Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Prologue

Prologue

"Shia! May concert daw si Troye Sivan ngayong gabi rito sa Manila! OMG!"

Napatigil ako sa ginagawang research sa laptop ko nang marinig ang sigaw ng kaibigan kong agarang nagpunta at nang-istorbo sa akin dito sa apartment na pinatilihan ko. I sighed.

One thing I hate about is to be disturbed but after hearing what she said, I automatically stopped typing on my laptop. Troye Sivan has been my favorite Western singer so it really piqued my curiosity.

I glanced at her who's still smiling ear to ear.

"Anong kakantahin niya?"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang bigla siyang lumundag patungo sa kama ko. Hindi ko talaga gusto ang mga ganiyang galawan ni Venice, pero nasanay na rin naman ako.

I am really an introvert person that's why I don't even know why she became my friend who's talkative, noisy, and clingy. Naging kaibigan ko siya three years ago noong Grade 10 pa lang ako sa Youth Ministry dahil isa rin siyang youth servant katulad ko.

We are clearly opposite. But one thing I liked about her is she's genuine, and true to her words... Unlike that one friend I had before, a friend for five years na sana ngayon who turned into different person because of the insecurity she felt towards me.

Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang ka-insecure-insecure sa akin. I'm just nothing but a piece of shit who have been brought into this world only to suffer.

"Limang kanta ang kakantahin niya at isa na roon ang Youth! 'Di ba favorite mo 'yon? Or... favorite niyong dalawa tugtugin ni ano before..." she looked at me gently and in a guilty way, nag-iingat sa magiging reaction ko.

Tuluyan na akong napatigil sa ginagawa nang bumalik na naman sa akin ang mga ala-ala. It's been a year. But I stopped myself from thinking about that because I might end up crying again.

I don't want to cry in front of anyone, even in front of Venice because I don't want them to see the weak side of me.

I just want them to see my vivid cold personality that seems to have a strong huge barrier that no one could break. Pero alam kong alam niya ang mahinang ako kahit pa nagpapanggap akong malakas at pilit na pinapakita ang kalamigan ko.

She said before that eyes do not lie... so she stayed with me. Hindi nga lang ako umiiyak sa tuwing nandiyan siya dahil gusto ko talagang mag-isa lang na umiiyak.

But... there was one person who saw how I cried alone unexpectedly because of too much pain. He was the first person who saw the unmasked me. Indeed... he really broke the wall I build since birth.

"Yes. But, Venice, we should really forget about that one. It was destined from the very start. I'll come with you. Anong oras ba ang concert?"

Nabalik ulit ang reaksiyon ko sa pagiging interesado sa concert, not minding anymore the topic she brought about the past.

She smiled widely again.

"Alas otso! Alas syete na ngayon. Maghanda ka na, Ashia! Isantabi mo muna 'yang research mo, malayo pa naman ang deadline. Gayahin mo akong sinusulit muna ang oras para maging happy bago sumabak ulit sa madugong activities sa college life!" Parang shotgun na 'di matahimik ang bibig niya kaya napatakip ako sa magkabilang tenga ko.

I don't know how she coped up to be with me even if I am like this. That I am showing the real me. I am not the same as the other friend, my personality opposed their traits.

I shook my head slowly. "No. I won't imitate you, Venice. It's better to be early than being late."

"It's better to be late than never, Ashia Julienne!"