Meow At Your Service

[1]

“We're almost there”

I heard my mother said, her words are repeatedly said for almost 1hr. And i hope this time is true.

I poked my head out of the car's window, i felt the wind blow against my bareface. It's the most chilling and relaxing thing ever.

Every time our car's moved are painful for me, leaving my childhood home was regretable thing to do and we're doing it now.

I just want to turn back the time, save my father and live happily ever after.

But i can only dream about that coz i know that past is past, the unexpected thing happened and I can't do anything to change that.

I felt someone pulled my head back inside the car, i looked at him angrily

“Maldita, if you want to die. Do it when i'm not around.”

Irritatedly said by my ugly brother, i rolled my eyes and sarcasmly replied to him,

“Just be greatful watching my gruesome death.”

My voice is ragged, realizing that i only spoke this time after hours of traveling. I touched my throat,

Confusion took over me, is it really that long since i spoke?

“Here, maldita. Now you know that mother and i seems to have a ghost company inside this car. Not talking to us for hours. You're really unique ha”

My brother joked while passing me a water bottle, i just ignored him but eventually hold and drink the water.

Since my father died, i rarely speak to the two of them. Mother and Brother. I just feel that my voice and words are not needed.

“We're here.”

Snapping my self out to reality, my mouth slightly opened. Shocked.

“We're going to live here?”

My brother asked, not to particular someone

We're really going to live here? In a middle of forest? This is unbelievable, not that we're not greatful. This place is just unexpected, i thought, more modern and unique...

“Yes, we are going to live here.”

My mom's word is hard, letting us know that she meant no ‘buts’ something like that. I just nodded. Well, i don't really care anyway.

Looking at our so called house from now on, it kinda looks like a bahay kubo but, more on white color and it's big too. Not bad.

Fast-forward, after our welcoming afternoon. I found out that my grandmother is talking about us moving in here for such a long time.

Day 1 of my father's death, she knew that we can't live on our own. Contacting our mother to move here, but

of course, my stubborn mother did not agree because she know that we grew up there and it will be hard for me and my brother to adapt in this kind of environment.

Away from our used to, life.

“Apo, the sun will set soon.”

I snapped out to reality, again. I looked at my grandmother,

“Don't worry, lola. I won't be out for too long.”

I reassured her,

Right now, i'm asking for her permission to let me go out and wander outside, i want to see the forest.

She sigh, “Do you want me to call your brother and ask him to accompany you?”

She carefully ask, i immediately shake my head. “Oh, no need! My brother is tired and I don't want to bother him, and lola, i can go on my own.” After all, i'm not a child anymore.

Too afraid to say that out loud heh. My grandmother sipped on her tea, “Don't go too far, be careful.”

She looked at me like i'm some kind of prey, chills run down through my spine. I only nodded and immediately run outside,

what the f**k is that? She's so weird, looking at me like i can vanish anytime without anyone noticing.

I shake off the bad feeling, maybe i'm just tired. Inhaling the scents of the forest, i breathe a sigh of relief, this...

Smells like freedom.

I looked back at our house before walking away from it, every steps i take are so good for me.

Feels like running away from everything, problems and thoughts.

There's so many trees here, different kinds that screams wilderness. Add the chirping of the birds, movements of the bushes and whistles of the wind

Wearing a white dress that sway whenever i move, thin slippers that the feeling of grass can get through, no-ponytail hair and no make-up.

I feel like my self, and i hope that this kind of peacefulness will continue.

Getting deeper into the forest, i can hear an impact of water, i guess there's a lake here.

Continue and finding where the water sounds came from, i came across a moving water, a lake.

Roaming my eyes around, this place looks magical.

“Butterflies...” I mumbled, looking at the beautiful butterflies around the big rock, i step forward, relief took over me when the butterflies did not fly away.

They're shimmering, i took off my slippers, taking a sit on the big rock beside the lake, smiling and playing with the butterflies.

This is life.

I giggled when the butterflies fluttered around me, they're so cute. What kind of magic is this? hehe

My hands make a movement on the air, teasing the butterflies, they fly around my fingers.

“Are they not scared?” I whispered, confused that the beautiful creatures are not scattering away from me, “Ah?”

Why did they stop moving around, are they scared now? Is it... because of my voice? I touched my neck where my throat is, looking sadly at the butterflies

But before i can make movements, again. The butterflies flew away, “No!” I frustratedly called out

My left hand stayed on the air, waiting for the creatures to come back. But they did not,

The seconds i knew, i put my guards up when the bushes around me started to move, there are no winds for the bushes to move like that.

“Ahh!” I exclaimed when the rock under me started shaking, i jump out, away from the big rock.

I felt my foots touching the kinda wet grass, i let my eyes roam the surrounding, waiting for the attack or something. It's good to be prepared y'know.

My eyes darted to the tall bush that been shaking hard, something is behind it. I waited with my ‘ready to run’ position,

I can hear the beating of my heart, soon to be exploded because of nervousness and alertness.

Sweat run down to my side chicks, that's when the bushes parted in the middle,

My eyes went wide.

“A...cat?” Really, a cat. What kind of bullshit is this?

“Just a cat.” I softly laugh because of my actions earlier, making me look stupid.

“How dare you, a human. ‘Just a cat’ ha?”

“Ahhh!”

Meaning of this native words:

Maldita: snob, bitchy, rude

Bahay kubo: Hut house

Apo: Grandson/Granddaughter (Grandchild)

Lola: Grandmother

We can't turn back the time, let go of the past and be with the present, be with the hidden beautifulness of the world.