3: Registration Desk.

Hailey's Point of View.

"It's Wednesday!" I exclaimed to myself after I watched the sunrise. I walked to my table which my calendar is on.

'Wednesday. Second check up day of the week.'

"Hailey, I already put your essentials needed to get ready. It's in the bathroom. After you get ready, just go downstairs. I am also done cooking our meals." I heard Yaya said from outside my room.

"Okay, Yaya. I'll go downstairs after I take a bath and change!" I responded gladly to her.

"Don't be too excited. You might slip in the bathroom. Be careful, okay?" She said before I heard her footsteps walking away from my room.

After the other night, I told myself that I won't cry because of painting anymore. I told myself that I'll pursue on finishing an artwork when I am really ready. I won't push myself into that situation anymore.

I also read about the competition and told Yaya about it. I think it's the perfect way to make myself ready to paint again. The competition goes like this. They will recruit people to join and then they'll be the one to let those people travel around the country for the whole summer. They won't push you into the competition right away. At the end of the camp, that's when the competition will be conducted.

When I told Yaya about it, she was hesitant to agree with me but I told her that in this way, I'll grow.

"This is really it." I told myself and let out a deep sigh before walking to the bathroom. I smiled and bit my lip.

Asher's Point of View.

"It's the registration day." I told myself and gritted my teeth. I may look like crazy now but I waited for this. I slapped myself out of nowhere.

"This is real. I am not imagining. I won't mess this up." I told myself and caressed my cheeks because it hurt when I did slap myself.

My phone beeped that made me turn my back and look for it. Once I found it, texts from them were the first thing to pop up.

From: Dara

We are outside your house now. Take your time getting ready.

From: Inez

Ash!!! Wake up! We are outside your house now! I am so excited! Please, hurry! We might not make it!

From: Cassian

Bro, wake up and get ready. Inez is so loud. My ears might pop anytime because she won't stop screaming. Please, have mercy.

I chuckled at what Cassian texted me. Inez being Inez. She was the first one to react when I told her about the competition. The youngest among us.

I told them about the competition yesterday and as usual, Dara was cool with it. It was expensive so I didn't really expected them to decide right away. Dara is willing to pay for everything. When it comes to money, she is the one within my circle of friends that I can call on.

"Okay. Let's get this started. Hailey, I will paint with you someday. I'll meet you. Wait for me." I said to myself and then pulled my towel before walking in the bathroom.

Hailey's Point of View.

"Good morning, Yaya!" I excitedly greeted Yaya when I am on my way to her.

"Be careful! You might trip!" She warned me and I followed her. I walked slowly.

"I am not liking this idea, Hailey but if this is what makes you happy, I am with you. I will try to help you in any way, okay?" She said when she saw me sitting on the chair in front of her.

"I am turning 18, Yaya. I will be fine. Well, I am not really sure but I will try to come back healthy. I won't be silly there. I just really think that this is a prison to me. This house. This disorder of mine is becoming my own chains that imprisoned me for the past years and I am ready to let go of all of it now. I just need at least one person that will believe I can do it." I answered her and I felt her hand on mine.

"I believe in you, okay? You're brave enough to conquer your fears and that's already a big thing. I am so proud of you." She said while looking at me.

"Thank you, Ya." I responded and smiled warmly at her. She's really the one person that never left my side. If I'll need one person to believe in me, ir should be her. She's worth a million people.

"Okay. Let's eat so we can go to your check up and register you on that competition after." She said and then let go of my hand, letting me eat.

My smile remained on my lips even while we were eating. I am not sure on where will I come to after I do this but one thing I am sure of is this is what makes my heart feel alive so I will do my best to chase, grasp and never let go of it. I've never felt this good for years.

Asher's Point of View.

"Where are you going?" I was shocked when my mother was the first one I saw when I opened my door after I got ready.

"Outside, Mom. I'll go to the studio." I lied. I don't think she will be happy if she will know about the competition. She never liked me doing art after what happened years ago.

"No one will be coming out from this house! No one!" She yelled at me that made me cover my ears.

"But, Mom-" I was about to complain but then she slapped me. It made me look sideway for seconds.

"Asher, I said no one. If you get out of this house now and go to that stupid studio of yours, I won't let you come home here again. You won't be able to see me and your siblings again." She said and when I looked at Lili and Aaron, Lili is already crying. Aaron is looking at me, he's mouthing “you should go” while wiping Lili's tears.

"I will come back. I will come back and prove you wrong, Mom. I will come back and prove you that art will bring me up." I said and then ran away from her. I heard her call my name loudly but I didn't look back knowing that if I do, I won't be able to continue running away from this hellhole of a house.

I saw the van and then Inez opened up the van for me with her bright smile. Cassian is already motioning me to hurry up and Dara is ready to drive in the driver's seat.

I am going to free myself from the chains of the past. I will prove all of them wrong. I will make them proud of me. I am not a disappointment, a walking disaster and a worthless boy. I will make my name through what I love. Art.

"Let's go!" I heard Inez exclaimed and closed the door. Dara drove away as soon as I got in.

"I won't have a home to come to after this so we better do this good, okay? I risked everything for this." I said to them and chuckled, the first time I felt so good for years. I just felt so good knowing that this will be a decision I will never regret.

"We won't go home empty-handed, Ash. I promise you that." I heard Dara said and that made me smile.

When my family dimmed my hope to do art, Dara, Cassian, and Inez stood up for me and my dreams. I know that doing this with them is a right thing.

Hailey's Point of View.

"Your case is getting worse and worse, Hailey. I advice you to stick to your daily routine and take your medicines. There's a big possibility that you'll just wake up one day not being able to do anything." The doctor said while looking at me dull of pity after she checked me up.

"Doc, I am getting better. I can feel it. I can feel myself being able to be feel alive again. It's not like the first days that I got diagnosed. I am making a change." I answered her but I received a sigh from her and I saw her shake her head.

"Your immune system is being more weaker. Your disorder is growing into you more. You're not making any improvements, I am sorry to tell you this but your case is hopeless. All you could do is follow your routine and stay home. That's the least you could do if you want to live more." She answered me that made me let out a deep sigh.

"Here. This is the list of all your medicines for the week. Come back after a week and I'll do a check up to you again. Put into mind everything that I told you, Hailey. You know I'm doing this for your own good." She added and gave me a piece of paper. I stared at it. I almost got dizzy just by looking at the ton of medicine that I need to take this week.

"That's it for today. Make sure to go home after and take your meds." She said and that was my go signal to stand up. I let out a deep sigh. I put the paper in one of my pockets before opening the door.

"So, what happened there? Did the Doctor allow you for the competition, Hailey?" Yaya asked when she saw me walking out from the room, looking at me with her usual smile full of hope.

I smiled and said, "She said I was getting better. I am okay to attend the competition, Yaya. She said I just have to bring my notes with my schedule and also my medicines."

"That's great to hear!" Yaya exclaimed when I answered her. I am lying to her now but this is the only way that I can make it to the competition. This is my only way.

If I will die, at least I will die chasing what I really want. That's what I think now. That's what I think the most important to me now.

"Let's go?" She asked me and held my hand. I forced myself to make my smile stay pasted on my face.

"Oh. Your mask." She said and pulled a mask from her pocket. She made me wear it before we walked to the parking lot of this hospital.

We got in the car and the driver immediately drove us away from the hospital to the mall. I already know where we will go to register.

When we reached the mall, I felt Yaya held me tighter. It brought me back to a memory from years ago.

- Flashback.. Five years ago

"Mommy, I want to paint again." I said while wiping my tears as I stare at my painting that is all ruined now.

"Hailey, how many times do I have to tell you not to touch these things again? These will just make your anxiety and disorder worsen! Why can't you understand that?" I heard her yell at me with her loud voice.

"I want to paint again, Mommy. I want to do an artwork again. Please, I am so close to it. I am so close to do it yesterday if only you let me." I said while wiping the tears streaming off of my eyes.

"You're so close on embarrassing me in front of so many people yesterday, Hailey! I told you not to go out again. It's for your own safety. Why can't you just do as what I say?" She yelled at me that made me hug myself to console and calm myself.

"Starting from now, all of these painting things will be burnt. I won't see you painting again. Do you understand me?!"

- End of Flashback

I shook my head to brush that memory off. I won't be in that situation again. If it makes me risk everything so I can do painting again, I will.

"I will be okay, Ya. Don't worry too much, please." I said and smiled before getting off pf the car. We walked in the mall and before I continued to walk, I let out a deep sigh.

It's now or never.

* * *

"Name, please?" The girl in the desk asked me that made me jump, startling me.

"Uh... Hailey. Hailey Leigh Alvarez!" I answered and then I saw her writing it down on her paper.

"Age?" She asked me another question.

"17.." I answered.

"Make sure that the contact numbers are updated because we will contact you tomorrow for the announcement of the competition. If we can't contact you with the contact number that you will put there, we will look for other participants right away." She said to me as I fill up the form that she gave me.

"Name, please?" I heard her ask that made me look at her assuming it was me who she was asking. I realized that it wasn't me so I moved aside.

"Asher Blake Cañoza, Dandara De Verra, Maria Inez Gomez and Cassian Blue Guevarra." I heard a voice of a boy answered her. Once I finished filling up the form, I gave it to the girl. I noticed someone staring at me that made me look around.

"We have a special guest for today! It's Ms. Olivia Z. Bautista, everyone!" I heard someone said loudly that made me look to the front which I regretted right away.

"Hailey?" I read what Mommy mouthed when our gaze met. Why is she here? I am not expecting her to be here. I thought she's busy that's why she can't visit me? What is happening? I am so dead right now.

Of all the people that will see me here, why her? Why Mommy?

I saw her glared at me. I am really doomed.