A Tale of Heartbreak and Redemption (CH SERIES #1)

01

"An event for a mere game?"

Asciana glared at Celeste, "It's not just a mere game, Celeste."

A month had passed since she installed the game at sa isang buwan din iyong ay wala siyang ginawa kundi maglaro nang maglaro. Batak na batak siya because she wants to prove someone na hindi siya stupid maglaro.

Asciana's not the type of person who hold grudges. For her, it's a waste of time at sakit lamang sa ulo. But a certain someone's really testing her patience dagdagan pa ng fact na ka-clan niya ito.

She reported his account a lot of times out of inis, ilang beses din siyang nagdasal na huwag na itong ma-encounter but fate's really not on her side.

"Fine, fine. Hindi na mere game, my bad. What will you do then? A-attend ka ba?" Celeste questions, busy ito kakakuskos ng kuko niya.

"As I should. Baka makita ko rin si Xander do'n," Asciana replied. Napatigil sa pagkuskos ng kuko si Celeste at tinitigan siya.

The way she gazes at Asciana looks like she's examining her face to see if there's any hint of joking pero nang ma realize niyang seryoso siya ay napabuntong-hininga ito.

"If that's the case then dapat magpaganda ka," Celeste suggests. "That's actually my plan. Kaya nga tinawagan kita para samahan ako," tugon naman ni Asciana.

"Oh, I don't think I can join you. May pupuntahan akong group date," ani Celeste na nagpatuloy na sa pagkuskos ng kuko niya.

Asciana looked at her with disbelief.

"Uunahin mo pa iyang group date kaysa tulungan ako?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. "Of course," walang pag-aalinlangang sambit ni Celeste. "I have to put me first, Asciana. Mag me-time ka na lang muna," dagdag pa nito.

Me time? Really? I guess I don't have a choice then.

She has to divert her attention, distract herself from crying, and get the what-ifs out of her brain. Her life must go on and she has to move forward dahil hindi naman porket wala na sila ng ex niya ay tapos na ang buhay niya.

*****

A sense of fulfillment.

That's what Asciana felt after pampering herself that day. She went to the salon to change her hair color, nagpa-manicure at pedicure na rin siya. She also shopped for clothes and now she's currently on her way to a near coffee shop para magpahinga. After kasi maglibot ay naramdaman niyang sumasakit na ang paa niya.

Maling coffee shop pa ata ang napasukan niya beacuse people are swarming up inside,mapababae man o lalaki.

Punuan na rin ang mga table kaya nang makuha niya ang order ay agad siyang naghanap at nagbaka-sakaling may bakante pang-pwede niyang upuan.

She scanned the shop at nang may makitang bakante well not totally a vacant table since someone's occupying it, ay agad siyang naglakad papunta roon. Hindi niya pinansin ang tingin ng mga taong nasa loob ng coffee shop. She finds it bizarre, though.

"Excuse me. Pwedeng maki-upo?"

Pagtatanong niya sa lalaking naroon. Akala niya'y hindi siya narinig nito kaya bubuksan na sana niya ang bibig para ulitin muli ang sinabi niya to get the guy's attention pero nagsalita ito, "Yeah, sure."

Malamig ang boses nito. But she shrugged it off at saka nilapag ang tray kung saan nakalagay ang inorder niya.

She settled herself comfortably at doon niya lang nakita nang maayos ang mukha ng lalaking kaharap niya na ngayon. Doon niya lang rin naramdaman ang masakit niyang paa. Nagka-blisters pa ata siya.

Wow. Ang gwapo niya. She mentally slapped herself at nagfocus na lang sa pagkain niya.

But how the hell can she focus when most of the people inside are taking pictures of her? Or was it the guy in front of her?

"Uhm.. are you famous?" Asciana asks the guy. Busy ito sa cellphone niya kaya nang muling magtama ang mga mata nila ay nakaramdam siya ng kakaiba.

"No," maikling tugon ng lalaki sa kaniya.

"Weh?" Paninigurado niya na tinanguan lamang nito.

"Then why are they taking photos of us or you shamelessly?"

"Just ignore them and continue eating."

"But I can't."

She saw how the guy sighed as if nawawalan na ito nang pasensiya sa kaniya.

Pati ba naman pag buntong-hininga ang gwapo pa rin?

"Just eat," utos nito sa kaniya. Umismid siya dahil napaka-familiar ng way nito magsalita.

Ganiyan din kaya siya sa text? Para siyang si Kaz.

User11126's name was Kaz, according to their clan master. Remembering it made her lose her appetite dahil isang buwan din siyang pinahirapan ng walanghiyang Kaz na iyon.

Inis niyang tinusok-tusok ang slice ng red velvet cheesecake sa platito, iniimagine na si Kaz iyon.Kung hindi niya pa narinig ang sunud-sunod na pagbahing ng lalaking nasa harapan niya ay hindi pa siya matatauhan. Durog na ang cheesecake niya at pulang-pula na ang mukha ng lalaking nasa harap niya.

"Are you alright? I have cetirizine here with me, would you like some?" Pagtatanong niya sa kaharap na siyang inilingan lamang nito while uttering, "Thanks but no thanks."

Asciana scrunches her nose because of that, "Alam mo you remind me of someone."

Asciana stated which made the latter glanced at her. Naghihintay ng susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Iyong ka clan mate ko na rude pero hindi rude. Gets mo ba? Si Kaz, oo basta iyon. Ang rude niya but according to our clan master he is not."

Asciana explained.

"You're kuromilei?"

Nanlaki ang mata niya dahil doon at tiningnan lalo ang mukha ng lalaking kaharap niya, "You're user11126?"

It was unbelievable to be honest. Who would've thought that she will meet personally one of her clan mates?

The world is indeed small.

They were silent after that. It wasn't an awkward silence, it's unmistakably strange because parang gumaan ang paligid niya and it's comfortable. She cleared her throat nang maramdaman muli ang kakaibang sensasyon sa loob niya.

"Pupunta ka ba sa event bukas?" She questions na tinanguan naman ng huli kasabay ng munti nitong tugon, "Hmm-mm."

For Asciana, that's already an enough responsed. Pakiramdam niya'y nabunutan siya ng tinik sa dibdib dahil first time niyang pupunta ng isang event na wala siyang kakilala and hearing that Kaz is coming made her heart jump a little not because she's surprised. But, because she's in great happiness.

"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then!"

Matamis ang ngiting tugon nito. She noticed how Kaz's face turned red, even his ears and neck turned red pero hindi niya iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin.

Asciana will surely anticipate tomorrow's event. Masaya niyang inubos ang cake na natira sa platito.

Missing Kaz's amused gaze at her.