1 JERSOM

HELLO HEATHER

All contents inside this book is in fiction. Everything is from the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Some of the chapters may have grammatical errors.

Written on January 25, 2021.

–i write, you decide.

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CHAPTER 1- JERSOM

The sound of the dried leaves welcomed my ears. It has been years since I came back.

Everything from before changed.

The spacious lands from before were gone. The huge trees were now replaced by taller buildings, cemented houses, and stores.

How long was I gone?

I started to walk away from the bus station. No one knew I was going to come back today because I want it to be a surprise.

As I was leaving the bus station, I noticed people saying their goodbyes to their love ones. Some of them we're saying their how are you's and hello's...

Hello... That word. That greeting.

I can still feel nostalgia everytime I hear that word.

Hello...

I smiled. I wonder if she is still here.

Her– my dream. My everything. The one whom I considered as my life...

I took a step and every step that I take, memories flashed by like a bliss. I have always dreamed of before. I have always wanted to come back.

If there's a chance I could go back from all of my memories, I will not think twice and will definitely come back.

One look from a familiar place, a memory started to block my head.

It was fulfilling. It was surreal.

It was a great day. My mother and I decided to visit the park. It was near our house so she agreed.

"Mama! Can I go play over that swing?" I asked her excitedly.

She nodded while talking to someone on her phone.

I smiled widely and then I run to where the swing was.

I am glad because I was the first one to sit on the swing.

Because of happiness, I started to sing a song. It was a little out of tune but I didn't care.

'I wonder how, I wonder why

Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky

And all that I can see

Is just a yellow lemon tree'

I sang with all my heart confidently, because I know that no one was listening. If you look around, everyone are busy playing or doing something.

"You are out of tune," a little voice said. There was a hint of laughter in that voice.

The confidence I felt earlier broke. I am now embarrass.

A little girl sat on the other swing and then she look at me while smiling. I didn't look at her because of embarrassment.

Heck! I will never sing again.

"Don't be embarrassed," she said. I still didn't look at her. I am afraid that she will just laugh at me.

"You have a great voice but you are a little out of tuned," she said while doing the 'little' sign with her thumb and index.

I knew she was lying because my cousins would always laugh at me for being a bad singer.

I look at her frowning, "liar."

She laughed that made my heart bounce.

Her laugh was soothing and that made me notice her brown curls. It was perfectly place on her shoulders. She was wearing a white dress that complimented her paper white skin. I look at her face and notice how angelic it is with her almond eyes and pointed nose. Her lips were as happy as her laughter.

In my opinion, she looks like an innocent angel.

She looked at me with a happy and amused face and that made me feel happy so suddenly.

"My father said it's bad to lie. I was not lying," she said trying to prove a point.

My heart bounced again. I don't know why but everytime I look at her innocent face my heart would always bounce.

"Just admit it. I won't get mad," I said trying to make my voice sound irritated while swinging myself slowly.

"I told you I like your voice," she said confidently.

I stopped myself from swinging. She is the first one to tell me that.

I looked at her but she's now busy swinging herself. I noticed the strands of her curly hair in her face. It was slightly blocking her innocence.

It bothered me so I stopped myself from swinging. I don't know why, but she stopped swinging too.

She look at me with a confused look, but few seconds later she smiled.

"Did you know that you are the first one I talked to?" she began.

"I am new here... Me and my parents are new here. We just moved three hours ago," she added.

No wonder she doesn't look familiar.

"And so?" I cut her words directly, causing her to smile again.

In her twinkling eyes she ask, "can you be my friend?"

I stopped and hesitated for a second. I am not really fond of playing with girls. My friends will probably tease me when they'll know that I am friends with a girl.

"Please?" her angelic voice begged.

Anyone would think she is an angel because of how angelic her face and her voice is. Even I thought she is one.

I looked at her. Her head was now facing the ground. I panicked when I saw her shoulders starting to go up and down.

She's now crying.

"I-i have no friends here and t-that makes me alone. I don't wanna to be alone," she said while sobbing.

Because of panic, I immediately held her chin to make her look at me.

Her angelic face is now full of tears. Somehow, I felt a pang of pain by seeing her cry.

I wiped her tears with my bare hands and I forced myself to smile at her.

"Of course, I can be you friend," I said to stop her from crying.

If my friends heard what I just said, they would probably laugh at me.

The little girl's face automatically lit.

"Really?" she asked happily.

Eventhough my mind wants to hesitate, I still nodded to prevent her from crying.

"You will really be my friend?" she questioned.

I nodded again. She's starting to annoy me but I still managed to stop myself because I would look and sound rude if I lash out harsh words to her. She's still a kid.

She hugged me suddenly.

The smell of daisies enveloped my nose, and its starting to hypnotise me.

I immediately got myself away from her hug. I hate how I am starting to feel.

"What is your name?" she asked merrily.

Her innocent eyes were now staring at my eyes. They were lovely but there was still a glint of tears on it.

"Why?" I asked, a little surprised.

"We are now friends, right? Friends should know the names of each other. So, tell me your name," she commanded.

I sighed. She's so persistent.

"Jersom... My name is Jersom Samaniego. Happy?" I said a bit hesitating.

I expected her to be afraid or to be embarrassed, but she just smiled.

"Jersom,"

She smiled again, "what a lovely name."

My heart automatically bounced. I stared at her angelic eyes. Like the stars in the night sky, it was sparkling. It was twinkling...

"Hello, Jersom."

I don't know why but I gave her a warm smile.

I guess she deserves to be treated nicely.

"I just told you my name. Now tell me yours," I said.

Her lips stretched into a lovely smile. In a sweet voice she whispered, "Heather."

I was about to greet her when I heard my mom's voice calling me.

"Jersom! Let's go home!" she shouted that immediately got my attention.

I ran to where my mom is but I immediately turned around to look at the little girl standing a few meters away from me.

And again, she was smiling but it was a sad one.

Guilt started to arise. I was kind of rude for running away. So to make up, I called my mom's attention.

"Mama, wait," I said as I watched Heather starting to look down.

My mom gave me a puzzled reaction, but she let me run anyway.

I stand a few inches from Heather. I breathe for a few seconds before I held her chin.

Her face was shocked to see me. I then smiled at her.

"W-why did you come back?" she asked with her tiny voice.

"I forgot to tell you something," I answered.

She looked at me confused but I saw a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"W-what is it?"

I stopped for awhile and tucked in a few strands of her curly hair in her left ear.

"Hello, Heather."