FOUR

Four

"Ian, wake up, wake up." Mom said

I can hear mom's wake up call, but I'm trying to pretend I can't. But mom knows it when I am pretending or not so I decided to stop pretending and opened my eyes.

"What is it. . . .mom?" I asked

"It's already 4:30. Prepare yourself. Take a bath because we'll be leaving by 5:30." Mom said as she rushes herself to prepare.

I stood up. Trying to call my soul out of dreamland and when he finally arrived, I rushed myself to my cabinet to choose what set of clothes I will wear. I like black especially all blacks. So I get my towel, my bathroom kit, and made my way inside the bathroom. It really feels nice to take a bath especially when the water is not that cold to make you feel like Antarctica is your current neighbor. It only took me 15 minutes to finish my blissful bath. After I prepared myself, sprayed on some perfume of which I don't know who's the owner, we set forth for the new Bible study site. Me and my mom kissed dad goodbye and finally went on our way.

"Mom, is the new Bible study site far from our place?" I asked.

"Not so Ian. It's a 15 minute travel from here." Mom answered

15 minute travel is really short so we got there exactly after 15 minutes.

The people in the house were so welcoming. I looked around to get myself used with the surroundings and with the people as well. It's a nice place. By the way, this is The Plains, the place where mom's new Bible study site is located.

"Hello Sis." A mother greeted mom. I know a mother when I saw one.

"Hello. This is my son, Ian" Mom introduced me.

I was shy actually. Very shy at that very moment that I don't even know of what to say. But someone greeted my mom that really got my attention.

"Hello Mrs. Wales" a young girl greeted my mom

"Oh, hello, what's your name?" Mom asked. Thanks be to mom because she asked.

"Abigail, My name is Abigail Mrs.Wales." the young girl said.

So that girl is Abigail. A nice name for a nice looking girl.

We entered the house of the Stevenson's. They were nice and very welcoming. Their house is a bit smaller than ours but the ambiance is really nice. Upon entering, living room is the first part of the house that you will see, as usual. There's a bowl of shiny shimmering stones that I think they bought from the night market for just a few bucks. A little further from the living room is their dining room while their rooms are at the sides facing both the dining and the living room. I saw one open door in which I glimpsed on what's inside. Pink walls, pink posters, pink pillows, everything's in pink. I suppose that that room is certainly for a girl but since that they're dad is not around, I can't tell who owns the room. It looks tidy and well-kept. After Mrs. Stevenson toured us inside their house, mom decided to start the gathering. We settled ourselves by sitting in a very soft and comfortable couch. My mom begins to introduce me to the Stevenson's.

��This is Ian, my son." Mom said as she steadily looked at me.

Everyone inside the house flashed a smile at me as if I am an instant celebrity, including Abigail. She looks beautiful in her simple and not-so-expressed smile. Her smile adds to the beauty of her pale-skinned complexion, round eyes, silky smooth hair and soft-spoken voice. Seeing her smile makes me wanna smile deep inside. I know I'm too young for this, but, this is what I feel. For the first time, I was mesmerized by her beauty that I didn't even notice that mom is calling my name. Embarrassing as it is, I tried to pretend that I didn't feel any shame. As mom continues to share something nice to the Stevensons, I can't stop myself from snatching a look at her. She looks simple yet beautiful that it can capture a loveless heart. Every look at her is so precious that I can't keep myself from doing it again and again. After a little while, mom's sharing ended which means, SNACK TIME. I admit, this is my most awaited moment every time that mom has a bible study. The Stevensons prepared sandwiches and cola.

In my astonishment, I noticed that Abigail took something from their hanging cabinet. I think it is something that she will eat. As she carries a small bowl, I realized I wasn't wrong. It's beans. One of the foods that I really hate. But then, she did something that really made my nerves shiver. She sat beside me. Not just that, she put the bowl on the table, flashed a smile and asked me something that I wasn't able to answer for a few seconds with eyes locked on her face.

"Do you eat beans? I hope you do." She asked

"Sometimes." I said. Now I am lying not just to her, but also to myself. Sorry Mr. Stomach.

"Really? I'll get another bowl for you. Wait." She said as she rushed to their dining room to get me a small bowl. She looks excited upon knowing that I eat beans even though; deep inside I know I don't.

"Get some. Don't be shy. Actually, I'm the only one in our family who eat beans. Good to know that I knew someone who likes to eat beans too." She said, happily.

"Ahh! Yeah. Yeah. Good thing. Ahmm, is this delicious? I said carefully

"Why are you asking that question? You should know how beans taste like because you told me you sometimes eat beans." She asked with a slight investigating tone in her voice.

"No, I mean is, ahmm, I used to eat a different kind, not like this one. So that's why I asked if this kind of beans are delicious." I said, trying to get free from the careless question I just asked.

"Oh Okay, Yes this is delicious, for me." She said. Now stirring her beans.

"Why don't you taste it?" she added.

I slowly put a spoonful of beans in my mouth but not as slow as to allow myself to be caught as a liar. Inside my mouth it tastes like something-from-outer-space. But as I continue to eat those slightly-squishy beans, I began to appreciate the taste. Gosh! This girl already taught me how to eat beans in just a matter of minutes, no, seconds. I don't know why I ate those things that I hated since I was a child. I don't even have the idea on how a girl changed my taste buds in a matter of seconds. Something's unusual. Oh! Maybe I was just carried away by her beauty and I just don't want her to be disappointed.

The good times of being with her, beside her, continued until snack time was over. Sensing the moment that we must go home, it made me feel sad. I feel sad because I'm gonna leave their place, their house, and her. I hate the word "leaving" because it really breaks my emotions whenever I get close to someone when at the end, I'll just leave that person. I was drawn to her in a matter of minutes. Drawn to her by her attitude and genuinely shown sincerity. Upon reaching the gate, my mom and I waved our hands to say good bye. My eyes are locked on her, hoping that we will see each other next time, and then we went our way. Mom talked to me as we start walking.

"You like Abigail. Do you?" Mom asked.

"No, we're just friends mom." I asked with a slight high tone

"Yeah that's what I mean. You like her as your friend. Is there something more that you want?" Mom said.

"No mom. . . .I just. . ." I stopped. I stopped because I heard a familiar voice chasing us as it calls my mom and me. I looked at my back and was shocked to see Abigail.

"Mrs. Wales, I think I should accompany you on your way. Can I?"Abigail said while panting.

"Yes. Thank you Abigail." Mom said with a smile.

"It's already 6:30 so I decided to go out and accompany you since it's getting dark." Abigail added.

"Did you ask permission from your mom Abigail?" I asked

"Yes I did. Don't worry. They don't care that much about me." She said.

"Really? I don't believe it." I exclaimed

"Well, I'm not forcing you to believe." She said and laughed.

"Okay." I said.

"Ian, look up." She said

I looked up and all I can see are countless stars and the moon smiling above us.

"Can you see those 3 stars having an equal gap between them?" she said while pointing her finger up in the sky.

I tried to find the stars that she's been talking about, finally, I saw them.

"Oh, there they are. I can see them now." I said with a slight tone of interest

"I like them. But I hate the distance between them." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I hate distances so much. But still, I like those stars. You know what? I look at them every night whenever they can be seen. I feel attached to them. Whenever I look at them, I can forget all the worries that I have in life. You know Ian, I no longer have a father. He left. He left mom and chose someone else." She said.

I can feel the shaking tone in her voice. It sounds like her father left them weeks before. I feel sad for her. I never thought that a girl with such a beautiful smile like her has something so painful inside her heart. In that briefest moment, I looked at her as if I had known her for a long time. She's so transparent. Expressive. Emotional.

When we finally reached the road out of The Plains, mom and I said goodbye to her.

"Thanks Abigail for accompanying us, and for being a friend to my son. He only has a few friends at school. I'm glad you're now in his world." My mom said.

"Thank you Mrs. Wales. Ian is nice, I can see it." Abigail replied.

"So. . . we have to go now. See you next week." I said.

"Yeah. Keep my secrets Ian. You're the only one who knows it." She said as she turns her back from us.

After that, me and my mom went home, as I fixed my eyes to the road where I can see Abigail looking back at me.