Weather the Storm (LOTUS SERIES 1)

CHAPTER 1

The pain that follows after the love disappeared. The hatred of a betrayed heart. The monster it creates. 

"Davi, pinapatanong pala ni Pres kung makapupunta ka raw sa meeting mamaya?" Si Mayette, kaibigan ko at club secretary namin. 

"Oo naman. Bakit daw?"  

"Pinapatanong lang. Hindi kasi ata siya a-attend, baka sa 'yo iwan 'yung club? Wala rin kasi si Ben."  

Pilit akong ngumiti. Kaya pala natanong, kasi may kailangan. 

"Iwan na lang kamo 'yung susi,"

"Sige, sige. Una na muna ako, ah? Punta ka pa kay doc, 'no?" 

"Yeps… ingat," Sabi ko habang kumakaway sa kaniya. 

She waves back at me and smiles before she runs out. 

I sigh and grab my bag. I should get going as well, I still have a club duty to attend. It's actually a good thing that there's only a month left before summer. The only thing unfortunate here is that I have to go back home. And I don't want to as much as possible. 

Brian Corpuz. He's a senior. A third year Polsci student. Kababalik niya lang sa club nung nakaraan pagtapos ng six months break niya, at ngayon lang ulit pumasok. He said it is personal. But I heard he needed to leave all his extracurricular activities for his studies in the meantime. 

I was so happy to hear him back. Senior high school pa lang ako nung una ko siyang makita. Mag gi-grade 11 pa lang ako no'n, first year college naman siya. Wala akong balak na mag university sa senior high ko at sobra-sobrang pinagsisihan ko 'yon. I was stupid. To make sure I won't be entering university for senior high, I enrolled in a science school the moment I had a chance. Kaya naman nung sinamahan ko ang kaibigan na mag campus tour, laking pagsisisi kong nag enroll agad ako nang makita siya. 

I strived to get awards just so it'll be easier for me to enter their university for college. Hindi ako mayaman ngunit hindi rin naman ako mahirap. We're living the life of the middle class so tuition fees are not really a question. Ang problema rito ay kung paano ako makapapasok. So, I strived harder. Tumatanggap ng school offers ang school namin at iyon talaga ang target ko. Suwerte na hindi naman ako nabigo. 

Those sleepless nights, tiring days, and the tears that I've spent to get an offer paid off. I received offers and it was good, for real. Kaya lang, walang offer iyong school nila. I had to take the entrance exam so it was another session of burning the midnight oil every night. 

I got accepted but maybe, it is really my destiny to miss him. He needed to take a leave from his post, isang linggo ko lang siyang nakasalamuha. Nakilala niya ako dahil sa vice president namin na kaibigan niya. I was the new assistant- his assistant to be exact. The most appropriate position to get near to him. 

It was all good. 

Yeah... I guess. 

Bagsak ang balikat kong binuksan ang pinto ng club room namin. Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang makita silang lahat na kumpleto ro'n. Maging si Brian ay nasa harapan, nakatingin din sa akin habang nakangiti. Sa sobrang pagkabigla ko ay muli kong sinara ang pinto. 

What the heck? I thought he'll leave the club duty to me? Why is he here? 

Muntik na akong matangay ng pinto nang bumukas ito. Hawak ko kasi ang seradura. 

"Hey, aren't you coming in?" Si Brian. 

Napatitig ako sa kaniya. Sobrang lutang ko at nagkanda buhol-buhol na ang mga iniisip ko, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin. 

He laughs and pats my head. 

"Cute. Come on, we'll start the meeting." He says as he opens the door wider.