Shelter from the Burning Shore (Puerto Gallato Series I)

Chapter 1

I am already laughing inside my head as I walk by the hallway with my friends. It's Valentine's Day today so I'm expecting what will happen.

"For sure your locker would be full of love letters again. Siyempre graduating na tayo ng junior high, mas malala this year." Si Mika.

"Well, I think I'm thankful na mas marami because mas mahaba ang entertainment natin. Dear Serephina, I like you Hahhahha." Kete laughs at her mocking voice. "Oh my, as if papatulan naman sila Grace." Si Kate.

"Girls why are you like that? Nag-effort yung tao na mag-sulat, you can't just turn it into enterntainment" sermon ni Clarenz.

"Why are you mad? Did you write a letter for me too? Hmmm?" pang-aasar ko.

"That's history. I have no feelings for you anymore, I think. Hahaha your personality surely told me that yeah, being friends with you is better than dating." He shot back.

"Well, if you can't handle me that's for sure. And being friends with you is definitely better." I looked at the three of them and smiled before saying aything. "I love you guys. Thank you for being my friends!" I said then I proceeded to hug them all three at once.

"Stop hugging us, I cannot breathe." Kate said.

Then we all laugh together. "Hey have you heard the rumors about Alonzo, base sa sabi-sabi ay may dinadalaw daw siya na girl sa South." Sabi ni Mika.

"Well that's so yucky. So you're telling me that Louis Alonzo travels from Manila to the South just to see a girl from nowhere? I don't believe that." I said after rolling my eyes.

"Me too, like there are so many girls here that's from a known family and sinasabi nilang mas pipiliin niya yung girl na yun or whatever?" Kate said.

"Bulag ba siya at hindi niya makita si Grace? Just look at her. Beautiful girl with monolid eyes, long black hair and milk colored skin!" Kate again.

"Baka he is just like me, he has no feelings for her." when I heard Clarenz said that after listening to the beautiful things Kate told about me, kumulo ang dugo ko.

"Excuse me? Have you forgotten about the confession you made to me when we were in eighth grade?! Well, I don't care about Alonzo's business though. Why don't we hurry up and get inside our class?." I said and went on.

When our recess started, we immediately went to my locker. And guess what? Halos lunurin ako ng letters when I opened my locker. My friends immediately pick up some random letters.

"Oh I know, what don't we read each of them but with a twist." Mika said while grinning.

I never actually read those letters, I just put them into the trash can or burn them if I have time. This time gusto kong malaman kung ano ang plano ni Mika. When we get to the place she thought about, I can't help but to think this will be so evil. But there's the fun right? Ngayon na nga lang ako magbabasa ng letter. We sneaked into the broadcast room and started opening some of the letters.

"Good afternoon, everyone! We want to share some entertainment while you're eating your scrumptious snacks. Today we will read some of the letters Ms. Alvarez has received, and she will answer each one." Kate said. I turned to her and signed to turn the mic off for a minute. When she did, I went to her.

"I think we should stop this, I don't want to publicly reject someone. I want to maintain my good records and credentials. Isa pa, we're about to be seniors by next year so we really should stop this." I said, pleading.

Before she could answer me, bumungad si Clarenz sa pinto. Nakita ko ang muka niya. Ang kilay niya ang magkasalubong. At medyo namumula. Sumunod naman ay ang guidance counselor. Oh no, this is what I'm afraid of!