Seasons 2: A Second Chance in Spring

Chapter One

"Andy, baka naman matunaw na nang tuluyan si Apollo sa pagtitig mo?"

Hindi pinansin ni Andy ang kapatid na si Gabby. Tuloy lang siya sa pag-sketch sa lalaking nakaupo sa isang sulok ng canteen at pinaliligiran ng naggagandahang mga babae. She could only make out the profile of the man, but it was enough for her fantasies to travel to different dimensions. Apolinario Joaquin III - more commonly known as Apollo - was the most gorgeous guy she had ever laid her eyes on.

"I wonder what you see in him," nakasimangot na sabi ng kapatid niya habang umiinom ng juice sa tetra pack. "Pangalan pa lang ay parang magpapaiyak na talaga ng babae. Apollo. Kadiri," inulit pa nito ang pangalan na may kasama pang pangingilabot.

"Sobra 'tong makalait," angil niya sa kapatid. Wala nga siyang makitang mali kay Apollo. Everything about him - even his name - was perfect to her in every way.

Inirapan lang siya nito. "He's the greatest playboy to ever walk the school grounds. Sa college namin, kung sino-sino ang pinapatulan niyan. Tingnan mo nga, dala-dalawa pa ang inakay na akbay-akbay niya."

Ang tinutukoy ni Gabby ay sila Sarah at Apple na member ng isang elite sorority kung saan member din si Gabby. Napapabalita na itong dalawa ang latest girlfriends ni Apollo. Girlfriends - dahil kahit kailan ay hindi pwedeng solohin ng isang babae lang si Apollo. It was Apollo's personal tagline - I'm yours for the taking.

Sa naisip ay napahagikhik si Andy. Alam niya iyon dahil alam niya lahat ng bagay tungkol kay Apollo - magmula sa paborito nito'ng kulay hanggang sa paborito nito'ng pagkain. She had spent several months admiring Apollo from a distance. Wondering just when she would be able to tell him her feelings. She liked his carefree ways. She liked everything about him.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Gabby nang marinig ang hagikhik niya.

"Kung saan-saan na naman napunta ang imagination mo." Sa kabila ng iritasyon ay may amusement sa tinig nito.

"He's everyone's dream guy, Gabby," she said. "He came out straight out of every woman's girlish fantasies of knights slaying dragons to save princesses in distress."

Si Apollo ay anak ng isang kliyente nila ng ama nila na si Alfredo Montecillo. The Montecillos and the Joaquins were some of the most prominent names in the business and entertainment world. Malimit kapag dumadalaw sa bahay nila si Lino Joaquin na ama ni Apollo ay kasa-kasama nito si Apollo para siguro turuan sa business habang bata pa. And everytime, Apollo would listen to the business deals as if he was listening to the unwanted buzzing of flies and mosquitoes, boredom written on his face.

But one day - one very fine afternoon almost half a year ago - he looked at her. Straight into her eyes. He looked at her for about five seconds, and there and then she knew. She would be Mrs. Apolinario Joaquin III.

"Andy, hindi ko alam kung ano'ng taste meron ka. Isa pa, hindi ka papansinin ni Apollo. Ano'ng laban mo sa mga college students na lagi niyang kasama?"

Natigilan siya sa pag-i-sketch dahil doon. Kung itatabi nga siya sa mga naging girlfriends ni Apollo ay wala nga siyang laban. Apollo seemed to like girls with big boobs and curvaceous figures. Samantalang siya ay bubot pa ang dibdib niya. Pero hindi siya pinanghihinaan ng loob doon. Someday, Apollo would need someone who would love him with all her heart. At siya lang iyon.

"Patingin nga nang ini-sketch mo?" hirit ni Gabby. Nakisilip ito sa sketch pad niya. Napailing na lang ito nang makita ang iginuguhit niya. "You're out of your mind, Adriana."

"Maganda naman, ah?"

Ang iginuhit niya ay ang pigura ni Apollo habang nakasuot ng groom's suit. She had already memorized him - from his almost-grey eyes, to his pointed nose, down to the curve of his full, sensual lips. Na-i-imagine na niya ito bilang isang groom balang araw. A god who would face the altar beside her on her wedding day.