Celestine And Helios | A Novelette By Arki Aaron

Chapter 1

Limang oras.

Limang oras na ang ginugol ko, nalibot ko na ata ang lahat ng mall sa buong siyudad para maghanap ng trabaho pero wala. Wala akong makita. Huminga ako nang malalim dahil sa disappointment ko sa sarili ko.

Akala ko ba matalino at madiskarte ka Celestine? Trabaho lang hindi ka pa makahanap. Napakawalang kwenta kong anak.

After hours of fruitless searching, fatigue began to weigh heavily on my shoulders. The bustling mall, once filled with promise, now felt like a maze of disappointment. My feet ached from endless walking, and hunger gnawed at my stomach, a relentless reminder of my empty pockets.

As I walked through the crowded corridors, my eyes scanned the stores with growing desperation. But each door I approached seemed to close in my face, the promise of employment slipping further from my grasp with every rejection.

The vibrant displays and cheerful chatter around me were so loud and fun, but it did not ease the burden and fear in my chest. Paano kung hindi ako makahanap ng trabaho? Paano na si mama?

With each passing minute, my hope waned, replaced by a deepening sense of despair. How could I provide for my mom if I couldn't even find a job? The weight of failure bore down on me, threatening to crush my spirit.

And yet, amidst the exhaustion and hunger, a flicker of determination remained. I couldn't give up. Not now, not when my mom needed me the most. With renewed resolve, I squared my shoulders and forced myself to press on, determined to keep searching until I found a way to find a job for her.

Dahil sa lalim ng iniisip ko ay hindi ko namalayan ang isang lalaking natakbo papalapit sa akin habang nakatingin sa kaniyang likuran. Sandali, may humahabol ba sa kaniya?

Huli na nang sinubukan kong umiwas dahil saktong pagtingin niya sa akin ay ang pagtama ng katawan niya na naging dahilan ng pagbagsak ko.

"Aray!" reklamo ko nang maramdaman ang sakit sa puwitan ko.

Pagtingala ko ay agad kong tinapunan ng masamang tingin ang lalaking bumangga sa akin. That's when I saw his appearance.

He was dressed all in black – a black cap pulled low over his forehead, a black hoodie zipped up to his chin, and a black mask covering the lower half of his face. The darkness of his clothes seemed to highlight the paleness of his skin, making it glow almost pink against the backdrop of black. Despite his simple attire, there was an air of mystery and intrigue about him, as if he held secrets hidden beneath him.

Sa sobrang puti ng balat niya ay aakalain mong isa siyang prinsepe mula sa nakaraan. Parang hindi nagalusan o kahit nakagatan man lang ng lamok. Nakakamangha.

Akala ko pa naman snatcher siya pero mukhang nagkamali ako.

Pero ang pinaka-pumukaw ng pansin ko ay ang mga mata niya. Bukod sa iyon lang ang hindi natatakpan sa kaniya ay kapansin-pansin din ang kakaiba nitong kulay. He has these deep ocean blue eyes, or a blazing blue fire. It was cold, deep, and mysterious. Parang sa bawat segundo na napapatingin ako sa mga mata niya ay nalulunod ako.

"Hey, get up." I came back to reality when I heard his deep baritone voice. It's so manly, yet gentle.

He offered his hand to me, I accepted it then he helped me stood up.

"Hindi ka ba—" magrereklamo pa lang sana ako sa pagbangga niya sa akin nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko at hilain ako papalayo. He was running fast while holding my hand.

"H-Hoy! Saan mo ako dadalhin? Bakit ka tumatakbo?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang ako naman ay halos madapa na dahil sa bilis ng kaniyang pagtakbo.

"T-That's him!" Napalingon ako nang makarinig ng boses sa bandang likuran, hindi kalayuan sa amin. Those were men in black suit, and they are pointing towards our direction.