CHAPTER 1
“DAMN!” Napatampal sa manibela si Lovelle ng pumugak-pugak ang tunog ng makina ng kanyang kotse. Maya-maya pa ay itinirik siya niyon sa daan. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at malakas na ibinalibag pasara ang pinto. Holy shit, but she’s stuck!
Ano ngayon ang gagawin niya? Wala siyang alam sa pagmemekaniko.
Her already crumpled face gained more creases as she irritatingly gazed at her car.
Binuksan niya ang hood ng kanyang second hand na Toyota Corolla. Isang taon na niyang minamaneho ang sasakyang iyon at ito ang unang pagkakataong itinirik siya ng kotse. Siguro ay dahil sa maraming lubak na nadaanan niya.
She cursed silently. Nobody cared to improve the always rough road of Santa Barbara. Five years ago, the road was narrow and dusty in summer, lubak-lubak naman tuwing tag-ulan.
And she was driving on the same road as if no years have passed. In fact, it even worsened, she angrily thought.
Damn those trashy politicians in her hometown! Sinilip niya kung ano ang sira sa kanyang kotse ngunit hindi niya talaga alam kung ano. Of course, she knew nothing aside from driving, what would she expect?
She stole a brief glance at her wristwatch. It was five o’clock in the afternoon. Lalo siyang nanlumo dahil sa mga oras na iyon ay wala ng pampasaherong trysikel na bumibiyahe papasok sa baryo nila. Mga limang kilometro pa ang layo niya bago marating ang kanilang bahay. Kung maglalakad siya ay tiyak aabutan siya ng dilim sa daan. And to add more to her dilemma, she was wearing high heeled boots!
She silently prayed for a private vehicle to come her way. That was her only hope else she will have no other choice but to drag her ass home walking in high heeled boots!
Ngunit iilan lamang sa baryo nila ang may sasakyan. And she was in a province, kung saan maagang umuuwi at natutulog ang mga tao.
Isinara niya ang hood ng sasakyan at wala rin naman siyang maayos doon. Muli niyang binuksan ang pintuan ng kotse at dinukot sa handbag ang kanyang cellphone. She shouted a harsh curse when she discovered it was turned off.
Darn! But she forgot to charge her cellphone all day long. She tried to turn it on but it suddenly shut down. Battery empty.
Now, this is what you call a bad day! She combed her raven black her with her wobbling fingers. Inabot ang pakete ng chewing gum sa dashboard ng sasakyan, kumuha ng tatlong piraso and chewed the gum hardly inside her mouth, releasing the growing tension in her nerves.
Ten minutes passed in a blur. Darkness started to creep the always peaceful town of Santa Barbara. The sound of night animals and crickets filled her ears, making her feel really worried.
Well, maybe she needed to start walking. She was very frustrated but she had no other choice.
Her family was not expecting her to come home today. Kausap niya kanina sa telepono ang kanyang Mommy at sinabi niyang bukas pa siya uuwi. Ang balak naman talaga niya ay bukas pa umuwi. Sabado ng araw na iyon at half day lamang ang pasok niya sa opisina. Ang balak niya ay magpahinga na lamang sa buong maghapon upang kinabukasan ay nasa mood siyang magbiyahe pauwi ng Santa Barbara.
It was a five hour drive from Manila to Santa Barbara. Ngunit na badtrip siya ng umuwi sa inuupahang apartment mula sa trabaho. Nadatnan niya doon si Rod, ang on-and-off boyfriend ng kanyang kaibigan at kasama sa apartment na si Megan. Ilang beses na kasi itong niloko ng boyfriend. The last time they had a fight; Megan cried a river of tears.
At siyempre siya naman ay inalo ang kaibigan and motivated her to move on. Na hindi si Rod ang lalaki para dito at hindi ito karapat-dapat sa pagmamahal nito. The couple had a fight for several times, at palagi na lamang ang dahilan ay nahuhuli ito ni Megan na may ibang babae. Nangako ito sa kanyang hindi na patatawarin si Rod kung babalik ito ngunit kanina nga ay nakita niya ang lalaki at nagkabalikan na naman ang dalawa.
She was disappointed. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman niya sa mga babaeng martir. Katangahan ang ginagawa ng mga ito!
Ngunit hindi naman niya mapangunahan ang desisyon ng kaibigan dahil may sarili din itong buhay at pag-iisip. But she was just disappointed. Nangako kasi ito sa kanyang hindi na magpapakatanga sa boyfriend.
Hay, ang mga lalaki nga naman mga walang kuwenta!
Umilap ang mga mata niya sa puntong iyon. Isang mapait na ala-ala ang kaagad na itinaboy niya sa isipan bago pa makapasok iyon. Limang taon na ang nakalipas at nakamove on na siya. Ayaw na niyang maalala pa ang masakit na pangyayaring dulot ng kanyang unang pag-ibig. Gaga siya kung magpapaapekto pa siya doon.
She took a very long, deep breath. Her emotions were starting to go beyond her control and she abhorred the idea. She immediately composed herself.
Time had made her heart rigid. When her first love turned into a disaster, her heart was never been the same again. It forgot how to love. That was how she was deeply affected by a dark past which continued to haunt her present life.
But then again, she had moved on.
She shrugged her shoulders.
Pagkatapos ay nagsimula siyang maglakad. She loved wearing high heels ngunit sa pagkakataong iyon ay gusto niyang hubarin na lamang ang suot na boots at itapon. Her fashion statement was becoming an ordeal as of the moment.
“Oh thank God!” Hindi niya napigilang isigaw iyon ng mula sa unahan ay nakita niya ang isang pick-up na papalapit sa kanya. Kaagad na pumagitna siya sa kalsada upang hindi siya malampasan ng driver niyon.
She badly needed this opportunity and hell may freeze but she won’t allow it to pass her way!
Mabilis ang takbo ng pick-up ngunit ng makita ng driver ang dalaga sa gitna ng daan ay bumagal ang takbo niyon at tumigil sa harapan ni Lovelle.
She felt like a maiden in distress and that she had encountered her knight in shining armour!
But the relief in her face was erased in an instant ng mapagsino ang driver ng kotse. Hindi tinted ang salamin ng sasakyan at kitang-kita ng mga mata niya ang driver niyon.
Si Kervy. Isang kababata at ex-bestfriend. Her face hardened like igneous rock. She instantly turned her back at the car. Kaagad na tumabi siya sa daan at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.
She will gladly walk more than ever and she did not care even if she will encounter the most notorious incident on the road!
What she had just encountered was nothing but the most abominable creature in the whole universe and she wanted to puke in anger.
“Lovelle!” His voice was so full and manly.
She was forced to stop walking and glanced back. Her heart suddenly faltered as she saw his face. What entertained her eyes were a very virile male figure and the familiar handsome face. Nakalabas na ito sa sasakyan at ngayon nga ay nakatingin sa kanya. He was taller with a sturdy body and was wearing a white body-hugging tee and faded maong jeans that fitted to his legs like second skin.
Napakurap siya ng ilang beses. Gosh, but the abominable creature changed a lot! She can’t help but notice his physical sleekness and his amazing metamorphosis.
He was not the tall lanky boy that he was five years ago. He was now looking very manly in all angles. She can’t imagine how he managed to acquire this manly look and charisma. Though he was still sporting the same F4 long hair, chinky eyes, aquiline nose and red lips.
Looking at him, she can’t help but fall under his predatoric sex appeal. Sa klase ng anyo ng kababata sa ngayon, tiyak na ilalampaso nito pagdating sa tindig at katawan ang mga miyembro ng bandang F4. His skin tanned, na mas lalong nakadagdag sa lalaking-lalaking anyo nito. And he easily pulled that look with pride that she gawked at him for several seconds.
Lalaking-lalaki! Huh! She wanted to vomit at the rotten word. If she had not known him all these years, her eyes will surely deceive her. But then again, she knew him very well. From the tip of his toenails to the root of his hair! Geez, never can he fool her with such manly antic!
But hell, she can’t take her eyes off him! She felt the strange thud in her heart and winced secretly. Hindi yata niya kayang tanggaping nalulula ang damdamin niya sa bagong anyo ni Kervy.
“Bakit ka naglalakad sa daan?” He asked while eyes not leaving her face.
She answered him with an uncaring shrug. Pagkatapos ay muling tumalikod at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.
“Lovelle!” Malakas na tawag nito at sinundan ang dalaga.
“None of your business Kervy!” She shouted back habang hindi lumilingon. “Gusto ko lang maglakad.”
His eyebrows cocked. Lumingon ito sa pinanggalingan ng babae at nakita ang kotseng nasa gilid ng daan sa may di-kalayuan.
“Nasiraan ka ba ng sasakyan? Ihahatid na kita sa inyo.”
She stomped her foot on the ground. She looked back at him with a sarcastic glare. She smiled acidly. “Playing a gentleman, huh!?” She mocked. “No use doing that Kervy because I damned well knew you’re not a man.”
You are a rotten homosexual who ruined my life and breached our friendship! She must have said that had she not controlled her raging tongue.
His face turned seriously grim. He ground his teeth in anger.
She was enjoying seeth and insult on his face. She saw his jaws moved as he ground his teeth. But he deserved it! Mas masakit pa doon ang naramdaman niya limang taon na ang nakalilipas.
Betrayal and anger swept her again. It was as if she was transported five years back.
She thought time healed the wound but she realized it never was. She felt as if everything was anew. And she wanted to break into tiny bits and pieces again.
Hell, she hated this! She never wanted to feel such mediocre feelings again. But she can’t stop her emotions.
She never think that coming face to face with Kervy meant reminiscing the past. The past that she buried and never wished to happen again.
“Lovelle!” His voice hard and rugged. His fist tightened in dismay. He knew she was still angry with him. Oh well, hindi nito masisisi ang kababata.
“Don’t bother anymore Kervy.” This time ay kalmado na ang boses niya. “I can manage. Umalis ka na. Alam kung may pupuntahan ka pa.”
Ngunit nanatiling nakatayo sa harapan niya ang binata. He did not move. His chinky eyes bored to hers. And she found herself staring at him too. Their gazes locked as if there was something that’s holding their eyes together.
She realized that despite of her anger, she dearly missed her bestfriend. But of course, they had been best of friends since time immemorial. Hindi madaling kalimutan ang pinagsamahan nila sa loob ng maraming panahon.
“I’m glad to see you again Love. I missed my best friend for the past years.”
“But of course!” Pauyam na sagot niya. No, she won’t allow him to play with her feelings. Not anymore!
Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ng binata.
“You did not give me the chance to explain.” He whispered softly. “I could have defended myself.” Sadness crossed his eyes for a moment. “Instead you vehemently threw our friendship away. Matagal kang nawala. But I’m glad you’re back.”
“Yes I’m back.” Her voice hard. She hated their conversation and just wished to disappear like a puff of smoke. “Only because I need to. Hindi ako bumalik upang sariwain ang nakaraang kinalimutan ko na Kervy. And besides hindi ako ang sumira sa pagkakaibigan natin. Ikaw iyon!” The accusation in her voice was like a digging dagger. And how dare he talk about the past in front of her face! Spite him!
“If you just gave me the chance to explain---“
“Huh!” She bitterly cut him off. “Even if you beg for forgiveness, I can’t give that to you at that time Kervy. Even until now!” She vehemently stressed out. “Sa lahat ng tao ay ikaw ang nakakaalam kung gaano ko kamahal si Mart. I trusted you. Delicadeza lang sana at respeto sa pagkakaibigan natin.” She blew some air. “But you know, all of those craps happened in the past. It’s been five years. And for our peace of mind, kinalimutan ko na ang mga nangyari. But sad to say I can’t bring back our friendship. Everything’s broken and we can never put back the pieces again. I don’t have any intention to do that.”
“Love…” He whispered huskily. There was sadness in his eyes. And a yearning that was there for five years.
“Kung hindi nga lamang at ikakasal ang Kuya Angelo ay never akong uuwi. Let’s just forget everything. I have learned to forget your betrayal along with our friendship and I have forgotten you.”
“I’m so sorry Love…” He whispered in forlorn voice. If he can just turn back time, he won’t think twice. He hated this. He wanted to win back his bestfriend. The only girl he cared for so many years until now.
“That’s life Kervy.” Binalewala niya ang ligaw na damdaming sumibol sa puso niya sa paraan ng pagbanggit nito sa petname niya. “I can’t trust you anymore. Besides, hindi na Santa Barbara ang mundo ko. Pagbalik ko sa Maynila, hindi na muling magkukrus ang mga landas natin.”
Nagfile siya ng isang linggong bakasyon sa opisina dahil nga ikakasal ang Kuya Angelo niya. Tutulong din siya sa pag-aasikaso sa ibang detalye ng kasal. At kailangan niyang magpasukat ng damit pang-abay ilang araw bago ang kasalan.
Ang kasal ni Angelo ay sa darating na Linggo. And after the wedding, muli siyang babalik ng Maynila. She had her job there. Besides, she had the metro as her new world and not Santa Barbara anymore.
“You will stay in Santa Barbara Lovelle.” There was firmness in his voice.
Isang ngising aso ang naging tugon niya sa sinabi nito. Surely she has no reason to stay in this damned place! Not with Kervy around!
“It’s getting dark. Ihahatid na kita sa inyo. Pagkatapos ay babalikan ko ang sasakyan mo at titingnan ko kung ano ang sira.”
“Why, thank you!” She said the gratitude with deadly sarcasm. Kung hindi nga lang gabi na at may magagawa pa siya ay hinding-hindi siya papayag na magpapahatid dito. She hated the idea na magkakaroon siya ng utang na loob sa lalaking ito!
He disregarded her ill statement. Then he grabbed her elbow and ushered her in his pickup.
She flinched secretly as their skin rubbed. Electrifying warmth travelled to her every nerve fiber making her gape in awe. She suddenly felt conscious of his grip. She shook her hand and he let go of her.
“I used to hold you before Lovelle, for Christ sake, don’t act as if nandidiri ka sa hawak ko.”
Nandidiri? Surely hindi iyon ang nararamdaman niya. She hated to admit to herself that she was gravely affected by his mere touch. And she was so mortified!
“Kaya kong maglakad Kervy. Hindi na kailangang akayin mo ako.” Nauna na siyang lumakad palapit sa pick up. He followed her. She opened the passenger’s seat and slouched on the leather seat.
Her nose basked in a manly scent inside his car. It was an expensive musk. Pati pabango ng binata ay panlalaki na rin ha. She grinned. Na kaagad na itinago niya ng pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan ang binata.
Tahimik na pinaandar nito ang pickup. At sa maikling durasyon ng kanilang biyahe, walang salitang namagitan sa kanila. Nang tumigil ang sasakyan nito sa harapan ng kanilang bahay ay saka lamang siya nakahinga ng maluwag.
“Anyway, thanks!” Akma niyang bubuksan ang pintuan upang bumaba na when he held her hand and stopped her.
“Goodnight Love,” he stared adoringly at her eyes and smiled.
Lovelle found herself under trance at his stare and boyish smile. For a moment, she was immobilized. Gosh, but her heart made a 360 turn inside her chest!
She silently cursed herself when she got back her wits. He should not affect her like this, this is sheer madness! She shook her head in dismay. But she totally lost her ground when he lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
Her jaw dropped in amazement.
“Just a goodnight kiss Lovelle. Can’t help it. A token for seeing you again after five long years.” His eyes flashed.
Namumula ang mukhang kaagad na lumabas siya sa sasakyan ng binata. Goodness, but she never dare think na maapektuhan ng ganuon sa simpleng halik ng kababata!
She can still feel the aftershock of the kiss kahit nasa labas na siya ng sasakyan nito. Pakiramdam niya ay nanginginig ang kanyang mga tuhod.
Gayun na lamang ang pasasalamat niya ng makitang nakabukas ang bakal na gate ng kanilang tahanan. Kaagad na pumasok siya sa looban ng kanilang bahay.
She needed to stay away from Kervy. Hindi niya gusto ang damdaming sumibol sa puso niya sa pagkikita nilang muli.
She was not expecting this. At hindi niya papayagang magmumukhang tanga for entertaining stupid feelings and thoughts to a guy she knew was fake!
I love to read both POVs (Point of views.). Most of the stories we only have one POV and it keep me wondering how the story should flow on the other character's point of view? It's like wanting to see both sides of the coin.
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