In the bathroom, while being showered by a hot water, I am contemplating.

I'm thinking of what to do tomorrow. How can I make Eli-chan change her perspective on things?

But before that, I need to make her listen to me first. Then of course, I should take action before she disappears again.

Actually, I'm sure just talking to her wouldn't be enough. I mean, changing somebody else's perspective is no way easy. Especially if it's something they grew up upon.

It couldn't be influenced by a mere talking.

Because humans still prefer to turn to their own belief system and worldview.

A person might understand why they should quit smoking but they still won't stop. Their subconsciousness couldn't understand why they should quit smoking if they had been doing that since long time ago.

Basically, it's already part of their system.

Although they know it's bad, they can't just rationalize and validate it just by knowing it from an external source. Until, they experienced or discover it themselves.

Once they do, they would be like, ‘Oh. So smoking is actually harmful’ and so they would quit smoking.

Because they already have a supporting evidence which they experienced first-handedly to convince themselves that smoking is indeed harmful.

And that's why when a person wanted to change themselves or feel a change, they seek a ‘trigger’ to start that change.

This can be observed to somebody who got played by her boyfriend hence heartbroken.

To help herself to move on, she will cut her hair as a sign of change. It's like, ‘Because I cut my hair, I also cut that bastard off my life’.

Everytime she look at herself in the mirror and notices her new look, she will feel a change in her.

Actually, this could be observed even without being heartbroken.

Notice that when you had a haircut after so long, you don't feel used to it. You will still most likely do things to your hair out of habit. And realized that you couldn't do it anymore with your newly cut hair.

That feeling of ‘not being used’ could be utilized as a sign of change. It will tell your subconscious mind that there is a change making it easier to change yourself.

You could associate that feeling to your moving on phase. Everytime you see yourself again, it will remind you that you are already moving on — or whatever affirmation you wanted. And it is validated by that feeling.

So I won't be surprised if Eli-chan doesn't listen to me. Or she might even get angry with me.

If I really wanted her to change her perspective, I need to let her experience something that will make her question her very own framework.

It all comes from within after all.

But I still needed to start by talking to her. I'll plant a seed of doubt in her mind that will eventually creep into her consciousness once she starts to get confuse of her own ideology.

That would be the first step. I'll think of what to do next afterwards.

The question is: How can I make her listen to me?

She ignores me after all and Eli-chan disappears before I can come to her.

If I concentrate on her, she won't really be able to get away. But of course she knows that. I'm sure she'll adapt accordingly.

Talking to her while we're on class is not really allowed as well. I could try but the teacher will be mad and that on its own will create a new problem to be solve.

Although, our seats are only one chair apart from each other, it won't work because her seat is behind mine. I could exchange seats from a classmate but Eli-chan will do so as well.

So my best choice is when there's no class such as breaks or if it's our vacant time. I just need to prevent Eli-chan from running away again...

—At the dining table.

“Mom, you're early tonight as well.”

“Why~? You don't wa~nt me to~? I~s it because you~ now have a girlfriend~? Ge~ez.”

“I didn't say anything like that mom. I'm in fact glad.”

“Hehehe~. Then that's good.”

“Chichichi. Perhaps it's because kuya won't be able to stay outside until late at night if you always come home early mommy.”

“What~?! Ba~by~! You're doing that~?!”

Here we go again. Crystal is lying again... Or is she though?

“Mom. Only occasionally.”

“It's not sa~fe you know~”

“It's fine mom. I know how to protect myself.”

“No~. Especially at this point of time~. You know that there is a bad guy out there ri~ght~?”

There are a lot of ‘bad guys’ out there mom. But of course I know who is she talking about.

“Well, uh, okay po mom.”

““....””

“Why are you two looking at me like that?”

“Because ba~by~, it's be~en a while since you added ‘po’ when talking to me.”

“Mom, you make it sounds like I am a disrespectful son.”

“Are you respectful though, kuya?”

“I am. And you also haven't used ‘po’ and ‘opo’ to mom for so long as well, my dear li'l sis.”

“Really now?”

“Yes.”

“You'll just misremembering things.”

“I don't.”

“Okay. You two shouldn't fi~ght~. Especially not in front of our food.”

“I apologize po mom.”

“I am sorry ‘po’ mommy.”

“Hehe. You~ are bo~th forgiven~”

I giggled and ate a spoonful of rice.

“Right mom. I remembered something.”

“Yes baby?”

“Did you scold Eli-chan harshly?”

I know she didn't. But I'll asked anyway. I need information from her perspective as well.

“What now kuya? Going against mommy for the sake of your pathetic girlfriend?”

“I didn't say anything like that Crystal.”

“Heh. But that's what you wanted to do.”

“No. Crystal, you better shut up or fufufu... I'll let you experience the power of my hands again.”

Crystal glared at me then suddenly smirked.

She stood up from her seat and went behind mom and hugged her from the back acting like a terrified puppy.

“Mommy, kuya Mark is being cruel to me. He's going to bully me again like he did earlier, mommy...”

“Baby Ma~rk, what did you do~?”

“I did nothing harmful to her mom.”

“Liar! You used your hands to bully my body you know...”

“Hey! Don't say it like that.”

Mom is looking at me suspiciously you know. So stop that Crystal.

“Mom, I was just tickling her. You know that her side is her weak point right?”

“Oh right~! Hehe. This re~minds of the past~ where you were always tickling your little sister everytime she teases you~.”

Ohh. Heh. I forgot about this. Fufufu. So she has been teasing me huh. And I long know how to counterattack her.

“Fufufufufu~”

I squinted my eyes while looking at Crystal. She frowned in response.

Oh this isn't what we're talking about.

“Wait no. Mom, I was asking you po if you scolded Eli-chan harshly. You made her worry you know.”

“Ehh~ But I didn't. I~ was just telling her no~t to hurt you.”

“Well, she's afraid that you might go against our relationship.”

“Are you suspecting me baby~? That hu~rts my heart you know~?”

“No po mom. I know you wouldn't. Eli-chan is just not really convinced.”

“Ehhh~! Did she~ misunderstood me~?”

She did.

“Well don't worry about it mom. I'll convinced Eli-chan that you aren't really mad at her.”

But I need to make her listen to me first.

“Hmm.”

Mom is knitting her brows tightly seemingly thinking hard about something.

“What's wrong po mom?”

“I~ don't want your relationship to be ruined just because of me~ so I was thinking of wha~t should I do and.. ”

“And?”

“Well, just le~t her come and visit us. I'll ta~lk to her myself.”

I think that will scare her though. Especially now that she's thinking for the worst.

She might think that you'll punish her or something and you inviting her is a trap.

“Very well po mom. I'll just inform you when the time comes.”

“'kay~”