Waiting For Serendipity (The Heartbreak Project #2)

Chapter 9: Lost and Found (Flashback)

FLASHBACK: 7 YEARS AGO - CALIFORNIA

"4.0 GPA, 1570 SAT score, 180 LSAT score."

Cassidy kept repeating that mantra in her head while walking towards the football field or soccer as what Americans call it.

She's now in her senior year in high school, and she just took the SAT last month and for her to get a scholarship into a prestigious university or an Ivy League university she needs high SAT scores, aside from all the AP classes and extracurricular activities she has been doing since moving back to the US two years ago.

It'll be way cheaper to go a university in the Philippines and she won't have to work so hard for a scholarship, but her goal is go to Harvard Law School. She wants to be a lawyer, a dream that she shares with one of her best friends, Billie. She's so focused on her goal that she's already reading LSAT materials kahit matagal pa bago niya pwedeng itake ang test na yon.

"Hey, Caldwell! You, okay? You look like you lost a lot of weight." Bati sa kanya ng team captain nila na si Brittany.

"Yeah, just tired from all the studying." She answered with a small smile.

"You sure, Sidd? Because you look like you're about to faint." Nag-aalalang tanong ng isa pa niyang ka-team at kaibigan na si Sharla.

She knew she lost a lot of weight, more so when her Dad died last year during the summer break before her junior year. He succumbed to death 2 weeks after suffering from his third hemorrhagic stroke.

They were actually vacationing in the Philippines when it happened. Pakiramdam niya ay hinintay lang talaga nitong makauwi sila sa Pilipinas. He wants to be buried in the place where he feels most at home. They returned to the US a week after dahil nandito na ang buhay nila. She and her siblings are thriving in school, in fact her younger brother Caleb who's only a sophomore has a high chance of getting into MIT.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, but don't worry I'll still make y'all eat dust once we're on the field." Biro niya sa mga ito.

"That's what I want to hear from our striker!" Nakangiting sagot ni Brittany, ang team captain nila, at tumakbo na ito para pumunta sa soccer field.

"Hey, Sidd. Have you tried seeing a doctor recently?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Sharla sa kanya ng dalawa na lang sila habang naglalakad sila papunta sa soccer field.

"No, why?"

"You don't look healthy. I'm all for body positivity, but I'm just worried coz you're also getting sick lately. I don't know how you survive 6 AP classes, the schoolpaper, the orchestra club, and soccer practice." Napapailing na sabi nito.

"Don't worry, Sharla. I'm totally fine." Sabi niya even though deep inside she's dying. She's closer to her Dad, and losing him is something she's still grieving from. She doesn't even know if she can move on.

That's why she's working hard, she wanted to fulfill her father's dream of her finishing her bachelor's degree and getting a law degree.

"If you say so, just tell me if you need anything, okay?"

She nodded at sabay na silang tumakbo papunta sa field.

They were 1 hour into their friendly game and she's about to make a jump for the ball heading to her direction so she can hit a header ng tila bigla na lang umikot ang paningin niya.

She's probably a feet up from the ground when everything went dark.

*******************

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

"Earth to Kai! May kausap ba ko?"

Tila natauhan lang si Kaizer ng sinipa siya ng kaibigan niyang si Mikko.

They're at his house tinkering on the vintage sports car his grandfather gave him for his 18th birthday.

"Sinong iniisip mo? Si Brianna ba?" Nang-aasar na tanong ni Chase na kumakain ng sandwich na hinanda ng kasambahay nila.

He made a face. He only went out with Brianna just because. It's not like he loves her or anything.

"Bro, I already forgot she existed."

"Then what? What's bothering you?" Tanong ni Mikko na siyang tumitingin doon sa makina.

"I haven't heard from Sidd in a week and I don't know, but she seemed different since Tito James died." Nag-aalalang sagot niya kay Mikko.

"One week lang pala, kung maka-react ka akala mo one month na." Mikko retorted.

Chase laughed. "Baka busy lang, she wants to go to NYU for college right? For sure she's just busy preparing."

"Speaking of college, sure na ba kayong dito lang tayo sa Pilipinas mag-aaral?" Mikko asked.

Kaizer nodded. "Dad said that it'll get me a better idea on how the business world works in the Philippines. The plan is to go the US or Europe for an MA after so we can expand our company further."

Their family own a chain of luxury hotels, resorts, buildings, and other real estate related businesses in the Philippines and Asia.

The Valderrama Group of Companies is probably the biggest real estate company in Asia.

"Having your future all planned out? Boring!" Sagot ni Mikko sa kanya.

Hindi niya ito pinansin. He knows that Mikko always does what he wants, whenever he wants, kaya sanay na siya rito.

Kukuha na sana siya ng sandwich when his phone suddenly rang.

Nagulat siya ng makitang si Callista ang tumatawag, ang bunsong kapatid ni Cassidy.

"Hello, Callista?" Bati niya agad pagkasagot sa video call.

"Kuya Kai." Parang maiiyak na sagot ni Callista sa kanya sa kabilang linya.

"What's wrong?" Tanong niya rito sa malumanay na tono to calm her down.

"Ate Sidd has been in the hospital for a week now, and she still hasn't woken up yet." Umiiyak na sagot nito sa kanya.

Pakiramdam ni Kaizer ay tila may mabigat sa dibdib niya as his heartbeat sped up. Sakitin si Cassidy, but this is the first time that she's unconscious for over a week.

"Calm down, Callie. I'll fly there now. Mag-iingat kayo diyan." He said as he hang up and immediately rush to the main house, hoping that his parents will let him use their jet.

"Kaizer, what's wrong? What happened to Cassidy?" Tanong ni Milo pero hindi na niya pinansin ito.

He can't wait to see his best friend again as he uttered a silent prayer, hoping that she's going to be alright.

—————————————————————————