Hard To Reach

Chapter 1 - I can still remember him

Shine's P.O.V

"Good morning everyone, I'm Shine Santos, 19 years old, and my course is Business Administration." Today, is our first day of our another semester, I'm 3rd year college,studying at Mercy and Divine International School. I moved here since grade 5, because my father decided to enroll me in a school which has a Business Administration course so I can help my father and my brother in our business. My mother died when I was a baby, so I didn't feel the true mother's comfort, I can only see her face in our photo albums.My father is living at London, sometimes he is visiting me here once or twice in a year here in the Philippines to check me if I'm ok. He started to become busy since I'm 2nd year highschool, because he needs to provide the other branches of our company.Yes, we have our own company in London. My brother is working there too, so I have a nanny, she is Ate Janina, she took care of me since my mother died."You may sit, next" our prof. said, we're just introducing ourselves that's why I don't need to be stress, but the boredom is attacking me.After 3 subjects, I went to the canteen to eat my lunch, I saw Felicity waiting for me "Hey! c'mon!I need a story, what's up?!" she said, she's my bestfriend since I moved here, Felicity Jade Trinidad, a volleyball player and a campus queen. Every guy here in school admires her.Wondering why we're speaking in English? because this is an international school! duhh, you'll get punished if they hear you speak in Tagalog. "Later, girl" I said. After we bought our food, we heard the girls screamed "Oh! it's Raven!" "My number 7!" "My dreamguy!" every girl is shouting this when he's coming, except us. Then a girl waved at him, then he wink. When he came to our table "Hi guys." he said, "Woahh, the Mr.Flirt is here, I mean Mr. Romantic" I said. Raven is also my bestfriend. Raven Grier Josefa, football player, campus king, journalist, that's why any girl admires him. Well, they are both campus king and queen for 5 succeeding years. I don't want to join in that kind of contest,pageant. I don't know why.But I should also be proud of myself, because I am a member of Drama club here in school, also a member of debate club, math club,I'm also a President of our student council, and I became famous because I am the 'campus hearthrob' yeah it's true, there are lots of guys who admires me try to court me but, sorry, I'm too busy of my studies. I also became famous here because of my brother, he is a basketball player here in our school, oh I forgot he is a MVP player, but he already graduated here 2 years ago.They say I'm such a 'mataray',well sa kanila lang, especially to the guys who admire me.But I'm not treating my bestfriends like that "Jealous?" he said, "oh c'mon, Raven she already had a prince charming." Fel said, yeah she's with me "Right" I agree. "That Xenon guy? oh c'mon! he already forgot you!" he said "Do you wanna die or wanna die?" I said. "Hahaha, just kidding." then he left us to order a food. I remember him again, Xenon.

Flashback******

I'm here at the park to wait for my dad, I'm from school, he told me that we will have a diner with my brother. I saw the children are playing there, but I'm too shy to join. So I sit in the swing to wait for my father, the park is just near on our school, or should I say a walking distance. Then a boy sits in the other other side of the swing. "Hi" he said "H-hi" I said shyly. "Why don't you join with us?" he said. The boy is wearing a full-buttoned polo and an oliver shorts and wearing a cap on his head. "Hey, don't be shy" he said. I'm just looking at the ground. Then I saw him walking in front of me, then he offer his hand "I'm Xenon" he said, then I grab his hand "Sh-Shine" I said. "Oh, a student of Xavier International School, rival school namin, I'm from Reagan Academy School of Elites, diba English speaking kayo doon? do you understand me?" As if I don't understand him, I'm a Pilipino, I born here. I just nod. "Edi good, samin kasi English speaking din kaso, kapag recess na pwede na mag-Tagalog. That's why I don't want to study there because that school is so strict." I just smile for what he said. Yeah true "Finally! you smile!" then he jump there like he won in a lottery, oh big deal? "Ahm do you want to join us?" he said then I look to the children who are playing there. "B-but, what if they don't like me?" he also look to the children, then he look at me "They'll gonna like you, I promise." He said. Then we jooin at them, actually they accept me. We play there until my dad came, "Shi Shi, c'mon let's go home." he said. Then I run to Xenon "I gotta go. Thank you for joining me." I said "Bye. Babalik ka pa ba?" he said "Yes." I said "Pwede ka bang mag-Tagalog? noseblood!" he said, I laugh "Babalik ako dito bukas, just make sure that you're here huh.Sorry di ako masyado sanay mag-Tagalog." I said "Babye. SHI SHI? haha." he said "Hey! you're teasing me!stop calling me that way!" I said "Bye Shi Shi I mean Shine" then he laugh then I smile because of his laugh. Then I ran to our car. From that day on, we became friends, sometimes he is calling me Shine sometimes Shi Shi, I allow him to call me Shi Shi, we became good friends then we became bff. We are always going here after school, playing here. My dad already knows about him, but he only said "Good" when I mentioned him once to him.My brother said, my dad is vey cold to us but we know he loves us, I know. There are three special persons who are calling me Shi Shi, my dad, my brother, and Xenon. Xenon became part of my life, if he had a problem, he's asking me what to do, sometimes he is telling his secrets to me, and I'm doing that too, telling my secrets and my problems to him. Until our recognition came. We met to the park to show our medals. He introduced me to his mom, and I introduced him to my dad.But I think this is our wrong move. "Leon?" his mom said "Lena?" dad said. So they know each other? "Hanggang ngayon parin ba sinusundan mo pa ako? Leon huwag natin idamay mga anak natin dito." his mom said, "Lena, di ko dinadamay mga anak natin dito. Please huwag mong ipakita sa kanila ang problema natin dito." my dad said. "Bakit?! ayaw mong ipaalam sa anak mo kung ano ugali mo?!kung paano mo ako iniwan?!" she is shouting right now and also she's crying. "Lena! you look so pathetic!" he said, they are now both shouting, this is my first time to see my dad shouts, because my dad is a very silent person, he never opened up any conversations to us.Yes, we are scolded by our father, but he never shouts at us like that. I felt scared because of what happened right now. That's why, I don't know what to do but to cry. Then later on my dad pull me into our car, and he scold me. "hop in" he said, telling me to enter to the car. So I sit at the front seat. "Don't do this again Shi Shi, listen his family is our rival in our business, she is the reason why your mother die and my my.....nevermind, Don't go to this place again, wait at the waiting shed of your school if you are waiting for me nor your school bus,just stay away from them. From now on I will not allow you to play to that boy again. Stay away from him specially at his family" my dad said, his voice is calm, but the way he look at me, It's giving me goosebumps, and shivers. I'm scared at him. On the next day, I disobey my father. I went to the playground,actually, this decision takes me an hour to decide from it. I saw him at the swing,where we first met. I saw him crying? is he crying? I ran into him. "X-Xenon?" he look at me, he is really crying. His eyes is full of sadness. "Sh-Shine." he said, he stood up. ""Shine, we'll gonna fly tonight to U.S, *sniff* and my mom said *sniff* that I need to stay away *sniff* from you, but I can't leave you. You're my besfriend right?" that's why I started to cry too.(NP:Forever by Faber Drive)