Magic

The radio chatter in a raspy tone as the dj spoke the news for today. The djs voice was a mans voice in a varitone. His co-anchor shifts the mood as he report a heavy rain falling at tomorrow in the morning.

Our house are not that big as our neighbor's and the things inside our house are very little. My mother is a minimalist, she always explains but i knew it was just a nicer version of saying that we cant afford to buy many things.

I opened my mought and yelled "say AH!" As i attempt to make my little brother Logic eat a spoonful of plane porridge. Unfortunately my brother is very skeptic, and i couldnt figure out why he wont eat his breakfast. After my tenth attempt, i finally gave up. I was already 9 min late for my class and I have no more time to waste. Miss silvia would provably make me recite the multiplication table again. I need mom.

"Mamaaa!!" I bellowed. My mother dint replied" Logic wont eat his meal! Im late!" Again no reply. I opened the door to the bedroom wondering if shes still slothing on the bed lazily but it was worst. Shes not there.

"Berlin! She hasnt given me my allowance!" I murmured mentaly hitting my head at the door.

"Hmmmh?" My brother uttered holding a spoon. I assume thats a what?

"She left us again"

"Ah!" My brother answered and ate a spoonful of porridge on his own.

Anas

"What REALLY???"sheila whispered in a way like she was yelling.

"Its true. He even gave me a love letter saying that he likes me" tristan run down her finger through her straight sleek hair trying to act cool and pretty. But she is pretty. Sheila giggles with excitement. "So, are you going to go out with him?" Shiela asked her smile as wide as a cheshire cat.

Tristan shot agrin at shiela. " of course! Because his handsome and rich. What else could I ask for?"

I grinded my teeth, my hand turning into a fist without me knowing.

I had been eavesdropping on this two bestfriend behind the walls that perpenducullar to theirs.

I was feeling excited of the thought of eavesdroping to know if tristan likes me but the my feelings shifted . The feelings that i have for tristan quickly faded like it never really exsisted. To know that people only likes you because your rich and hansome are terrifying.

Mostly to Anas who is only rich because he was a bastard son of a wealthy korean business man who happen to came apon his beatiful hostess mom.

At a young age Im already aware of the possibility that all the money we are reaciving from my father will soon perish and well drop broke...so what if im not rich? What if i became poor? Become ugly?

Would anyone love me?

I walk towards tristan revealing myself and stopping in front of her with my chin up and smirk running down my lips. Tristan became pale in an instant, but my smirk only widen.

"Can we go out together, tristan?" I asked offering my right hand....with twenty pesos on top.

Elija

Elai suddenly stopped frozen in front of the bulletin board. He was staring at a particular paper pinned on the board like a list of missing people he saw in the police precint. There printed on that paper was the names of the top student of the pilot section in which he dwells. Anas at the 4th spot, Jacob at the third spot, Gwen at second , and at the no. 1 spot was inked printed the name Elija A. Carnolla, his name.

Elai signed and resumed his march into the teachers faculty. There at the left corner at the back was Miss Silvia waiting for his quiet arival. When their eyes met, miss silvias stressed out look turned to a disapointed one. She beconed him to enter her small office cubicle in which her desk are filing with neat columns of paper except for a few ones, Elai's test papers. All marked with bloody circles.

Miss silvia s eyebrow was glued together as she stare down on me. Her wrinkles seems like its multiplying while she stares at me.

"Mr. Carolla, please enlighten me because i cant phatom an answer as to what had pushed you to flunctuate your tests? If this continue you sure would drop down to the no. 46th spot of your class. The last spot along with miss Mercado"miss silvia shot in a fancy but disapointed tone.

I remained quiet even apon hearing Magic's surname.

"Mr. Carolla, dont think that I dont know that your doing this on purpose. Your our brightest student. Im sure theres a reason for this. Tell me Mr. Carolla is there a problem?...financial? .Social? Or...your family"

My lips remained sealed and eyes hiden behind curly locks of hair. I would never reveal any emotion for my reason for puposely failing my tests was merely a curiousity.

So, what is it like to be equivalent with Magic M. Mercado. The 46th student in the ranking, simply the dumbest among the smartest.

Anas

Anas shifted his eyes back at the doodle on the wall on which tristan once stood. He is confused. The doodle was a girl with a pair of large obsidian eye, short bob haircut and a pettete figure. The girl has one stroke of pen as nose just like in anime. Most confusingly the doodle has no lips. Has no lips! His mind screamed. It made him feel wierd so he drew a smiling lips for her.

The doodle kind of help him forget of tristans regection, the thought even made him laugh. She doent deserve me.

The doodle stare at anas as he leave. Smiling at him gratefully.

Magic

Logic walk across the road. Looking at both side until he is certain that no mobile could run him down. He cross the road on the pedistrian lane.

He s only 14 months old but he could already pass the road without me holding his hand. He is so smart, he could already eat without me feeding him. He excel faster than I did. Maybe mama was right. To tell the truth, mother told me that he named him Logic because Magic is useless. Because there is no such thing as magic in the world... but there is Logic and its the most useful tool in understanding.

"Logic" i called out to him.

He turned his facade of stoic face. Sometimes I think hell be a businessman when he grows up. Hes just so much like father not with his looks though.

I stooped down. "Lets go to the playground" I said and smiled.

Logics face remained the same but he pointed the way to my school, like he insist on making me attend school. "You know I cant bring you to school! Its embarassing"

Logic punched me on my side." Whats that for?"

Logic walk back the way we came from, back home. And pointed at me before pointing at the way to school. I think it ment that he would just go home and I should continue back to school. I frowned sometimes he act like he 's older than me. But i couldn't complain. Logic was already walking back home.

I m worried but im already late.

So i walked into my school.

At school, i happen to saw Elija staring at the bulletin board on which his nam was on the top ranking in our room. I felt envy. I want to be on top too. He signed and left.

I stood in front of it too, just staring I dont care if Im late. I was just stuck in wonder. I stood there for god knows how long it was. That no. 1 spot I want my name on it. Like having my name on it was a trophy.

Without a second thought I pulled out a pen run a line throught elijas name and wrote my own name next to his.

Im the number one now.

Just then someone laughed. Standing next to me was a curly haired genius, Elija Carolla.

I felt my blood run cold. My mouth hanging agape and my feet shaking. I was cought red handed. He caught me and....

I dropped my pen and rapidly dashed away.

My tears falling constantly down my cheeks which is probably. I'm so embarassed!

He laughed at me....he laughed at me and ... and looked down on me.

Elija

Elija's eyes was wide open, shocked as he stared at the poor sobbing Magic. He had offended Magic without knowing it. He was simply laughing in disbelief and amusement at the sight of his name finally out of that list when he wanted it to.

Elija saw miss silvia staring at him. God knows how long miss silvia has been staring at him. Her eyes shooting looks as if saying " see what I'm saying" but Elija only signed and smiled walking out the building and for the first time did cutting class.

Anas

Anas slept throughout miss silvias lecture. Anas wasnt always sleeping in her class. He loves her class and the way she read books with fancy accent but today miss sivia kept stutering and forgetting her lines as she read her book. It has been like that after she spoke with the villanous brainiac, Elija.

Elija usually corrects teacher when they commit mistake and whenever that happens the teachers are always the ones that looses and proven fools. He was a genius yes, but sometimes I wish he could be more humble to others, or else the whole class would loath his existance.

John my seatmate shook my shoulder to waken me but I insisted to rest. He simply gave up.

Magic

I came home too soon and mama was there. She looks angry. At first I thought it was because I dint go to school but..."wheres my son? Wheres logic?" My blood run colder, before I knew it I was already searching the house. He wasnt in the house.

"Where is he?"mama screamed her nostrils frailing her tears welling and reddish. Im scared.

"He was suppose to be here by now."i tried to explain

"You left him! You let him walk back home on his own! Why would you do that. What if something happens to him? What if he gets kidnap? What if he got run down by cars. He's only 14 months old for merlins sake"

Tears filled my eye."but he..he told me"**pakk**

My right cheek felt like its burning. ..

"Your so stupid. Told you?? Hes 19 months old he doesnt even know how to talk and your telling me he told you to leave him. Is that it ? Your so irresponsible. You stupid brainless child go find your brother or else Ill kill you, which I should have done years ago!"

I left the house my eyes burning with tears and my heart aching heavily inside my chest i was crying so loud while yelling my brothers name.

"LOGIC! WHERE ARE YOU?! LOGIC! PLEASE COME OUT. Logic come home, i dont want...sob....i dont want to die..."

Anas

I was awakened by a sobbing Magic Mercado. She asked our teachers and classmate if we saw her little brother Logic and everyone shook their heads and said no. The teachers tried to help by asking questions but magic rapidly runaway after hearing their nos.

I felt sorry for her and worried because...she looked scared.

Elija

I was following magic but lost her instantly as we entered an urban street. The chase left me breathless so I stop to rest at the side of a calm river. I was acompanied by a young boy digging on the riverside. It took him afew minutes before he finally fulled out what he was digging for. It was a dollar bill wrapped with plastic to keep it from dirt and water. When he stood our eyes met, i realize it was magic mercados little brother Logic.hes pretty famous because of his unusual name. It was wierd and dangerous leave him alone because someone might attack him for that dollar so I guarded him just to be sure he gets back home safely.

Truth be told he does not care about the child hes just concern that the boy might spend his money for worthless things and it was also an opportunity for him to find magics home.

They stop at a sari sari store. Elija watched skeptically at logics movement.

Logic pointed at many things. Everything passed Elijas ranking for practical judgement. Logic bought a noodle, sardines, onions, and rice. Elija smiled at the boy and rubbed its head.

But unfortunately....the store does not except us dollars just pesos.

Elija signed and counted his money. He took logics dollar and converted it to pesos. Finally logic payed his groceries and they continued back home.

Anas

It was a heartaching sight seeing magic s worried face so I decide to help her after school.

I was asking every person I saw if they saw Magics brother and trying my best to descrive logics feature that I only saw twice.

Then suddenly Elijas face came around I dont really like his attitude but theres no harm in asking right?

"Have you seen Magics brother. He's been missing since this morning. Magics still looking for him"I explained

Elijas face frowned. "Well shes wasting her time. Logic wasnt missing he was only buying ingredients for their lunch and quickly came back home.im shocked no one has told her yet"

"Then I should tell her. Shes probably in the playground looking for him." I said and sprinted back to the playground.

When I stop, only th en did i realize that Elija followed me. He was sweating and coughing when he stop next to me. "Why did you have to follow me?" I asked confuse.

"I want to see magic""why? So that you could make fun of her?" "When have I made fun with anyone?" "Your evil dont come near her!" "Im not evil!""yes you-"

Anas word was cut when they heard magics sobbing voice inside the slide shaped as a giant octapus

They entered it from below. Magic seeing them climed to the top.

The top was reveales to the open and the darkness swollowed them with only the stars and the quartermoon as their light. They tried to fit on the narrow peak of the slide. Their feet swinging down the sides.

Magic continued to cry. "Go home magic, please" i said

"I cant, i cant find him. I cant go home without him" magic explained through sobs.

"Actually his already been found recently this morning. You should have gave up earlier"

Anas punched elija on his shoulder in annoyance "ack?" Elija.

"What he means is that you should come home now that your brothers found and Because its already late at night. Im sure. Im sure your mother is worried sick for you"

Magi c stopped crying but in a bad way. Her silent made both Elija and I feel unease.

"Magic? You ok?"

"I dont want to go home..."

Elija and I looked at each other in confusion."why not?"Elija asked

"My mother provides food for us but most of the time she just keeps bossing me around. I dont mind it but she also cares more for logic than me that its plane obvious that she only cares for logic. She loves him more...dont get me wrong but..... i love my brother too and im used to our mothers favoritism but just this day when logic got missing...mama threw bad words at me"and tears started to flood her eyes again.

"What did she said?" Elija asked in a kind whisper.

"She told me I was stupid, brainless, iresposible..."

"That you are"Elija whispered. In great anger I kicked him at the back so hard he fell down the slide. "Ooww" Elija grunted.

I snikker at the sight of him."serves you right."

Magic merely moved. She just stared at nowhere or maybe an invissible void. She bit her lips as another tear fell down her paled cheek. "Yes, yes I might be stupid, brailess and iresponsible...but ...she also said shell kill me...if I dint find Logic..."

I could see Elijas eyes widening behind his curly locks of hair even in the darkness of the night and Im sure he felt the same thing, chills.

I hugged magic in hopes to comfort her. "Maybe she just said that out of panic."

Magic cried louder "she said shell kill me ....which she shoud have done years ago"

....

Elija climbed the rusty ladders and sat at magics side and hugged magic tighter than i did.as the night breeze blew on our face.

"What do you dream to be Anas?"Elija asked

"An astronaut."I answered confuse

"I want to be a sergeon when I grew up. How about you Magic , what do you dream to be?"

Magic was silent at first and when she anwered we three giggled and both of us kissed her cheeks

We slept there covered in darkness under the smiling moon. Two bright stars warming a dimming star. A new constillation of souls.