Book 1: The Day She Came (UNDERGOING MAJOR REVISION)

Chapter 3 - Set Ablaze

Examinations are over and I don't have to fucking study kahit na di naman ako nag-s-study.

"Beer?" alok ni Briston.

I absentmindedly took the can and drank from it. Tangina ba't feel ko parang drained na drained ako. The beer soothed my throat as soon as its bubbly form washed down my esophagus. Biglang gumaan pakiramdam ko dahil sa beer.

"You look blue. Late night drive?" tanong ni Carlos habang ngumunguya ng pizza.

I couldn't agree more.

A Chevrolet Camaro, a Ford Mustang, a Ford Shelby, and a hulking Hummer sped through the silent streets of the city. Yes, it's illegal pero, who are we to follow every damn rule?

The engines roared as we entered a curve.

"Saan tayo? Let's make this quick. Ayokong mahuli par!" ani Briston sa kabilang linya. It was a "protocol" to put everybody on line para makapagcommunicate kami. Saka cool rin sa pakiramdam eh. We're like in an action movie or novel or something.

"Kuya J's?" tanong ko as I stepped on the gas para mag-overtake.

"Malayo na. Jollibee na lang." sabi ni Raph.

"Voted." sabi ni Carlos.

"Jollibee it is." sabi ko.

We found ourselves pulling into the restaurant's driveway.

"I miss driving through the streets." ani Briston pagpasok namin sa gusali.

The familiar ambiance ng kainan ang bumati sa amin pagkapasok na pagkapasok naming. However, I don't know why I glanced at my right. Could it be a man's intuition or something? Could it be another kind of nature's call?

Ewan. I just glanced to the right at random. Then my eyes fell upon this one person na hindi ko nga kilala. Pero it kinda felt as if I have known her for years.

The feeling of longing filled me nang napatitig ako sa kanya. Our eyes met. She wasn't that far kaya napansin ko ang animo'y kumikinang niyang mga mata. Her hazelnut brown eyes pierced through mine. Agad akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba sa dibdib ko. It was like my heart was set ablaze by her glance.

"Hoy." sabi ni Carlos sabay tapik sa balikat ko.

I was snapped out of the trance. Napagtanto kong nakatitig pala ako sa kanya.

"Who's that?" tanong ni Carlos.

I blinked a few times.

"No one." ani ko bago naglakad papunta sa counter.

The night wore on habang kumakain kami. Naaliw kami sa kwentuhan kaya medyo matagal pa bago namin naubos ang aming pagkain.

"Ah gutom pa ako." sabi ko sa kanila. "Imma buy more food." dagdag ko bago tumayo.

I ordered my food at naghintay. I felt a someone or something softly bump against my back. Paglingon ko, I saw a short girl with round cheeks, hazelnut brown eyes, and wavy, black hair.

"Hala! Sorry, Kuya!" she exclaimed.

I felt something warm fill my chest.

I thought of saying "It's okay." pero I could not find the right words in my mouth. It seemed as her presence deemed me speechless. As a result, I ended up saying nothing before turning my back from her.

Habang naglalakad ako pabalik sa table naming, hindi ko maiwasang magtaka. What was that sensation that I felt? Was it because I was stunned by her beauty? Why is my chest still warm? Pucha ba't parang ang init kahit na napakalamig?