CHP1: The story you already heard let's again begin.

Christmas song was on the radio when I just let myself stud up a little bit, enjoying the aromatic black beans from the Sagada mountain, the bitterness was coming in my system like I was just wanted to relax while watching the raindrops from the window of my apartment. The video was just simple yet meaningful.

These past few days I was so unfocused on something, I don’t know but the system is like tired of doing things, like a signal that says I need a break. Did I? that’s my question. Because the first place I was here for a break, the pollution and irritation was the thing I gets abandoned when I decided to talk out and find my self little bit.

The sipping was interrupted when I heard a beeping sound. I return the white cup to the deck and looked at the bag where I heard the sound. “Hello Mom” I answered right away. It took her minutes to say something and she talks normally, asking how was my day? and what was my food in breakfast. I am in my early twenties and I think she's a bit over-protected is she?. I said I am fine and had nothing to worry about anymore. Yeah nothing to think about, I am just wanted to be alone.

“Did you open your Grandpa’s gift” I remembered before going out my grand gives me something? I asked if I could just hang my phone and maybe I should take a glance at that. She agreed. I went to the suitcase and I found a square shape something craft with the old blue garment. I looked upside-down thinking what was it before opening it. It’s familiar with the thickness I guessed.

Old-time I was close with Grandpa but later I think the bond becomes difficult as I wanted to grow old and he was now becoming older. I opened the garment, the old book was inside. Now I remembered what was clearly happened, when I was young I see this book that he holds for a long valid time. Whenever he goes I see this, is this his diary? Why he will give it to me?.

No, it's not a diary, for I see the word ‘Chapter One: The story you already heard lets again begin.’.

For the boy who watched me while I am writing this book, your naughtiness made the first page of the book crumpled, I wasn’t angry but I am sorry for making you cry for I am not giving the whole blank space on you.

I don’t know but there was a sudden smirk on my lips.

You might be wondering what was within this book, but I am sure you already knew all the things within, but of course, you were a child and you don’t understand what life is so I wrote this for you I want you to hear again the story I told you before.

CHAPTER ONE:

The field was grey and the aluminium plate I hold was I think enough for my own feast. The crowd was full of men looking for some stomach comforting desserts. I wanted to taste a sweet revealing cake but we were not allowed for sure, just the soup was enough.

The war was so tragic and the men like us were indisputable. I could still smell the fishy odour of decaying bodies near the premises but we need just to ignore it.

I am seventeen years old, young but the war won't let us play as a child. I met some younger men like me but I never saw them after the bombing incident where I just thought they already got their home. How was comforting to think that a child like me during this war had gone through the mission we need to obey.

The smoke was crossing my face while waiting for my line for the food. The man next to me wanted to cross with me, trying if he could fit his body to be first in my line. I looked at him with some glaring look and he just stop doing so.

I might be young, but I killed people and that’s made me older than thinking I was.

Yeah, forgive me if I am too old now but my facial expression wasn’t changed, the glaring look of war in my younger days was permanently tattoed on my face. I witnessed a lot of things, but I think you were too young to know.

I met Luisa when just three years after the war recovery. The smile of the girl will always be in my head. The soft welcoming voice of her when we were just crossing and looking for the way for my friend home.

Women must not talk to men vulgarly, she was so nervous talking to strangers like me. A shy woman and bit scared because some stranger just come and asked her things.

I don’t know but because of her I merely forget the war and I smiled. We always smiled every time we crossed each path. As I stayed in my friend's residence not too far from them. I know the time where she will get up and bring her laundry to the running water near the waterfalls, I just stay back far from her not to scare or pretend I am just drumming around.

The sweet Luisa, my only Luisa who was I adored in my entire life.

The blank ink that he used was gone, it’s handwritten. I never knew he was in a war, no one was come and told me that story before. I just observed that he was so silent when we were watching war-related movies in the sala.

“Mom” I am the one that called her. “What was the name of Grandma?” I never knew her exact name for they just let me call her grandma. I have never seen her in my life, just my mother and grandfather is the only person having memories of her.

“Her name was Grace, Marry Grace” a soft voice she is.

“Who was Luisa?” My mother was silent a little, something wasn’t right I guessed.

“She’s your Grandmother best friend”.

Published exclusively under read.cash. The work was originally made fiction by the author Eunoia. Thanks, for reading…