***THE YEAR 2007 "Don't worry. Everyone is living with sadness. Happiness can be a rose full of colors in one moment, but as time passes, the petals fall one by one, wilted and sagged as the joy faded," Marian said thoughtfully to him. Justin observed how mature she thinks for her age. He thinks that Marian is the same age as him, but he can't count numbers so he wouldn't know. It is better not to ask about it, Marian can judge him for who he is. "Don't you want to say something?" Marian asked him a couple of minutes after they observed the trees while still standing up in the narrow street. Justin looked at her and stuttered. "I... I don't want to say anything," Justin said quietly. Marian chuckles and looked down. "C'mon, why are you crying?" Marian asked him again. Justin locked his gaze and battled with himself on whether to say it or not. What if she finds out that he can't read, he can't write and he can't spell, even count numbers? As he was about to say something, someone
*** THE YEAR 2008 Danny grabbed his shirt, and with a huge impact, he pushed Justin to the bookshelf. The books fell from the upper compartment and rained down on his head. One by one, the books slammed through and Justin felt the pain as his body drooped down on the floor. He sat down and glared at Danny while his vision gets fragmented because of the tears. "Don't ever punch me again, huh?" Danny said while still nodding and his mouth is opening slightly. He is breathing heavily now and wiping the little blood that came from the bruise on the side of his mouth and sat down on the bed. Justin held his head, smoothen his hair, and felt the pain from the books that fell upon him. He swallowed while controlling his sobs to come out in a loud noise as he pants. Danny just lay down and closes his eyes. He smiled like a maniac as the door opened and Jane emerged. Jane ran over to Justin and saw that he is crying silently. She glared at Danny as he got up from his king bed and just grim
***THE YEAR 2008"Okay. Let's just ask who the hell punched you?"Hazi asked Danny seriously. He just narrowed his eyes and think."You know, we are the King's Guild, your guild. We can avenge you, Danny," the kid with the glasses said as he smirked.Danny shrugged again his shoulders and smiled like he knew what he will do to Justin."Why not, we talked to him formally but scary?"the kid with his hands inside the pockets of his jacket suggested it to Danny. He put his hands underneath his chin and remembered his name."The one who punched me might not do well with talking, you know why, guys?"Danny asked and looked at the kids. The three got confused and waited for him to answer something."Because he can't read and spell out his name, that is why," Danny said then cackled. The three
"He knows how to use his heart. Justin may not grow fond of his life because of his disorder, it may be turned upside down when he realizes he loves someone. Aside from his mother, he knew that girl, Marian, can teach him how to overcome his disorder and to love."***The YEAR 2019The paint of the whole house is starting to fade after years. But it remains sturdy and vigorous, not to mention that is standing for 20 years now after a baby was born and named Justin Ramos. Grunting from the terrace erupted in the arising sun from the east that gave a tinge of mauve on the clouds, signaling that it is 6 am in the morning and the silence of the neighborhood.Jordan picked up the coffee mug from the table and stood up with the wooden cane supporting him. He stretched his waist first before going inside the house. His hair gone white and gray now, and Jordan's skin
***THE YEAR 2019Simon looks towards the blue-haired guy who has clear skin and a clenched jaw while looking at Justin. He didn't catch his name but Justin remembered Danny calling him Sandy. Meanwhile, Danny pocketed his hands on his jeans while breathing a lot of air and puffing it out a minute later. His spiky hair and big eyes made him look like a handsome gangster with a little touch of bad boy sense."Long time no see, Justin,"Danny muttered then all of them snickered. Justin looked up and glared right in Danny's eyes. He knuckled his fists and Danny averted his eyes towards it.Justin still stared at him with rage and Danny scoffed seconds later. He looked towards the other members of the guild and they laughed their butts off like they knew these would happen. Danny looked back at Justin again and said, "Care to punch me
***THE YEAR 2019She sighed and dialed a number on her cell phone while Justin looked up from his toes and started to walk again. Justin halted at the street when he realized that they were on the national highway again. Marian was still on the phone on the corner street and Justin stared at her from a distance.He sighed as he saw Marian signing towards a jeepney ride and she climbed in on the vehicle. The jeepney drove off and Justin smiled at himself as she saw his princess with the shining dress again. He looked to both sides of his place and saw people milling in about the waiting shed for the ride. He closed his eyes as he realized that he doesn't know where he is.Justin sat down on the bench while thinking about where to go. He had no money in him, he can't even count that paper bills and coins. He watched as the people climbed in and out of a shuttle bus or van
***THE YEAR 2019"Hmm. I saw you earlier this morning. Only feet away from me. And now here you are again, what do you want from me, huh?"Marian asked without pause that made Justin finally locked his eyes on Marian."I... I... was... I was just wondering on the streets alone. Maybe it's... it's... a coincidence on your mind that I... I am following you,"Justin stuttered."Why are you stuttering? Do you want me to report you to the police?"Marian asked, standing straight, lifting her chin up, while getting her cell phone out of her bag again.Justin raised his hands and said,"I am not following you, I swear.""Really? Remove that hood and let me find out if you were one of those criminals from the television,"Marian confronted. Just
***THE YEAR 2019"It's so pretty," Marian whispered while staring at it. She leaned her head over Dave's shoulder. He looked at his sister's head and put his arm around him. He started to sing the song and Marian sang along with him. They both sang the tune with the peaceful environment around him."I hope my former days won't fade awayWhen I was a young child in my mom's armsI want my Beloved Mother's song to repeatA song of love while I was in the cradle."Marian remembered how Sierra was so happy to hear her homeschool teacher sang."In my sleep that's very peacefulThe planets guard me, The stars watch over meIn my Mom's arms, Life was l
***THE YEAR 2019, one month after Jordan Mendoza died.The engagement party for Danny Sy and Marian Aguinaldo.The golden brushes were laid down on the dressing room of Marian as she was sitting down on the couch, with her hair fixed up in a bun. She was looking at her bare face at the reflection, and melancholy music was playing over the speaker by the side. She was at the dressing and vacant room of the Sy's mansion, waiting for the makeup artists, who will be painting her face to make her glamorous.Marian stared back at the grieving eyes looking back at her. This was it. The time she would be marrying someone she doesn't want to be off. She just wanted a happy life, wherein she could decide what will happen to her life. She sighed as she glanced at the door, it opened, and someone came inside.She was holding a black bag in her hand. She was als
***THE YEAR 2019, the burial of Jordan MendozaPaul was left alone on the side of the hallway as Marian stood still and averted her eyes towards the other way. She sighed as she looked down at her feet and she doesn't know what to feel. She had never experienced being without parents or something, but for ma'am Jane, she lost them both."I never thought that the smile I will never see was with my father," Jane shook her head as she glanced the other way and she cried while Danny was looking up from his seat. He saw the name of Jane's father as he heard weeping on the other side."That was when the time I saw him smile 2 months ago... it took so fast for me to realize that it was the last smile I would ever see from his lips," Jane cried as she closed her eyes tightly and she remembered the time when she had to undergo that crisis once aga
***THE YEAR 2019, the burial of Jordan MendozaJane was wearing a collared ivory shirt, while she was holding the marble and gray jar close to her chest, as she walked down towards the hallways. The maids from the mansion were also there, paying their condolences and wishing that the soul could rest in peace after it had been buried. The emotions were clear from her face as she walked very slowly, while Justin was holding a white rose in his hands. He was behind his mother, as he looked down and the tears trickled down once more. Marian was also there, and she had been perceived to be there when she knew that Justin wouldn't have someone to lean closer to. She looked the other way as Jane walked past ahead of her while sobbing. They stopped in front of the priest in the hallways and bowed down their heads. The chrysanthemums and orchids were lined up on the table as the priest held onto the microphone han
***THE YEAR 2019, the results of Birschet International School had been released, 2 months afterDanny pursed his lips as he stared down and Hazi was doing the same thing. Paul huffed an air as he pocketed his cell phone on the pockets of his coat and he glanced at the building. He walked towards the porch as he stepped on the front lobby and said, "Let's go."Paul was the first one to walk ahead as he breathed out. His son was puzzled about his rush and he knew that his father was so worried about his nanny. Danny followed suit as Hazi turned his heel around also and they rushed to get through the lobby. Paul was the first one to press the buttons on the side. He ran towards the steps and he was rushing as he placed his hands on the buttons as he waited for his son and Hazi to come inside.Justin was sobbing as he wiped the tears and stood up fr
***THE YEAR 2019, the results of the Birschet International School had been released, 2 months afterDanny huffed some air as he said, "What are you doing over here? I thought you had to take a guard with both Justin and Marian."Hazi didn't answer any about it and he knew that he had to unfold what happened in the last two months after the arranged marriage plan. They don't have anything to do with the arranged marriage and Marian's mother had a knack to still push what happened on that established plan. Danny and Hazi took some time to delved into the silence in between them. He sighed as he glanced the other way and knew that he had to ask what happened with the plan."Marian's dream to be a professor at Birschet International School is now coming true," Hazi was the first one to initiate the topic as he knew that Danny would like to keep his mouth shut tight
***THE YEAR 2019, the results of Birshcet International School had been released, 2 months afterJane let Marian grasped her arms on the bench while she sat down on the bench. She swallowed as she wiped the handkerchief on her face while the tears were streaming down on her face. She glimpsed at the doors shut tight as she knew that her son was now inside the morgue. Marian looked at her worriedly as she pursed her lips while she glanced out of the way. She bit her lip as she looked the other way.Justin halted abruptly in his place as the doctor removed the blanket over his head. He bowed down his head completely as he glanced the other way while still huffing some air over his mouth. He saw how blue his skin now was, the white hairs were still on his hair, not moving, his feet were now parallel with one another, and his chest was not breathing up and down.Justin walked
***THE YEAR 2019, the results from Birschet International School had been released, 2 months afterDanny swallowed as he glanced at the other way and soothed both of her arms with his hands. Jane sobbed as the doors finally opened and someone came out from there. He was wearing a surgical mask and a blue uniform. He wore off the mask from his mouth and glanced at the people outside. Danny whispered to his nanny that the doctor finally came out and Jane quickly stood up from her seat. Justin also did the same thing as Hazi and Marian followed suit. Jane glanced at the doctor as she placed her hands on her chest while asking, “Can I see my father now?” The forensic doctor nodded as he instructed something while Jane was nodding her head. Only one can come in inside the morgue as the doctor said that they should wait for minutes. Jane hurried inside while the tears we
***THE YEAR 2019, the results of Birschet International School had been released, 2 months afterJustin was surprised by her touch that Hazi looked away suddenly. Justin grabbed a hold of her wrists and smiled at her. He put it down on her sides while Marian’s inner brows were raised. She swallowed as Justin turned his heel around and didn’t have the time to speak any more words towards Marian. Hazi was left alone with Marian as she smiled at him. “Let’s go,” Hazi said simply as he followed Justin inside. Marian pursed her lips and followed Hazi behind. Meanwhile, Danny was sitting down beside Jane now on the outside doors of the morgue, still waiting for them to be summoned and enter the room as soon as possible. Danny sighed as Jane was still weeping beside him. Danny turned his head towards her while he swallowed and said, “Everythin
***THE YEAR 2019, the results of Birschet International School had been released, 2 months afterJustin was left alone at the swing while remembering that scene. He placed his fists on the sand while he punched it over and over again but the pain won't go aside from his heart. He shook his head as he finally sat down in a curling position while he howled in the center."Grandpa... why?" Justin asked himself in a crying voice while he propped up his arms wrapped around his knees while he cuckooed his head in between. He was surprised with what he did but he knew that he couldn't know what he will do. The thunder cracked together with the lightning on the clouds while he was still sitting down on that sandbox. He doesn't care if he will be soaked with sweat or rain now, he just knew that he was in pain, and he couldn't move. He felt numb, resentment over the one that was ru