CHAPTER 1 FIRST WISH

"BARON! Baron! Nasaan ka na ba? Heto na ang pagkain mo oh!" pagtawag ng Ate Chy sa kanyang pusa habang lumalabas papunta sa terrace kung saan ako tahimik na nagbabasa.

"Ang nice naman ng food ng Baron na yan 'Te Chy, daig pa ang may breed na cat ah," saad ko naman habang finiflip ang next page ng book na aking binabasa.

Baron is a stray cat. It has brownish fur and green colored eyes. A year has passed na rin since Baron came to our house but technically, my family likes cats and he was their new favorite.

"But it would be nicer sana if you lower your voice a little at imbis na bibig ay mata ang ipanghanap mo kay Baron kasi as you can see," dagdag ko pa and then I lifted the book with my left hand, "I am reading a book."

I am expecting a shush from her tulad ng madalas niyang ginagawa sa'kin kapag ika eh 'pinapakialaman' ko siya sa mga ginagawa niya. For her information naman kasi, I am reading my newly purchased book entitled "Voice of a distant star" by Yuuki Ame. But she just rolled her eye balls and ignored me. Wala eh, Baron is her main focus right now so she has no time to waste for me. Kaya heto na nga, I will just quietly close my book, lift myself up from my throne and head to my room. Magpaparaya muna all for her cat Baron.

"Baroonnnnnn!!" Ate shouted again so I held both of my ears to protect my eardrums from breaking.

"Uy Ate Chy ano na? May sunog ba? Kung makasigaw naman 'to, mahiya naman po sa kapitbahay," pagsuway ko.

"Hmph! Hindi ako titigil hangga't wala pa ang Baron ko, alam mo namang first courtsary gift sa'kin yon ng Kuya Art mo eh," ika pa nito habang itinatadyak ang mga paa. Teka, tantrums yan? Hayy ewan, minsan naiisip ko na lang na baka ako talaga ang panganay saming dalawa eh.

Due to my sister's behavior ay napailing-iling na lang ako habang lumalakad.

"Ano kayang feeling ng maging isang pusa?" I said out of a little jealousy with Baron.

"How I wish I was one," I murmured.

Anyways, nagtuloy-tuloy na ako papasok sa may salas upang doon sa may sofa ituloy ang pagbabasa pero naisip kong bad idea iyon so I decided na dumiretso na upstairs leading to the first room which is mine.

I was about to hold the doorknob of my room when, "Ay pusa ka!", Baron jumped right in front of me.

Wait? Huh? Where would this cat come from? Wala namang window beside my room, it was Ate Chy's room pa nga eh.

"Okay, Rikka, calm down. Don't overthink, it's Baron, yeah, Baron—a cat. Of course it can jump."

But from nowhere? Impossible.

I calmed down myself and tried to think of a logical explanation to what just happened but I ended up dumbfounded so imbis na mag-imagine ng weird stuff, I picked up Baron with my right hand since my left is occupied with my oh-so-precious-book.

"Nandito ka lang pala eh, kanina ka pa hinahanap ng Ate Chy." I talked to Baron like a human, well it's not like I hate him, no, eventually I like cats more than dogs but I like my books the most next to people.

"Ate Chy! Ate! Baron's here with me. He just popped out in front of me."

So I went downstairs and sinalubong ang Ate na tila naluluha pa.

"Ate eto na si Bar—"

"Oh my beloved, come unto me, for here is your food, I ought to give," she said na animo'y nasa isang theater opera.

"Lakas maka-Romeo and Juliet ah haha" I laughed as I handed Baron over.

"Thanks a million little Sis!" she exclaimed with a wide smile on her face.

"Siguro naman Ate ay matatahimik ka na ano? I'll head now to my room. Ciao!" I waved my hand to her but as I stared at Baron who looked at me too ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba, it was like he was looking beyond my outer body, it was like he was looking into my soul, and it creeped me out.

Wait, creepy? Why would I be scared of its stare?

I hissed at myself as I went upstairs. Kalma self, pusa lang yan.