When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)

Prologue

When an unforseen events suddenly came into their lives; when the flower withers, will they hold on or let themselves fall onto the ground?

••••

"Kahit sandali... Palayain ang pusong 'di mapigil... Sana'y tayong dal'wa sa huling pagkakataon... Na hindi na para sa 'tin..."

Malakas akong sumasabay sa kanta ng December Avenue. I couldn't care less if I'd lose my voice the next day. I just wanted to enjoy this moment—watching one of my favorite bands perform on stage.

Sulit din ang maaga naming pagpunta ni Addiel sa year end concert dito sa sports center, nasa pinaka-unahan kasi kami. Though alam kong mahihirapan kaming lumabas mamaya sa dami ng tao, okay lang kasi sulit naman.

I raised my right hand while holding the glow stick and slowly, I began swaying it from left to right repeatedly. My gaze shifted away from the stage as I felt it bumped into something, or should I say, someone?

Agad kong nilingon ang katabi ko. Hawak-hawak ng lalaki ang salamin niya na muntik nang malaglag, 'yon ata ang tinamaan ko. Ang tangkad niya naman kasi! Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko at inalis ang isang kamay sa gilid ng labi ko.

Seryoso lang siyang nakatingin sa 'kin. His raven hair obscured his left eye. Lights from the stage were enough for me to see his face clearly. His pointed nose and long & thick eyelashes were casting shadows on his prominent cheekbones; his cheekbones that accentuated his facial features. His thin lips were also set in a grim line.

In a short span of time, I could already say that he really was the man any woman would wish for but his almost perfect features weren't enough to attract me.

He raised his right eyebrow as if he was asking me to say something.

Does he want me to say sorry?

"Your fault," I said and quickly averted my gaze from him to the stage.

I heard his smirk despite the deafening noises that the performers and the crowd were giving. I didn't know it was even possible.

Tutuloy na sana ako sa pakikisabay sa December Avenue nang lumapit pa talaga siya sa 'kin, he lowered himself a bit so he could whisper in my right ear.

"Aren't you going to say sorry, Miss?" he mumbled using his husky voice. It was also a playful one.

Agad akong lumayo sa kaniya. I got goosebumps with his husky yet playful voice. However, I remained calm and tried my best to show to him I wasn't affected by his voice.

"Why would I? Normal lang ang sanggian sa mga ganitong lugar. Kung ayaw mong matamaan habang nanonood... lumipad ka na lang," pabalang kong saad.

Puta. Dahil yata sa tama ng soju kaya ko nasabi 'yong huli. But it was also his fault. His face was annoying.

Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi at bahagyang tumingin sa gilid niya, seryoso pa rin ang mukha pero ramdam ko ang pagka-sarkastiko sa kilos niya. Tumayo siya nang maayos bago tuluyang nanood sa banda. Hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

Ini-straight ko nang inom ang natitirang soju habang nakatingin pa rin sa kaniya. Bigla niyang tinanggal ang itim na cuffless beanie na suot at ginulo-gulo ang kaniyang buhok.

Psh. Sinadya sigurong magpa-gwapo dahil alam na nakatingin ako. I rolled my eyes at him even if he wasn't looking at me. Pa-pogi masiyado.

I went back on listening and watching December Avenue but my eyes started welling up with tears as they started singing the next song—all the pain from the past, all the pain he caused me, suddenly came back.