Kupido's Alumnus

Prologue

DISCLAIMER:

This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, businesses, events, or anything you will find in this story are either based on the author's imagination or used in fictitious manner. Any similarities found to real persons, living or dead, places, businesses or events are purely coincidental.

Please be warned that there are sensitive topics that will be mentioned in this story. Reader's discretion is advised.

As possible, please don't do anything the same or similar that the characters will do.

Please bear in mind that I'm not that good in writing. Therefore there will be a lot of misuse of words, repetitive words in certain chapters, and wrong grammars. This is an unedited version as well. Viewer's consideration is very much appreciated.

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME.

Read at your own risk.

PROLOGUE

"Charmaine, nasaan ka na? Andito na ako."

"Traffic," sagot ko sa kaibigang si Desteen sa telepono. "Kahit gaano kaagang umalis..." Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. I don't want this day to be more frustrating than it is.

Narinig ko ang tawa ni Desteen. "Baka nagrarason ka na lang, ah? Kokonyatan kita! Kung ayaw mo rito, pwes ako rin!" Rinig ko pa ang pagsinghap niya bago ibaba ang tawag.

May alumni homecoming kasi ang batch namin nung highschool. Si Desteen, hindi ko ka-batch pero dahil active sa committee ay a-attend. Ilang beses na 'yung nakadalo sa ganito pero ngayon lang gustong umayaw dahil... Natawa na lang din ako sa rason.

Well, it's highschool. Maraming bagay na nangyaring gustong kalimutan.

Umurong na ang mga sasakyan kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Akala ko mawawala na ang pagiging punctual ko ngayon pero hindi pa rin pala.

Honestly, I don't want to attend this event. If it weren't for meeting my friends and seeing the previous guidance counselor... I wouldn't consider going. Especially after something happened years ago with someone.

But I do want to meet her.

I want to see her again.

I don't even know if she'd attend to this but it's worth the shot. Marami akong gustong itanong at dapat malaman. I want to know how something could be nothing in a span of years. I want to know how she faded out to my life and why.

And most importantly, if she wants to come back.

Because if she does?

Napabuntong-hininga ulit ako.

Wala nang atrasan 'to. Nawala na rin ang traffic nang makaliko ako kaya mas napabilis na ang pagmamaneho ko. Habang papalapit sa venue ay mas kinakabahan ako. My god, after everything, kinakabahan pa rin ako? I should be excited!

Pero paano ba mae-excite kung mas gusto mo na lang matunaw at lunukin ng lupa?

With a beige dress, and hair tied up in a messy but elegant bun, I walked in the venue wearing a matching stilettoes. I tried to be as effortless as I can so I went with a natural makeup. Hindi rin naman pagpapaganda ang pinunta ko rito.

"Sa wakas, nakarating ka na rin!" Niyakap ako ni Desteen nang makita ako.

Madalas kaming magkita ni Desteen, pero bihira siya mag-ayos. She's the type of person who could pull off everything, lalo na kapag komportable siya. So now, I wasn't shocked that she went with a clean look. Just a blue long-sleeved blouse tucked on a cream pleated pants. Nakasuot din siya ng white heels at nakatali ang buhok sa simpleng ponytail.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world." I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

"Malamang! You have a lot of explaining to do!"

Desteen entangled her arm with mine as she practically dragged me to our table. Naroon ang iba naming batchmates na kakarating lang din. Nakipagkumustahan kami sa kanila at nang dumami na ang mga tao, dumating na rin si Rana. Nagsimula na ang kantyawan namin sa table at tumayo si Desteen.

"CR lang ako," paalam niya bago umalis.

"Love of my life mo dumating, hindi ka lang lang babati?" asar kong inirapan niya lang.

Tatawa-tawa lang ako kay Desteen habang nakikisakay sa asaran sa table. However, everything backfired when someone entered the venue.

I can hear our batchmates teasing but it was as if the whole world slowed down and all I could see was her.

She did not waste any second to mingle and went straight to the stage.

"Siya ang pinaka-guest," rinig kong bulong sa akin ni Desteen. Ni hindi ko man lang namalayan ang pagbalik niya. "I thought you saw it coming... She graduated with latin honors at NYU."

Marami pa siyang sinasabing achievement na nakuha ni Serina throughout the years, but I couldn't pull my eyes away of her.

The way she carried herself to the front.

The way her eyes looked at everyone in the place.

And the way it stopped at me; the one seated right in front of where she's standing. It seemed to me the we're the only one in this vast venue.

"Please welcome, Dr. Serina Aestherielle Gallardo!" the host announced.

And then her lips curved into a smile. That same smile. The one I considered that could take my breath away.

Even now.

How something so right, go so wrong?