Sundered by Time (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 1

I just got home from my cousin Naha's graduation celebration. My family and I went to UST, where I am currently studying, because she just graduated as a Magna Cum Laude in the College of Architecture. We just got home after we had her celebration proper in Wolfgang's Steakhouse in Taguig.

Binalingan ko ang childhood best friend kong si Mae dahil kanina pa nauudlot ang usapan namin. We're currently packing up for my upcoming birthday celebration in the middle of the night.

"Doon ka pa rin magta-trabaho?" I asked her.

"Maganda naman doon kaya bakit hindi?" Mae shrugged, biting the fruit served to us while looking at me. Hindi ko man masabi sa kaniya, I'm proud of her. My best friend is working in the field that she wants.

"Mababait naman ang mga staff?" I asked and she agreed.

"Approachable sila. All in all, maganda naman talagang media company 'yun."

I grabbed a couple of outfits from my walk-in closet and dropped all of it on my bed. Namili ako ng susuotin bago ko maayos na binalik ang iba sa cabinet. I packed my chosen outfits that was out of Mae's opinion as well.

Nagkukuwentuhan lang kaming dalawa tungkol sa mga plano sa buhay nang biglang magutom kaya bumaba kami sa kusina. We cooked samyang and put a cheese on it, then regretting soon after that we chose a flavor that's out of our league.

Two days have passed and it's my birthday. Mama rented a whole private garden resort in Laguna. There are about a hundred guests including my close friends, Mama and Papa's colleagues and extended family. My friends and I used the shuttle bus of the hospital owned by my family, to go to the reception while my family used the van. Hindi ko na alam ang gagamitin ng ibang pupunta doon.

Lima lang ang inimbitahan ni Daddy, my grandfather, si Mommy naman ay wala para raw kami-kami na lang. My family are scared- not literally, to people, mahihiyain ang lahi namin sa ibang tao kahit na hindi halata, isa lang ako sa medyo sanay makipag-usap. My mother's side which is Buencamino, where my cousins are from, prefers having a private life. Si Papa naman ay madalas na exposed dahil sa trabaho sa gobyerno.

"Palit na tayo," Lauren said.

"Anong oras na ba?" I asked them since it's not sunny. I'm wondering if it's already late in the afternoon.

Tinignan naman ni Bronson, ang kaibigan namin na 2nd year na sa FEU, ang relo. "Alas kwatro na."

We got our bags and went inside the shower room. Nagpalit kami ng swimwear, nag-sunblock kami at lumabas na dito. Uminom muna ako ng margarita bago binalik ang bag. I tied my hair in a bun and told my parents that I'll swim with my friends.

I'm wearing my old two-piece swimsuit. Hindi ko naman ito laging nagagamit at maganda pa rin naman. It showed my curves the way I wanted it to be shown. It fits my body, yet it's not that exposed.

Naunang lumublob si Bronson at nagulat pa dahil mainit ang tubig dala ng hot spring. Natawa pa ako saglit bago tiningnan ang ilang kaibigan. "Lauren, tara na dito."

Lumusong na ako sa pool pero naka tingin lang si Lauren na nakaupo sa gilid. I slowly pulled her feet that made her join us in the pool. Tinulungan ko siyang maka ahon.

Maya-maya pa, lumayo ako at hindi na maabot ang sahig dahil namulikat ang isa kong paa. Nataranta ako bigla at may hinatak. Nang medyo umangat ang katawan ko, nakita ko si Lauren na nahihirapan nang maka-bangon dahil nalulunod na siya at ang ulo ay nasa ilalim ng tubig.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako nakakuha ng lakas ng loob na tumawa. Hinatak siya ni Zara, at inangat, nilapit niya ito sa gilid ng pool at pinakapit. May mga lumabas na tubig sa ilong ni Lauren bago siya nakapagsalita.