The Purple Paragon: Beyond Between Now

Chapter 4

ALLISHA'S POV

June 15, 2014; 12-year-old Allisha, several years in the past, from the present.

Humanity's capability of creating patent worlds are limited to one's perception and substantial coincidences.

Coincidences that are caused primarily by the benefits of being human. Perks like meeting other people.

People with different stories and others with stories that no deep observation, coincidences, or even science could explain.

Stories from the worlds created inside people's minds.

Minds that can think so differently from each other, which with too much difference, is sometimes considered sickness, but in some cases, these are wonders.

I am staring deep into this old lady's eyes at the waiting area while I wait for a tricycle to arrive so I could take a ride back home. I know it was rude to stare, but I just couldn't help it.

I just came from a bookstore. I bought school things. I had to be fast because I am not planning to go home yet. I wanted to visit my hideout.

"Hey, little lady." The old lady greeted me, but I could not take my gaze from her eyes.

"Your..." I was not able to continue when the tricycle driver shouted that one more seat and it's ready to go.

But before I went, I handed over the bag of bread I brought from the bakery I passed along my way to the waiting area. I also gave the old lady a drink.

It only took me an hour to reach my hide-out. I entered and breathed the peacefulness inside. I put down all my things and lay against my inclined self-constructed wooden bed. I grabbed my diary underneath the wooden bed.

Tomorrow would be the first day of my second year in junior high school.

I bet introductions would consume our first weeks.

Practicing would be a great help.

What should I say first?

Of course, my name!

"I am..." I paused my scribbling.

My mom was calling me.

"ALLISHA!" my mom growled from our house.

Oh, here we go again.

But yeah!

Allisha Rayziss Aregorey. The famous Allisha of our humble little village. Some called me Rayz, especially my best friend.

The girl who was told to lead an insignificant life at the age of seven.

There were only ten houses within the proximity, so probably that kind of volume to call me home was enough to make my name familiar to all the neighbors.

Hearing my mom brought shivers to my whole body. Her voice was one of my terrible fears. I dropped my notebook, kicked it under my hiding place, jumped out of this old chapel, and scurried about twenty-five meters to my house.

I had to be fast.

Did I forget the time again?

Oh my! Did I forget to turn off the stove?

What was it this time?

My slippers went flying as soon as I reached the gate of our house.

"What..." I couldn’t finish my question when I got stunned with my mother's cold face glaring at me with the least emotion she could ever show. And before I even knew, my dad hit me with his belt.

"You stole money again?" my dad asked angrily, while pounding me with all his might.

I didn't bother answering.

What for?

"Insolent child. You are always a disgrace. You never think of what people might say about us!" my mom said before turning her back on me.

The silent treatment again, I suppose!

My dad stopped hitting me and told me to prepare for lunch, which I hurriedly obeyed.

After eating, I cleaned up and washed the dishes. I peeked into the living room as soon as I finished tidying the kitchen, and they were cheerfully watching television.

I cracked a smile.

At least another wave was over.

I entered my room and let out a very deep sigh. My room was small, but I always made sure to keep it clean.

The closet was just on the left side of the bed. Pain radiated throughout my entire body while sitting on my desk chair and scouring through my clothes.

Ten minutes of very painful bathing. My bruises were really that reactive to water.

What a pity!

" I guess I can go back to my hide-out now." I whispered to myself as I combed my hair in front of the mirror.

“Finally, you did what I told you to. Don't ever bother explaining yourself because nobody will believe you!” my eldest brother mumbled as he passed by behind me and smirked.

My legs and arms were still trembling, but I managed to storm out of the house and ran back to my hide-out.

The plain green field at the front of this old chapel was beautiful. It was a serene landscape. I always felt that it was created for me.

I came to a halt in the middle and stretched my arms halfway. I looked up into the sky.

“They are wrong. Someone believes in me. I have you, right? " I said with a smile, and tears swelled in my eyes.

But even before a tear fell from my eyes, a rain drop landed on my cheek.

I knew it. Every time my heart feels that unknown kind of painful throb inside, the skies will surely tear up.

It's as if the skies were crying for me. The clouds were turning dark, thunders were roaring, and the wind started blowing a cold, soothing breeze. My favorite weather.

I hurried inside the chapel and picked up my guitar. I strummed my heart out along with the harshness of the rain. Music is my painkiller.

I also loved writing. Maybe because I've only got my pen, paper, and God to listen to my worthless stories.

Minutes went by and I was drowned in my own world once again. The world where I could escape for a while.

" Why are you sad?" a voice said from behind, which startled me from playing the guitar.

" What the...who are you? What are you doing here? Are you going to kill me?" I rumbled in shock.

" Easy!" she said with a grin, and then I saw her clasp my notebook between her palms and walk towards me.

The old lady from the waiting area. I should have run by this time, but my body wouldn't move.

She stopped and sat by my side.

“According to your book here, when the sky starts raining suddenly in very fair weather, it means you are sad. So why are you sad?” she said this without even bothering about the fact that she literally trespassed into my private life.

She handed over my notebook and looked out.

The clouds were starting to uncover the blue sky. And the rain was almost over.

"Hey, old lady? I have not yet taken my lunch. Want to have some? " I asked.

I am feeling better now.

"You are feeling better now, huh?" She smiled and accepted the food I offered her.

"You are starting to creep me out. I have never written that in my notebook. Wait! Can you read minds? And what's up with your eyes? " I calmly asked her, trying my best to hide my anxiety.

From what I have learned, to survive in the world of uncertainty, kindness is everyone's best camouflage.

"It's none of your business, little lady. But you are too kind. I hope you never change. My eyes have been like that ever since. Are you afraid?" the old lady said while enjoying her food.

Gladly, she liked it.

"Well, no. In fact, I find it deep and beautiful. Those golden, purple, bluish, silverish eyes are amazing. And it is the first time I have seen such a thing. I have always been drawn to observing human eyes. Every kind has its own story. What's yours? " I asked deeply while staring at her.

"You are indeed different from others. People get afraid once they see my eyes, but you—you found it interesting. What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you want to share?"

"Why do you smile even when you are sad?"

“Oh woah! You're good. But honestly, I really don't know why. I badly wanted to frown all day, but I just can't,” I told her while finishing the last portion of my food.

"Exactly. Sometimes, there are certain things that cannot be explained. There are stories that are not meant to be told." The old lady finished off her food and stood up.

"Where are you going? Water?"

"Thank you, little lady, but I'm fine," the old lady said, patting my head. “Do you know that there are seven of you?"

"Wh-what? Psh. What is this again? Seven me? My gosh! I wouldn't want to think that there are six more of me out there. That would be my greatest curse! "

“Never be discouraged, even in the most painful times, little lady. See you!" The old lady waved her goodbye.

"Discouraged? Me? Never. Tomorrow, a...” I was paused when I caught a glimpse

of the old lady's eyes. I was so drawn to her eyes that I felt like I saw someone I very well know but was not likely familiar with.

"Me?" I whispered in fright.

The old lady walked out, and I didn't get a chance to stop her because my phone rang.

"Oh?" I answered. "Yeah, fine. See you!"

I tried to jump off with my excitement, but my legs wouldn't let me. I even dismiss what I witnessed from that old lady not long ago.

Seven me?

I couldn't help but grin with the idea.