Yael Romualdez is destined for greatness. Siya ang pinakahihintay na sugo ng mga Ahren - mga taong may dugong anghel na ang misyon ay puksain ang kasamaan ng kanilang mga mortal na kalaban, ang mga demonyong Kataha.
On his quest to find the chosen K...
The Malaya University gymnasium was jam-packed with students from different colleges. Cheering, chanting, and shouting, they were all hyped up because the two most popular students in their school were pitted against each other in a game of basketball.
Dikit na dikit ang labanan ng dalawang koponan. Yael is leading the black team while Cedric is leading the blue team. Being former basketball team captains of their respective high schools, napakagaling ng dalawa at talagang nadala nila ang kanilang mga koponan.
"We're down to the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and both teams have a score of 75! Dikit na dikit ang laban, guys!" Sabi ng commentator.
"Romualdez gets the ball while Hontiveros guards him closely! Tila nahihirapan si Romualdez na kumawala sa pagbabantay ng team captain ng kabilang koponan."
Yael is being closely guarded by Cedric. The former cannot come out because the latter seems to know his next moves.
Think, Yael. Think. Ika nito sa sarili.
"Kawawa ka naman, mukhang matatalo na kita dito pa lang." Ngumisi si Cedric. Nagawa nitong agawin ang bola kay Yael at tumakbo patungo sa kabilang court.
In a smooth lay-up, Cedric Hontiveros shoot the ball into the basket.
"Hontiveros for two! 77-75, in favor of the blue team! One minute and twelve seconds remaining!" Umalingawngaw ang boses ng commentator sa buong gymanasium.
Daniel ran to the other side of the court to reclaim the ball.
Nagsigawan ang mga estudyante, lalo na ang mga tagahanga ni Cedric. Nakakabibingi ang cheers at chants ng mga ito.
Ngunit mas nakabibingi ang tibok ng puso ni Katherina.
Hindi alam ng dalaga kung sino ang iccheer. Kabadong kabado siya dahil dikit na dikit ang laban.
In her three years in the university, bihira niyang makasalamuha ang pinsan na si Cedric. Tila iniiwasan siya nito, na labis na ikinalungkot ng dalaga. Tuwing lalapit siya dito ay palalayuin siya. Still, hindi pa rin nagbago ang pagmamahal niya sa pinsan. Inisip na lamang niya na baka marami lang itong ginagawa at ayaw paabala.
She is really happy for what her cousin is achieving. She is cheering on the side of the blue team but she cannot help but to cheer too whenever Yael scores.
Yael has been her crush since their freshman orientation but she never had the chance to speak to him nor introduce herself. Bakit pa? Sa dinami-dami ng nagkakagusto sa kanya, imposibleng mapansin niya ako, let alone magustuhan ako. The girl sadly told herself. Kaibigan nga, hirap na hirap ako magkaroon. Ang mapansin pa kaya ni Yael?
She's content with watching him from afar. In her cold and lonely world, he looks like the sun - warm and lively.
In her three years, Katherina never had friends. Ikinalungkot ito ng husto ng dalaga dahil sigurado siyang wala siyang masamang pakisama na ipinapakita sa mga nagiging kamag-aral, ngunit tila ayaw siyang lapitan ng mga ito. Tila invisible din siya dito. During her 1st and 2nd year in the university, pinipilit pa rin nyang makipagkaibigan but to no avail. Tuwing magkakaroon siya ng kausap, they mysteriously forget about her the next day. She always insists that they talked and clicked hanggang sa isipin ng mga kaklase na may sayad ito. Katherina thinks that she's being played with, pero wala na rin siyang nagawa. Maybe I'm not likeable, after all. Nagpasya ang dalaga na tanggapin na lamang na wala talaga siyang magiging kaibigan.
Nevertheless, Katherina loves people. She tries to help others in need as much as she can. Tulad na lamang ng isang kamag-aral sa painting class na nanakawan ng supplies. Alam niyang scholar ito at mahal ang mga gamit nila. Without thinking twice, Katherina went to the mall to buy her classmate a complete set. She discreetly left them on her classmate's locker, which made the latter happy and relieved, though she never found out who helped her.
Katherina also displays amazing painting skills. She conveys all her emotions on her works and anyone who sees them will really feel something in their hearts. Matagal nang gusto ng mga propesor ni Katherina na ipadala siya sa mga competitions pero nahihiya ang dalaga, so she always politely declines.
"Last 20 seconds! Romualdez closely guarding Hontiveros this time!" Kathryn came back to her senses nang marinig ang boses ng commentator.
Cedric smirked as he knew Yael cannot stand a chance. "Sorry, I win this game." Nakaalpas ito sa pagbantay ng kalaban at muling tumakbo patungo sa ring.
"Last 15 seconds!"
Akala ni Cedric ay mananalo na sila ngunit naagaw ni Yael ang bola sa kanya at mabilis na tumakbo patungo sa kabilang court. He was caught off guard for a second but recovered. He ran after Yael.
"Seven..six..five.."
Daniel is now on the three-point line and is aiming at the ring. Cedric tries to steal the ball from him.
"Four..three..two.."
Daniel threw the ball. It got in.
"One!"
The black team won by one point.
"78-77! That was close! Congratulations, black team! That was one nerve-wracking but awesome game!"
Naghiyawan ang mga tao at ngumiti sa mga ito ang pagod pero masayang Yael.
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Cedric Hontiveros, with glaring eyes, left the venue silently. For the first time in his life, he got defeated.
By the chosen Ahren, who else?
-----
Katherina saw her cousin so she decided to follow him. She brought him water and a towel.
"Ced! Wait for me!" Habol niya dito.
"What?! Sinabi ko bang sundan mo ako?" Sinigawan nito ang babaeng pinsan.
"B-but.." Nauutal na sabi ni Katherina. Natatakot siya sa pinsan. "Here's some water and a towel. You did great, okay? More than great."
"Huh! Who are you to tell me that?" Cedric glared at his cousin. "Ano, masaya ka ba? For the first time, I've been defeated and the whole school witnessed it."
"Ano ka ba Ced, hindi naman bababa ang tingin nila sa'yo. You're an exceptional student.."
"Stop talking as if you're someone great. Sino ka ba to tell that to me?!"
"Ced.." Nangingilid na ang luha ng dalaga at nababasag na rin ang boses nito.
"What? You're crying again? Kita mo ngang badtrip na ako, I did not ask you to follow me, and now iiyak iyak ka sa harap ko?" Cedric angrily shouted at her. "Give me a break, Kath!"
"I'm sorry.."
"Nakakahiya ka! Diyan ka magaling sa paiyak iyak mo. Ang hina hina mo! You're a shame to our family. Don't ever come near me. Don't tell anyone we're related. I don't want be associated with a loser like you!" Tumalikod na si Cedric sa pinsang umiiyak at naglakad palayo.
Kath felt crushed. Unti-unti na ring nanlabo ang paningin niya at sumikip ang kanyang dibdib.
"Let me help you." were the last words she heard before everything went black.
