CHAPTER ONE: 5 YEARS AGO …
It’s one sunny day and I can’t help but smile as the breeze caress my face. It’s a new day, I can feel it as I stand here in my balcony staring at the beautiful sight of a pleasant morning in the city. The air feels so cool that it helps me soothe my nerves. It’s a lot help when you live in a city and if that city is Manila. My nerve calming meditation is interrupted when my mom yelled at me.
“Hale! Come down here! The breakfast is ready! And You’d be late!” my mom shouted a few more words before she decided to shut up.
I grunted before coming down to the kitchen. This is just one thing that I love about my mom. She always wrecks my day with just a few beautiful words from her. With that in mind I half run the stairs that leads to the kitchen.
“there you go! For a million times would you hurry up? I don’t want you to be late. Being late would mean missing a thing or two in your class. And that’s a great help to your career. Remember you’d be succeeding our company someday … “ and she continued ranting on how I would be failure if I happen to fail my classes and so on. I just hope my mom would talk about different things like how am I or if I really want to succeed the company or whatever as long as it’s not just about her expectations. It seemed like she just had me to be exactly like her. But I know better, I’d never let my life be ruled with money to the extent of pushing my daughter to her death bed.
I feel relief as I see the school building. It’s not because I’d be away from my mom for hours, well part of that, but I’d be able to see Rojan Buenavista. The guy who sees me as a person and loves me dearly regardless of my failure as a human.
Me and rojan has been together for a couple of months now and It felt like we’ve been together forever. Like we are meant to happen. I remember the time when we first met. He was the captain of the basketball team and I was just a nobody. We met at their finals against a well-known high school. I was asked by the coach, my uncle brent, to give the players water. And because rojan was just stunningly handsome in his green jersey I accidentally spilled the water to his face because I trembled at the sight of him and got all klutzy. And after that, well, let’s just say we can’t forget each other. Going back I cant help but laugh.
And speak of the angel, he’s waiting for me at the entrance looking so adorable with his ripped jeans and shirt. He then flash his crooked smile as I make my way to him.
“hey lovely” he said then kissed me on my forehead.
“hey” is the only smart reply I made while feeling embarassed. I’m still this crappy when talking to him even if we had months of talking and doing romantic things, I still can’t believe he’s mine.
“so you seem so annoyed when you got out of the car. Did you and your mom fight again?”
“yeah. Well you know her and her mouth she just can’t stop”
He smiled “ well she’s still your mom sweetcorn. She get’s to be a nagger all the time”
I laughed at this and he joined in making the day so light.
The day continued to stretch on but it never felt so dull. Having rojan at my side all the time makes my day complete.
so when the last bell rang signaling for the end of the day for us I felt happy because I'd get to spend more time with him alone.
"so hale, I have this place on mind. and I want you to come with me... would you like to... go?" he seemed reluctant thinking I might say no; a hopeful expression vivid on his face
"I wouldn't miss it for the world" I then gave him the sweetest smile I could muster.
We left school and we're on our way to the place he wanted me to see. On the way there I suddenly felt so nervous and too self consious. thinking if my dress is fine or my face still looks good. well highschool makes you vain at some point right? when we reached the place I suddenly looked at him in utter disbelief. who wouldn't? I'm staring at a creepy old mansion with trees giving it shade so that the air is cool, not fresh cool though, one you could call a creepy cool air.
"hey don't get me wrong, don't be deceived by it's appearance. It's creepy I know but it's not the place I want you to see." he smiled knowingly then tugged my arm dragging me inside the house.
Yes, he's right. the inside looks so homey. so antique, but not in a creepy way. he then led me to the balcony where you can see the view of the sea.
I sighed " I love it here" while smiling to him
"yeah I know but are you ready for my surprise?"
"there's still more?"
"of course! it's just a teaser. and you know this is really important to me that's why I want to take you here" he said while cupping my face.
all I did was smile as I felt something warm inside my chest.
we went under the house. yes under. the house has an underground and to my amazement it's much beautiful than what you can see on the ground floor. It was decorated with paintings but what caught my attention are the pictures that hung on the wall.
"it's beautiful" I said as I adore the photographs. as I turned to a corner I saw something that made my heart go crazy. I saw my pictures neatly compiled and there's a large portrait of me while I'm reading a book under a tree while smiling. It's so breath taking.
"you see I brought you here to introduce you to the other side of me. to the side which no one ever know of. to the side of me that I was too afraid to show but with you, I'm willing to lay it open and I'm hoping you'd accept it as well. I love you so much hale." he said while keeping eye contact .
"I don't know what to say. these," i said pointing to the portraits "are wonders, and I'm so lucky to know this side of you. And I have to admit that I'm loving you even more" I finished teary eyed. He then caught the stray of my hair and put it at the back of my ear and slowly crossing the gap between us sealing our words with one passionate kiss.
