Take me to the Infinite Space

Chapter 1

“Let's go Stats! Move your box of toys now!”

I was back in reality when my Mom exclaimed at me. I'm so fascinated by the house in front of ours. It looks like a spanish style with a bit touch of modern. It is consist of stucco walls, red clay tile roofs with a low pitch, sweeping archways, courtyards and wrought-iron railings.

“Please ayusin mo na ang mga toys mo dito, Stats.”

I sighed in disappointment, I badly wanted to look the whole day sa bahay na 'to. There's something in this house na I will always love to look at.

“Mom, bakit lumipat tayo ng house?” I asked my Mom while arranging my toys.

“Your father got promoted in his job. May enough na money na tayo baby para magkaroon ng permanent house. This is our house now.”

Tumango nalang ako at ngumuso, nakita ko ang children books ko about stars. I should arrange these books also.

Umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko at tumulong sa pag-aayos ng ilang gamit.

“Your room is a mess. Bakit puro libro dito?”

Pumasok sa room ko ang ate ko, she roam her eyes around my room. Puro nga libro ang kwarto ko, masama ba? I love reading.

“Mukhang na itong library Stats. Halika bumaba ka naman, let's play!”

I sighed at inayos ang eyeglasses ko, ipinaalam ko kay Mom na 'wag niyang galawin ang books ko at ako na ang bahala sa mga iyon. Bago ako bumaba sinilip ko ang bintana ng kwarto ko, katapat nito ang isang bintana sa spanish style na bahay na kaninang tinititigan 'ko. There was a guy standing there, when I tried to look more to see his face clearly. He immediately close the curtain of his window. I shrugged my shoulder and went downstairs.

“Ang bagal mo naman, Stats!”

Padabog na sabi ni Ate Astral. Dinala niya ako sa medyo creepy na lugar sa dulo ng village na bago naming tinitirhan. There's a lot of dead trees, kaya parang ang creepy. I got usually frightened in the dark or any creepy creatures while my Ate Astral is the tough one.

“You know, Stats. You're so mature in your young age. You're just 12 years old for pete's sake! You're acting like an 18 grown lady.”

She is completely wrong with that, I act around like a mature woman when I'm not comfortable with the people around me. I will just act a bit childish when I'm comfortable with the person.

“But sometimes, you eat an ice cream like a 5 years old baby.” She laughed hard when she remember that scene.

“Bakit ba ako lagi ang topic natin?” I asked.

“Why so grumpy? Na-miss lang kita, we don't usually hang out, you would rather stay at your room reading books than hanging out with friends. We're the total opposite pero I love you that way lil sis. I know you have a good heart.”

Ate is so fashionable, she's so artistic and creative. She has a 50 collection of her paitings, binebenta niya ito at ang kita ay napupunta sa mga orphanage. She's so talktative and magaling makipag-socialize. Everyone loves her.

“If you feel like, walang nagmamahal sayo. Kasi ganyan ka, introvert or silent person. Always remember that your ate, will always be grateful to have you. You're the best lil sister, eventho you're not the sweetest, actually you're the saltest.”

Inirapan ko siya at humagalpak lang siya sa tawa sa naging reaction ko. She pulled me into a hug and I gladly respond on it. Bumalik kami sa bahay kasi kukunin lang daw niya ang art materials niya then babalik ulit kami. I'm actually tired dahil sa paglipat namin, pero makulit talaga si Ate.

Bumalik nga kami doon, I thought madilim pero ang daming fireflies sobrang ganda tignan.

“Like what I expect.”

She looks so satisfied when she saw how fascinating this creepy forest with dead trees.

“Pwesto ka dyan, I will make a painting for you.”

I sighed and umupo sa damuhan, nagsimula na siya mag-paint. It took an hour bago niya ito matapos hanggang sa sinenyasan niya ako na inaayos niya nalang ito.

I look at the painting, and wow it's like a grown lady version of me. It looks like actually my face after 10 years. She emphasized the stars, night sky and also the fireflies. It looks beautiful.

“I know how obsess you are when it comes to space, constellations or whatsoever. So I emphasized it, you like it? I just wanted to left a very memorable thing for you.”

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

“What do you mean?”

“Hindi naman tayo nagtatagal lahat sa mundo, so I made this for you incase bigla nalang magparted ang ways natin right?”

Umiling ako at pilit itinatanggi ang ideya na magkakahiwalay kami, tho she's right. Umuwi na kami at kumain ng dinner, nagtataka ako sa dami ng pagkain sa mesa, pero maya maya nakarinig kami ng doorbell. Tumayo si Dad at tinignan kung sino ito. It is our neighbor, pero hindi ko alam kung saan banda ang bahay nila dito sa village.

“Oh! Mr. Glaser! Tuloy kayo.” Pinapasok ni Dad ang binati niya, pumasok ang isang pamilya na may tatlong miyembro. Ang mag-asawa at ang kanilang nag-iisang anak.

“Astral and Stats, this is our neighbor, the Family of Glaser. I invited them over a dinner.” Dad said.

We nodded our heads and welcome them. My eyes immediately caught a familiar guy, he have an ocean blue eyes. It's very captivating and very intense. His pointed nose, his pink lips look so soft and to his young age, he looks so matured. When he caught me looking at him, I nervously shifted my gazed in my plate.

“It was nice to have your family as our neighbor.” Mrs. Glaser said, she looks so gorgeous and elegant.

“We're also pleasure to meet your family, actually my dear Stats really fascinated with the style of your house.”

I blushed when their eyes landed on me, why do you have to say those things Mom? I look at them nervously, especially to him. He looks like an 18 years old man. So I look like a child to him, why does it bother me so much?

“Really? You're just a little girl and yet you have an interest with the designs.”

Mrs. Glaser looks amazed.

“I just read it in a book.” I answered without looking at them.

“She's really a fond of books, while her Ate is an artist, she likes to paint.” My ate smiles at them and wave her hand.

I wish I'm that lovely as her. The guy looks at Ate and she immediately blushed, sino 'bang hindi? He's handsome as hell. Hiniwa ko nalang ang pork na nasa plate ko ng madiin and to my horror, it made a loud noise. Tinignan nila ako at mas lalo lang akong nahiya. I stand up and nagpaalam na tapos na ako, at magpapahangin nalang sa labas.

Naglakad ako sa garden namin sa harapan ng bahay at tinignan ang mga stars. Sobrang kahihiyan nalang palagi ang nagagawa 'ko, that's why nakakahiya talaga maki-halubilo. Pumasok na naman sa akin ang image nung lalaki na nakita ko sa bintana, I'm pretty sure na 'yung lalaking may asul na mga mata ang nakita ko doon.

“Are you mad at the stars?”

“Ay bintana!” Napasigaw ako sa gulat at agad na tinakpan ang bibig ko. Tinignan ko ang biglang tumabi sa akin, and confirm it was the guy who have an ocean blue eyes.

His hands are in his pocket, and he's watching the stars. He looks like a model of a certain clothing brand. Why do you have to be so handsome?

“So you're the one who's looking at me through that window.” Tinuro niya ang bintana ng kwarto ko papunta sa bintana ng kwarto niya. Nakakahiya, baka sabihin niya ang bata bata 'ko pa ang taas na agad ng ambisyon ko na magka-crush sa kanya.

“It is bad for a kid to peek at someone's window.” He smirked at me.

“It's not peeking! I'm not a kid anymore! I'm- 13!” I exclaimed.

“You're just 12.”

“Turning 13!” He chuckled and it really sounds sexy, a 12 years old little girl shouldn't find it sexy.

Akmang papasok na ako sa loob without saying a goodbye to him pero his last words makes me more embarrass as hell.

“Wear your slippers properly, if you doesn't want to be called as kid.”

I looked down and baliktad ang slippers ko. Hindi ko na mabilang kung gaano karami ang embarassing moments ko.

Hinampas hampas ko ang unan ko at doon nilabas lahat ng inis sa sarili at lalo na sa lalaking 'yun. I look so stupid earlier, mukha akong kengkoy. Bakit ako lumabas ng ganoon ang tsinelas?

Kinuha ko ang barney 'kong life size stuff toy. I love barney so much, siguro aasarin nila ako kapag nalaman nila na kabisado ko halos lahat ng kanta niya, pati may sariling playlist sa spotify ko ang songs niya.

I look at barney and pouted my lips.

“Am I still a kid?”

“Yes, bakit crush mo ba 'yung guy sa baba kanina?”

Nagulat ako sa pagsulpot ni Ate sa kwarto ko, nakabihis na siya ng sleepwear and bigla siyang lumundag sa kama ko.

“Crush mo noh?” Namula ako at agad na umiling.

“No! Ang tanda na kaya niya. Tsaka bata pa daw ako.” Nanlumo ako sa huling sinabi at kiniliti naman ako ni Ate.

“Yie, kasing edad ko ata siya, pero 'yun nga ang laki ng age gap mo so crush crush lang muna Stats, binata na 'yun jusko.” Inirapan ko siya at nagtalukbong, agad niya iyong tinanggal at naka-ngising sa akin.

“Pag-usapan pa natin 'yung crush mo!” Nagtalukbong ako ulit at hindi na siya pinansin, mukhang dito ito makikitulog. Maya maya ay tahimik na ito, at narinig ko ang paghilik niya.

Agad 'kong tinanggal ang kumot ko at bumaba, nagtimpla ako ng milk at kumuha ng cookies. Hinawi ko ang curtain ng window ko at inilapag sa espasyo doon ang milk at cookies ko. Hindi ako makatulog, nakatingin lang ako sa mga bituin habang malayo ang iniisip. Hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang mariin na titig sa akin, napatingin ako sa paligid at nahagip ng mga mata ko ang tingin ng asul na mga mata.

Nanlaki ang mga ko at agad na hinawi ang kurtina, nakalimutan ko ang milk at cookies ko kaya binuksan ko nalang ulit 'yun. Hindi ko nalang siya papansinin. Sino ba siya? Bata lang naman ako sa paningin niya.

Habang kumakain ako at umiinom ng milk, nakita ko siyang nagbabasa ng kung ano sa librong hawak niya. He's wearing an eyeglasses, he looks so dashing. Napatingin ulit siya sa direksyon ko pero umiwas ako at kumain ulit ng cookies.

Nagising ako sa sikat ng araw mula sa bintana ng room 'ko. It's already 9 am. Tinanghali ako ng gising dahil hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos kagabi, bumangon ako and I did my morning routine. Pagbaba ko ay umalis daw si Ate kasama ang mga kaibigan niya, while Dad is on work and si Mom naggo-grocery. Si manang lang ang nandito.

Lumabas ako at diniligan ang mga sunflowers na ako mismo ang nag-aalaga sa garden namin, nakangiti ako habang tinitignan sila. I love sunflowers so much. They are the happy flowers for me.

Tumingin ako sa labas at napansin na may bicycle, na-curious ako dahil hindi ako marunong nito. Mataas siya pero dahil medyo matangkad naman ako sa edad ko kaya abot ko ito ng kaonti, they said you must balance yourself kapag pinapaandar mo ito. But the stupid me lose her balance and tumama ako sa bato at nagdugo ang sugat ko sa tuhod, binti at siko.

Napangiwi ako sa sakit pero mas inisip ko ang nasira 'kong bike. Bakit hindi ko muna inisip kung kanino ito?

“s**t! What happen?”

Dumating ang lalaking may kulay asul ang mga mata at agad na tinignan ang mga sugat ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero napaiyak ako ng malaman na siya ang may-ari nito at nasira ko.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong binuhat papasok ng bahay namin.

“Yung bike mo, nasira ko.” Humihikbi ako habang ginagamot niya ang sugat ko.

“Jusko anong nangyari Stats?” Tanong ni Manang.

“She use my bike and she lose her balance.” Tinutukan niya ang mga sugat ko habang sinasagot si Manang.

“Hindi ka naman marunong Iha, bakit mo ginamit iyon?” Umiyak lang ako at hindi alam ang isasagot.

“If you want to learn, you can ask me. Don't use it if you don't know how.” Parang bata akong tumango sa sinabi niya, pawis na pawis na siya mukhang pumasok lang siya sa bahay nila para siguro magpahinga pero nasira ko ang bike niya.

“Don't mind my bike, I can repair it. Your wounds are kinda worst, do you want me to bring you to the nearest clinic?” Agad akong umiling, habang ang mga mata niya ay nakatitig sa akin. Mas lalo akong nagulat sa sunod niyang ginawa.

He remove my eyeglasses and wiped my tears using his hand.

“Don't cry, you look like a kid.” He chuckled.

“Antoine!” Nakarinig ako ng boses ng babae sa tapat ng bahay ng mga Glaser at napadako din ang tingin niya doon.

“Are you okay? I'll go.” Tumango ako at pinagmasdan siyang lapitan ang babaeng naghahanap sa pinto nila.

Maybe she's his girlfriend. So Antowi is his name? Did I heard it right?