Love & Devotion: Marking His Territory

Chapter 1

Spot

"You okay?" my cousin Margot asked me while driving me to their home.

"Yes, I'll be fine." tanging sagot ko sa kanya.

I'll be moving to their house starting for today, kina Tita Margie and Tito Rex muna ako mananatili habang nasa Amerika pa sina Mama at Papa kasama na ang kapatid kong si Stanley. They'll be gone for a year dahil pinaghahandaan nila ang heart surgery ng kapatid ko, we just knew it recently, kaya pala lately sumasakit lagi ang dibdib niya dahil may nakabara sa ugat ng puso niya.

He was just only a 15 year old kid, he doesn't deserve this. At lately ko lang din nalaman na may family history pala kami ng sakit sa puso, dahil ito ang kinamatay ng Lolo ko sa side ni Papa. Kaya napagpasyahan ng mga magulang ko na dito muna ako kina Tita Margie, habang pinapagamot nila si Stanley sa Amerika.

"Everything will be alright, Shreya." Margot reached for my hand.

"Thank you, couz."

"Mom! Dad! Shreya is here!" Margot announced happily as we stepped in into their home.

"Welcome back, hija." Tita Margie embraced me warmly.

"It's been a year na rin nung last ng punta nyo dito sa bahay."

"Oo nga po Tita eh, naging busy lang din po kasi kay Stanley." I said with a sadness of my voice.

"Everything will be fine, Shreya." Tito Rex reached for my hand.

"Thanks , Tito and Tita."

"This will be your temporary room." Tita Margie showed a room that has an interior of gray and white.

"Di ba po kay Kuya Mateo ito?"

"Yes, pero wala naman siya dito. He's doing his masteral sa Australia, one year na din siyang nandun."

"Ahh, kaya pala I haven't heard anything from him, nasa Australia po pala siya."

"Yes! Kaya dito ka muna sa kwarto ni Kuya pansamantala." Margot butted in.

"Oh, tara na pala it's almost dinner time already." biglang aya ni Tita Margie sa amin.

"So, bukas na rin pala ang pasok mo sa NorthBridge University, Shreya?" I glanced at Tito Rex, as we eating our dinner.

"Opo Tito, thanks to Margot kasi she told me na siya na po ung nag-ayos ng dapat na kakailanganin ko sa pag-eenroll ko bukas."

"Sasamahan ko rin Dad si Shreya sa Office of Student Affairs para mainform ko po sila na bukas na mag-eenroll at papasok si Shreya."

"Okay, agahan nyo bukas para di kayo malate."

"Yes, Mommy."

"Shreya, are you ready?"

I glanced to my cousin as she parked our car carefully.

"Medyo?"

"Don't worry! You have me here! And isa pa ipapakilala din kita sa mga friends ko dito."

"Thank you, couz."

"Wait ka lang dito couz ha? Tatakbuhin ko ng super saglit lang yung Library card ko, super mabilis lang ito."

"No worries, sige na. Hihintayin kita dito." I reassuringly said to her.

Kaya eto ako ngayon, nakapila papunta sa OSA, I just finished filling up my enrolment form, at kagaya ko marami rin palang mga late enrollees.

Bigla akong nauhaw kaya nilabas ko mula sa backpack ko ung Mango fruit juice na binili ko kanina sa cafeteria. I deliciously sipping my juice ng bigla akong inubo, kaya may natapon sa damit ko. It's a white blouse pa naman, kainis! Kahit kelan talaga Shreya ang clumsy mo.