Dancing with the Devil

Prologue

I've always been told to take things seriously. That life is full of surprises, and you'll never know when you'd end up finding yourself locked up in an unexpected situation. I agree—although I couldn't let myself follow the flow of life, and I just always find myself going the wrong way fighting through the winds, not allowing it to take control of my life.

You see, I like taking risks. Even if the consequences could cost me a lot, I'd never back down. I despised losing as much as I loved winning. If there's only one thing that I want, that is not to be a loser in this lifetime, so I'd do everything on my own will to win.

In order to do so... I became the fiery fire that constantly burns, searing everyone who touches me. I already got used to it, but I didn't expect that aside from mine... I'd get burnt by someone else's fire. While I was enjoying doing a lot of things, the devil knocked on my door to reclaim its title, burning me itself.

I stared at the nothingness while my mind was occupied fighting for its life. It has been like this—a non-stop cycle. May paroroonan at may hantungan. Hindi man iisa ang direksyong daninaraan ko ay paulit-ulit lang ang nangyayari.

Since I started my university life, I ended up creating a routine. I'd wake up as early as I could, and prepare myself to welcome a new day.

Kung hindi ako nagigising ng maaga ay mahuhuli ako sa klase ko at sa huli mapipilitan akong gumamit ng riding app makarating lang sa university sa tamang oras. Hindi ko man gustong gastusin ang allowance ko ay wala akong magagawa, kaysa naman mahuli ako sa klase.

I swear... I really need to keep track of my expenses if I want to buy my own car that I can use. But with this course of mine? And the things we needed, the impossibility of it happening is more probable.

Sa panahon ngayon, masyadong magastos ang college.

"Hello people, it's friday! And it's a happy day. Tara inom—pobla or bgc~" I flinched when I played the voice memo I recieved. I forgot to lower the volume. Ang aga-aga pa ang taas na ng energy ng babaita.

Maaga akong nagising ngayong araw, kaya naman kahit mag-commute ako ay siguradong aabot ako sa aking klase. Mahina akong bumuntong hininga at nag-angat ng tingin ng huminto ang tren na sinasakyan bago magtipa ng mensahe. Vito Cruz. I'm almost at my destination.

Maya: when they said university was costly, this was not included in the long list of memos they gave out.

Sera: I mean, a culture shock, really.

After confirming that I'm in, I placed my phone back in my pocket. Napailing nalang ako habang iniisip kung paano na naman iiyak ang wallet ko sa magagastos mamaya. Kung tutuusin ay mas marami pa ata akong nagastos sa pag-inom kaysa sa mga makabuluhang bagay sa kolehiyo. I'd complain about it all that but you'll still see me partying with them at the end of the day.

In no time, I reached my destination. I walked my way to university and went straight to my classes.

"Hi everybody! Come and watch my life as a college student studying tourism." Sera smiles brightly in front of her cam.

"My class just ended. And today, I'm with my friend, Maya." I promptly waved my hand, timidly smiling as she turned the camera on me.

"My afternoon got cancelled, maybe because it's hot today, ano? Apparently..."

Apparently, my friend is a part-time model, so I can't really do anything with her but deal with her lifestyle. At kahit kailan hindi ako masasanay sa kanya. We sat down on the table in the rounds, while she filmed the futsal team as they cleaned up and the pep squad placed the mats they'd be using for their practice.