Ephemeral (Ardor Series #1)

PROLOGUE

"Love!"

There goes my heart beating, ang lakas niya. I don't know what to do pero yung katawan ko alam yun. Nilingon ko ang direksyon na pinanggagalingan ng boses na iyon.

"Tantanan moko sa love na yan, kadiri ka!"

That's my response, I don't know why. She's my friend. She's also my greatest love, pero hindi na niya kaylangang malaman yun.

"Eto na, sungit mo nanaman." She said, staring directly at me while jokingly squinting her eyes on me.

She encircled her arms on my waist, she always do that. Hindi parin ako sanay. Sakanya lang naman, iba yung reaksiyon ng katawan ko sakanya, obvious naman ang rason. She sniffed my left arm and bumilis ulit ang tibok ng puso ko. Isa rin yan sa gawain niya, para bang di na mawawala sakanya yun.

"Wag ka masyadong kumapit, ang init." I said, pushing her lightly.

I'm defensive, I know. It's not even hot, it's actually very windy, dark clouded ang langit. I think she took the hint na I don't want her that close kaya di na siya nagtangka pa.

"Sm tayo?"

I rolled my eyes at her pagyaya.

"Ah basta, di ako kakain, bahala ka kumain mag-isa,"

Pagputol ko sa sarili, at tiningnan siya ng mariin...

"Wala akong pera panggasta."

Pagpapatuloy ko, she just pouted. Another cute habit of hers. I miss having those lips on mine.

We ended things a month ago. Yes, we had some kind of thing, not something so dreamy though. It was a rollercoaster;fun but scary, enjoyable but it'll make you anxious, it was slow but short and lastly it was beautiful but tormenting.

And here we are, acting as if we didn't ride such extreme ride. It looks like we're just walking around the park pagkatapos sa rollercoaster na yun. That's how I'd explain our situation from before to now.

It looks like I've moved on, or maybe no? One thing's certain, I'm the only one who knows that.

"Kal!" Sigaw ni Ayi sabay hila sakin. Muntik nakong mabundol ng motor. Tinignan ko lang siya and composed myself.

"Okay kalang?" Tanong niya agad nung napansin niyang natauhan ako. Tumango nalang ako sakanya at hinila na siya papasok ng mall. Pero hinatak niya ako pabalik sa labas.

"Big brew muna tayo dali!"

Umiling nalang ako at hinayaan siyang hatakin ako.

"Blueberry po na tea-based and one salted caramel na less ice."

Ganon parin, walang bago. Kabisado parin niya yung mga ino-order ko, ganon parin yung takbo ng mga gala. Minus kisses nga lang.

Inexpel narin yung other promises such us not mentioning her infront of me. Ever since, nababanggit banggit narin niya sa harap ko, welp, the deal has ended naman na.

"Oy alam mo ba? May nagkakagusto nanaman kay Yna sa school niya, like fuck off dude ako na pinili niyan." Pagyayabang niya.

That's what I'm talking about, while we were in the deal of being friends with benefits that seemed to took a wild turn, wilder than what we're doing... She's inlove with a girl.

And yeah, during those times she claimed to be inlove with me too. Pero I never believed her, I know she's just attached. In need of another kasi yung taong mahal niya is not fully available. It just so happens na she's lucky I have things na she can get that her lover can't afford at that moment. I was never lucky to be part of it though.