Serendipity

Prologue

Prologue

What a weird girl.

That's my first impression of her. Nothing related to what I heard about her. First, she was definitely not that pretty, atleast I can call her cute. Second, she's aggressive and annoying. Third, she's not that kind. Hindi siya mabait. Hindi siya anghel. More like, she's cruel. Very cruel.

She is really a fake. That girl.

Moreover, she could've a better first impression of her. Like what people alway says, she's like an angel. Walang kapintasan, mukhang hindi kayang gumawa ng kasalanan. She's always the limelight, with her white wings and a halo.

Ibang iba sa babaeng mukhang baliw na hinarangan ako sa hallway ng hospital, tinali ang kamay ko ng isang pulang tela at malakas na sumigaw!

"From this day onward, I shall make a contract with you as my soulmate. Thou shall be my zing! Nicholas Yuki, you are now my zing!"

Her smile is like a flower. She blooms because of her smile. And I wonder, how could a smile can hide many pains? How a laugh can cover many tears?

And how a girl named Kaori just barged in my life, completely destroying a pushover like me with just one smile.
Just one smile and I know I'm done.

She followed me everywhere I go, reminding me everytime that I am her soulmate. Eventhough, I'm not. Definitely not me. Palaging sa harapan ng gate sa school,  naghihintay siya. Iiwan ko siya pero hahabulin niya ako. She would pull pranks and scared the shit out of me. She'll do anything to get my attention. She'll do anything to make me laugh. Or maybe just a smile.

Babaeng babae pero siya ang naghahabol. Maybe because time is running. No, time is always running. Hindi lang natin napapansin. Hindi ko rin napansin.

How could time can control a person's life? How could time be so cruel and a gift at the same time?

Meeting Kaori was both a gift and a curse.

Just a minimal time brought us together. Closer. One day the person who you thought to be the most annoying in the world suddenly became the person you wanted to spend your whole life with. Kahit hindi naman siya ganon kaganda, kahit palaging iyakin, kahit weirdo siya, kahit tanga siya. Kahit masakit na.

Isang araw, bigla mo nalang sasabihin...

"You're my nuisance and my idiot, Kaori."

Palaging sa library, o di kaya sa rooftop. Sa harapan ng gate, sa hospital. Palagi kang andiyan, naghihintay sa akin.

"Yuki! Please pansinin mo ako! Huhu! Sorry na po." Her fluffy nose is evident. Pulang-pula ang kaniyang mata. She looked hopeful that I would forgive her but I won't. I remained calmed and unaffected on the outside.

"Hmph! I already said sorry, ba't ang sungit mo, Yuki!"

Her voice is soft and angelic. Mas lalo akong nairita. She act cute most of the time, which I found annoying. I'm the only one who won't fall for that act.

She touched the hem of my shirt, pulling me and I slowly toss her hand away. Shut up stupid, I'm angry. With you and your stupid boys! Ha! That's what you get! Karma mo yan!

Natigil ako ng may biglang yumakap sa akin patalikod. No moves can make me feel allright right now. Not even your famous backhug, Kaori.

Sumandal siya sa aking likod, kissing my back. I remained on the ground, stunned. Suddenly, I heard a faint laugh. Bigla nalang siyang tumawa ng malakas. I looked at her with grumpiness. She's crazy.

Her laugh is always carefree and soothes me. She faced me from the back and pouted. I bit my lip when she giggle and smile.

The wind is blowing her brown hair. The sun behind her reminded me of light and warmth. And her smile and laugh, remained to be the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.

"Always."

One word that we both always agree. Just one word is enough to show how we really feel.

Tumingkayad siya para maabot ako. She rested her head on mine. We both faced each other, and I looked at her in the eyes.

No matter how painful, no matter how sad... No matter what, Kaori... I will always...

"Always," I replied, giving her my attention.

She loves playing violin. Palagi niyang dala ang kaniyang favorite violin. Although, I'm not interested on music. I listen to her play like some wimpy fanboy.

Matutulala ako minsan habang pinapanood siya. Nakangiti, nadadala sa ginagawang musika. She became my inspiration, she changed my perspective in life.

"Someday, I will play infront of many people and I will become a great violinist. And you! Dapat nasa harapan ka lagi! Cause your one of my fans, Yuki!"

"Hmmm." Umiling ako. She pouted, naiirita sa pag-iling ko.

"Yuki!" I grinned and pinched her cheeks. She immediately blushes cutely. Umiwas siya ng tingin, mukhang nagtatampo.

"Kaori?" I ask softly.

"Not just one of them. I'm your number one fan."

She giggled cutely, without any fronts and masks. Inayos niya ang iilang tikas ng buhok sa kanyang mukha. Her face is full red and I can't helped but grin widely.

Ngayon ko lang napansin, sa malapitan. Mas lalo siyang gumaganda habang tumatagal. Mas lalo siyang gumaganda bawat araw na nakikita ko siya. I can now looked at her freely, without hesitation.

The almost visible freckles on her nose is deeply attractive. Her brown eyes reflected the bright sun, warm and cheerful. Her small pink lips gives her the beauty of innocence. And her short hair, soft and brown like her eyes.

Her voice, always soothing and warm. An angel voice that gives me goosebumps, reminding me of a thing called home. Just standing infront of me, laughing and smiling. Damn Kaori, you just bewitched me.

The thing I hate the most, being happy. Being happy is nothing but a curse. It is nothing but an illusion. That's what I believed before, but looking back that time. I was just afraid. I was scared.

I'm scared of being happy.

Walking distance lang ang school galing sa bahay. I used my bike as a transportation. Sometimes, Kaori will suddenly pop-out in front of me and hitch a ride. She sit on the back, minsan nananching. Palaging nangyayakap, minsan sumasandal sa likod ko.

A hot afternoon, the sun is blazing. Atleast, the wind can soothe us from the heat. I watched her eyegazing the wide blue river, she smiled different from her Kaori smile. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa unahan dahil baka mabangga kami pero binalik ko rin agad ang paningin ko sa kaniya.

She stretched her arm on the air, pansin ang nakataling pulang tela na dinadala ng hangin. She giggled loudly, enough for people to hear. Mas binilisan ko ang pagpedal ng bike, kaya mas lalo siyang tumawa.

I was shocked when she shouted infront of the river, infront of the dominating bright sun.

"Ang sarap mabuhay! Ahh! I just wanna live forever! Kasama si Nicholas Yuki! Please Lord, ibigay mo na sakin to!"

Kaori is both a gift and a curse. I already knew it for the first time I saw her.

When it comes to Kaori, kahit mga salita lang ay kaya niya akong sirain. Saktan. Kaya niya akong punitin ng todo.

Just one sentence. One word.

"Hey, Yuki..."

"Iiyak ka ba kapag namatay ako?"