Meeting Him Again (TOPS Series #1)

Chapter 1

" You did it again Miss Amber."

I opened my eyes and looked at the blank ceiling. I felt drowned, tired, and thirsty.

"Naku! 'Pag nakarating nanaman 'to kay Madame G lagot na naman ako!"

It was Marcus, the caretaker of the pool area of this club house. Seeing him makes me annoy because he is gay. I woke up lying on this bed again. AGAIN. I never made it.

" Miss Amber naman eh! Kauuwi niyo palang po galing California last week. Tatlong beses na kayong nagpaka-lunod sa pool. Ano bang iniisip mo Miss? Sana lang sa susunod na gawin mo 'yan magpaalam ka muna kay Madame G para hindi ako matanggalan ng trabaho dahil diyan sa kagagahan mo!"

I fail from drowning. But he never failed to give me a headache with his annoying voice and annoying face.

He's right. Kauuwi ko pa lang from California. I came back right after my parents' burial. They died because of me. They die because I'm weak. They save me, even if I don't deserve it. They die because of my selfishness. They die.

" Can you please stop?! You're irritating. As if I know, nagpapa-cute ka lang. sino nanaman bang nandyan?" I sit up slowly. Pakiramdam ko nasa ilalim pa rin ako ng tubig. Hirap gumalaw, hirap huminga. Ambigat ng ulo ko.

I shake my head. Not just because of that terrible feeling, but also because of that terrible pain, because of that terrible memory.

" Naku, mabuti pa ikukuha ko nalang po kayo ng coffee at for sure, nanginginig pa rin 'yang laman nyo dahil sa kagagawan mo. Tsk. Tsk." Marcus shook his head and leave the room. He is a fool. He will never understand me, no one will. They just judge me, hate me. I don't care.

I'm still sitting on this bed, still swaying my feet.

Hindi abot ng paa ko yung sahig. Ang liit ko pala. While watching my feet, I notice someone waking up from the other bed right in front of mine. Hindi ko napansin kanina kasi nakabalot siya ng kumot. Ngayon lang din siya gumalaw at...weird.

Mabilis siyang tumayo. I just stare at his face and he is doing the same thing, staring at me. He has a long thin nose, he has a spare upper lip and a full lower lip. His eyes are slightly big, deep-set that his eyelashes touch the skin under his eyebrows, they are brown, his eyebrows are thick, undeniably perfectly attractive.

I realized that it's been a minute, so I look in a different direction. Then he speaks...

" Is that you?" Is he talking to me? He doesn't know me either so maybe, No.

" Hey! I'm talking to you!" He snapped his fingers in front of my eyes. Catching my attention.

" WHAT?!" I rolled my eyes. I did it intentionally. I shouted because of unknown reason. I just know that I don't need to be nice on the people I just met.

" Magpapakamatay ka ba?!" Kumunot nang bahagya ang mga kilay niya. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkairita.

" And so? Cares?" Pambara ko. So, siya 'yun? 'Yong 'faceless' 'unidentifiable' face kanina na pool?

Because of him... I fail.

I fail to die...

I fail to see my parents.

I HATE HIM.

I stood up and fixed myself. I can't imagine staying in the same room with him even just for a minute. But he stops me. He grabbed my right arm.

" Who cares? Pano 'yong mga magulang mo, 'yong mga kaibigan mo 'pag namatay ka?! Paano kung hindi ko naisipang sumisid sa pool kanina?!"

He tighten the grip on my wrist. He stern his look to me, I can sense his anger.