.."  3, 2, 1, I closed my eyes and gripped my seatbelt tightly.  - I'm dying inside this spaceship. Dalawang taon nang nakakalipas simula nang umalis kami sa Earth. Geez, haggang ngayon kinakilabutan pa rin ako kapag naiisip kong wala na'ko sa planeta namin. It took us a year to get here and this is our first year studying the meteoroids.  I miss Kian so much. I just hope he's doing good now as well as my mom.  During our fourth year, we've successfully accomplished our mission. Everyone in SouthEast Commonwealth celebrated and have witnessed the meteor shower. Ilang araw na lang bago kami tuluyang maka-uwi, I can even see our planet from here.  Finally, Mom and Kian, I can't wait to hug you both. - We landed safely. Division 04 and some representatives from division 12 grandly welcomed us and greeted us for our success.  "Where's Ms. Iza?" I whispered to Sao, we're best of friends now.  "She's too old to lead our division now, they've appointed a new chairperson."  "Too old? She's a maiden when we left five years ago."  She faced me, looking bothered, "Chai, have you read the whole book?"  "Yes." nabasa ko naman lahat, ay sandali, "There's a missing page in the book, I didn't bother to find it's content tho."  I raised my eyebrow when I heard her cursed, "Space Commander, I'll accompany Chai. Tell them we have something important to do." Kayden nodded and then Sao dragged me out of the lobby. "What's happening?"  "I'm really sorry, Chai." she glanced at me, the sadness and sympathy in her eyes were evident. "Para saan?" nagsimula akong kabahan, can somebody tell me what's going on? She pushed me inside a pink hover and drove off, she remained silent while driving towards a familiar place.  Andami nang nagbago, nasan na yung mga kapitbahay namin noon? "Is this the former Hernando's residence?" Sao asked an adro-bot roaming around the area.  "Yes."  Nagmadali kaming lumabas ni Sao habang hawak hawak niya ang kamay ko.  "Kian is probably here." she tapped my back and gestured the door. My heart fluttered, hindi mahabol ang t***k ng puso ko habang inililibot ang tingin sa paligid.  "Ma? I'm home." I called out.  I kept on calling mom until a white jar caught my attention.  Nilapitan ko iyon at binuksan, para kong naubusan ng lakas nang mapagtanto kung anong ibig sabihin nito. A hologram popped out from the jar and showed my mom's figure. My eyes pooled when I took a peek inside the jar, it was ashes.  I'm not dumb, it was my mom's ashes.  Paanong hindi ko nalaman na wala na ang sarili kong ina?! I rushed towards her room, and to my surprise, there's another person lying on the bed.  "Kian.."  I flinched when the man sat up, he's an old man. "Who the f**k are you?" my heart is still thumping like crazy, his aura and his eyes felt nostalgic. "You came back." he smiled at me, sending chills all over my spine.  That smile, it will never get old.  "Kian.."  "You look prettier, Chai. How's the outer space? Does it offer some sort of galactic make up?" he tried to c***k a joke but I kept on staring at him.  Even with that gray hair and wrinkles, he's still the most handsome man in my eyes. "I'm really sorry, mi amor. I just wanted to keep you and your mom safe, even if I have to bear the pain and the agony for decades. You kept your promise and came back for me, I also promised to stay alive until you come back. I'm sorry I haven't done a proper proposal, open the drawer beside you, okay? I love you, baby. I love you to the space and back." and with that, he closed his eyes. Mabilis kong tinawid ang distansiya naming dalawa. I gently tapped his cheeks, f**k no.  "Wake up, Kian. Hey! I told you we'll get married!" my vision is becoming more blurry. What the f**k is happening?  Lalo akong nadurog nang tuluyang nagpaalam si Kian. His heart is not beating anymore. Tangina, I came back for all these?!  With a broken heart and unstoppable tears, I opened the drawer.  I saw a velvet box and opened it, lalo akong humagulhol. It's an engagement ring.  I pulled it out and to my surprise, the box automatically turned upside down and revealed another box.  The moment I opened it and unfolded the paper inside the box, a pang of pain slapped me really hard. It was the missing page from the book I'm looking for five years ago.  [ If you leave Earth at the age of 15, in the spaceship at the speed of light and spend five years in space, when you get back on earth you will be 20 years old. And all your friends who were 15 when you left will be 65 years old. This phenomenon is known as the 'Time Dilation' in Physics. ] My tears fell nonstop, alam niyang hindi ako aalis kapag nalaman ko 'to. He wanted to save me and my mom so he chose to sacrifice himself.  My man suffered for fifty long years while waiting for me.  I'm so sorry, Kian. -- It's been 20 years since my mom and kian died, I'm 40 years old now but the memories are still stuck in my head. I'm still wearing his engagement ring. the world came back to it's normal way of living, the andro-bots give up they stop experimenting humans and instead be friends with humans. I'm here on my house lying in bed and still wondering "What if i knew about that piece of book, would i still continue to go to space or would i kian and my mom will just run away?" no the three of us will be dead. i can't get over it my man suffered fifty long years just to save me. does my mom knew that too? grr! kian bakit kaba ganyan!  naalala kopa nung unang meet natin nung i surprised you na ipapakilala na kita kay mama. you were so happy jumping and can't believe what i said. a flashback came to my head-- "Really you will introduced me to your mom???!, does she like flowers? i wanna buy her a gift babe.." he happily said "she's okay with anything babe, as long as you'll take a good care of me" i answered "Still i wanna buy her a gift.." he said and we continued walking. he pick a bouquet of sunflower "hmm... I think sunflower is not good babe. Should I buy plant or bouquet of sunflower?" He said "just choose whatever you think my mom will like babe, i already said she's good with anything". and then he pick something and i cant see what it is but anyways we continued walking and drove to my house.  he shivered as he walked to our house, I called my mom and she's in the kitchen waiting for us.. "Let's sit babe" he said "ok"  "Iho, napaka gwapo mo namang binata Hahaha" my mom said and laugh, kian laughs and said "salamat po tita, ang ganda nyo po mas maganda pa po kayo sa anak nyo Hahahah" he said and i take a glance to him they both laughs at me. -- and then kian gave something to my mom, my mom burst into laugh and said "hay nako iho kakaiba ka, salamat" my mom said "salamat den po tita, i heard po kasi na pang pa swerte po iyan sa wallet" he said and i ask what it is and my mom said it's condom.. i choked and then laugh "Wtf Kian what are thinking?!" And then he gave my mom the plants and the bouquet "ayy salamat iho, napaka bait mo". Flashback stops--  I miss them both... Work of fiction.