In Denial Innocence

Prologue

10 years ago...

"Baby! Alex come here, we have visitors here." That was my mom calling me. I am here now resting in my new bed.

For 5 years, as in 5 years na ako sa mundong ito pero sa loob ng limang taong ito tatlong beses na rin kaming palipat-lipat ng tirahan. Just like now! It was just yesterday that we transferred here in Cebu. Kahit bata pa ako ay natuto na akong maging seryoso. I like helping my mom in the house kahit pa may mga katulong naman kaming kasama hindi nila ako sinanay na maging tamad. My mom is really hands on when it comes to us. Though I got everything I want from food to my luho in life still I learned how to control and save money. But only my family and yayas ang may alam ng totoong ako because I used to pretend bad girl when I'm outside that's why they called me "baby brat".

"Baby, common where are you na?! Bumaba kana nakakahiya naman sa mga bisita natin."

"Yes mom! coming!" As I go downstairs I saw a couple and a young boy sitting in between them in the couch facing my mom.

"Oh there she is, our one and only princess, Alex. Baby come here greet them.

"Hello hija, you can call me Tita Riza and this is my husband Lawrence." Said by the beautiful woman. Sa itsura pa lang niya masasabi mo nang mabait siya.

"Nice meeting you princess! You can call me Tito Renz." Said by the very handsome man, I think he is some kind of a humorous father.

"Good morning Tito Renz and Tita Riza, it's my pleasure also to meet you. Please be kind to us po." sabi ko then I hug them in return.

"Oh you're so cute and kind baby, honey we should have a baby girl soon nah talaga." Said by Tita Riza.

While they are busy talking with each other, my eyes was busy looking to the boy hiding from Tita Riza's back. I was so confused why he is hiding, bakit kaya? Baka nahihiya lang siguro sa amin.

"Tita Riz, who is that boy po at your back?", I asked.

"Oh yes! This is our one and only son Louie. Baby come here, don't be shy." Tita Riz's said while trying to convince his son para humarap sa amin.

Then bigla na lang lumapit sa akin yung batang lalaki.

I am really shocked kasi bigla syang humarap then lumapit sakin sabay abot ng lollipop at nagpakilala.

"Hello I'm Louie, nice to meet you Alex." he said habang tipid na ngumingiti. Nakita ko tuloy yung malalim na dimples nya sa magkabilang ibaba ng kanyang lips.

I was not yet recovered from being shocked, aside from his sudden introduction; I was busy checking him out.

Sobrang neat nya tingnan; Actually he has the perfect features of his parents.

Perfect combination kumbaga. Kahit bata pa siya at kahit hindi mo pa kilala ang parents nya masasabi mo talagang parehong magaganda ang kanyang parents.

His eyes are round, dark and expressive, like a puppy eyes. His nose was perfectly copied from his Dad dahil sa sobrang tangos. His lips are pouted na kuhang-kuha nya sa kanyang Mommy.

A perfect combination of a Chinese and Latin beauty. White and tall, even he is still 6 years old.

Yes, he is a year older than me. Young but you can really see the maturity in him. Though may pag ka weird siyang tingnan dahil lang siguro sa eyeglasses nya pero bagay naman sa kanya nagmukha syang matalino.

Bata pa lang ako aaminin ko, but as this young age I learn to appreciate the beauty of what's the face in front of me. Kaya ganun na lang ako ka shocked ng humarap sya sakin.
Hanggang sa nalimutan ko nang ipakilala ang sarili ko sa kanya.

"Iha, are you ok?", Tito Renz said.
That was the end of my fantasy.

"Oh! Yes tito! I am ok. Ahmmm, by the way I am Alex, nice meeting you also Louie, tatawagin ba kitang kuya?" sagot ko sa pagpapakilala sakin ni Louie.

"No! 'wag nang kuya. Louie is fine, if you don't mind." sabi nya sakin.

My mom was started teasing me when I saw her looking at me and to Louie. Alam ng mommy ko kung gaano ako nahuhumaling sa mga taong may dimples. To think, I had a lot of korean celebrity crushes na with dimples talaga like Lee Min-ho oppa, Kim Bum oppa and Choi Siwon oppa.

I really blushed for a while. Oh thanks! Buti hindi napansin nila tito and tita.

They really welcomed us happily. Sobrang saya namin ni mommy kasi bago pa lang kami dito yet we have now neighbor friends.

Sobrang dali nilang nagkaclose para bang dati na silang magkakilala. I'm sure makakasundo din nila ang daddy ko, sayang nga lang busy sya today.

Well... kami ni Louie? We're now friends!

As in, actually super duper close na kami. Siya ang aking kauna-unahang boy friend. Dahil bagong lipat nga kami kaya lagi nya akong sinasamahan. Hanggang sa naging nakasanayan na namin ang laging sabay everytime we go to school. Sinusundo nya ako sa bahay naman at sabay naming hinihintay ang school bus. Lagi nya akong pinupuntahan sa classroom namin at sinasabayang kumain tuwing tanghalian. Tumatabi siya sa table ko hanggang sa magbell na tsaka pa siya babalik sa room nya.

Nasanay na akong lagi syang nandyan. For 3 years, we had each others back. He is my comfort, nagseselos ako sa tuwing may mga lumalapit sa kanya. Sobrang bait nya kasi at matulungin. I have no choice! but to watch him while chitchatting from his friends. Marami siyang naging kaibigan, pero ako? Siya lang talaga. Ewan ko bah! masyado kasi akong aloof. natatakot aking maging open at baka ma-attach na naman ako. Siya nga lang ang tinanggap ko eh. Dahil lamang sa isang pangako...