Chapter 12: LUNAR ECLIPSE

Raphael's Point Of View

I'm already cleaning up what we cooked tonight. We also had a lot of our product sold and there were too many customers earlier.

It's still around seven and Seah will probably be out of the shop by ten. I was still cleaning up with a smile when my mother spoke.

"Clean up the mess left by the customers, Raphael," my mother ordered as she dried her hands.

She's washing the dishes being used earlier. A lot of used dishes and thank God she washed it all up already.

While I was currently picking up the barbecue sticks around. We couldn't leave them around and they might come after us. We can't afford to be called by the local government here if we leave out our barbeque sticks.

"Hurry up and let's eat," mom said and took something from inside the house.

After that, I immediately sat down in front of them, mama, where I received a spoonful of rice from the sadistic mother herself. "It seems like you and our tenant are getting along well, ah! Raphael, if that brings trouble, I will kick you both out," I immediately got angry at the mother's statement, and glared at her.

"Mom! For pate sake, you're thinking badly of me," I immediately said, and slurp a spoonful of rice and immediately started to slurp it up. She begin to feed my brother, Rain too while not looking at me.

"You guys were so close the other day, we don't really know that Seah. I don't even know her last name," she replied, and I nodded and ate.

"Or, at least her parents' names," she added. Mom got a point.

Yes, and even though we're in the same class, I don't know her last name yet. I'm not really into her personal life tho.

And it's rude of me to ask about her personal life.

"You're such a gossip mom, leave Seah alone," I defied her, shrugging her shoulders and after a few minutes, she hit me again with his new ladle of hot soup.

"Don't do anything I don't like! I know how your brain works sometimes, I went through puberty too," I just slapped myself in the face while looking at my mother like she was crazy.

"You really told me that stuff, mom, it's not 1990's anymore." I said while laughing at her words.

I could see that dad was laughing beside her too while he was bending over to eat. I turned around, not believing what my mother was saying.

Someone's Point Of View

I'm not sure if our new tenant will be good for us or for our son if he gets too close to her.

As a mother, I'm afraid that next time he'll get close to a woman and my fears will come true. And as long as it's possible, I'm going to forbid him from taking a path I took when I was younger. A family in a young age, I can't imagine my son would go throughout the struggles of having a family raising children or even finding a job that doesn't pay him will to feed for his family.

I just can't take it. I don't want that to happen.

***

I was looking at the bright moon while lying on our balcony. Along with the bright moon were hundreds of stars in the sky. They were of different shapes and flashing different colors that were so pleasing to the eye.

The cold wind felt good on my skin as I closed my eyes, enjoying the cold rising to my muscles.

I can't explain it but these past few days I've been liking the moon. I'm no longer afraid of the dark, not like before that I couldn't even appreciate its beauty, nor am I shivering in the cold breeze anymore.

I have this feeling that I am changing and the events in my life are changing. I also find out that I cared for everyone not like in the past.

While closing my eyes when I feel myself and the world, listening to the silence of it when I hear a rustling sound approaching the house.

I immediately bent down and saw a pair of eyes looking at me from the bottom of this balcony.

"Shit! Monster!" I said in horror but later I screamed when a large figure come out of the bush. Which makes me screamed while trying to compose myself fight in the grass just near my house.

I was so nervous and was about to enter when I heard the door opening and closing in the other room.

I peeked downstairs again and realized it was a fucking cat. I sighed in relief and decided to knock on Seah's window. She's home and she's obviously tired.

"Do you know the moon is bright now?" I immediately said while checking to see if she was still curled up in her bed. She seemed unaware that I am right here outside her window.

It even turned before it got into my way. She then noticed my presence and she was puzzled and asked.

"What time is it and are you still awake!" that's all she replied to which I smiled and motioned for it to come out of her window. Having no choice or even a word she then started to get out of her window and accompanied me here outside.

"Woah!" that's all she said when she saw the red, round moon. "Tonight is Lunar Eclipse, haven't you heard? It's all over social media now," she just shook her head and sat up while looking at the moon.

There's stars and the moon shine so bright. The red color of it makes me feel goosebumps, it's really breathtaking. I just saw it and it's still so beautiful in its color now.

I felt like I am one of the world and I felt like I am not alone. Like if heaven was my friend tonight and this girl beside me was my friend who also, like me bothered by our future.

"You know what, whenever I stare at the bright moon I feel like I am not alone," I felt that she averted her gaze towards me and I can sense that she's puzzled.

Well, not like everyone's thinking. Yeah! I may have had a complete family with strong parents, but I never felt like they were my parents after all. Like not every complete family has this warm home. It's not always a happy ever after.