Flower of Youth (Youth Series #1)

Prologue

That day, I knew he was the one the moment he reached his hand to help me. We were just five years old when we met and shook our dirty hands, smiling while playing under the sun.

Ang sarap lang balikan ng mga ala-alang iyon. It reminds me how wonderful it is to cherish our youth.
Beneath the warm embrace of the sun as we played tag. The laughs, secrets and cries we shared together-it was all a perfect moment of our youth to remember.

It was like a core memory that always stays in my mind whenever I see him. I always keep that memories so that every time I remember that day, it feels like I'm reliving my youth.

As I looked into his eyes that day, it gleamed like ripe cherries. Radiating a deep and inviting hue that mirrored the luscious of our summer daydream. Alam ko sa sarili ko na sa unang pagkikita pa lang namin ni Caleb no'ng mga bata pa kami ay siya na ang lalaking para sa akin.

As I stared at him, watching how his lips formed a smile. The fluttering sensation, akin to a delicate butterfly's wings, took residence in the pit of my stomach. Down to his chiseled jawline and roamed my gaze to his refined bridge nose, he was indeed a perfect masterpiece.

I notice his sparkling deep set hazel eyes, back to his kissable lips. Hindi nga ako nagkamali ng lalaking pipiliin ko sa araw-araw. I never regret knowing him for a long time.

The feelings when it was like yesterday, ang bilis ng panahon at hindi ko inaasahan na ganito siya ka gwapo sa paningin ko.

"Sa libro ang tingin, 'wag sa 'kin, Sol."

Hindi ko napansin na napatagal na pala ang pagtitig ko sa kanya. I blinked and furrowed when our eyes met. Masyado naman akong nagpapahalata at hindi na makapag-focus sa ginagawa ko.

I cleared my throat. "Hindi kaya, assuming ka!"

He let out a soft chuckle, and it felt like the butterfly gracefully twirled and soared in my stomach. Pati ba naman sa pagtawa niya cute pa rin.

Binaba niya ang hawak na libro. What is he reading again? I quickly glanced at the book he was reading earlier.
He was interested in engineering mathematics books.

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses dahil kada magtatama ang tingin namin sa isa't-isa ay kumakabog ng mabilis ang puso ko.

"So, why are you looking at me?" he asked.

I snorted. "Ay panis, english yarn?" pagbibiro ko. Kahit sandali ay nawala ang naglalarong daga sa puso ko.

Nailusot ko pa nga.

"Huwag mong ibahin ang usapan, Sol," mahinang sambit niya at umawang ang labi nito.

Inirapan ko siya sabay malakas na bumuntong-hininga. "Hindi nga kasi, 'wag kang assuming masyado, Leb," usal ko pa.

He scoffed. "I already told you don't call me Leb when we're inside the school. Hindi ako komportable."

"Ayan ka na naman sa pa english-
english mo eh, nasa pilipinas tayo kaya matuto kang mag-tagalog," paninita ko sa kanya.

"Opo, Ma'am Sol." May pang-aasar pa sa tono ng boses niya na sinabayan pa ng paghagikgik nito.

"Magbasa ka na nga lang, hindi tayo papasa niyan eh!" sermon ko pa.

Malapit na ang midterms namin at palagi akong naiinis sa ginagawa nila, dahil kung kailan bago mag-exam ay duon sila nagbibigay ng maraming gawain.

So, paano ako makakapag-review ng maayos nito?

"Hindi ka pa rin ba tapos mag-review? It's been two weeks since you've started it?" Caleb asked as he sipped his venti matcha latte.

Dumaan siya sa Starbucks kanina pero hindi man lang ako nito sinabay para bumili. Damot talaga!