Hobby
1564 Words
"Ross!"
I could have jumped off from my seat upon hearing her voice. I took a glimpse from her with curiosity while she makes her way towards me. She's holding a glass of orange juice and a piece of bread.
"Here."
She handed me the bread then placed the glass of juice on the table.
"Why not eat this first before keeping on to your work, huh?" she said.She gave me the sweetest smile a brother could have ever received from his sister. She sat beside me while sticking her eyes on me without a blink.
"Thanks Chicha. But⎼"
"Stop that!" she complained.
"What's the matter?" she crosses her arms then looks away.
"My name is Moxie."
"Yeah. Whatever. But I like it!" I laughed.
"Alright. Frankly saying, I love to call you either way. And thank you for bringing me the food." I told her. "And, oh please . . . could you maybe slow down a bit next time cause' I'm too young to die from heart attack!"
"Oh. Sorry about that." her mood lightens up.
"No worries."
"So what's up with all these? I wonder how much passion is firing up within your soul by putting all your time to these drawings."
"It's all I have. It's all I can do." I smiled to her.
"What do you mean?"
"Would you stop doing the things that makes your heart happy?" I told her.
"..and, it's not just the drawing. There's something to it. Something more. Something that is beyond our mind to comprehend." I explained.
She glances over to my drawings while trying to grasp what I was saying. I saw her moving her head ups and downs in her response while rubbing her chin twice.
"It tastes really good." I said while finishing the last bite of the bread that has margarine and a sugar on top.
"Of course."
"Don't you love her?" she broke the silence.
"Who?"
"Don't ever tell me you have no idea who I was talking about."
I pause.
I look at her confused,
"I think I don't."
"Nyx. She's smart...beautiful...she's gentle...and friendly, and kind. To make it short, she has everything. Literally. Only that she kind of the need to put some weight...seriously."
"She is my best friend. Nothing else. I've known her as a kid. I don't want to risk our friendship over intimacy. Besides, I knew she's going to leave me one day."
"You are being pessimist!"
"I'm being honest."
"Are you not getting tired?" she asked.
I asked her without looking,
"Tired for what? You keep asking!"
"I haven't seen you drawn anything else beside the moon. I find it quite weird to catch you up on the balcony watching the moon every so often."
I keep all the materials in their place such as the coloring pencils and the sketchpad in which almost nothing has left to fill the pages.
I moved a little closer to her so she can hear what I say.
"Listen."
"I remember when I was still a kid; it was during mom's funeral, I was crying when suddenly a seemingly old man approached me. He said:
"Son, you see that moon?
beautiful...,isn't it? The moon may appear to be lonely out there, but it still shines against darkness."
...
"Just like us, son. Our life might seem lonely and tough at times as we go through our way. We choose which road to take. Every course, we battle the opponents to win the lessons of life so we have something with us to carry, therefore; we become stronger and stronger until our hearts will be filled with strength." he said.
"It's okay to be alone so that we can have time for ourself to evaluate and to dig into our inner-self because to me, the greatest gift of life is to have the desire to know ourselves and what really brings us to this world. I know it will take a long process for you to understand this but, I'm certain you will over time." he added.
It was the last thing he said. I tried to find this man but never seen him after ever since we had a conversation.
I looked at her and saw her face puffed with tears. She wipes her face with her fingers.
"I miss my mother." she said. She sounded like she was catching her breath.
"I know. I know. . . "
I finally gave her the warmest hug.
***
I was already making my bed when I heard her voice from the other room.
"It's almost six." she said.
"Coming up!" In a rush, I grabbed my uniform that was neatly folded in the cabinet. Then, I took my bag, my notebook and all my pens scattered on the floor. Quickly, I look for my pair of shoes so it will be easier for me to get ready once all is set.
It's Monday. The most boring day. It's the day where obviously most students hate to come back to class after a long weekend.
"I made fried rice and scrambled egg." she said while putting the plates carefully on the table. "I had to get up early today because I have work left at school I must finish."
"So you won't be able to catch up for dinner again?" I said.
"I guess."
"Why didn't you tell me so I could have at least helped you make breakfast?"
"Because I'm sixteen? It's only cooking, very simple. How would I be able to grow up and learn things from my own if you won't allow me to do simple task?"
"My job is to take care of you."
"Look, I'm fine..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing."
I notice she goes like acting so weird lately. What's the date today? or maybe she is just having her monthly period or something. I really have no idea.
I tried to look into her eyes and gave her a smile to make her feel that she can trust me.
"Okay. Wanna grab some egg?"
"Yeah sure."
she smiled back
"Hey, you know I'm always here."
As much as possible, I always want to make her feel okay; that I'm ready to listen to her and that I'm ready to help her in any way when she needs something.
We both look around in sync when the door opened.
"Good morning, Pa."
"Thanks son." he said. "Today, a lot of employees at my work lost their job. We were told that the company needs to take out some of us. We allegedly been dealing a bankruptcy over the past 8 years yet this occurrence was kept from us and now we all have to deal with it. Luckily, they gave me another chance so . . ." he sighed.
I watch him closely while he's putting the grocery bag down. His age tells how old he is by the number of crinkles on his face. He moves his body with ease making it appear to be inactive. He looks really exhausted from years of hard work just to keep us have something on the table. I know how much he misses our mother too even if he tries to keep it from us.
***
We both stood up in front of the campus gate. The flag has been up already on the pole. We patiently wait the morning ceremony to be over before I let her to go in. I usually take her to her campus before heading to College of Engineering.
"You don't have to wait me here after class. I got stuff to accomplish."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'll message you when I'm coming home." this time, she is holding both my hands. She does this to make me not to worry about her.
"Clear. I'll keep that in mind."
"I got to go. Bye. I love you."
She turns around and starts making her way in. She waves at me for the last time before she vanishes.
I went inside almost running hoping that my professor will come shortly after I arrived. Everyone has already on their seat with their books opened. To my relief, my professor isn't around yet.
"I thought you wouldn't make it today. Where have you been?"
"I had to take Moxie to her class."
"I see. Wanna hang out with us after? he asked. "It has been a stressful week. I thought we might need to get some air." He said while looking at Nyx and Todd who are currently sitting at the back.
"Who's coming with you?"
"Just us. You. Me. Todd and..., her." He said plainly.
"I'll think about it."
"Come on dude! You ain't got any brain so why⎼"
"MR. FAVIA!
A very loud voice echoed in my class. Everyone looks in terror.
"Dude you're dead." I whisper to him almost laughing. "I can't believe he caught you being a jerk for ten times already this month."
"Doesn't matter. So are you coming?"
and before I could speak up...
"And you. Mr. Ross. David. ES. .CRI. .BA. . .NO. . . " He called may name slowly with more emphasis.
This time, he looks at us both. His eyes went big. He did not shout or say anything for almost a minute. Silence has ruled the surrounding. It was so quiet that it could have broken the glass window.
"Follow me."
- Writer
