Bound By Divergence

Prologue

2009

Nadia Abigail Saldua sat on the swing, her small legs barely reaching the ground as she pumped them back and forth, watching the world swirl around her. Sa murang edad, para sa kanya ang mga bata sa playground ay parang mga bituin—naglalakbay sa kislap ng kanilang mga ngiti at tawanan. She always felt like a spectator in this vibrant world, an outsider peering in at the warmth of friendships she craved but never quite grasped.

“I just have to walk up there and introduce myself,” she whispered to herself, practicing the words in her mind. “Hi! Can I join? Can we be friends?” But even as she rehearsed, doubts crept in. "Baka hindi nila ako gusto," she thought, shaking her head in frustration.

As the only child, her days were often filled with silence, the kind that echoed loudly in the corners of her heart. Habang ang ibang mga bata ay naglalaro at nagkakasama, si Nadia ay nagtatanong sa sarili kung bakit siya ay nag-iisa. There were fleeting moments of connection, but they always slipped away, like grains of sand through her fingers.

In the same afternoon, as she sat on the swing, she noticed a group of kids gathered around a new boy, his tousled dark hair catching the light. He had an air of confidence, laughing easily, drawing the others into his orbit. Little Nadia watched from a distance, her heart tugging with a mix of envy and longing.

Suddenly, she felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder. “Bakit ka nandiyan lang?” a voice asked, smooth and friendly. Startled, she turned to see a boy about her age, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I—uh… I was just waiting for my turn,” Nadia stammered as she lied to save herself from her shyness, her cheeks flushing.

“Gusto mo bang makipaglaro?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. “Naglalaro sila ng agawan base doon. Sali tayo!”

Nadia hesitated, glancing back at the group. “I don’t know… baka ayaw nila akong makasali.”

“Hindi 'yan. Sumbong mo lang sa akin kapag may umaway sa'yo, ako bahala." He assured her with a warm smile spreading across his face. "Let's go?"

As he spoke, she felt a flicker of courage, the kind that made her heart race. “Sige… I will try,” she replied, taking a deep breath.

“Great! Sundan mo lang ako,” he said before gently grabbing her hand, then they bounded off toward the group together, glancing back to make sure she's okay.

Nadia’s heart fluttered. Sino kaya siya? But as she took her first steps toward the other kids, she lost sight of the boy, his figure blending into the swarm of children. She could feel the warmth of his encouragement still lingering, propelling her forward.

“Hi, can I join?” she finally managed to ask when she reached the circle of kids, her voice shaky but hopeful.

“Of course! Kailangan pa namin ng isa para sa base namin!” someone shouted, pulling her into the game.

As they began to play, Nadia forgot her fears, caught up in the rush of laughter and running. She was no longer just a spectator; for the first time, she felt like she belonged.

As she ran around with her newfound friends, dodging and weaving through the playground, Nadia couldn’t help but glance around, searching for a glimpse of the boy who had given her the courage to join. But he was nowhere to be seen, his figure lost among the swarm of kids. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, leaving only the echo of his voice and the warmth of his smile behind.

“Nasaan kaya siya?” she thought, catching her breath as she paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the playground.

"Uy, Abby! Dito ka na sa base natin!" one of the kids shouted, waving her over. She smiled, feeling the warmth of belonging fill her chest as she ran to her team. For the first time, she was part of something bigger, surrounded by the camaraderie she'd longed for.

Yet even as she giggled and played, a part of her held on to the mystery of that boy. She wanted to know who he is, a mix of excitement and curiosity tugging at her heart. But as the afternoon sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the playground, she realized she might never know.

Her mind kept drifting back to that brief moment, the kindness in his eyes, the assurance in his voice, and how he made her feel brave, even if just for a few seconds.

As the game stopped and kids decided to go home since it was getting dark, Nadia noticed the boy from earlier standing by the slide, hands in his pockets, looking at her with a small, almost knowing smile. Before she could think twice, she made her way over to him, her heart thumping in her chest.

“Hey, thank you sa kanina,” she said, her voice shy but grateful. “Kung hindi dahil sa'yo… siguro hanggang ngayon nakaupo pa rin ako roon.”

He grinned, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “Walang anuman. Kaya mo naman pala, eh. Ayos ka pala, ah, Asteria.”

“Asteria?” she repeated, caught off guard. “Bakit naman Asteria?”

“Asteria means of the stars.” he explained with a shrug, a glint of amusement in his gaze. “Kanina pa kita napapansin. You just kept watching everyone from afar. Parang bituin lang.” He tilted his head slightly, emphasizing how she seemed to shine quietly, like a star amidst the boisterous energy of the playground. “At saka maliit ka lang, kaya Asteria.” he teasingly said.

Nadia felt a warmth blossom in her chest at his words. The name “Asteria” resonated with her; it captured her essence perfectly. For so long, she had felt overshadowed by the brightness of others, observing life from a distance, wishing she could step into the light. But in that moment, his nickname for her made her feel special, as if he could see the potential within her that she hadn’t fully realized herself.

“Bituin, huh?” she mused aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. “Tama ka. Sometimes, I think about shining on my own like the others, pero I can't help myself but to feel scared with that thought of it.”

He smiled, his eyes sparkling with understanding. “Walang dahilan para matakot, Asteria. Lahat tayo ay parang mga bituin, may sari-sarili rin tayong mga tamang pagkakataon para magningning.”

His words filled her with a new sense of hope. In that brief interaction, she felt empowered, as if she could finally break free from the shadows she had often found herself in. It was a reminder that, like the stars, she could shine brightly even in the darkness.

Nadia giggled, her heart fluttering with excitement and newfound confidence. “Fine, but if I'm Asteria, ikaw naman… ikaw si Shadow.”

“Shadow?” He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Bakit naman Shadow?”

“Kasi parang lagi kang nawawala,” she said, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Kanina pa kita hinahanap, bigla ka na lang nawawala. Parang multo lang.”

"Hinahanap pala ako ni Asteria, huh." He chuckled, crossing his arms, which made her roll her eyes in response. “Shadow, ha? Okay, Asteria. Next time, wag mo na lang akong hanapin. Baka hindi mo na rin ako makita.”

Nadia laughed, feeling strangely at ease with this mysterious “Shadow.” It was as if, for just a moment, the distance she always felt from others had disappeared. She didn't even notice the time slipping by until her name was called from a distance.

“Asteria, mukhang hinahanap ka na ni mama mo,” he said with a slight smirk.

Nadia turned, seeing her mom waving her over. She looked back at him, suddenly wishing she knew his real name. “Salamat ulit, Shadow,” she said softly. "Sana magkita pa tayo ulit."

He nodded, that same knowing smile on his face. “Malay mo, Asteria. I will see you when I see you.”

And just like that, he melted back into the crowd, leaving her wondering if he’d ever been real at all.

"See you later, Shadow."

As she walked away, a small smile graced her lips, and she whispered to herself, “Even if we’re worlds apart, I’ll always carry a piece of you with me… we’re forever bound by divergence.”