The white snow falls down the ground
As my little hands try to touch
The wind is cold, the scene is white
But everything to me is right
People say the cold is gloom
And they hate it when they go outside
But for kids like me who say
Winter is a time to smile
Why you say that is if you know
The never ending meaning of snow
Yes it is cold and white, but you see
It’s also the time for us to hold hands with glee
I woke up with a cry
The feeling of tears on my face
Darkness became my only light
As I cradle myself back to sleep
And then as I close my eyes
The bitter sweet sound of my pounding heart
I felt a sudden loneliness
A feeling of want to stay
I knew that people come and go
But I also knew no one stays the same
I have to part from you someday
Then forget that you even had a friend
You looked outside and gave a smile
My friend whom I have always loved
Under the crying rain I shed a tear
I have to hide it from you my dear
But pearls of tears keep falling down
Although you just kept smiling then
Turned your back and disappear from my sight
And all alone you cry a rain
A calm blue string
That stretches from mountain to sea
It sings and dances throughout the day
Then quietly whispers hymns in my dreams
The faster it runs the more dangerous it becomes
Until it reaches a place in the deep silken sea
Imagine
Close your eyes and fly the skies
Take a leap across the sea
Run around as fast as sound
Dream can turn into reality
Imagine
It was a fine afternoon. Crystal was taking a rest under the shade of a tree, mother was baking cookies inside the kitchen, while father was strolling down the garden.
I sat beside my sister and started singing random songs.
“Sorry, did I wake you up?”
I smile shyly. Crystal looked at me as if she was annoyed then ignored me.
“Wait. Did I do something wrong?”
I asked her. But she just continued ignoring me and walked towards the house. As I try to catch up to her, the walking turned into running. And finally, she stopped near the library.
We tried to catch our breaths for the meantime and stood in front of the entrance of the room.
“Please, I need some time alone.”
She finally said. I looked at her with disappointment since I really wanted to be with her and spend some time with her for all those memories that we haven’t shared together.
I finally noticed that she had changed. And I am a bit saddened by this but it’s ok. She will still continue to be my beloved sister.
“Ok. I’ll leave you here for today.”
I pretended to turn around and walk the other way but as soon as she closed the door behind her, I slowly came back. Behind the door, all I could hear was the sound of mother mixing the bowl from the kitchen below. So I leaned forward and tried to peek from the little gap left on the door. I saw my sister walk near a book shelf and reach on the uppermost left corner of it to get the last book on the edge. It’s cover was blood red and it wasn’t too thin nor too thick.
It was of medium size, about the size of a typical notebook. In fact, it was a notebook.
Crystal took a pen and started writing something on it. From my position, I can’t tell what it is.
But she looked like she was scared and it looks as if she was pouring her hearts out when she was writing.
Before, my sister trusts all her problems and secrets to me but now she trusts a red notebook more than me?
I can never let that happen.
It has been a few years since I was separated from my twin sister.
Ten years to be exact and to me, it felt like a hundred years. And maybe, to her, it felt the same. The more I think about finally seeing her, the more I wanted to get there fast. But it seems as if the plane can only get this fast. I wonder what will her reaction be when I come back? Will she cry or will she hug me to death? No matter what it is, I don’t care. I just want to see her face again.
It was 12 in the midnight when the airplane landed. Of course I was tired, but in my heart, I still kept going. I reached our house at 3 in the morning, it was pretty early, but from afar I could see the lights were open. I ran down from the taxi up to the front porch and opened the door.
Upon entering, I saw my mother and father, with tears in their eyes, who were so eager to see me.
I was greeted with a lot of hugs and kisses on the forehead. They were just excited to see their 16 year old daughter come back. My things were already taken in by the butler and the taxi already left when he was payed. I turn to look around the room and I can see that not a few things have been changed. Everything was still as organized as ever.
After being showered with concerns and hugs, I walked up to my room, upon entering, I saw a long black haired girl wearing a simple blue shirt and a white skirt. Her face seemed familiar and when she smiled to me, I finally recognized her.
“Crystal!”
I cried with joy. Even though I haven’t seen her in years, it seems as if she didn’t change.
She will always wait for me patiently at my room and then we would talk for hours.
Of course we would talk about boys, since its natural for us girls to do that. But something is different and I don’t know what it is. Maybe it had been my imagination. I sat beside her and we began to talk about how she was doing when I was gone.
She smiled and answered simply.
“I was fine.”
Her face showed a slight lie in it. I know for sure that it wasn’t fine. But I couldn’t pin point as to what. There was an awkward silence and it was broken when mother opened the door of my room.
“Kayla, it’s time for breakfast. I’m sure you are quite hungry.”
I nodded a yes to signal that I’m coming. I looked back to my twin and held her hands.
I knew she had a hard time when I was gone but I also know that it will change.
It will change.
I stood up and went outside the room and left my sister inside.
I was hesitant though, to leave her there, but Mom was calling me.
As soon as I left the room, she held a red notebook on her hands and started to write down something. After writing it down, she closed it and hid it to somewhere I couldn’t find.
Then she just stood there watching the sky from my window.
The wind slowly blew against her long silky hair, a single leaf flew inside the room.
It was already afternoon when I woke up next day. I was so tired that I couldn’t remember what happened yesterday after I ate breakfast. Maybe I just fell asleep like a rock. Hahaha. That never changes. When I’m very tired, it always happens to me.
I rose up from and stretched a little. I got down from my bed and walked over to my mirror to comb my hair.
It was a mess, but I took my time to comb it. And that is when I noticed something odd with my hair. I found a single leaf stuck in it. I pulled it out and wondered how it got there. Its not as if I went outside.
After finishing combing my hair and tying it up, I went down for breakfast, or rather lunch, in my pajamas.
Everyone was already at the table except for me.
“Good Morning.”
I greeted.
“Say, Kayla. Are you interested on continuing your studies here? Or do you want to find a job? I heard from your Aunt Melissa that you were a good girl back there, and that you easily score your tests at school. But it seemed as if you weren’t that motivated to go to school at all. I guess maybe that’s because you have no challenge at your school level, right? Why don’t you try for collage already? I know you can pass it easily.”
I don’t really want to go to collage just yet. Instead, I wanted to go to Crystal’s school. But maybe Mom won’t understand it although I know that Dad is pretty open.
“Hmm…I guess I’ll continue my studies here. As a high school student.”
My mother showed a hint of disappointment.
“Are you sure? With that brains of yours, I’m sure you could do a greater job.”
I know they just wanted the best for me, but I want to be with my sister. I looked over to my left side where Crystal is sitting. She smiled to me like a little child for she knew what I was thinking but immediately turned her head and continued eating her lunch.
She had been quiet all the time and so is my father. It seems as if the only ones talking is me and Mom.
After lunch, I went outside with Crystal to look at the garden.
Her favorite flower was the marigold, while mine was a lotus.
We even made a bookmark with those flowers. As we were walking in the garden, I could notice the same fake smile that she is wearing throughout the day.
It was as if she was thinking of something that I didn’t know. And I hated it a bit.
It didn’t really bother me much when Mom said that we were going to move.
Not that I made any friends on the last town anyway, and besides, traveling gives me the opportunity to see new places.
But the places that I want to see are places that no one has seen before. Untouched paradise.
Just like the lush green forest that we passed by just now.
Forests always gives me the impression of mysterious aura around it. Sigh, someday, I’d like to explore such sites.
“Cam, stop reading those books already and listen to me for just a second.”
At the same time my mother said that to me, Coco jumped at me with full force and unintentionally kicking the book I had in my hands.
“Coco, stop it!”
But the small mutt still won’t stop licking my cheeks.
Mother looked at me through the car’s inside mirror with those eyes that tell me to listen to her.
“Cam, this time you really need to make some friends.”
She said as if it were really a necessity. I don’t have a problem with making friends, other people just think I’m unsociable.
Just because I read book most of the day and is rarely interested in shallow things like shopping with girls or doing things that
any normal girl my age would do.
“It’s not my problem.”
The conversation continued on and on until my mother was exhausted from talking and instead turned her focus towards her driving.
Finally, we reached the place.
“This is our new home, Cam.”
Coco and Ace were the first ones to come out of the car.
It was a rather big Victorian house, with pure white railings and glass windows.
But the inside was much more stunning than the outside. The moment I came inside,
I saw a tall round white room and on the very top is a glass butterfly chandelier.
There were two doors at the right and the left side is just stairs that lead to the second floor.
As the light reflected on the glass, beautiful butterflies seem to float around the room.
“I told you it’s beautiful. Really worth my money.”
My mom said proudly. I stood there while staring at the butterflies then Ace suddenly grabbed my pants with his bite,
as if telling me to explore the house.
I took my bags and one small box and entered the first door to the right.
As I entered the room, a great sight unfolded before me. There were books, tons and tons of books.
The book shelves reached from the ceiling to the floor and covered the whole four sides of the room.
In the middle was a single antique looking table and chair and the floor was covered with red embroidery carpet.
I suddenly dropped my bags and box as I ran to one corner then the next, scanning every book that peaks my interest, until I finally decided to run back to the door and shout to mom.
“Mom, can I take this room?!”
My face filled with anticipation, Mom came down the stairs wondering what all the shouting is about.
“That’s the library. Your new room is upstairs.”
She took one of my bags on the floor and helped me take them upstairs.
She did reassure me though, that she’ll give the whole library for me. Yay!
When I finally entered my new room, I was satisfied to know that it was spacious enough for me to lay around and do nothing all day.
The wall coverings were all white and the floor was made of tiles
While the ceiling was made of wood.
As I returned back and forth from the car back up to my room, it made me think how much mom spent on this house.
She said that the previous owner sold it to her with half the price.
“I bet the poor guy fell for Mom’s charm.”
I helped myself on my bed as I finished unpacking my stuff.
Mostly which are books, but the other things just scattered around,, since I still don’t know where to put them.
The books, however, are a different story.
“I can put some of the book here, then the rest will be at the library.”
I decided for myself. I took the books that I want to put in the library one by one and went down to stairs
to the library. Though as I was about to enter the room filled with books, I didn’t notice that
one of the crystal butterflies from the chandelier moved on it own.
As if it were watching me. I still didn’t know, but slowly, mystery lurks the place.
I just need to explore a bit, right?
“Royce, White Carnation”
I sat there staring at the nowhere covered with white snow.
My hands are freezing but my cheeks are still warm. I caught a glimpse of the girl beside me.
Her short black hair provided her no protection from the cold and her ears are already red.
She tucked her face under her scarf hoping to get more warmth.
Her frozen white hands embraced her cold figure.
I tried to catch a glimpse of her but she didn’t even catch me once.
I fell in love with her the first time I saw here in this same bus stop. I know she doesn’t know me, so I just watch her everyday secretly.
Even though I don’t know her name, or where she lives, or what her life is like, all I know is that I like her.
And that every time I see her, my heart beats like crazy.
I must try my best to look cool in front of her.
That is the least I could do.
“Ah, the bus is here.”
My voice broke the silence. I stood up and walked near the stop sign.
The gentle girl stood up and went near me, causing my heart to almost faint.
Not knowing what to say, I turned my head and looked at the sky.
I was deep in thoughts of what topics to talk about that I didn’t notice her attempt to talk to me.
I finally thought to myself that any topic is fine just as long as I could hear her voice.
“It’s cold today, isn’t it?”
I can feel my heart beating fast, afraid that she may ignore me.
My head turned her way and pretended to look at the coming bus.
“Yes, it’s cold.”
I almost didn’t hear her voice because her face was half buried under her scarf.
The bus came and she went inside it very gently.
I noticed her hands shaking, she must be freezing in the cold.
While I went to my seat, I can’t help but smile.
Her voice was like an angel.
“Sharon, Gardenia”
I hope he notices me.
His golden hair and green eyes is enough to make me warm in this cold weather.
I secretly took some glances at him, hoping to take a closer look.
His lips are red. I tried to look at him longer but he looked at my way and so I pretended to tuck my face under my scarf.
My heart was beating fast. I was afraid that he might find out about me.
He might think that I was weird.
I can feel my whole face becoming red so I tucked my face deeper to hide it.
My hands were trembling.
I was too preoocupied with myself that I didn’t notice him standing up.
“Ah, the bus is here.”
His voice was deep and gentle.
I want to get near him so I gathered my courage and walked beside him.
I was so happy to be near him that I could almost faint.
Trying to think of what to say, I looked at the sky.
“Um…the..the..”
I said in a stutter. He might not have heard me because he was looking deeply onto the sky.
So I just looked down and didn’t say a word.
“It’s cold today, isn’t it?”
He spoke to me for the first time. My heart raced even more and my face became more red.
I have to answer him.
“Yes, it’s cold.”
I said it very awkwardly. I hide my face under my scarf in utter embarrassment.
The bus came and I hurriedly went inside it.
I was embarrassed but, he talked to me.
And that made me happy.
