Body Clock

Prologue

End of summer 2016

Virdilla, Philippines

The wind was blowing my hair and I welcomed it by sticking out my body outside the window of the car, while my friends were singing a familiar song.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air with a smile para sulitin itong mga oras na ito because today is the last day of summer. Ibig sabihin, may pasok na ako bukas at siguradong mai-sstress nanaman ako sa sobrang daming fashion plates na ipapagawa sa amin.

I mean, don't get me wrong because I really love sketching my designs pero dahil sa sobrang daming dapat ipasa, nawawalan na din ako ng mga ideas.

"I got this feelin' inside my bones
It goes electric, wavy when I turn it on
All through my city, all through my home. We're flyin' up, no ceilin', when we are in our zone~"

I was snatched back to reality when Dakota suddenly sang out of tune, but she was so confident, kaya I just joined her para hindi siya mag mukhang tanga.

"I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet
I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops," I sang and looked at my two other friends for them to continue the lyrics.

"Oohhh~" Their mouths formed an o while heads moved to the side smoothly kaya napatawa ako habang nagsusuot ako ng sunglasses para mas mafeel pa 'tong moment na 'to.

"I can't take my eyes up off it, movin' so phenomenally
Room on lock, the way we rock it, so don't stop," We sang our hearts out—almost screaming every word of the song and acting like we're a member of pitch perfect.

Binuksan ni Jolene 'yong bubong ng kotse niya kaya tumayo kami to get our hair blown by the wind, dances got to be seen by the river below the bridge we were passing through, and our laughter be heard by the trees.

This is how summer should be spent—road trips with your friends and not knowing where to go; just letting the wheels drive you to your destiny.

I closed my eyes again with a smile still on my lips and hair flying backward as the wind harshly brushed through my whole body. But when I was just about to open my eyes, bigla akong napasigaw dahil biglang nagpreno si Jolene kaya halos tumilapon kaming lahat, mas lalo na't we were not holding onto something.

"Anong nangyari!?" I shouted—gripping hard on the hood kahit na tuluyan na kaming nakahinto.

"Ano 'yon, Jolene!?" sigaw din ni Dakota habang hawak-hawak ang noo niyang nauntog at namumula.

"I-I think we hurt someone..." Jolene muttered that made my heart pound in panic dahil nagegets ko na kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin.

I gulped and removed my grip to the hood of the car to clasp my hands together para ikalma ang sarili ko dahil ayaw kong makulong!

Hindi pa ako graduate!

Pinangako ko sa parents ko na magiging fashion designer ako balang araw at hindi kriminal!

"Hurt who? I'm not hurt. Are you, Vicky?" Maisey asked innocently while tilting her head, but I didn't answer her. Instead, I followed Jolene because she went out to check if we're really in trouble. At nung makakita ako ng dugo sa kalsada ay halos mahimatay ako because we really are.

"Vicky, ikaw tumingin," Jolene said, but I shook my head multiple times while taking a lot of steps back dahil habang tinitignan ko palang 'yong mga dugo ay nanghihina na ang mga tuhod ko. "Come on, diba gustong-gusto mong manood ng mga horror films? Kaya mo 'to," she added in a more encouraging tone para utuhin ako pero kahit na anong mangyari ay hinding-hindi ako uunang dudungaw!