Endless Summer [Gallego Series #1]

Chapter 01

[Madrid, España.]

Liev sighed eyeing the resignation letter on his desk. He's been going back and forth his office, contemplating whether to finally submit his resignation to his boss, or not. He's had the letter since last month, pero sa kung anong dahilan ay hindi niya magawang ibigay iyon.

What's really holding him back? Kahit siya ay hindi masagot ang tanong.
Or maybe, he does have an answer as to why, pero hindi niya kayang marinig sa sarili ang sagot.

Liev heave another sigh as he flopped down on his swivel chair, facing his office's glass window that gives a beautiful scenic view of Madrid.

Seven years. That's how long he's been hiding in a foreign land; continuously running away from things in his past.
Of course it's never easy. Nothing comes easy.
Living amongst unfamiliar faces, swept by crowd of strangers, the years of building his foundation and name, everything was scary for Liev. But it has to be done.
At least now, he's known for his works.

Architect Liev Caspian Chua, that title alone is enough proof to emphasize the blood, sweat, and tears that he has gone through in those years of building himself a name. His colleagues deemed him detached but praise him for his designs, his co-workers thinks he's an angel with a hidden horn and fork behind his high-heeled boots; but when it comes to work—everyone knows that Architect Chua gets shits done.

He's had everything in Madrid, a high paying position, a luxurious apartment of his own, all the beautiful views from his office—kaya, bakit pa nga ba siya aalis?

Liev's eyes go down on his phone, kanina pa nag-v-vibrate iyon, sign na kanina pa siya inuusisa ng mga kaibigan sa gc nila.
Isa na namang buntong hininga ang kumawala kay Liev nang abutin ang hindi matahimik na cellphone.
Pagka-unlock niya noon ay tama nga ang hinala niya, kating-kati na ang mga kaibigan niyang malaman kung ano talaga ang balak niya. Hindi na nakatiis ang mga ito at nag-initiate na ng video call.

"Seriously, Liev? It took you so long to answer talaga?" Bungad sa kaniya ni Lian, his best friend from college and a current coffeeshop owner sa Makati. Ito rin ang promotor nang agenda na pauwiin si Liev sa Pinas for the past seven years.

"Ano na teh? Uuwi ka pa ba? Baka naman maunahan pa kita umuwi? Mind you, nakaka-sampung pabalik-balik na yata ako!" Segunda naman ni Augustine, nakasimangot ito habang naglalagay ng kung anong cream sa mukha.

"Malamang, ginagawa mong Pasay to QC ang byahe from Europe to here!" Lian rolled his eyes on August, who in turns made face.

"Pasalamat ka nalang nasisilayan mo pa mukha ko, unlike someone!"

"Kids, wag mag-away, pag iyan talaga hindi umuwi" Singit naman ng kapapasok lang sa call na si Sol, a kindergarten teacher in Manila.

Liev wanted to roll his eyes at his friends' antics.

Nakakatawa lang isipin na kahit may kaniya-kaniyang buhay na silang magkakaibigan ay heto pa rin ang lima, nag-uusap na para bang hindi isang dekada ang nakalipas mula noong maka-graduate sila sa kaniya-kaniyang kurso.

"Where's Wyn?" Pag-iiba ni Liev sa usapan nang mapansin na apat lang sila sa call.

"Bebe time daw nila, tangina 'non!" Lian hissed, "Simula nung ikasal sila nung borta'ng papabels niya hindi na kami tinigilan sa kayabangan!"