KABANATA 1

                                            LAVENDER LACEY DEL CEILO

Lacey’s POV

People say I have everything. Wealth. Influence. A life of convenience where wishes materialize at an easy flick of my fingers. I let them believe that, because isn’t it easier that way? Let them assume I was born lucky, the golden child in a world that bends to my demands.

 

Except the world doesn’t.

 

Not entirely.

 

I grew up in an empire built by my parents—a kingdom where I was the heiress, given the world but left alone in its vastness. They were always too busy, their attention wrapped in corporate meetings and balance sheets, so I had all the freedom… yet none at all.

 

As an only child, I’ve always craved something I never had: a sister. Someone to make this world less lopsided. So when I met Shaira; anak ng aming kasambahay na si Aling Belen, who had cradled me since birth—I finally had a constant. A refuge. Shai was the first person who truly saw me beyond the surname, beyond the wealth. She became my bestfriend. My childhood friend. 

 

Sabi ko nga, lahat nakukuha ko except for one thing.

Because even with everything, one name still escaped me.

One name.

KURT URIEL ESTRILLORE.

A graduating-engineering student. Like Science, he's like a gravitational force in my orbit that refuses to acknowledge the pull.

And I'm not sure if nanatili pa ba itong sekreto thinking about how his peers looked back at me every time I passed by along the engineering hallway.

My attraction to him is the kind that ignites like a spark and refuses to die. It feeds on my  glimpses for him in hallways, on the frustrating absence of recognition in his eyes. His world is leagues away from mine, and if I were to judge by the way he looks past me, I'm like  nothing but an irrelevant blur in his existence then maybe I don't exist in his world at all.

 

Kurt, with his brilliance, his ruthlessly sharp presence. Devastatingly attractive. But unlawfully arrogant. I think well at least only to me.

Bakit ko nasasabi yon? Sa lahat ng ayaw ko, he never gets the chance or probably ignores every chance to even glance at me the way how guys are drooling over me. He is so impossible. Ika nga Hambog!!! Saan siya humugot ng lakas para deadmahin ako?

 For all I know, maybe he thinks I'm exactly what the world assumes—a spoiled, shallow girl wrapped in designer silk and privileges. Hambog. As if he had the right to be when I’m me. Lacey Lavender del Cielo. Wealthy. Admired. The kind of face boys want to be seen with.

 

And yet, here I am, wrecked over the one person who refuses to look.

 

 Was it because He always sees me around with boys. So what? 

 

I only want him.

 

I haven’t said that out loud. Haven’t told him. Yet.

 

But before I can spiral deeper into this maddening reality, my phone rings. My heart lunges into my throat at the absurd thought that—just maybe—his name might appear on the screen

 

I glance down.

 

It’s Shaira.

 

My best friend. My instant supporter to the real world.

 

“Hoy, bangon na! Alam kong nakahilata ka pa d’yan.” sabi nito sa kabilang linya. 

 

I groan. “Shai, parang gusto kong umabsent muna ngayon.”

 

Tumikhim ito. “Kahit sabihin kong si Kurt ang magha-handle sa class natin? Kasi parang wala si Mr. Vasquez?”

 

What? 

 

I bolt upright.

 

For the first time in history, I will now get the perfect excuse to hear his voice. To watch him up close. To make him see me.

 

The stars have finally aligned, and there’s no way I’m wasting them.

 

I shower in no record time, my thoughts are spinning in a million directions.

Should I wear something striking?

Understated?

Should I look effortlessly elegant but subtly intimidating?

A small laugh bubbles up my throat. As if I need to try.

Pagkatapos magbihis ay bumaba ako para mag-umagahan. Nakikita ko na si Mom and Dad na kasisimula lang sa pagkain. Mukhang inaantay ako ng mga ito.

“Morning mom,” nakangiti kong sabi.

“You look different this morning,” sabi ni mommy. "kamukhang kamukha mo na ako, sweety”.

I smile, playing along. “Of course, Mom.”

 

“And what about me?” Dad chuckles. “Sana naman mana ka rin sa’kin.”

“Syempre, dad. Mana din ako sa inyo,” sabay yakap ko sa likod at umupo sa tabi nito. Paborito ko talaga ang luto ni Mommy. Naisip ko na sana matutunan ko din paano magluto malay mo, baka gusto ni Kurt ang babaeng masarap magluto.

“Ikaw ba’y may lalaki nang nagustuhan sa school?” Mom’s voice cuts through my thoughts. Nagulat ako sa tanong ni mommy na di ko alam kung nagbibiro o seryoso.

I blink, startled. “Po?” My gaze snaps to Dad for backup.

“Oh, bakit ka sa akin nakatingin?” si Dad. Natawa ito sa biglang tanong na iyon ni Mom.

“Ahm, wala eh,” giit ko. Tumawa na rin si mommy.

Mom is unconvinced. “Kahit sabihin kong okay lang?” A smile plays on her lips. "Syempre hanggang crush lang muna, sweety.”

I hesitate. 

But what’s the harm in admitting it?

“Meron, Mommy,” I confess. “But he doesn’t like me back.” I force a light laugh. “Pero okay lang yon, no worries.”

“Anong okay lang? Aba’t sino bang hindi magkagusto sa anak ko, ha?” hindi makapaniwalang sabi nito.

 

Dad hums thoughtfully. “Ganyan talaga ang mundo, Alicia. Di mo maitutulad ang lahat ng lalaki.” His gaze sharpens on me. “Gusto kong malaman kung sino ang lalaking yan, sweetheart.”

 

My pulse stutters. Bad idea. I should’ve kept quiet.

 

Knowing Papa, he’d pry. He’d investigate.

 

I push my chair back hurriedly. "I need to leave. Ayoko ma-late."

 

Thankfully, that works. They let me go.

Ano ba yan? Nalilimutan ko na tuloy na kailangan ko pala maagang umalis para hindi ma late sa klase, para namang magkakaroon agad ako ng good impressions kay Kurt. Napag-alaman ko kasi na perfectionist itong si Kurt. Maraming ayaw sa lahat ng bagay. Maraming sinusunod na golden rules sa buhay. 

 

Naisip ko, paano kaya mahalin ng isang Kurt? Sabi din nila na ayaw daw nito sa mayayamang katulad ko. Sa pagtataka ko nga’y napadasal  ako na sana baliktad na lang ang buhay namin ni Shai. At sana, may kwento na hindi pala ako ang tunay na anak nina mom at dad. Ampon lang pala ako. Silly!

Habang nasa loob ako ng van palaisipan sa akin kung ano kaya ang mangyayari pag mahalin ako ni Kurt? Di ba niya kokontrahin ang paraan ng pananamit ko? Strikto na boyfriend kaya siya? Wait, masarap ba siyang humalik? Boung buhay ko wala pa akong first kiss. Although giit ng iba marami na akong nahalikan. Pati ba naman ang katotohanang iyon ipagkait pa nila sa akin? Naku naman po.

 

Napahinto ang van.

 

An agony. Heavy traffic is really an enemy kahit kailan. The universe is testing me.

“Ang heavy ng traffic, manong Edgar noh?” sabi ko sa driver namin.

“Oo nga mam, eh. Lalo na ngayong araw ng lunes,” sagot nito.

Napabuntung hininga ako. Aabot kaya ako nito sa first class? Pag hindi isusumpa ko talaga tong kahabaan ng Edsa.Tumunog ang cellphone ko. Tumawag si Shai. Kinabahan ako na baka sabihing late na ako.

“Oh, Shai? Nasa byahe pa ako, bwesit ang tindi ng traffic. Nasa school ka na ba?” tanong ko sa kabilang linya.

“Yap, gurl. Bilisan mo at baka ma late ka di ka na papasukin ng guard. Pag hindi ka aabot akin na yang si Kurt mo!” dinig na dinig ko ang malaswang hagikhik nito sa kabilang linya. Pinatay ko ang tawag sa inis.

“Malapit na ba tayo, manong? “

“Oo, mam. Payb minutes,” anito.

Dumating nga kami sa unibersidad after 10 minutes nga lang. May ilang minuto pa akong tatakbuhin ang room ko sa right side ng Architectural building. Well, Architecture ang kinuha kong kurso. Aside sa mahilig talaga ako sa drawing, malapit sa akin ang kurso na ito kasi ito ang kurso ng dad ko of course.

Pagpasok ko sa room, si Shai agad ang unang hinahanap ko. Syempre magkatabi kami ng upuan. Napansin kong balisang-balisa ang mga babae sa pagpaganda. Madami pala kami, ha? Napatingin ako kay Breena, President ito ng Architectural council sa school. Maganda at mayaman rin katulad ko. Ito ba’y may gusto rin kay Kurt? Huwag naman sana. I’ve heard na may boyfriend na yata ito, eh. Good for her.

Akin lang si Kurt, huwag na siyang maging epal, please. 

“No need mo nang mag retouch, girl,” sabay hawi nito sa buhok kong nagulo sa ginawa kong pag lakad-takbo kanina sa building.

“Really, huh? O dahil lang kaibigan mo ako? Hmmp!” naiinis kong sabi sa kanya.

 “Wow! Pa-infamous effect, gurl?” biro nito at sabay kaming nagtawanan.