Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Past
1628 Words
Halliyah's P.O.V
"Sister, wake up! It's already noon!"
I raised my eyebrows while still closing my eyes. Someone was shaking my body. I heard the shrill voice of the person waking me up. I turned away from him because I felt very sleepy and I needed a lot of sleep.
"Ate, hey! It’s already 8."
In an instant, I opened my eyes and turned to Nath. He raised an eyebrow at me and when I said raised— as in really high, it almost reached the strand of his hair.
"Is it 8?" I asked, asking for assurance and hoping that I had just heard it wrong, but he nodded. "Hay..." I sat down and looked at the alarm clock that was just on the side of my bed. "Didn't my alarm go off? That's annoying."
I set the alarm at 7 A.M. last night because I was going to cook our breakfast. I'm sure both Mom and Dad are tired from their work.
"Will I wake you up if that rings?" Nath asked with his eyebrows still not lowered. "Maybe you just thought you set the alarm."
I just laughed softly and messed up his hair which was getting a little longer.
"Sister! Just get up, the food is ready," he said, pretending to be annoyed, and stood up. “How dare you mess with my hair, Ate?!”
“Alright, I’ll follow,” I answered and smiled a little.
“Okay, bush.” He turned his back on me and started walking.
I couldn’t help but look at her waist and butt swaying sexily. He even crosses his legs when walking as if he’s a model.
I laughed and shook my head before getting down from bed. I folded Nath and I’s blanket and arranged the pillows. I also stretched the bedsheet to get rid of its creases.
Then I stood in front of our full body-sized mirror to look at myself. My hair is a mess and looks knotted. I also can’t deny that my body is beautiful and I can see it in my shirt and shorts.
So, I am confidently telling myself that I am so pretty and hot. It feels good though.
“Halliyah, let’s eat!”
I immediately obeyed when mom called me, so I hurried out of the room. The dining table welcomed me with ready-made eggs and fried rice. It’s right across from our room because there’s nowhere else to place the table due to our small house.
"Sorry, Mom, I woke up late. I should be the one to prepare our breakfast," I said and yawned.
I helped her take the glasses and pitcher and then placed them on the table.
"What's up, kid, that's okay. I know you're tired," Mom answered and smiled at me.
"You're tired, Mom. It's hard to do a load of laundry. If it were me and my hands could only talk, it might be complaining already," I said, shaking my head before sitting next to her. "Where is Dad? Isn't he going to eat with us?" I asked when I noticed there were only three of us there.
"He went to work earlier than usual because they had to do work at the construction site as soon as possible. Maybe in the next few days, they will sleep there after they have finished their place where they could sleep."
I just nodded.
Nath, on the other hand, was spooning the food already, not even able to wait for the prayer.
"Hey, Nathaniel Jay Bernabe, have we prayed and you're already taking a bite there?" I looked at him, which stopped him in the middle of eating his second bite.
“Sorry.” He put down the spoon.
We all closed our eyes and prayed for a moment. After that, we ate together. Mom even insisted that she was going to wash the dishes even though I said I'd do it.
I just entered the room to get clothes to wear and my work uniform. Nath came in next and touched me.
"Sister, we have a field trip. I want to go with my classmates," he said, stopping me from getting my clothes.
I bit my lip before turning to him.
He even smiled at me, so it was even sadder for me to answer him.
Because I will have only one answer to what he just said.
"Nath, just to be honest with you..." I sat down on the bed first and held him by both shoulders. "I don't have any money yet. I just got paid last week and it ran out immediately because of a lot of bills."
His smile disappeared.
This is hard. He must be sad because, for the fifth time, he won't be able to join their school's field trip.
“Sorry, baby. You know that Mom and Dad earn very little, right? Besides, even if we have money, I still can’t take you there because we have to prioritize our bills at home,” I explained. I pinched his cheek. “Do you understand that?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes, sister. I’m sorry if I said that even though I also know that we can’t,” he answered weakly and looked down. He seemed so sad and disappointed.
It’s hard to be poor.
“Don’t worry, you will also experience going to faraway places, but not yet, not today. As long as you study hard, huh? Finish your studies so that when you become successful, you will be able to travel around the world.” I said with a smile to somehow lighten his heart.
The smile returned to his lips as he nodded at me. I pinched his cheek once again before standing up and grabbing my clothes. I went out first because he sat on the bed after
“Too bad, I can’t see handsome guys, huhu.”
I was at the door and about to go out when I heard that. I looked at him and narrowed my eyes.
"Wow, so all this time, Nathalie is the one who wants to go on the field trip and not Nathaniel to see handsome guys, huh," I said and laughed. He also laughed, so we ended up giggling, "Alright, I'm going to take a shower and your sister needs to go to work."
"Okay."
After I showered, I immediately booked FlashRide for my ride. FlashRide is cheaper than other modes of transportation plus less hustle and only one ride.
I was also able to fix myself quickly because I didn't put on makeup, just the way the rider reached our house.
"FlashRide!" That's the rider's shout from outside the house.
"Mom, Nath, I'm going out!" I said goodbye and opened the door.
"Be careful, sister!"
"Be careful, Halliyah."
When I got out, the rider was already looking at me. I don't know how he gets, because every day different riders are taking my booking.
"I will really take care of your daughter, ma’am."
I almost raised my eyebrows because of what I heard from the rider. I frowned at him but he returned it with a broad smile. I can see his white teeth. Even his small eyes were smiling while not taking his eyes off of me.
It looks like his age has not passed the calendar, he is still fresh. My past riders are often older, by the way.
"What's that? Are you saying something?" I asked, still frowning, and walking closer.
He laughed softly. "Good morning, ma'am." I didn't greet him back. "It’s too early to be rude, ma’am."
Feeling close?
When I still didn't answer, he just handed me the helmet that was just hanging in his hand. I was about to take it but I just took a step back after he lifted it and put it on my head.
What is he doing? Why is he the one putting it on my head? I can do that alone.
"I-I can do that, thank you," I said and quickly removed his hand. I locked it and tried to smile at him because he was smiling at me again.
“Come on, ma’am.”
I nodded and got on the motorcycle. I just held on to his shoulder for a moment. I immediately removed my grip when I finally sat down.
"Hold on to me, ma'am." I didn't move. "You can also hug me to make sure you won't fall, just with me."
I just stared at him because of what he was saying. "You’re corny. Let’s go or I might be late."
I heard him laugh softly before starting the motor. I was about to faint when it suddenly sped up, as the speed immediately increased. My chest hit his back because of the shock.
My soul is almost separated from my body.
Fortunately, the place in the village was not crowded, so he could run fast, but he still did the wrong thing! I will definitely have a heart attack!
In just an instant, we were out of the village. I clung to his shoulder because our speed did not change. I don't know if he did it on purpose or what.
In less than 20 minutes, we arrived in front of DaFood. I got down first and took off my helmet. I gave it back to him immediately and he accepted it. I took out a bill and handed it to him.
"Be careful at work, ma'am. Don't overwork yourself," my rider told me. I just nodded and didn't answer. "On the next booking again, ma'am."
I even saw him smile at me before I turned my back. I just shook my head because he seemed to be really paying interest to me.
Kind of creepy, huh?
- Writer
