FIRE AND DESIRE

CHAPTER 1 Kianna had no idea how her parents convinced the school's admin to let her join while in the middle of the semester. She's already third year college taking Business management. She wanted to be a painter, but her parents want her to take over their business bilang nag-iisang anak. So, she doesn't have any choice but to obey them. From Ilocos Norte to Manila. Ayaw nya sana sa City dahil maingay. They had a good life in their province, that's why she wondered why is there a need for her to be transferred. All she knew was nalugi ang isa sa negosyo ng kanyang pamilya at kailangan na nilang ibenta ang kanilang tahanan. Ngunit dito sa Manila ay malaki rin naman ang kanilang bahay. Hindi man ito kasing gara ng dati nilang tirahan ay sapat na para sa kanila. Mas gusto nga n'ya ang ganito at least nakikita n'ya agad ang mga tao. Huminto ang sasakyan ng kanyang Daddy sa tapat ng isang napakalaking gate. Kita sa itaas nito ang pangalan ng paaralan. Lalo siyang nalungkot, panibagong pakikisama na naman. "Are you going to get off or are you gonna get off?" tanong ng kanyang ama. Nilingon niya ang ama na nasa driver seat. Dati ay mayroon silang driver. Ito ang unang beses na pinag-drive siya ng ama. Bakit parang mas ayos sa kanya na ganito na lang? Na wala silang driver at katulong. Mas nakakasama n'ya ng matagal ang mga magulang. "Dad, I'm scared. W-what if they don't like me here?" "Hey, sweetheart. Who's not gonna like you? You're likable." Inabot ng ama ang kanyang kamay. "I'm sorry that you need to experience this, pero maayos ko rin ang lahat. Aayusin ko." Kitang kita ni Kianna ang lungkot sa mata ng ama kahit nakangiti ito. Kianna smiled back. "I’ll go ahead, Dad. Hahanapin ko pa ang room ko for my first subject." She kissed her Dad's hand na nakahawak sa kanya. She opened the door. She wave her right hand goodbye then she turned around and walked inside the campus. Huge. Lots of trees and benches, buildings, and a lot more to see.Hindi naman nalalayo sa kanyang probinsya. Dito nga lang ay mas maingay ang mga tao. She tried to look for the information board. Para makita kung saan siya dapat magtungo. "Hey, are you lost?" Napahinto siya sa pagtingin sa papel na hawak, at tiningala ang tao na nasa kanyang harapan. Brown eyes and thick eyebrows, white skin at chinito, halata mong anak mayaman. She's 5'4 pero nanliit siya sa kaharap. Maybe, he's 5'11or 6 feet." "Ahm, I think so,” she answered him directly. The guy smiled. "Yeah I can see that. Are you new here?" Tumango lamang si Kianna at muling tiningnan ang papel na hawak. Nagulat pa siya nang kunin ng lalaki ang hawak niyang papel. Nakalagay doon ang kanyang mga schedules. "Oh, classmate kita sa tatlong subjects mo..." Hindi nawawala ang ngiti nito sa mga labi. "...and it says here, na magkaklase tayo sa first subject mo," he continued. Kianna sighed for relief, at least hindi na siya maghahanap pa. Maraming questions ang lalaki sa kanya habang naglalakad na simple lang naman niyang sinasagot. He is very polite and obviously a gentleman. Huminto ito sa tapat ng isang pinto at inabot ang papel na kanina ay kinuha mula sa kanya. "My name is Alfred." His smile is very genuine. "Kianna." She smiled back bago niya kinuha ang papel. Pumasok na ito sa loob at sumunod naman siya. Natigil sa pag-iingay ang mga tao ng makita silang pumasok. She doesn't know if sa kanya ba or kay Alfred nakatingin ang mga ito. Nagulat pa siya ng biglang ilapit ni Alfred ang mukha sa kanya at bumulong. "You can seat there!" Tinuro nito ang medyo likod na upuan na walang nakaupo. Dalawahan ang upuan sa bawat row. Tiningnan niya ang tinuro nito at kumaway ang isang babae na nakaupo sa tabi ng blank chair. "Thanks," simpleng sagot ni Kianna kay Alfred, na hindi man lang inilayo ang mukha sa kanya, kaya agad siyang naglakad patungo sa upuan. Kianna, widely smiled sa babaeng kumaway sa kanya, then she noticed a guy na nakatungo sa upuan at mukhang natutulog. Sa likod lamang ito ng kanyang upuan. She sat beside the girl. "I’m Sophie." Itinaas nito ang kanang kamay for shakehands. Inabot ni Kianna ang kamay nito ay siya'y nagpakilala rin. Later on ay dumating na rin ang kanilang guro. Pinatayo siya upang magpakilala, hindi na siya umalis sa kanyang upuan. "Hello, I’m Kianna Valenzuela, I’m glad to be here and be part of this class." She smiled to everyone who looks at her but she didn't bother na lumingon pa sa likod. Then she sat down. The class started. Medyo nahihirapan siyang sumabay dahil hindi niya matandaan na napag-aralan nya ang lesson ng araw na 'yon. She's taking notes when suddenly, she had goosebumps, someone’s touching her hair. Hindi sya pwedeng magkamali. Nilingon niya ang nasa likod and YES! The guy who was sitting with his head down earlier is now touching her hair, it's like he is brushing it off with his own hand. Kahit nilingon niya ang lalaki ay hindi man lang ito huminto sa paglalaro ng kanyang buhok sa bandang ilalim. And he is doing it while looking at the teacher na animo'y nakikinig sa tinuturo ng guro. And finally, when the guy noticed that she's looking at him, he suddenly asks her, 'what?' he was like, what are you looking at? Naguguluhan si Kianna na umiling at muling lumingon sa harap. She continued to take notes, and the guy didn't stop touching her hair. It's weird but she felt fine with it. "Okay, so I expect you guys to do some research about of what we discussed today. We'll continue tomorrow." Done for the first subject. She felt like the guy stopped touching her hair. (Kianna’s Pov:) Nilingon ko ang lalaki sa aking likuran at halos mapigil ko ang aking paghinga. He is looking at me, like he is really waiting for me to look at him. He has deep brown eyes, but I can see some gray on it. Thick eyebrows like his eyes and eyebrows are going to touch. His, eyelashes are long and dark. His nose is perfectly shaped and really looked good on him. His lips is reddish and pouted it shaped like a heart. His hair is long enough to be neat. Moreno. 'Why did you that? ' Of course, it was just all in my mind. I don't have the courage to ask him. His eyes are telling me not to ask him or else I’m dead. Napahinto ako sa pag-iisip nang lapitan ako ni Alfred. "Kianna, sasamahan na kita sa sunod mong subject para hindi ka na maligaw," Alfred told me. Hinawakan niya ang aking balikat, siguro ay napansin niya ang pagtitig ko sa lalaki. "Naligaw ka?" Sophie asked me at nakatayo na ngayon sa tabi ni Alfred. I fixed my things and stood up. "Yeah, masyado malaki 'tong campus." I smiled a bit then nilingon ko ulit ang lalaki sa aking likod, he suddenly stood up at padabog sinukbit ang kanyang bag sa isang balikat atsaka mabilis naglakad palabas. He is very tall. 'Is he mad? He looks mad.' "Don't mind him, he is always like that. Galit sa mundo," Alfred said. Sumama na rin si Sophie sa paghatid sa'kin sa aking pangalawang subject. While walking, I can't help myself but to ask. "Who is he?" (End of Kianna's pov)