Aren't Real

Peeking at the window, I silently watch the girl infront of our house, busily putting her things down and carrying it inside the house infront.

I adore her. She looks so innocent and without any clues of things that sorrounds her, not like me or us that only know is to hide to people. 

"Stop it." My Mom said as she block my vision through the window. 

"Mom, I am just watching her." I insist.

"Watching her? For what? To what? Huh?" She frown over her questions. "You're just hurting yourself young lady, so please, please stop looking at her." she looks so tired asking me for it. 

"Mom, she is coming with us. She is coming near us, do you think we can still hide it?" 

"We've been hiding for years now young lady and now we know what it feels to be hidden so please whether it is very painful we should do it and stand with it. We aren't the real one." 

No one should be placed in a world that is hidden. No one should be living in pain because it is painful. All need to be real whether we aren't the real one.

Never in my life that I dreamed to hide for something. I dreamed for a great and a wonderful life with my complete family. With my Dad who's working hard for us to eat everyday. My Mom who is going to shout at us and telling we should eat now because the food is ready. Me who is supposed to be studying in my adolescent life, all just a dream.

All I want that to happen is all just a lie within me that still now I wanted to reach. I have no dad. I have mom. I have myself too. We ain't complete. 

"Okay Mom." I surrendered. Nodding with my head I went back to my room and just sit while I think.

All that my mind tell is for me to be settled. To be settled in this life full of mystery and painful truth but still I wanted to turn the tables. I just want to have a good life with my family but I know I can't and all I just know is to think it.

Early morning the next day. I went out for a quick exercise and to get some healthy heat of sun. It has vitamins anyways. 

I opened our white gate to enter but stopped because of a voice behind me asking. 

"Hi. I am new here. I'll just came yesterday. Uh .. by the way, I bake a cake do you want to try it?" 

I almost got choked to death with that innocent voice.

No matter how hard we try to hide something to someone, it's hard, very hard, especially when the person where you are trying to hide is the one coming to take out all of it.

"U-uh .. we just baked cake yesterday. My mom knows how." I stuttered.

Her smile faded but becomes persistent.

"So .. you don't want a cake today? I mean just get this." 

"I'm sorry, we aren't eating sweets twice a week so keep it." I was about to continue entering but once again surprise with her question. 

"Where's your Mom and Dad? You can give this to them." 

I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. What I am going to do now? She is coming towards me. Towards us. 

"My Mom leaves early for work .. and .. I don't have a father. He's living with your family." 

Her eyebrows almost meet halfway because of the confusion I bring her. 

"Your father what?" 

That got me and realize that she don't know a thing about our arrangement. About me and my Mom's darkest and hidden secret. 

"None. J-just leave." 

I hold my chest as I lean on our wall. That was close and intense. Catching my breath looking so idiot like I run so fast and hard reaching for the horse. 

Making sense of what's happening I tell what happen to my Mom the night that same day. 

"Why did you do that?" she scolds me.

"Mom, It just slips off my tounge." 

"Oh my oh my! We need to move. We are leaving tomorrow. Pack your clothes and make sure to bring all of your things. We shouldn't leave traces or even clues nor answers."

I laugh without the humor in it. My Mom looked at me confused of my laughing while she is serious. 

"Leaving Mom? That's all we did for the past years. When we should be settled? When is the time we were be tired of leaving, running like we are some fake!" 

To be honest I am tired but I can't be vocal to my Mom. I knew that If I did she will be hurt and I will be hurted if that would be happen. 

We should be together. Our plans should match because we are just the only one to help each other. We only have ourselves. No one will save us even my father.

"Young Lady, we aren't fake but we aren't the real one. We should try to hide as much as we can because if they knew that we are living far away from them and secretly they would be after us most tragically they will hurt my only precious daughter. So please hear me out and believe me, this is for you. For us." 

Her voice is soothing and loving so I obliged without further questions. If this would save us from something then better help my Mother to get away from here. If this means saving then I need to continously sacrifice for us. 

I brought the boxes out from my room to our living room. I am bringing out the luggages and more things I have out.

I am tired on escaping but it would means peaceful life far away from them. I am happy if my Mother is happy. 

"You fix all your things? I called a taxi for us. You okay?" 

"Mom. If you're okay then I am okay. We are okay." 

I mean it because one needs to be happy so that all are happy. Right? 

"But Mom. You sure you don't want to tell it to the girl? I mean .. why not? We should atleast ask her about Dad. Now that she moved in and become our neighbor."  

"Shh. Stop it Young Lady. We ain't here to ask her about your Dad's whereabouts. We ain't here to ask the girl about your Dad. He abandoned us. He chose the family he wanted to be with and that's not us. So please you should be happy with just the only two of us. Okay? One more thing she will never be our neighbor we're leaving remember?" 

I nodded and never disagree. It would means something with me and her. If escaping is our only one way to be hidden then be it. This would hurt me without my Father.

"So it's true? That your Dad's second family?" 

I was taken a back by the one who speak with an innocence. It was the girl living infront of our house. She is standing at our doorway with an eyes happy and smiling with an unexplainable joy.

Why she is here? And why she looks so happy?

"Where are you going?" she asked once again that leaves me and mom speechless. Her eyes roam around at the boxes and bags all over our living room. 

"W-we a-are leaving." I answered, stuttering.

"Why?" She looks so confused. Why she is confuse by the way? "Why are you leaving?" 

"Because .." I can't find a word to say or literally I can't say what I wanted to say. 

"Because?" 

"To avoid you woman." Mom answered. What? Did she just?

"Why are you going to avoid me Tita? There's nothing to avoid with. I am here to tell you something. I've been searching for you all over and thank God I found you but why are you leaving?" 

"Why? Are you going to rebuke us? No need, we are leaving and your Dad will be with you. I will not force myself to accept by you or your family. I will not force myself to Dad." 

She smiled. I wrinkled my forehead. 

"You will never force yourself to him. He wants to see you. My family knew about you and your Mom. They are looking forward to meet you. I am here to let you know that you have been accepted. Not just by me, or Dad but with my whole family. So please be with me, my sister." She smiled and my heart beats loud. She stretch out her hand and I received it.

Surprisingly I cried and tears all over my face. My heart is in a beat of happiness and explainable love about the happenings. 

"Help! Help!" shouted in disbelief. Holding the stomach and blood freely flowing from there. The knife had been taken away but the blood won't stop from the passion of flowing. 

"No one will help you." She whispered in the ears that sent shivers down the spine. "I don't want to share. I will never share." The innocence filled her eyes again but it is a full facade that no one believe she looks like. She is a murderer and a selfish woman! 

Grasping the cut so tight that all can hear it. I need to find my Mom!

"I will kill you."

She smirk and point the knife that all can do is to widen the eyes as she pierced it to the eyes with the pointed weapon. 

"You okay?" I was shock because of the tragic movie we watched.

"I am fine." 

"You like the movie? Although the protagonist have been killed I really like her." she whispered while smiling.

I am with my half sister. Sitting in their beige sofa and watching a movie. 

I've been here for almost a month now and all I can say is I am happy. Genuinely happy. I met my Dad. I met my Step Mother. I met my Half Sister and Brother. And they accept me with all of their hearts, my Mom as well.

I have been dreaming for a complete family and here it is. With a Father. God bless me with a two Mother. I have siblings. I will never ever have such an acceptable family I have right now. 

"Happy Happy Birthday!" I celebrated my Birthday with my newly family.

I am happy that I could even knew it will burst me to tears of joy. 

All I have dream is reachable. I didn't just think of it because it is happening right with me. 

They hug me. The laughters are all over. The laughters of no judgment and the laughters of no annoyance. 

We have been accepted, since the day they knew us. My Mom is just desperate to protect me so she hid me, perfectly.

"Here comes my daughter." My Dad said anticipating an embrace. I hug him. 

"Thank You Dad. Thank You." 

"No worries. I love you." 

In the blink of an eye I found my freedom. I found freedom in the arms of my real father.

I am not just thinking it but it happens. It is not a fake but it's for real!

Little did I know ..

I open my eyes and smile. I hurriedly went out in my room and go to my Mom only to find her looking at the window.

"Hey Mom. I had a great dream." I happily reported. 

"Hmm. What is it honey?" She miserably ask that made me pout a bit. 

"I dreamed about that. They accepted us and we celebrated my birthday with them. In their house! With Step Mother and Dad. My siblings of course with you. I am hugging my Dad tightly and we are laughing so hard!" I smile to that and continously fantasizing. 

My mom didn't respond so I look at her and she's in awe. She is still looking at the window. 

"Mom? Hello? Did you hear me? What are you looking at?" I went near her, near the window and peek too. 

There is the girl innocently hugging and smiling infront of a man in his fifties. They are talking and the man is just listening fondly to the girl. My heart skips a little. Such a great sight of a girl telling stories to his father.

To my Father. 

"Great you have a dream like that young lady."

"Mom?"

"You were done packing? We are leaving in time. You just slept in." 

Mommy looks at me in awe.

"There is your Dad but he isn't here to visit us. He is here to visit his real daughter. And we are here desperate of leaving. Never been caught Young Lady."