Chances (Chapter Six)
VI. When Time Flies
Nine years ago...
Seventeen year old Devon was walking the along the sidewalks of the post village where she and her tita are working. She was hear for more than a month, but has no friends. It looks like there are nobody with the same age as me, thought Devon. Or maybe, it was because she rarely goes out. After school, she would help with the chores and when she’s done she will pour over her books.
The only time she goes out of the house is when she would do grocery shopping or go to the market, just like now. She does not feel bad about not going out more often, she’s very happy just to stay at home and read. She has enough friends in college and thinks that the time she spent with these friends at school is enough socialization.
Devon just loves taking a walk in the morning. She was taking in all the crisp air, she didn’t notice that the plastic bag with the vegetables were starting to rip. She exclaimed when a tomato hit her feet and saw the other vegetables rolling on the side street. She quickly placed the other plastics down and started to go after the pieces of vegetables rolling in the road.
She was surprised when a pair of hands started to help her. Devon was stunned to see a handsome teen-ager who was picking the onions. She does not know or remember if he ever met him, but he sure was drop-dead gorgeous. She snapped out of her reverie when the good looking creature, I think he is a Greek God, Devon thought, asked her a question.
“Is there anything else missing?” the guy asked.
Devon looked at the vegetables sitting on the pavement and shook her head. Snap out if Devon, it’s not the first time you saw a good looking man. You’ve seen Piolo Pascual in a mal tour before, Devon thought about and could not help but smile.
James was about to walk away, after helping the petite girl when he saw her smile. I bet that smile could send rockets to space, he thought. He has seen the girl before, the day he arrived from the airport more than a month ago. He has seen her again when she was walking home, one evening. It was already dark and he saw this figure who was slowly walking down the streets. The girl is crazy, she could’ve been robbed, thought James.
“I’m James,” James extended his hand and introduced himself.
Devon looked at his hand and shook it. She felt as if electricity was running through her fingers. If James felt it, he didn’t show anything. “Devon,” she said and quickly pulled her hand away.
James hid his hand behind his back, he felt burned. The simple handshake felt so hot it could melt glaciers. “That’s a nice name,” James said. “I had a teacher named Divine.” James want to hit himself. Is that the best thing you could say, James whispered to himself angrily.
Devon glanced and smiled at James. Darn, it’s that frigging smile again, James thought.
Devon was trying not to look at James. But she could feel the warmth of his stare at her back. She was trembling when trying to fit the vegetables into another plastic bag. She sat down at the pavement, cause she feels her knees would be buckling any minute.
James decided to sit down too, and help her. They were busy trying to figure out how to fit everything inside the plastic bags when James raised his hands as if he is surrendering.
“It won’t fit,” James said. “I’ll help you carry them home.”
“Thanks,” Devon answered. “But I could carry. Why don’t you just go and jog.”
