FORTUITOUS

SELENE ROSARIO AMANTE

Hi! I already decided to stop writing stories. I feel that I'm no longer good at doing so. But recently, as I think about life, this plot was bugging me. I am writing this to satisfy my alter ego. I think writing again will give me a sense of calmness. I can't keep myself calm unless I share what's brewing on my mind. So here I am, being your clockwork_chaser once more.

I know I've been away for too long. Baka wala na ngang magbasa nito. Pero kung mayroon man, I hope you enjoy this. This is a story of Selene Rosario Amante. And this is not a happy story.

SELENE

I took a final breath of my stick then I threw it on the floor. With the tip of the heels of my stilettos, I stepped on the cig then I looked inside my purse for a mint strip and my favorite perfume. I have to eliminate the trace of smoke on me. If not, Hestia Marein Amante will surely give me an earful of her sermon.

I am checking myself on my reflection on a car's window when my phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw my annoying brother calling. I let the call end without answering. Inayos ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko and I smiled to myself.

"Ang ganda mo talaga." I giggled. Having no lover means I have to complement my own beauty. I don't appreciate compliments coming from other women. Most were sarcastic and envious. Kapag sa lalaki naman, pakiramdam ko lang ay bastos. I am fine carrying my own boat anyway.

"Yes?" I decided to pick Carrack's third call.

"Where the hell are you?!" I can imagine my brother's furrowed brows.

"Relax. I'm just around." I giggled. "Just taking some fresh air."

"Dad's looking for you." Carrack breathed. "Don't you dare ditch this party, Selene Rosario! You know how important this is."

"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes. "Carrack, I am twenty two, not twelve. You don't have to check on me from time to time."

"Then act your age."

My brow raised when my brother hanged up on me. I smirked.

Carrack has been a wet blanket since he started working for the company. And it doesn't suit him. He's no longer the fun brother I'm used to have.

I am from a family of businessmen. Most of my family were stiff and too serious. My Mom is strict with everything. Growing up, I can count on my fingers the time she acted as a sweet mother to me. I know it's her normal. She's always guarded and stoic. Kahit kay Daddy ay hindi malambing ang nanay ko.

Dad is my favourite person in the whole wide world. He's strict with Ate and Carrack, but he's always sweet with me. I know he wants me disciplined, but he can't keep himself from spoiling me rotten. Sabi ni Tito Tee, it's because I am not breathing when I came out from Mom. I was dead when I came to this world. Good thing that the doctors never gave up on me until I desperately took in some air and cried loudly.

Thinking about it, this is probably my seventh life. The first was when I'm still in Mom's womb. Second, when I cried for the first time. Third, when I fell from the stairs when I was seven. I was knocked out like hell when my classmate pushed me off the stairs when I tell her that her bag was ugly. I got a scar on my scalp because of that. Annoying!

My fourth death was when I rode a bicycle downhill. The brakes broke and I have to crash myself on a parked car before I hit a pedestrian. I flew out of the bike and landed on the concrete road, head first. I thought I was dead back then. I spent three days in the hospital, unconscious.

I died for the fifth time in a car crash. I'd rather not remember the details. It was the darkest part of my life. If there's a way to remove it from me, I'll give everything for that.