CHAPTER 1
1236 Words
Six years ago
"It's your College debut kiddo. Make it count!" Dad said to me. He’s always like that. Tingin niya siguro ako pa din yung 8 years old na batang inampon niya noon.
"Dad... I'm not kiddo anymore, in fact, I can date since I'm in College now..." I pouted while Dad has this deadly face. Niyakap ko na lang siya.
"Cassiedy finished College first before boys." Daddy said with full of authority.
Actually, wala naman akong angal don. In my case, I have no time to have a boyfriend and the least, to fall in love. I want to become successful. I want mom and dad to be proud of me, just like ate Phyllis.
"Here. Take your lunch baby..." my Mom said habang inaabot niya sa akin yung lunchbox ko, napanganga ako.
"B-but Mom... I'm a big girl now, they will bully me if they saw this..." naiinis kong sabi. Paano ako papasok ba bitbit ito? Baka first day pa lang ng school i–bully na ako.
"Of course not. They just envy you, baby, because their moms don't have the guts to make them food. C'mon! You'll be late!" Mom said sabay ipinihit ako paharap sa door, I looked at my Dad to help me, but he just laughs at me. Inirapan ko na lang siya saka umalis bitbit – bitbit yung lunchbox na ibinigay ng mommy ko.
First day of class.
Kinakabahan ako. The school was way bigger than my previous school. Damn. It’s a University, of course, considered that to be big. Nagkalat ang mga students sa school grounds.
Weird. Pero talagang kinakabahan ako. Wala akong kakilala ni isa sa lahat ng taong nakikita ko ngayon. Katuwiran ko, it is one way of being independent. Pero sobrang independent naman na yata ito.
Nilakasan ko na lang ang loob ko saka hinanap yung building ko ng may madaanan akong bunch of bully guys. Yes. Bully. Because they are busy laughing every time a student pass by them. At siguradong isa na ako sa magiging biktima nila ngayon.
"Eight!" the first guy shouted and then whistled. Tumikhim lang ako saka hindi sila pinansin.
"Nah! Nine. Nice ass baby..." sabay kindat naman nung isa pa. Nahindik ako sa sinabi nung isang lalaki.
"I agree. She's got the ass," sabi naman nung isa pang lalaki.. nakakadiri ang itsura niya, mukha talaga itong m******s.
"Hey, Jed. What's your score?" nagtama ang mga mata namin nung tinawag nilang Jed.
Oh my God!
He's looking at me intently. Biglang nag bago ang pintig ng puso. From that time hindi ako halos makahinga. Napahinto ako sa paglalakad ng tumayo siya at humarang sa dadaanan ko. He's tall. Matangkad na ako dahil 5'7" na ako pero hanggang dibdib niya lang ako. He has clean-cut hair; he has a perfect set of white teeth and a prominent nose and he has gray eyes. And he's wearing all white uniforms.
"Done staring at me?" he said to me giving me a seductive look.
Heat rose to my face dahil sa kahihiyan. I'm literally messing my first day of class at bakit sa ganitong paraan pa. I moved away para makadaan ako but he just blocked me.
"Please, I'm late..." I said to him. Pero parang wala siyang narinig. Mas lalo pa siyang lumapit sa akin and leveled his face to mine leaving our faces only one fingerbreadth apart.
"I will only allow you if you will tell me your name," he said smirking.
Oh my God! He's cute!! Super! But at the same time, a bastard. At kahit na guwapo pa siya turn off naman sa ugali.
Hindi ko siya pinansin, I stepped back to give us some space pero natapilok lang ako. Pumikit na lang ako ready myself to fall from the ground when I felt a strong arm steadied me.
Nagkatinginan kami. Nalito ako ng makita ko ang pag aalala sa mga mata niya. He automatically freed me and keep his distance.
"You okay?" he said.
"I'm... fine," I whispered. Mabilis ang naging pagkilos ko na lumayo sa pagkakahawak nito sa akin. "Please, l-let me pass through." I pleaded to him. I don't like the fact that I'm having a favor from him. I hate it.
"What's your name first?" still, nakakunot noo pa din siya.
Hindi niya talaga niya ako papadaanin? All because I'm not telling him my name? Lame move! I've seen this scene repeatedly in so many movies. Is he worth it of knowing my name?
Just tell him dammit Cassiedy! So, you can go!
I sighed. Fine. Then name it is.
"I'm Cass. Can I go now?" nilakipan ko ng katarayan ang boses ko. Lumawak naman ang ngiti niya saka binigyan ako ng way. Nag mamadali akong naglakad, hindi ko na binalak pang tignan ang mukha niya ulit.
"See you around Cass!" sigaw pa nito. I even not dare to turn around.
But I stopped right on my tracks sa sinunod niyang isinigaw.
"And my score for you is 10!"
∞
NAIPILIG ko ang ulo ko habang isa-isang bumabalik ang nakaraan na para bang kahapon lang yun lahat nangyari. How he smiles at me, him hiding on the Fig tree malapit sa bintana ng classroom ko habang pinapanood niya ako sa malayo. How he shouted his damn love for me in the whole university grounds. Kung paano ako kainggitan ng mga babae dahil nasa akin ang full attention niya.
Jed Marco Lopez.
The most good–looking med student of the University. Pangalan pa lang napakakumplikado na. Papaano pa kaya kung mahalin mo pa siya!
His gorgeous gray eyes, ang matangos niyang ilong, ang malalim na pagtitig niya sayo na siguradong ikakatunaw mo, his jawline oozing with maleness, his messy hair that you will itch to combed with your bare hands’ to be tamed.
Bakit kailangan ko pa siyang makita ulit? Bakit kailangan ko pang maramdaman ulit ang ganito sa kanya? Ang mga nakaraan namin na pilit kong nilimot at ibinaon na sa pinakamalalim na bahagi ng puso ko. But when that moment I saw him. Para lang akong bumalik sa panahon na iyon. Na halos mabaliw ako sa pag mamahal sa kanya.
I blew a deep sigh. Matagal na panahon na iyon. Pinili ko siyang iwasan at habang buhay ko iyong pag sisisihan.
Tinignan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. All I saw was the sweet, little girl who hopelessly fell in love with the most good–looking med–student of the University.
I shook my head vigorously. I can't. I made that decision ages ago. Ngayong alam na niyang nasa malapit lang ako. Kailangan ko ng lumayo. Dahil lahat ng pinag hirapan ko mauwi lang sa wala. Worst. Kunin niya lang sakin ang pinakakatatanging meron ako.
I composed myself and when I was satisfied with my reflection on the mirror. I gave to Miranda my messages for Dan. I saw her at the ladies’ room, I bet she has so many questions. Kung sino ako sa buhay ni Dan? At bakit niya ako kasama? But I don't really care. Bahala na si Dan magpaliwanag ng lahat.
Hell, I'm Cassiedy Hopkins. I don't care about what people might think of me. I don't care how other people would feel. Sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko. Nabuhay ako ng ganito and I will stick with that.
I decided to go at the backdoor of the restaurant. As much as I want to finish my meal pero ayoko ng masalubong pa ang mapang usig niyang mga mata. Ayos na sana eh, ng may bigla na lang kamay na humaklit sa baywang ko at idiniin pa ako papalapit sa katawan niya.
"J-Jed!" I saw his deadly serious look.
"Good thing you still remember me. My dear little kitten?"
- Writer
