Crush Season: Drums and Lies (Season's Greeting 1)

PROLOGUE

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, some places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

Warning: Mature Languages

Happy Reading Everyone!

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“Pagbilao District 1! Wohoo!”

Nakaupo ako rito sa may parke, habang pinagmamasdan ko ang fireworks sa taas. Nakikinig ko rin ang masayang pagtatagumpay ng dati kong paaralan.

Talipan National High School

Kay sayang pag-isipan ang magaganda kong memorya sa school kong iyon. Kasiyahan, pagod, lungkot at marami pa.

I felt proud to be a Talipeño,

and

I’m proud to be a PagbilaoWin but now, I need to leave for college.

At Southern Luzon State University.

“Aria, kailangan na nating umalis. Magaayos pa tayo ng gamit papuntang Lucban.” sabi sa akin ni Jovelyn; a new friend of mine.

Tumayo ako habang nakatingin sa napakagandang fireworks. “Steph.”

Tumingin siya sa akin, medyo nagtataka. “Ha?”

“Please call me Steph or Annie, ayaw ko ng Aria.” sabay ngiti ko sa kaniya.

“Bakit ayaw mo ng Aria? Bagay sayo ah!” saad nya na may kasamang thumbs-up.

Aria?

He is the only one who called me that.

“Nothing, una ka na. I want to see more. I will text na lang pagpauwi na ako.” she tilted her head a little bit and shrugged it off. “Basta, magtext ka ha. Gabi na.” I nodded and waved her goodbye.

After she left, nagsimula akong maglakad. Malapit sa bilihan ng Potato Corner. Sa tinatawag kong,

Wall of Colors.

It is a mural kung saan nakapinta ang kagalingan at kahusayan ng mga PagbilaoWin. Kahit anong gawin ko, bumabalik ako sa lugar na ‘to.

Kung saan una kong naramdaman ang nagpatibok ng puso ko sa isang malamig na panahon.

He’s the one who made my heart beat up for the first time.

The triple drummer of Pagbilao Academy.

“How ironic….”

I saw him standing, where I met him for the first time. The time we’re under the rain.

Luke Aiden Flores Scott

“Hi, my rainbow.”

He smiled like nothing happened. I looked away but I stayed still.

How strong he is.

“Tuloy ka pa rin sa Manila?” I said coldly.

We’re only a few steps away, but after that-

Our hearts are kilometers away.

“Yeah, ipagpapatuloy ko pangarap ko. For my future.” I said nothing, just speechless.

“Look Steph, I'm sorry.” He finally walked towards me and grabbed my shoulder, starting to cry.

He rested his head into my shoulders. I can’t even move, thinking I will disturb him.

I’m disappointed with him but….I still love him.

“If you need to leave then leave.” I said.

“It’s for your future, go then.”

“My future will always be with you,” he replied.

“If you’re focusing on our future, how about our present?” I asked him seriously.

He looked at me, while I only blankly stared at him.

“Will your ‘future’ you want stay the same if our present is now complicated?”

“No…” he quickly replied.

I sighed.

“Focus on the present, Luke-

Focus on me.”

I started to cry even though it’s not on purpose. I just felt like crying. Finally, I showed my emotions.

I am known to be an emotionless person but now. I cried.

I cried for him.

“Paano naman ako? Oo, priority mo ang iyong pag-aaral pero paano naman ako? Hindi ba ako importante? Sabi mo, kasama ako sa future mo….pero parang di mo naman ako ang priority. mo.”

“You know Luke, I deserve better.”

“You know, I deserve you.”

“But you are the one who made me feel I am not deserving.”

“Make me your priority too.”

“Think of me as your dream too, because after all. I am your future too, right?”

Habang sinasabi ko ang masasakit na salita na iyon, tinuturo ko sya. Sana pumasok yun sa kaniyang isipan.

“You didn’t even know what I had gone through.”

“I almost quit my ambition for you.”

“You’re my number 1 priority after I met you.”

“But now, after hearing from you. I am really sorry if I made you feel like shit.”

“Give me one more chance, I will do the best of the best and not the better.”

“I can do it for you.”

I stopped him. “How can you treat me the best if you’re leaving?”

“Aria, remember,

I will fly for you. To see you as my rainbow above the clouds.” he kissed my forehead and hugged me more.

“I’m sorry, goodluck on your dreams, my future pilot.”

“Goodluck din sayo, my forever future.”

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