When the Cold Fire Burns

Chapter 01

Chapter 01

Jimson

Throughout the day, I only thought of Winonah Fierro. I got called by our professors twice just because I couldn't focus.

Ako ang sisira ng buhay niya? Eh, parang sinisira niya na nga ang buhay ko.

I don't really get why she's so angry at me. Kahit noong first year pa lang.

"You okay, Kuya?" tanong ng kapatid kong si Joseph nang pumasok ako sa back seat.

He's already sitting there while reading a magazine. He did not even glance at me while asking me that question.

"Nope," sagot ko.

The driver looked at the front mirror and I nodded as a gesture to start driving. Hinubad ko ang bag at itinapon sa sahig. Sumandal ako sa upuan at kinuha ang cellphone at earphones ko upang makinig ng music.

"You look tired," ani Joseph.

"I am always tired."

He just snorted and put the magazine down. Tumingin na siya ngayon sa labas ng bintana.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata upang umidlip nang pumasok na naman sa isipan ko si Fierro. I remember how she rolled my eyes at me.

I opened my eyes and faced my brother. "I want to ask you something."

Tumingin si Joseph sa akin at inosenteng nagtaas ng kilay.

"Do you remember the girl I told you? Iyong cute na mataba ang pisngi? Iyong parating maiksi ang buhok?"

Noon ko pa napapansin na ayaw sa akin nang babaeng iyon. I was always wondering. What did I do to make her hate me that much?

She's actually beautiful. But she's always frowning when our eyes meet. But when she's with her friend, she puts up a small smile. Ngunit natanto ko na hindi talaga siya masayahing tao.

Joseph recognized it. "Bakit na naman?"

Para bang nawala ang antok ko at humarap nang maayos sa aking kapatid.

"I called her earlier."

Joseph widened his eyes. "O tapos? Anong ginawa mo?"

I sighed and leaned on the chair as I recalled what happened.

"Sinuntok ka ba?" aniya. "Di ba sabi mo na nakakatakot 'yun?"

"She's not really that scary..."

"So ano nga ang nangyari?" tanong niya.

"Well, one of us left the syringes. Pinagalitan kami ni Dok kasi hindi na raw kami baguhan at alam na namin na hindi dapat iyon iniiwan. Tapos nagkasagutan kami."

I scratched the back of my neck when I remembered how she looked so pissed when I tried to answer.

"Tapos nang na-dismiss na kami ay tinawag ko siya upang makipag-usap," dagdag ko. "Do you know what she told me?"

Dahan-dahang umiling si Joseph. "Why would I know?" mahina niyang tanong.

"Ako raw ang sisira ng buhay niya."

Both of us went silent. Kumunot ang noo ni Joseph, halatang naguguluhan.

I really thought about it so much. It was only the first time we talked but it was so memorable for me. Naguguluhan ako dahil hindi naman kami magkakilala. Paano ko naman sisirain ang buhay niya?

"Are you sure she's sane?" tanong ng kapatid ko.

"I think so?"

Joseph just laughed it away. Sumandal na ulit ako at ipinikit ang mga mata. Hindi na ako inaantok ngunit sinubukan ko pa rin kahit si Winonah Fierro ang pumapasok sa isipan ko. It's so funny because I've been thinking of her since the first year of med school.