Act of Fervor (Mad Men, #3)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

"Hindi por que senorita ka rito sa province niyo, 'di na tayo magpapalit sa pagda-drive! Aber, Meica, ha? My butt hurts na. Hindi ganitong parusa ang gusto 'kong nag-iipit ng pwet 'ko, a!"

Miles' rare high-pitch voice caked inside the car. Napakagat ako ng pang-ibabang labi habang pinipigilan ang ngisi. Hindi ko siya pinansin.

I opened the car's window and let the salty wind of San Mateo onslaught the car. I know that air...the calming feeling of my province. It's been a long time since my body has been here. My lips stretched into a burgeoning grin as I closed my eyes and felt the surrounding. Happy memories flooded my mind instantly. Childhood flashes...bittersweet recollection. They are all flashing through my eyes as I stared at the sky above. The calm noises of the nature entered my system swiftly. Gust of wind hindering me to look down for the wide ocean. Napakurap na lamang ako nang marinig ang huni ng ibon at malakas na hampas ng alon sa malalaking bato sa baba.

I can't wait.

I can't wait to reach the ocean.

I can't wait to feel the fine sands of the beach.

I can't wait the salty waters on my body.

I can't wait to feel all of these altogether.

I truly miss San Mateo this much.

Iba talaga ang lamig ng hangin kapag December dito sa probinsya. It is actually chilling my bones. Lalo na kung malapit nang lumubog ang araw. Tulad ngayon. The flame hues spreading throughout the sky. Tila umaapoy ang langit sa katayuan nito. The birds are becoming shadows up in the air. Nagmamadali 'kong kinuha ang cellphone para makuhanan 'ko ng picture. Diretso post ito sa IG story para maipagmayabang.

I can't stop grinning widely.

"Oy, senorita! Ano na?" A terrific voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Umakyat din sa pagsara ang bintana ng kotse nang saktong kukuhanan 'ko na ito. My head whipped violently to Miles. His lips curved downward to feign his annoyance. Tinakpan kaagad ang pang-aasar sa pagbaba ng bintana. "What?" I quipped a bit annoyed.

"Inis ka na?" Umangat ang kilay niya sa pagsusuri sa mukha 'ko. "You have this look kasi."

Our eyes met for a brief second with frustration that could only last for a pithy moment. Miles and I always fight for petty reason. We usually clash over simple things like when someone demands for something and we didn't get it. Wala na, away na kami. But even we fight over simple things, lilipas naman kaagad 'yon. Maybe, this is the way we love each other. He's my best friend. Though, he is my ex-boyfriend. Funny might it sound, he was my boyfriend for a year until we broke up because Miles doesn't like woman anymore. I didn't barge in more when it happened. But I am glad to know he found his true being.

Our breakup is a mutual decision. We really talked about it over wine and beer. It wasn't a good thing for my diet but fuck it. Not a high-quality combination, but we drunk the night away, discussing about our dislikes deeply to each other. The next morning, we became friends, best friends specifically. And here we are, literally can't live without bantering and strangling each day and night.

Miles is pretty. Really, really pretty and could be a freaking model like me because of his height and exquisiteness. He has a foreign blood in him. Kung tama ang pagkakatanda 'ko, may dugo siyang Brazilian at Japanese from his mother. Ang father niya ay pure Filipino. I know his parents' history but it is a long story. To make the story short, siya ang naging bunga ng pagmamahalan ng mga magulang niya. He's the only child.

He's irritating but he's precious to me. Through thick and thin, Miles became my support in my darkest days. Until now, he's with me.

"I have this look to choke you," I spitted and rolled my eyes. "To death."