Isla Velarde #1: Raging Waves

SPECIAL CHAPTER 1

Special Chapter 1
***

Shiruo was alone in his room while flipping the page of the album he made back in his college days. It’s an album where he was still happy with Hanna— his ex-girlfriend.

A bittersweet smile form on his lips as he remember those days with her. If only she haven’t left him for another man.

“What am I even doing? I shouldn’t be looking at this anymore. I’ve moved on.”

Umiling-iling si Shiruo bago siya tumayo patungong kusina. Dala-dala niya ang photo album na naisipan niyang itapon.

It’s been seven years since he went to Santa Rosa to see for himself of his ex-girlfriend’s betrayal. He know he had moved on, yet there’s still a part of her that lingers around his heart.

“I had moved on,” he convinced himself.

Tiningnan ni Shiruo ang photo album sa basurahan saka siya bumalik sa kaniyang silid. That’s a good start for him to actually forget about the past.

Naisipan ni Shiruo na kumain sa labas gaya nang nakasanayan niya pero tinawagan siya ng kaibigan bago pa man siya makapagpalit ng damit.

“Hey, man! Busy ka?”

“I’m about to go out to eat on a restaurant,” he replied.

“Great! We’re here at Badass Bar, you should come. Everyone in our department is here including your ninong.”

Shiruo sighed. He is not much of a drinker and doesn’t even go to bars unless his cousins or best friend invites him. Plus, he is thinking of his cousin Alyssa that would fuss over him if he goes out drunk driving again.

“I’m not going there,” he said. “I’m not fond of alcohol and you know that, Percival.”

“Oh come on, bestie! Don’t be such a killjoy. This is Badass Bar, walang lalandi sa iyo, mahal na prinsipe. You know how tight their rules are. Also, if you fear that you are gonna go and drunk driving, I’ve already prepared a room for you in the nearest motel. It’s an expensive motel too so no need to fret, my friend. Wala talagang lalandi sa iyo rito.”

Sa huli ay pumayag na rin si Shiruo. Naroon naman ang kaniyang matalik na kaibigan kaya hindi niya kailangang mag-alala kung sakali mang may lumapit sa kaniyang babae. In his life, there’s only one woman he slept with and that is Hanna.

Shiruo changed into a more comfortable clothes before going to the bar. Pinagbigyan na niya ang kaibigan dahil minsan lang din naman sila lumabas para mag-inom.

Pumailanlang ang musika na nagmumula sa banda nang makapasok si Shiruo sa bar. It was better than seeing strippers on a pole so he was at ease entering the place.

“Shiruo, my best man!” Sinalubong siya ng best friend niyang si Percival o mas kilala sa palayaw na Percy. Inabutan siya nito kaagad ng inumin na tinanggap naman niya.

Mataas ang alcohol tolerance ni Shiruo ngunit hindi siya madalas uminom ng alak kaya para sa kaniya ay bago sa panlasa niya ang tamis at pait ng alak.

When they got into their table, everyone in their department was there including his godfather who is actually the one behind the celebration.

“I thought you won’t come considering you are a conservation type of guy,” pagbibiro ng kaniyang ninong.

Shiruo shrugged his shoulders. It’s not that he is conservative, he just don’t like parties and clubs. He can’t even understand why party people likes going to bars, drinking and dancing with random strangers.