myluckyheartstories

Chapter 1: Stolen

For the hundredth time, ikinumpas kong muli ang mga kamay ko sa ere. I focused really hard this time and concentrated as the same familiar heat coursed through my veins again. This time I made sure I’ll do this right.

“I can do this. I can do this,” I said this mantra over and over again as I did my work.

I can feel the drops of sweat slowly trickled down my nape and on my forehead. I can also feel my frustration swell rapidly as time ticks by without me improving.

Nang hindi ko na natiis ay binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at nakitang walang kahit ano sa mga inaasahan ko ang nangyari. Dahil sa inis, kinuha ko ang pinakamalapit na bagay na maaabot ng kamay ko at ibinato ito.

Tumayo ako at tiningnan ng masama ang alarm clock na ngayon ay lasog lasog na sa lapag ng kwarto ko.

Bakit hindi ko magawa?! Paulit-ulit kong itinatanong sa utak ko habang naghahanda sa pagpasok sa school. Mabilis akong naligo’t nag-ayos. Pagkalabas ng cr ay nakita ko ang sariling repleksyon sa human size mirror dito sa apartment na tinutuluyan ko. I don’t know why this cheap and digusting apartment has this elegant mirror.

Cold hazel brown eyes, long straight auburn hair, fair complexion, red lips...

... I hate this face... because... I see her.

I’m an exact replica of that whore of a mother...

... and I hate her and I always will.

I start doing my face regimen and when I’m satisfied, I dig up my contact lenses then later on my eyeglasses that obscure my shitty eyes. I don’t really like it when people look at me exactly at the eye. I put up my hair into a bun as I let my full bangs and side bangs which were extended to my lower jaw fall down my face.

I look up at the mirror again to face the stranger I no longer knew.

A braniac wannabe because of the eyeglasses and a face of an anime cosplayer because of the crazy bangs on my forehead and both sides of my face, of course with the blue eyes.

Kinuha ko na ang shoulder bag ko at nagsimula nang pumunta sa pintuan.

I sigh heavily as I glare at the front of the door.

A minute later at wala nanamang nangyari.

“Shit!”

Dahil sa sobrang inis ay sinipa ko na ang pintuan para mabuksan iyon at nang makalabas na sa impyernong ito. Ngunit nang bumukas na ang pintuan ay nagulat ako nang bigla na lamang itong nahulog, natanggal sa pagkakakabit sa pader at nagdire-diretso pababa sa hagdanan.

I only gape at it.

I look at the hinges that connected that door with this wall and noticed it has several cracks as if something hit it with so much force...

... as if someone hit it with so much power.

I cursed repeatedly and reprimanded myself of how stupid I can be. Simpleng pagbukas ng pintuan ay hindi ko magawa ng hindi iyon nasisira. I’ll just explain it to Tita Ida and make excuses, simple as that!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking here at our school is one of the things I really don’t like. People started staring at me as I step inside our university. Na para bang isa akong alien na ngayon lamang nila nakita sa tanang buhay nila. I don’t like it, I don’t like them.

But I don’t hate them either. Their scrutiny just makes me feel uncomfortable, nothing more.

It all started when a senior student bullied me 1 year ago.

She pointed her forefinger repeatedly on my forehead chanting “bitch! whore! stupid! ugly!” and any disgusting words she could think of as her friends just clapped their hands and giggled, which were irritating by the way, and shout their encouragement to the girl in front of me. I can’t contain the overwhelming feeling of anger inside me. My vision started to tinged black as my blood boiled because of this negative feeling. Before I can even stop myself, I slapped her then punched her with all my might.

That day in that time, we were inside the comfort room. I started giving that bitch girl a slap and a punch. I, then, heard her friends screamed at the top of their lungs as they saw the blood gushed on that bitch’s face. But that was not the real reason why the other girls started screaming, not the reason I thought it would be.

The ground started to shake, the cold air started to find its way through the windows to our bodies, the mirrors started to crack and the lights started to lose its light.

After the aftershock, the light returned as I see the others on their knees, crying endlessly.

And me?

I lost consciousness afterwards because of the exhaustion I felt. I thought it was just because I did a good job on that bitch that I lose my energy.

But it was because of something else.

The news about the incident flied so fast that I actually didn’t see it coming back at me. It spread on the whole campus. Some believed while some not. Some gave no reaction while some gave exaggerated ones. Some called me a freak, some called me an alien, some called me crazy, some called me a witch...

... I just ignored them. I made it this far so it no longer affected me.

It’s been 1 year since that day and somehow I’m happy that ‘that’ incident never happened again.

Maybe for now.

I continue walking my way toward the Library Center of Stylites University. There’s just this calm ambience in the said LC that I find comforting. This is where I spend my spare time before and after class. Each day I borrow novel books here which were made by my favorite authors then I go at the far corner of the shelves where no one can see me.

When I reached my secret spot, I rummage through my bag to find the novel book I was reading since last week. When I finally found it, I immediately scan for the right page where I finished the last time.

“Finally! Nandito ka lang pala. I thought you ran away again,” said a ridiculously irritating voice.

I groaned inwardly. Here we go again.

I felt him sit beside me then kissed me on my cheek.

“Tsk.”

Kairita lang. Walang habas kung makahalik akala mo naman close kami. Masyado talagang feeling ‘to.

“I missed you,” he whispered on my ear. Inilagay naman niya ang side bangs ko na umaabot sa kaliwang pisngi ko sa likod ng tenga ko matapos niyang sabihin iyon.

Patuloy pa rin ako sa pagbabasa kahit na sa totoo lamang ay wala na akong naiintindihan. Ayoko ring iangat ang mukha ko dahil...

I heard him sigh. “Can’t you just at least take your eyes off that book and look at me then talk? You have no idea how badly I missed you huh?”

I continue ignoring him. Mapapagod din ‘to. Konting tiis na lang. I thought to myself.

“Damn girl,” he muttered under his breath after seconds of silence.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang walang habas niyang kinuha ang librong hawak ko, inilagay iyon sa tabi, at inihiga ang kanyang ulo sa itaas ng hita ko.

“What are you doing?” iritableng tanong ko sa kanya.

“I’m tired Odette. Ang lawak kaya ng university kaya naman nahirapan akong hanapin ka.”

“How did you know I was here?” Huli na nang mapansin kong nakikipag-usap ako sa hinayupak. Langya lang.

Ngumiti naman siya nang mapansin na ring nakikipag-usap na ako sa kanya na talagang bihira lamang na mangyari.

“Instinct, sweetheart,” he said huskily while looking at me intently.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Stop calling me names,” I blurted out.

“As much as I want to hear your lovely voice sweetheart, I really am tired. Just wake me up when the bell rings, aight?”

“Tss.”

“By the way, you smell good Odette.”

“Shit! You perv!”

“Hey! I was just joking!” sabi niya habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay as if a sign of surrender. He’s also wearing that irritating smirk on his face. Seriously, ang sarap burahin ng mukha niya.

Iniayos niyang muli ang ulo niya sa pagkakahiga sa hita ko. Bwisit lang.

“And stop cussing. If you don’t, I promise I’ll kiss you even in front of general public.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes at him. Hindi naman niya iyon nakita dahil nakapikit na siya.

Kinilabutan ako nang narinig ko ang halakhak niya. I’m always like this when he’s acting like this... playful guy. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at binura iyon sa isip ko “Kinilig ka naman?” sabi niyang nakangiting parang asong ulol.

“Stop pestering me Ethan.”

Tumigil naman siya sa pagtawa at seryosong tumingin sa akin.

“What?!” iritadong asik ko sa kanya. Bwisit! Nasisira ang araw ko sa lalaking ‘to!

“Say it again,” sambit niya sa mahinang boses.

“I don’t have time playing games with you neither the pleasure of doing so, so please spare me with your irritating presence and shut your stupid mouth,” I said through gritted teeth.

He just pursed his lips as if he was in deep thought after hearing me say those words.

“Your longest sentence so far. I’m so proud of you Odette.” at humagalpak siya sa tawa.

Ipinikit ko na lamang ang mga mata ko dahil sa sobrang inis. Bwisit na lalaki talaga! Ang lakas ng loob mang-asar!

“I like you blushing but what I don’t like is when it only shows when you’re angry,” sambit niya matapos tumawa at walang babalang tinanggal ang eyeglasses ko.

“Give it back to me,” I said warningly.

“Make me.”

“Nevermind.”

Nakahalukipkip lamang ako habang nakatingin sa kawalan. When boredom started to eat me, I let my eyes wander around then let it trained at the face of the guy on my thigh. He started sleeping just after a minute of our interesting chitchat, tss.

Nagsimula nang mangalay ang mga braso’t kamay ko kaya naman hinayaan ko iyong mahulog. Inilagay ko ang kaliwang kamay ko sa kanyang dibdib at ang kanang kamay ko naman sa kanyang buhok.

Langya! Ang sarap ng tulog ng hinayupak samantalang ako ay hindi kumportable sa posisyon! Nararamdaman ko na ang pamamanhid ng mga hita ko gayundin ang pwet ko. Bwisit!

Isinandal ko na lamang ang likod ko sa shelf na maraming lamang libro. I made myself comfortable in the gesture.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at hinayaan ang kanang kamay na hawakan ang malambot na buhok ni Ethan. How come na mas malambot ang buhok niya kaysa sa akin?

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako. Nagising lamang ako nang makaramdam ako ng pangingilabot. Habang nakapikit, pinakiramdaman ko ang aking paligid.

Ramdam ko pa rin ang ulo ni Ethan na nakahiga sa mga hita ko.

Ngunit ang bagay na tila lalong nagpatindig sa aking mga balahibo ay nang malaman ko ang dahilan nito.

Sobrang lamig.

May aircon naman na talaga sa LC ngunit ang hindi ko maintindihan ay tila ba napakaraming yelo ang nasa aking paligid na imposible namang mangyari dahil kung iyon nga ang totoo, ang ibig sabihin ay may sira ang mga AC nila dito.

Idinilat ko ang aking mga mata at napanganga nang maramdaman ko ang tila biglaang pagbabago ng temperatura.

The air now seems to be warm.

Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay magkakalagnat ako. Iba na kasi ang nararamdaman ko. Kanina malamig, ngayon naman ay mainit.

Itinuloy ko na lamang ang ginagawa kong paghaplos sa buhok ni Ethan habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

Narinig ko naman ang malalim na pagbuntong hininga ni Ethan kaya naman nakuha nito ang aking atensyon.

I was shocked to find him awake with amused eyes and smile.

“I didn’t know you find my hair lovely,” sabi niya sa namamaos na boses.

I just furrowed my brows at him.

“Come here.”

This time I arched my brow. “What?”

I felt his hand snaked around my nape then he pulled my face closer to his. I have no idea what he’s up to but I just let him anyway.

I felt his warm lips before I realized what he had just done.

Our lips just linger with each other for a while before he pulled away.

“I’m proud to be your first,” he said, smirking.

“I hate you,” I mumbled.

“I love you more.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put all my things inside my bag before I made my way through the door. I nearly reached it when someone suddenly held my arm.

“Ate, sabay na tayong umuwi.”

Tiningnan ko lamang siya ng walang emosyon, tinanggal ang kamay niya sa pagkakahawak sa akin, at nagdiretso sa paglabas ng classroom.

Like everyone else here, I don’t hate her. I just find her presence uncomfortable. And the fact that I’m not a very friendly and approachable person made it more difficult for me to gain friends though I don’t really mind having no one beside me.

Well, aside from that bastard who stole my first kiss...

... and... well... aside from my cousin.

No one dared come near me, only them procure the guts to do it.

I heard footsteps behind me before I heard her voice. “Sige na ate, sabay na tayo. Ang dilim na kaya naman mas ligtas kung magkasama tayong maglalakad pauwi.”

I ignored her still. I heard her sigh as she walked beside me.

Naglakad kami sa open court kaya naman nakatanggap nanaman ako ng mga titig mula sa mga estudyante. Wala akong magagawa dahil ito ang pinakamalapit na daanan papunta sa main gate ng university. Bibilisan ko na sana ang paglalakad nang biglang may tumamang bola sa aking ulo.

“Ate!”

I heard a myriad of laughter as my sight became blur and my head to spin.  I feel like vomiting but ignored the idea of going to the comfort room when my knees weakened and when I couldn’t let myself stand anymore because of dizziness.

I heard their laughter.

Kahit na hindi ko sila nakikita ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang nais nilang ipahiwatig sa akin.

Naramdaman kong inaalalayan ako ng pinsan ko upang hindi ako tuluyang bumagsak ngunit mas bata siya sa akin ng dalawang taon at hindi maipagkakaila na mas matangkad ako sa kanya kaya naman hindi na niya napigilan ang pagbagsak ng katawan ko sa malamig na lapag ng court.

I heard someone whisper something at me.

“Serves you right bitch. I’ll never let you have him. Never. Mark my word Feazell.”

After that, I heard a guy’s voice cursed loudly before everything went black.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I opened my eyes only to find out that I’m now resting at my own bed inside my room at Haley’s apartment.

Nilingon ko ang side table at nakitang maayos nang muli ang aking alarm clock. Kumunot lamang ang noo ko habang nakatitig doon.

“Buti gising ka na ate. Kamusta na pala ang pakiramdam mo?” pagtatanong ni Kate habang sinasara nang dahan-dahan ang pintuan ng kwarto ko gamit ang kanyang paa at bitbit ang isang tray ng pagkain.

“What happened?” I asked, oblivious of my cousin’s shocked expression.

I saw her smile as she answers my question delightedly.

“Si Kuya Nigel ang nagbuhat sa’yo nang mawalan ka ng malay. Dinala ka namin kaagad sa ospital nang mawalan ka ng malay dahil sinabi ko kay kuya na sobrang lakas ng pagkakatama ng bola sa ulo mo kaya baka magkaroon ka ng concussion. Matapos ang tests na ginawa sa’yo, sinabi ng doktor na okay ka naman daw. Nag-insist na rin si Kuya Nigel na siya na ang maghahatid sa atin pag-uwi dahil sobrang gabi na at delikado na raw.”

“Who’s Nigel?” ang tanging naitanong ko sa kabila ng napakarami niyang sinabi. Hindi ko alam na dinala pala nila ako sa ospital ng university. May sariling hospital ang university namin na nakatayo sa loob din mismo para sa mga hindi inaasahang aksidente na kasasangkutan ng mga estudyante ng Stylites.

“Seriously, hindi mo siya kilala?!” she shrieked.

“Get out of my room,” I retorted.

“A-ate, s-sorry. Hindi ko sinasadyang sumigaw,” halos pabulong na sabi ni Kate dahil sa biglaan kong pagpapaalis sa kanya.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago muling nagsalita. “I said, get out of my room.”

“A-ate...”

“Now,” I said as I looked at her sharply.

“Sorry,” she uttered before going out of my room. Pagkasara niya ng pintuan ay biglang nagdilim ang paningin ko dahil sa galit.

“Shit!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I’m really furious right now! I’m not mad at my cousin shrieking but what made me feel this way was the realization that something important to me is missing.

“I’ll kill that Nigel guy,” I muttered to myself.

I put my hand on my neck where that thing is supposed to be situated before that maddening ball hit me. It’s impossible that it had loosened its lock because I repaired it before wearing it yesterday.

The only possible reason why my necklace lost was because someone stole it and I have a very strong intuition that I can hardly take any notice of, of who the culprit was.

And I’ll make sure he’ll regret messing up with me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I immediately went inside my comfort zone in the LC to wait for that guy to come.

Hindi ko naman iniisip na pupunta talaga siya dito pero wala na talaga akong choice. Wala akong contact niya at wala rin akong matanungan ng tungkol doon sa Nigel na sinasabi ni Kate. Ayoko namang magtanong sa pinsan ko dahil hindi naman kami close at hindi pa rin ako komportable sa kanya.

Hindi rin naman kami close ni Ethan. Siya lang itong feeling close.

Wala lang talaga akong choice kung hindi siya.

I feel frustrated nang marinig ko na ang bell na hudyat na magsisimula na ang class pero hindi pa rin siya dumadating.

Isinakripisyo ko ang pagiging late para lamang makakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa hinayupak na magnanakaw na iyon pero ano ‘tong napala ko?

Tumayo na ako at pinagpagan ang pantalon habang naglalakad palabas ng LC.

Nang malapit na ako sa room namin, napansin kong tila ba may pinagkakaguluhan ang mga estudyante lalong-lalo na ang mga kababaihan dahil naririnig ko ang mga matitinis nilang tili.

“Siguro may dayo nanamang special child dito,” nasasaisip ko.

Ang mga estudyante kasi ng Stylites University ay nahahati sa dalawa; ang mga tinatawag na ‘elite’ or ‘special’ students na nasa kabilang building, at ang mga ‘commoner’ or ‘proletariat’ students na nasa building naman na ito. Ang mga elites ay iyong mga mayayaman samantalang kaming mga commoner ay ang total opposite nila. Ang goal ng SU ay ang magkaroon ng equality sa pagitan ng dalawang kategorya ng mga estudyante dito.

Bihira lamang na may mapadpad na elite sa building namin kaya naman nakapagtataka kung ganoon nga ang nangyayari.

I slided our room’s door to enter inside when I noticed my blocmates eyeing me with awe and annoyance.

“Okay, what did I do now?” I asked myself.

“Daniel asked us to tell you to go at our building’s rooftop,” malumanay na wika ng aming president.

“Who’s he?” I actually intended to ignore him but I did otherwise.

They all just stared at me that suggest “Are you stupid?” look.

The president cleared his throat before composing himself. “Basta pumunta ka na doon ngayon. We’ll definitely use force if you disregard his request.”

I look at him, deadpan.

The girls inside the room just scowled at me.

Pake ko? Gusto ko sanang sabihin pero nacurious na rin ako sa kung sino ang Daniel na tinutukoy nila.

Pinasadahan ko muna silang lahat ng tingin bago sila tinalikuran. Tinungo ko ang hagdanan papuntang rooftop at tinahak iyon.

Nang marating ko ang pintuan ng rooftop, naramdaman kong muli iyong kakaibang lamig na naramdaman ko kahapon sa loob ng LC ngunit wala na ngayon iyong mainit na pakiramdam. Tanging lamig na lamang ang nangingibabaw.  Lumunok ako dahil sa kabang naramdaman bago pinihit ang doorknob ng pintuan.

When I opened the door, I saw a man leaning on the railing at the far side of the rooftop.

I start to walk slowly towards him then froze when he looked up at me straight in the eyes.

Deep blue eyes.

Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay lalo kong naramdaman iyong sobrang lamig at halos manginig na ako dahil dito. Niyakap ko na lamang ang sarili ko.

“So, you’re the legendary Daniel?” I asked him, emotionless. “What do you need?” I continued when I noticed that he’s not cutting his gaze at me.

“Can you feel it?” he asked, smirking.

Kumunot lamang ang noo ko sa tanong niya. Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

“No?” pagtatanong niyang muli.

“Pwede bang sabihin mo na lang sa akin kung ano ang kailangan mo?” iritable kong tanong sa kanya.

The coldness intensified and so I hugged myself tighter. My body started to shudder. Ano bang nangyayari?

“Can you feel it now?”

I look up at him angrily and intended to shout at him but when I saw how the blue in his eyes intensified as the coldness continue its build up, I stopped and widen my eyes as realization hit me hard on the face.

“I just want to introduce myself, if you don’t mind,” seryoso niyang utas.

I just stared at him, incredulous. Noon ko lang siya napagmasdan ng maayos. Magulo ang buhok niya dahil sa malakas na hanging humahampas sa amin dito sa rooftop ngunit kahit na gano’n ay hindi nabawasan nito ang kakisigan niya. Masyadong malalim ang mga bughaw niyang mga mata na tipong kahit ikaw ay malulunod kapag tinitigan iyon ng matagal.

He smiled at me ngunit hindi ko alam kung totoo iyon o hindi.

“I’m Nigel Clifford Daniel and I’m really honored to introduce myself to you at last.”

“What?” I asked, breathless now because of the fast beating of my heart.

Is he... ?

“It’s very nice to meet you, Odette Veronica...”

I, then, noticed the abrupt change of the temperature, from the intensifying coldness to welcoming warmth.

“... Feazell.”

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya ng banggitin niya ang aking apelyido.

When I look at him again only then I saw that he is wearing my stolen necklace.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------