With My Wind (Invince Series #1)

Prologue

Life is full of disappointments, they say. So we should limit our expectations. Everything is prior to changes.

"Tingin mo, anong nangyari sa kaniya?"

Natigilan ako sa pagkuha ng bag ko sa cabin nang itanong iyon ni Dashiell. Napatingin ako sa kaniya. Seryoso siya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Ever since we heard of something from him for the first time in a while, ngayon lang may naglakas ng loob i-bring up siya.

"Ewan," I replied at kinuha na ang luggage bag ko sa cabin. "Probably because he's already too old? I don't know."

Mabilis kong kinuha ang mga gamit ko at naglakad pababa ng eroplanong sinasakyan namin na kakalapag lang dito sa Los Angeles, California. After a few years of living in the Philippines, I'm coming back here.

"Hoy!" Dashiell chased me, hurrying.

Mas binilisan ko naman ang lakad ko hanggang sa makababa na ako ng eroplano. I stopped for a bit to feel the cold wind hitting my face. It felt familiar. All of what's in here felt nostalgic.

I was wearing a white tank top, a blue fitted jeans and paired it with a long black coat and a black high boots. Nakalugay naman din ang buhok ko, causing it to dance along with the wind as I walked through the airport's ground.

"Hoy, hintayin mo 'ko!" Rinig kong reklamo ni Dashiell.

Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya at nakita ang paghihirap niya sa tatlong maleta at handbag niya. Ang dalawa ay kaniya at ang isa ay akin. Napairap ako at binalikan siya, kinuha ko ang maleta ko.

"Ay, atribidang 'to! Hindi mo man lang ako tulungan!" He complained again.

Muli ko siyang nilingon, irritated. Hindi pa ba tulong 'yong binawasan ko ang dalahin niya? Walang hiya talaga, e.

"You're struggling, and it's your fault for bringing many things you can't even handle with yourself alone," mataray kong sabi. "Moreover, I'm not the assistant here. Know your place, Dashiell. Baka nagkakalimutan na tayo?" Mariin kong sabi, iritable sa kaniya.

Dashiell's lips parted and now looked puzzled. I just rolled my eyes again and took his one luggage before turning my back against him.

"Siraulong 'to... Hindi ko na talaga alam takbo ng utak mo," I heard him say as I started to walk.

There was so many people in the airport but I ignored everyone's presence. I walked fastly, managing to avoid bumping to anyone's shoulder. And Dashiell tried to walk beside me, trying to cope with my speed but he failed as he kept bumping into someone.

"Kairita naman 'to! Hoy, maghintay ka!" I heard Dashiell's annoyed voice from behind.

I immediately stopped, looking back at him with brows furrowed. "'Wag mo kasi pairalin ang kabaklaan mo rito! Maglakad ka ng mabilis! Para kang naglalakad sa beauty pageant diyan, e. Feelingero," irap ko sa kaniya bago muling tumalikod at maglalakad na sana nang may makabunggo sa akin.

"Aba---hey!"

Malakas iyon dahil parang nagmamadali ito. Muntik pa akong matumba but the guy caught my arms and smoothly stand me up. "I'm sorry," mabilis na sabi nito bago naglakad muli.

But with his touch, I felt something. I was stunned. The touch... The smell... The voice... It was familiar.

"Hoy, ayos ka lang?" Habol sa akin ni Dashiell, worried.

I can feel my heart races with the thoughts that I have. Is it him?

Muli kong nilingon ang lalaking bumangga sa akin. He was wearing a leopard printed hoodie, a brown trousers and paired it with a black shoes. Napaamang ako. That style of clothing... That figure...

And I froze when he looked back at me. Kahit naglalakad, with his bodyguards urging him to move fast, our eyes locked. Kahit malayo na siya, malinaw iyon sa akin. Siya 'yon. Si Adam.

"Hoy!"

I came to my senses with Dashiell's voice.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Ano? Parang nakakita ka ng multo?" Nakataas na ang kilay nitong sabi.

Binalewala ko naman iyon at nilingon ang taong nakabangga ko. Nakatalikod na ito sa akin at nagmamadaling umalis hanggang sa lumiko ito at nawala na sa paningin ko.

"Teka, seryoso? May nakita ka ngang multo?" Gulat na tanong ni Dashiell at isinuyod din ng tingin ang paligid.

I heaved out a sigh at napahawak sa sentido ko. Is it really him or am I seeing things? Argh... Pero it's not possible na siya 'yon.

"Let's go, Dashiell," aya ko sa kaniya na parang baliw na nagpapalinga-linga sa paligid.

"Ano ba 'yong nakita mo?" Tanong niya nang magsimula na kaming maglakad, hindi ko na lang siya pinansin.

Adam... He was, and still... my wind.

We grabbed a taxi. We planned to go to the hospital—the main reason of us coming back here, before taking a rest.

Hospital...

This is the reason why we needed to come back here in America... to go to the hospital where he was in.

"Anong sasabihin mo sa kaniya?" Mahihimigan ang pag-iingat sa tanong ni Dashiell habang nasa passenger seat siya ng taxi, nasa backseat naman ako.

I heaved out a long, heavy sigh and stared out the window. "I honestly don't know..." I said with low voice, making it sound like almost a whisper.

A series in life that results to changes in our lives, may it be important, major or minor changes, it is called a Winds of Change, may it be a gentle winds or harsh winds, may it be a change for better or for worse.

Change is constant. It is the only thing that is constant in life, it is continuous and persistent. And we should welcome it, even if it turns our joy into sorrow.

There is a part of my life where winds of change blew me really hard to the point that it caused a huge storm in me. It is the part of my life... where everything started and ended at the same time.

***

Again: This story contains TRIGGER WARNINGS, STRONG LANGUAGES, SENSITIVE CONTENT, MATURE THEMES and DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE that may upset some readers and could trigger traumatizing events. And also has nothing to do with any particular person or any particular places mentioned in the story.

I HIGHLY ADVISE YOUNG MINDS NOT TO READ THIS. THANK YOU.

Read at your own risk.

(-.-)