Akademya de Majika

AdM33

Buryong-buryo na si Sky. Kalahating oras pa lang siya sa silid-detensyon at kailangan niya pang maghintay ng higit pa sa kalahating oras bago makalabas. Napabuntong-hininga siya.

Tinignan niya ang kalangitan, punong-puno ito ng mga bituin. Napakaganda nito. Napangiti siya nang may maalala siya.

“Mom, look!” Tinuro ng batang Sky ang kalangitang punong-puno ng mga bituin. “There are so many stars!”

Her mom chuckled. “Beautiful, dear, isn’t it?”

Tumango agad ang bata bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ng ina. Pero maya-maya ay lumingon ito sa ina, nasa mukha nito ang pagtataka. “Why do stars only show up in the darkness, Mom? Why don’t they show up during daytime?”

Muling natawa ang ina. Hinawakan nito ang matatambok na mga pisngi ng anak at gigil na pinisil ‘yon. “Kahit kailan ay napakarami mong tanong, Skylar. You’re as curious as a cat.” Napailing ito.

Bahagyang napanguso ang bata. “Is that a bad thing, Mom?”

“No, of course not.” Natawa na naman ang ina. Masayahin itong tao at palatawa. Manghang-mangha naman ang bata habang nakatingin dito, gandang-ganda ito sa ina. Tumikhim muna ang ina bago magsalita. “To answer your question, my dear Sky, stars don’t show up during daytime for it is too bright, they won’t be able to shine in the daylight, only in the nightfall. Stars will only shine in the darkness.”

Napatango-tango ang bata. Muli nitong binalik ang tingin sa kalangitan at tinignan ang mga bituing nagniningning. Maya-maya’y naramdaman nito ang paghaplos ng ina sa malambot at mahaba nitong buhok. Humiga ito sa kandungan ng ina at pumikit. Bago tuluyang mahila ng antok ay narinig pa nito ang sinabi ng ina. “Always remember, my dear, that there is beauty in everything, even in the darkness.”

Biglang may luhang naglandas sa pisngi niya. Agad niya itong pinunasan. Huminga siya ng malalim at kinalma ang sarili. She can’t help but be emotional, she spent the past eighteen years with her mom and suddenly, she’s alone now, no mom by her side. Only two days had passed yet she misses her mom so much already.

She cleared her throat. There is one thing her mom does to calm her down... She sings for her. She started reminiscing her mom singing. “When you don’t know where to go and you’re feeling all alone, look inside yourself, you’re so much more than you know...”

“When you’re stuck and out of time, you can cross the finish line. You’re a champion, you’ll always be a winner.” Her mom will smile. “You can be anything you want, if you believe in who you are. You’ll light up the whole world, you’re shining so bright. Anything is possible when you look into your heart...”

Then her mom will caress her face. “You’re a shooting star.” Then her mom will smile and nod at her, encouraging her to sing. Then... She heaved a deep breath before she closed her eyes and started singing softly. “When I’m down and feeling scared, I know I should take a chance. The world is sitting right here, in the palm of my hands. I’m flying higher than before and giving up is not a choice. I push the doubt aside and step into the spotlight...” She opened her eyes and smiled.

She looked at the beautiful night sky. “I can be anything I dream, live a life that’s made for me. I’ll light up the whole world, I’ll be shining so bright. Anything is possible when I look into my heart...” She stood up and started singing in a high tone. “I’m a shooting star...” She held her chest, where her heart is located. She can feel the fast beating of her heart. “I’m a shooting star...” Her eyes widened in astonishment when a shooting star passed by. Moments later, she beamed. “I’m a shooting star.”