How This Ends

"What are you doing here?" said a cold voice as soon as I walked into the room.I shut the door behind me. The soft morning light illuminated the whole office as curtains danced with the wind's direction. I stared at the person in front of me, her eyes fixed on the papers she was holding, as if I was nothing but air. My eyes then fell towards the plaque on the table, a familiar yet distant name printed in elegant golden letters.Elina E. Liamzon—my mother."Good morning, Mom," sagot ko habang dahan-dahang naglalakad papalapit. "You went out early, kaya po dumaan ako rito.""Get to the point, Serina. I have work to do."Napakagat ako sa labi sa talim ng kanyang mga salita. Kahit na ganoon ay nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa maliit na kahong nasa loob ng aking bulsa, bago ito kunin at ilapag sa kanyang lamesa. It was a royal blue box with a pair of earrings inside."I came to give you this. It's your present," I said, smiling. "Happy birthday."Huminga ako

The light from the sky was already escaping away when I opened my eyes. The sunlight was on its last breaths, its soft vivid rays sneaking in through my open windows as the harsh evening air wrapped my body in its cold embrace. I shivered violently, goosebumps crawling throughtout my skin like paint on water. My still wet hair, from the quick shower I took before unintentionally drifting to sleep, had completely drenched my pillow.Slowly, I pushed myself up from the comfort of my bed and reached for my phone on top of the bedside drawer. I looked at the time. 6:48 pm. Naalala kong kailangan ko nga palang umalis ngayon.Mabilis akong nagtipa sa cellphone ko ng isang mensahe. Sinabi ko kanina kay Mama na mayroon akong plano ngayon at nakaligtaan ko lamang iyon, ngunit sa totoo lang ay wala talaga kaming napag-usapan ng mga kaibigan ko. I don't even know whether they're out or not.(6:49pm) Me:     Guys, wanna hang