Safe Haven (Esquivel Series)

Prologue

Prologue

"Bye, Aki! See you tomorrow!"

Kinawayan ko ang mga kasamahan ko sa tennis club at pinanuod silang lumabas ng gate, habang nanatili akong nakatayo sa main entrance door ng school.

I looked up the sky and realized that it's a bit dark, I tilted my head. Tumingin ako sa wrist watch ko. It's already 5:48 in the afternoon.

Napaangat ako ng tingin ng may lumagpas sa akin. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita kung sino iyon. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, at napatawa ng mahina.

"Grabe talaga epekto mo sa'kin." I whispered to myself, before I began walking fast to catch up to him.

"Zeus!" I greeted when I reached him, medyo hingal pa ako dahil ang hirap n'yang abutan. Sinilip ko ang muka n'ya habang sinasabayan s'ya paglalakad. "Hi! Pauwi ka na?"

I pouted a little, when as usual, he just nodded his head, ni hindi manlang ako binalingan, nanatiling diretso ang tingin.

"Oh? Coincidence, ako din kase. Sabay na tayo maglakad papuntang parking?" I asked, he didn't answer.

Silence means yes, kaya ngumiti ako ng malawak at sumabay sa kanya paglalakad. I tried to strike a conversation with him pero he never really answers, but that's okay.

"Akira!"

Napalingon ako ng may tumawag sa akin. They were a group of soccer players in our school. I just smiled at them and nodded to acknowledge their greeting, pero ng paglingon ko sa katabi ko ay naglalakad na s'ya paalis.

I pouted.

I wanted to run and try to strike a conversation with him again, pero h'wag nalang. I smiled.

Next time.

"Hi, Aki! You look gorgeous, as always."  Bati sa akin ng grupuhan ng mga babae na nakaupo sa may taas na part ng inupuan ko na bleachers.

"Thank you, Sandra. You too!" I said to one of the girls I recognized, she giggled.

Nasa bleachers ako ngayon, may practice game kase ang basketball team ng school namin against St. Guda.

"Uy! hala ikaw pala, Aki." Bati ng katabi ko, and we started to talk habang nagsisimula na ang 3rd quarter.

Pero agad na nahanap ng mata ko ang matangkad na lalaking naka jersy number 11. Zeus. I smiled a little.

Esquivel, number 11.

Parang bagay sakin yung jersy n'ya. Muntik na akong matawa sa sariling kalokohan.

The guy never took interest at anyone.

He's an Esquivel afterall, I'm sure not much will amaze him anymore. Parang lahat naman meron na s'ya.

"Go Team!" I shouted after maka three point shot ni Zeus. I'm supportive to our school's team, though, that cheer was solely for him.

I saw how his eyes shifted on my direction after I shouted that, may sinasabi sa akin ang katabi ko pero hindi ko na maintindihan dahil sa tingin ni Zeus.

I nodded and smiled at him, but he just went back to the game, napanguso ako.

"Arzeus is super freaking handsome and hot, it sucks na sobrang sungit n'ya." Rinig kong usapan nung nasa harapan namin na bleachers.

"Yeah, sayang hindi manlang s'ya makausap. Halos wala akong nakikita na nakakausap n'yan, si Negai lang pala and some of his boy classmates, pero na girl, halos wala talaga." Dagdag nung isa.