Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Like she is only given seconds to do so.

“Dear, wake up now. Something fantastic is about to happen today.” Her voice is the best comfort I could ever get in this life. A voice that is as soft as I imagine a cloud would be when I hold it. As sweet as the juice of a freshly picked ripe fruit. That’s how I’ll describe her voice that livens my mornings, reminding me that life would always have something I would love to wake up for, every day. A smile reaches my lips as she rubs my back.

“Come on, you don’t want to be late…” I feel the side of my bed lose weight on them. She stands up and kisses my cheek before I hear the click-clack of her heels—walking to the door.

“Oh!” she says. “You have a text message as well so, get your ass moving, love.” She giggles as she leaves my room.

My eyes shot open when she leaves the room leaving me in shock from her words. “Ma and her words.” I shake my head as I sit and lean on my headboard. I look in front of me as the dandelion yellow rays of the sun peaks through my window at my right. The rays bring in those little particles that I don’t know the name of. “Maybe someday you’ll introduce yourself,” I wave my hand where the particles dance. I get off my bed and reach for my phone on my desk.

A text message made its way on my lock screen as I read the date today which is March 30, 2016. Papa- “Good morning princess, congratulations! I love you, I’ll be home soon…” The simple text finds its way to lift the ends of my lips into a smile. I type in a reply as I leave my room and send it to my Papa.

From the top of the stairs, I can already smell my Ma’s cooking. The scrumptious aroma makes my stomach ramble that I run down the stairs like normal teenagers do, or maybe it’s just me. At the bottom of the stairs views our living area. I see my little brother Mj sitting on the large couch watching the cartoon Adventure Time intently.

“Oh! I love that show!” I run towards him and give him a big hug as I plop down the couch. We giggle as I continue to raffle his hair and hold him.

I hear my mom ask from the kitchen, “Ate, is that you?” I answer, “Yes, Ma!” Like we're streets away yelling inside this house. Well, the house is huge, to be honest.

I let go of Mj and make my way to the kitchen where my Ma’s back greets me. I sit down on a stool and place my arm on the island counter like I am here to judge. I watch her as she goes all around the kitchen making us breakfast. She suddenly stops in front of me and gives me a suspicious look over her shoulders. “What ya looking at?” she says as she tries to put up the serious face.

I sigh, “Ma, don’t flutter yourself. I’m not looking at you.” I give her the shrugs.

“You little—!” she comes rushing at me with her spatula that I jolt up from my seat and run out of the kitchen, laughing as I hear her laugh as well. I run back to the living room to see my set of brothers watching a cartoon. My big brother Miguel looks up from the couch as I sit on the armrest.

“Morning, panget.” He gives me a brotherly smile. Which means it is a smile that is a mix of teasing and sweetness. It’s just that there’s 98.99 percent more of the teasing.

“You, calling me ugly at 9 in the morning is so sweet of you,” I answer his greeting, scrunching my nose while smiling at him.

“I know,” he smiles and turns his head back at the television. “I can just hit you with the spatula Mom was holding.” He turns his attention to me, “The only difference is that I’ll boil the flipper and while it’s hot, I’ll slap you with it,” I sweetly smile as his eyes rounded.

“Breakfast’s ready!” Mom yells from the kitchen and the three of us walk to the dining. Sitting in our respective seats. We eat peacefully but then a shattering noise makes us all stop eating. I look at Miguel who was just about to shove in his mouth a spoonful of rice. We meet each other’s eyes and drift it to Mom who is looking at the living room, her eyes are bug-out. Miguel stands up and walks to the living room. After a few seconds, he comes in holding up in his right arm a fluffy furry, whose colors are like marble of dark golden brown fur and white puppy.

He looks down at his arm where Zian is while pointing his index finger at him twirling it on Zian’s face, “This dog just broke the vase.” Zian is still as he is up away from the ground, also the look on this dog's face is just innocence.

“Let the dog go, Miguel,” Ma laughs at my brother and he does what he’s told. Then Zian runs out of the dining area with his small fluffy legs and back to the living room.

We finish eating and I fix the table and do the dishes voluntarily while I hear Zian’s small barks and the squeaking of his toys. Figuring that Miguel is now playing with the small baby shih-tzu. As I put the dishes back into the cabinets, I feel a presence coming from behind me.

“Hey, Ma,” I greet her. Without even looking at her, I know it’s her.

“You should get ready now, time’s ticking.” She takes the remaining clean plates from me then pushes me with her hip, out of the kitchen.

“Alright, alright! No pushing, Ma!” I giggle and leave the kitchen back to my room.

Time really is ticking so quickly, you wouldn’t even realize when you’re not paying attention. However, why would I? When I am the happiest in this perfect family. I am so lucky to have loving parents, a loving big brother, and a loving little brother. I get all the love people would die for to have, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

I pick up my towel and head straight inside my bathroom. I have my own ensuite toilet and bath. My bathroom is a literal gem. Once you step inside, you are greeted by the huge golden marbled accent wall wherein my pearl bathtub is highlighted. At the right is my huge mirror with golden accents and my sink that is marbled. I have a chandelier in the middle of my bathroom and huge shower space. Also, I love how the morning sun comes inside my bathroom through the circular window roof that surrounds my chandelier that reflects it and brings in colors. But just some disclaimer, it’s not huge, it’s the perfect size to still dance a bit inside.

I quickly get inside my shower and prepare myself for the whole day. I make my way to my closet that is just inside my bathroom. At the back of the accent wall, there inside is my wardrobe. I have both walls filled with clothes hanged that I wear every single day, from casual to formal and comfy. Below all that are my shoes, I am mostly a fan of sneakers so I have that the most.

I pull out my uniform from the line of clothing and pick up my black shoes below it. I really don’t have that much, they’re all just the perfect amount that I get to wear every day. Everything’s here, I don’t need drawers anymore. Also, I get to wear every single piece of clothing here, so nothing is wasted.

I put on everything and am about to leave my bathroom when I see myself in the mirror. “Oh!”

I touch my face, “Gosh, I look like a monster.”

Two knocks on my door, then it opens. “You don’t Ate, you look perfectly perfect.” Ma comes in and hugs me from behind as she keeps her sweet smile and rests her head on my shoulder.

I look at her from the mirror, “Do I, Ma? Do I really look good? Or you’re saying that because you’re my Ma?”

She lifts her head from my shoulder and squints her eyes, “I guess you do need to brush your hair and put on a bit of powder.” Then she giggles. “Sit here.”

She sits me on my vanity and takes out everything I’ll be needing for my hair and face. Then she starts her magic. First, she picks up the comb and combs my hair. As she slowly and carefully does it, she speaks. “I remember the first time I saw this hair and touched it…”

She smiles, “You were just a baby that time, so small and so fragile. Now, you’re almost as tall as me and you’re going to high school.” She stops combing my hair and looks at me from the mirror, “Don’t grow too fast, Ate.”

I give her a teasing smile. “Ma, my hair is still curly, it didn’t change since I was a baby, why are you emotional about my hair?”

She pats my head and we both laugh, “You silly kid!” She remains quiet for a moment while doing my hair but then she speaks softly. “Seriously, Hillary, don’t grow too fast, okay? I don't know what this world could bring you,” then she hugs me tight like she is given only seconds to do it.