In The Space Between

Chapter 1: Hidden Questions

Quin's POV

"Pa naman kasi wala naman po akong kapangyarihan, why the hell na ipapapasok niyo ako sa school na iyon?" Tanong ko kay papa habang tinitignan niya ang naka-impake kong bag at lauggages at kong may kulang pa ba dito.

"Makinig ka na ngalang sakin, 17 ka na diba kaya kailangan mo ng maging responsable, doon ka na mag-aaral para mabawasan yang pagkapasaway mo" sabi niya sakin na kinabilog ng mga mata ko, he's always like this to me. Na dapat daw maging responsible na ako na hindi na ako magpasaway pa. Mas nakaka-frasutrate ngalang kong si papa ang ama niyo kasi napaka- strikto niya, one time ngalang akong uminom noon bigla na agad siyang nag hysterical.

"Dad, hindi pa naman ako 18. Tiyaka isa pa, matataas naman yung grades ko at sineseryoso ko ang pag-aaral, bakit niyo ako ipapatapon doon" saad ko naman habang fraustrated na humiga sa kama ko.

Lumapit naman siya sakin at pinitik yung side ng ulo ko. At bumalik din siya sa pag check sa mga bag at luggages ko.

"Matalino ka nga pero nagbubulakbol ka naman, laging mga barkada mo ang kasama mo, menor de edad ka palang nakuha mo ng uminom ng mga alak. Mas titino ka doon sa school na iyon kaya kita ipapadala doon" sabi naman niya na kina-growl ko at tumagilid ng higa para magkaharap kami ni papa.

"Pa, hindi mo ba ako mamimiss? Parang ang dali naman sa inyong doon na ako mapunta sa boarding school, ayaw mo na ba sakin pa?" Paglalambing ko sakaniya tiyaka nag pout. Tumingin siya sakin sandali with his flat stare.

"Hindi mo ako madadala diyan sa mga pa cute cute mo Quincee Louisse, hindi na kita kayang i-handle na bata ka. Kaya ipapadala na kita doon" sabi ni papa with finality in his voice. I mouthed some words as I put my hands on my face. Shoving my hand to my nose.

"Pa naman kasi! Hindi ko naman basta basta kayang iwan ang nakasanayan kong buhay bilang mortal sa lugar na to. At isa pa, nahihiwagaan ako pa. Wala akong kapangyarihan, I'm not even a super human or developing some weird skills.. And one more thing really pa, in the month of September ay i-tra-transfer mo ako.. Hindi mo manlang ako pinatapos sa first year ko" mahabang litanya ko kay dad at nag ro-rolyo rolyo sa kama.

I'm a clumsy and hyper person kaya nakakapag-rant ako ng ganito kay papa.

"Hay! My life will be put to waste and I'll be graduating being the only student that doesn't have abilities. Kakawawain ako doon ng mga tao and they will look at me as a lowly person, pagkatapos ay makakapag-asawa ako ng lalaking walang pakialam sakin dahil wala akong special ability, hindi ako makahanap ng trabaho dahil nga nag-aral ako doon. And then my childrens will experience bullying like me when I entered the school and I will be in complete doomness.. huhuhu"I said over-acting while pouting my lips. And crying without tears. Sinubsob ko ulit yung mukha ko sa mga kamay ko.

"Pwedi ba Quin! Your over acting again first and foremost, they have high quality learnings and teaching staffs there, it's the best magical school. second hindi ka nila kakawawain doon because I studied there myself, and I was one of the outstanding students who graduates with honorific history in that school kaya expect na kilala ka na nila as an Alvarez, you know I don't accept hero works dahil nga mahal ko pa ang anak ko at ayokong siya ang pagbuntunan ng kamatayan kapag maging hero na ako. Third thing is naka-settled na agad ang magiging future mo pagka-graduate mo sa school na iyon kaya hindi ka makakapag-asawa ng normal na tao lang alam kong mahilig ka sa specialities you know your already betrothed, you are strikingly good looking kaya hindi na problema iyon and lastly you and your partner has good genes kaya hindi mabubully ang mga future anak mo kaya tumigil ka na diyan sa kaka over-react mo" saad ni dad habang tinitignan ang mga naka-impake kong gamit sa bag. After that he looked at me and pop his eye brows at me.

"Ahh! Why are you always controlling me?! I am still not over with that future marriage at ngayon palang, I'm already saying that I object to your desire. you can't force me to marry someone I don't love. You know that it is only him eversince pa" I just said and looked down. Naalala ko na naman ang nga times na kasama ko siya and it always makes me tear up again.

Papa sigh and walked towards me, he sat on the bed beside me and carressed my hair to the side of my face.

"And because of him naging basagulero ka na.. You were my sweet innocent angel back then, you know he won't come back.. Live with the life you have. And just think of this, maybe your fated partner is the one that your destined with, kalimutan mo na siya and start a new life in Silver Phantom School of Magic, you'll be great there and mas madi-disiplina ka pa" sabi ni papa as he embrace me.
Hindi lang ako tumugon at nakayuko lang ako sa may kama ko.

"Pa, mahal ko parin siya.." I said honestly and covered my face on the pillow.

"I know baby.. kaya nga take this opportunity to change yourself to be better, to be a newly independent Quin" papa said and carressed my back. I didn't even budged or move a little. I just stayed in my position.

"You should try something new baby.. Explore and you will truly find yourself, sa tingin mo ipapadala kita doon dahil lang sa pasaway ka at laging sakit sa ulo? No, I'm bringing you there to find your self to find the things that might be the answers to your worries." He continued as I listen to him attentively. Tinignan ko si papa at nakita ko ang sakit sa nga mga mata niya.

"Tell you a story, there was once a boy who was so broke because he lost all the things that he treasured, his love once his wealth his fame his self and his life. He became an untouchable man to everyone, wala siyang kinakausap at wala siyang pinagkakatiwalaan only himself, years after he was offered a full scholarship to a magic school which is the SPSM, he accepted and he hasn't even had the idea of changing himself, he met an amazing person who changed his life, he already has the strength to face fears and have confidence in his self and it literally change him to be someone he didn't expect" sabi ni papa na kina-kunot ng noo ko. Who is he referring to?

"Who is that person then? How is he now? And why do you know his story so well?" sunod sunod kong tanong ko sakaniya.

"Oh, he already has a child of his own living with his beloved husband which is also a man and has two kids, he's doing so well ya'know" papa said and winked at me. I started to get curious and just looked at him with curious questions in my face.

"Eh sino ba siya? " tanong ko ulit. At sumimangot na kina-tawa niya ng konti.

"He's a close friend of mine.. Now Quin, understand the situation, I know your a smart boy, I only want the best for you. I'm encouraging you to do well in that magic school okay.. Because maybe, just maybe you'll end up like my friend" papa said and smiled at me. I stared at him flatly.

"Fine, I'll do as you say pero hindi parin ako sang-ayon sa marriage na iyon, hindi parin ako confident pa, at isa pa wala akong ability" I said and sit up from my bed.

"I know you'll do well, I can already see it" papa said weirdly and I sigh..

Maybe this won't be a bad idea.. Can I really surpass this new discovery that I'm going to witness.. Maybe that school can answer all my hidden questions.