❝Some of the best stories are yet to begin.❞
*****
Serial dater Karyn Sonia "Karson" Chua meets photographer Noel "Nowi" Winston-Vergara. Despite being in each other's orbits for years, the two never interacted until an unfortunate accident occurs...
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KARSON THOUGHT it would only be that one instance but no. Nowi really was acting weird. Matapos nitong ipagdamot ang pullover, parang lalo itong kinabahan.
Kinagabihan, kaunti lang ang mga lumabas na alitaptap. Ang sabi ni Tito Japs, gano'n daw talaga minsan. May season din daw kasi ang mga insekto tulad ng pagsibol ng strawberries.
Eyeing Nowi suspiciously, Karson entered the guest room. Tapos na siyang maghilamos nang makatanggap siya ng notification mula sa boyfriend. It wasn't related to why he was acting all jumpy and guilty. Still, she didn't ask him outright. Nagdesisyon siyang hintayin na ito mismo ang magsabi.
They exchanged messages for more than an hour. Kung saan-saan napunta ang usapan nila. They talked about Mon and Jai who greeted Nowi privately. Naligaw na rin sila sa pakikipag-bonding ng mga tatay nito sa kanya.
Wala pa rin.
With her patience running thin, Karson sighed.
"By the way," she typed.
She was in the middle of thinking of a good way to broach the subject when she received another message from Nowi.
"I've been meaning to give you something pala."
Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. Mukhang tama ang desisyon niyang hintayin si Nowi.
Following his request, Karson left her door unlocked. She felt a mix of emotions as she sat on the bed. Mukhang may regalo lang naman kasing ibibigay si Nowi. Isa pa, napakakaswal ng pagbitiw nito ng request sa kanya.
Mariing napapikit si Karson nang makarinig ng tatlong magkakasunod na katok. They were soft knocks. Doon pa lang ay alam na niyang si Nowi iyon, hindi pa man umaawang ang nakabukas namang pinto.
"Love?" Nowi asked quietly.
"Bakit?"
Tuluyan nitong pinihit at binuksan ang pinto. "I'm sorry, it took me a few minutes. I was looking for cake, then I realized that Nat ate the leftover nga pala," nangingiting paliwanag nito. "Are you sleepy na ba?"
Karson shook her head.
"Would you maybe want to go to the beach?" Napalabi ito nang maningkit ang mga mata niya. "There were only a few alitaptaps kasi kanina, right? I don't know about you but I was a bit disappointed. There's usually more kasi at this time of the year."
She shrugged. "Baka dahil sa climate change," simple niyang sabi. Nagmamadali niyang ipinatong sa sando ang oversized polo ni Nowi. He lent it to her the night before. Iyon din ang ipinangibabaw niya sa swimsuit niya noong lumangoy sila. "Hindi naman tayo magsu-swimming, 'no?"
