Still Into You

Chapter 1 - Specimen under a microscope (unedited)

MAX's POV

It was about 6 o'clock in the morning when the plane landed at Indianapolis Internation Airport. And it's been 3 years since I last visited this country when our grandmother died (Dad's Mom), now I'm gonna stay here with my family, permanently I guess.

Short introduction of our family, our father is an American businessman while our mother is a pure Filipina and a former friend supermodel in the Philippines, but she's helping my Dad now with our business. I also have brothers, they are twins and 3 years older than me.

My brothers and I live separately because of my personal reason. They live here in Indiana with our parents while I was with our grandparents (Mom's parents) in the Philippines for 12 years. We often see each other because they spent their summer vacation in the Philippines every year and sometimes we travel to different countries. They've been asking me to be with them but I refused. As my brothers being stubborn, they didn't get tired of pleasing me to leave Manila so I told them that I will just finish my Highschool and then I'll be with them. Plus, I'm of legal age now, it's time for my responsibilities to get taken care of. That's why I'm here.

I do miss this country but it's also sad leaving my grandparents in the Philippines and knowing I might lose the chances of finding my first love.

It's so stupid of me to forget the most important thing, which is his name. I think it's because of the anesthesia as I've been in an accident before and went to a not so serious operation. I heard the doctor said that I might have a few memory loss because I hit my head hard. But my Mom being an always positive person, she didn't believe the doctor, but instead, she told me that maybe I was drowned by my first love's presence while I'm with him that's why I only remember the endearment that I used to call him. Which is "Torvas".

I wonder how he's been now. Is he in college too, does he have a girlfriend? (sigh) If he does, I might shoot them both. Kidding. I may have forgotten his name, but I still remember the first time that we met.

Flashback 12 years ago...

We are here in the Philippines planning to stay for 2 months in our grandparents' mansion. We just had our lunch and I really love Filipino dishes, my favorite is the famous adobo. My Mom said my eyes turned into heart-shape when I first tasted it. Lol

"Dad, can I go outside? I need to take a walk, I'm so full" I asked my dad.

"Sure baby, but stay inside of the village and be back after 30 minutes, or a maximum of an hour. Don't talk to strangers" he said. I was surprised. I wasn't sure he's gonna let me because I'm too young to wander outside unaccompanied by someone older than me.

Actually, I didn't know where to go. We've been here for 2 weeks and this is the first time that I went outside without my brothers. So I just walk, following my feet where it leads me.

...
Oh, there's a basketball court here and besides was a mini-park. There were few kids playing and I think they are of the same age as mine, 6. I headed to the swing and right after I sit on it, there's something that hit my arm. It's so painful and my tears welled up. As I check my arm, it has a blue stain and it smells like paint.

"Hey, are you okay?" A boy with a paintball gun approached me, he looks so worried when he saw me teary-eyed. I just looked at him and didn't answer. 🥺

"It's my fault, I'm really sorry," he said, and then handed me a handkerchief. I didn't take it and I just looked at him, again.

"Can you please talk or answer me? I'm getting worried here and also, please don't let your tears fall" he said and I can sense the nervousness in his voice, so I nodded.