Crashing into Love

Chapter One

I ran away.

I ran away from Manila, from the people who love me, from the life I loved. I ran away from everything because I was a coward. I wanted to save them from the pain and misery. I don't want to see their tears nor hear their cries. It will only hurt me more. It will only make me feel more hollow than I already am. I can't do anything about this, so I decided to just face this alone instead of dragging others in this emotional mess. I don't know if

"Claire Faith!" A loud voice boomed outside the beach house. There was a rapid pounding on my door and I smiled as I pictured the person who was causing this noise.

Ibinaba ko ang ballpen ko at isinara ang notebook na nagsisilbing diary ko. Maybe I'm too old for diaries but who cares? Surely not me. I put the notebook inside my bottom drawer, underneath my jammies and closed it. I quickly walked towards the door and I opened it.

His creased brows were the first to greet me. I raised an eyebrow but I could tell from his expression that he was amused too. "Goodmorning." I mused in a silly just-woke-up voice.

He pouted and made his way to my living room. Feel at home talaga tong isang to! Wala pa nga kaming dalawang linggong magkakilala! I shook my head and sat with him on my plush couch. "Ang tagal mong buksan yung pinto. What were you doing Claire Faith?"

I suppressed a smile. He's so fond of calling me that so I insisted on calling him by his first name which people rarely address him with.

Raven Andrei Dominguez. His name sounds sexy. Nailing ako sa sarili kong pag-iisip. Raven propped his feet up on my living room table. "I was cleaning my room." I lied. It's just a small lie anyway, it won't hurt.

He nodded. "Have you eaten?" I shook my head and he headed towards my kitchen. I don't know why I feel so awfully comfortable and safe with him. I don't normally trust drunk strangers I meet in beaches but somehow I feel a strange connection with him. As if we were meant to meet each other that faithful night.

I can still remember our conversation as if it was just yesterday. "I'll cook for you. Do you want italian spaghetti for breakfast?" He asked from the kitchen. I shouted a yes for an answer.

I was contemplating whether to check on him or not. In the end, the side of me who wanted to watch him cook won. I made my way towards the kitchen and instead saw him looking outside the window.

He hasn't noticed me yet. I examined him and saw that he was wearing his silver necklace again, dangling on it was the ring I saw him holding almost two weeks ago at the beach. He blinked out of the trance and his eyes focused on me. I offered a timid smile but he didn't smile back.

"You okay?" Nag aalangang tanong ko. He sighed. "Cassidy loved my own recipe of Italian spaghetti." Nalulungkot niyang sabi habang kinukuha ang mga kakailanganin niyang ingredients sa fridge.

Cassidy. So, that was her name. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko ng maramdam ko ang pagkirot nito at pinilit kong ngitian si Raven. "Wag kang magdrama or I'll kick you out of my house." I said with eyebrows furrowed at him. He forced a smile and it came out as fake as I expected it to be.

"I swear, you have got to stop doing that to yourself. It's not gonna help. Reminiscing will only hurt you. So try not to think about her." He shook his head and palmed his face.

"I can't. I see her in everything." His shoulders drooped and I sat on a stool facing him.

"Everything? Including me?" I asked innocently and he nodded. Naihilamos niya ang kamay sa mukha niya. "Even you. Do you know that you two have the same eyes?" He asked in such a way that makes me think he's already breaking inside.

"I could have an eye transplant if that could make you feel better." I bantered but all he gave me was a small smile which didn't even reach his ears. "Baliw ka talaga no, Claire Faith?"

"Yep. I'm the most twisted creature you could ever meet in this province, Raven Andrei."

Naiiling iling siya out of amusement, maybe? Can't really tell with this guy. "And I'm the most alluringly tortured soul there is." He replied.

"I doubt it. Just think about other people's problems. Some are struggling with poverty, some are dying, and some are abused. And you? You're gonna sulk because you got your heart broken? I mean, don't you think that's stupid? Life is beautiful. Live it because others are not as fortunate as you are." I replied.

He gave me a knowing look and then nodded. He suddenly grinned and patted my head as if I was a six year old. "For someone who claims to be twisted, you're pretty sensible."

I elbowed his stomach and he grimaced. "Aren't you supposed to give me a star for those witty advices?" I gave him a playful jesting wink while he was trying hard to hide a brewing smile.

"What do you think you are? A kindergartner?" I shrugged and shoved him away. "Magluto ka na nga ng italian spaghetti mo! And please lang wag kang magdrama. From what I've heard, spaghetti with tears don't usually taste good."

He stuck his tongue out. Bata lang? "Ha ha ha. Go wait in the living room, Claire. I'll call you when it's done."

Tumango nalang ako at umupo sa couch. I opened the television, saktong palabas ay yung A walk to remember. I quickly turned the tv off. "Ayaw mo nun? Maganda kaya yun!" I almost jumped when I heard Raven's voice from behind me. I gripped my chest and gave him a death stare.

"Wag ka ngang mangulat! Aren't you supposed to be in my kitchen? Cooking, remember?"

He shrugged. "Niluluto pa yung pasta. Why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?" He reached for the remote control and opened the television again.

"Ikaw kaya ang magulat." I rolled my eyes. I waited for him to answer but I heard no reply. When I looked at him, I saw that his eyes were glued to my tv. Siniko ko nga. "Matunaw. Papalitan mo yan." I kidded and he smiled in return.

"Why do you even like that movie? I think it's pretty cruel." I commented. He gave me an incredulous look. "Cruel? This story is so heartwarming! Tragic, but touching."

I took the cushion from my couch and set it above my lap. "I think

the two of them should be blamed. I am just stating my opinion, okay? They should've avoided each other when it was still early. They could've saved themselves from the pain."

"Why do you have to give deep comments? I just want to watch the movie with you." Binigyan niya ako ng tingin na para bang sinasabing weirdo. Natawa nalang ako bago siya hinampas ng unan.

"Masokista." Pang aasar ko. He shot me a mildly annoyed look.

He pointed to himself. "Excuse me? Were you pertaining to me?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at nginisian. "Oh no, Raven. I was actually pertaining to the curtains behind you." Hinampas niya rin ako ng unan. "Aba pilosopo ka ha!" I kicked and thrashed while he incessantly threw throw pillows at me. I ran away and he chased.

I made the mistake of looking behind me, he saw his chance and with accuracy, he threw it and it hit my face. Dahil malakas ang bato niya ay na-out of balance ako. My knees wobbled and before I fell, his muscular arms catched me.

I peeked through one eye and saw how close his face was. Nagmamadali akong tumayo at marahang tinulak siya. I smiled awkwardly. "Uhm, thanks."

He winked playfully. "No problemo!" Umiling nalang ako at para matanggal ang ilang ko ay dumeretso ako sa kitchen para tignan ang pasta. Konti pa maluluto na to. I turned and was almost seized by a heart attack when I saw Raven's frowning face facing me.

I held my chest out of shock. "You're really planning to kill me, aren't you?" Akusa ko. His brows were creased. He looks serious while scrutinizing my features.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Out of nowhere niyang tanong. Seryoso pa siya habang sinasabi ang mga words na yan ha. I pouted. "Nope."

Lalong kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. As if living a man-free life was impossible. "Really? Why?"

I took a deep breath. "Well, it's because I don't want to have one." Simple kong sagot. Nameywang siya habang nakatingin parin sakin na para bang nahihiwagaan siya.

I almost wanted to laugh at his expression. "Eh kelan mo binabalak magboyfriend kung ganon?" He looks so curious that I too, creased my eyebrows.

I bit my lip before I answered.

"Never."