POS 1: Miles, Track and Field Hottie

Prologue

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Tying his shoe laces and halting for a bit, he staredat the clearing skies and released a ragged breath while his calloused hands were on his hips. His eyes squinted as some leaves from a tree fell down and were blown by the warm wind. Dumiretso ang tingin ni Miles sa berdeng burol kung saan may nakikinita na siyang mga lapida sa dulo niyon. Naningkit lalo ang mga mata niya kasabay ang pagkunot ng noo nang sumilip ang araw mula sa mga ulap.

His eyes darkened for a bit, remembering the reason why he's here. It took him five years to come at this place, the start of his loathing for a certain event he wouldn't dare to haunt when he's at his low moments. He tilted his head and did some few stretches.

Mahigpit ang hawak sa strap ng bag niya nang simulan niyang maglakad ulit. Unti-unti nang umaangat ang daan. An elevated road leading to the cemetery. Halos walang mga sasakyang dumadaan sa kalsada, tila ba siya lang ang tao sa lugar. Hindi niya alintana ang init ng panahon dahil sanay na rin naman siyang bumabad sa tirik na tirik na araw gawa na parte siya ng isang sports noon.

Napatiim-bagang siya't nagsimula nang tumakbo bago pa pumasok sa isipan niya ang mga dapat sanay itaboy na niya noon pa man. He deserves this break. He deserves the truth he yearns. He deserves a peace of mind. If only, it would left buried for so long.

In between his short strides, he changed the strike of his feet, from forefoot to midfoot. The pressure of the gravity wanted to pull him downward so he increased his force. Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata nang maglakbay ang diwa niya sa mga eksenang nagpapabingi sa kanya. The sudden adrenaline rush. The shouts and cheers he received. The chaotic scenes he once a part of yet he's not anymore.

Nakarating siya sa burol na hingal na hingal at tagatak ang pawis. Nakayukong bumawi siya ng hangin.
Bumungad sa kanya ang berdeng burol sa kabila ng mainit na panahon, halatang alagang-alaga ng caretaker doon.

His eyes wandered around and found the mausoleum. Marahan siyang naglakad patungo roon, napapatiim-bagang at kagat-labing hinugot mula sa bulsa ng cargo shorts ang susi doon.

Using his spare key, he opened the locked door to opened the mausoleum and greeted by its desolate atmosphere. He never felt anything when he sees her face on the picture frame displayed inside. Inilapag niya ang bag niya ilang metro ang layo sa harap ng lapida nito. He zipped down his which revealed a bunch of assorted flowers. He gently placed it in front of her tomb.

Ano ba ang mararamdaman niya ngayong naharap na niya ito? Paano ba punan ng damdamin ang sistema niyang tila naging bakante na ng ilang taon. Maraming tanong ang bumabagabag sa isip niya na sa halip na masagot ay mas lalong nadagdagan.

He crawled and leaned on the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling. Suddenly, images came in his mind and he squeezed his eyes and massaged the side of his forehead.

"Fuck, don't go there." he murmured as he intaked a sharp breathe.

Papalubog na ang araw nang umalis siya roon. Sa pagkakataong iyon bumigat ang pakiramdam niya. Tila may bloke ng yelong bumara sa lalamunan niya. Nakakamanhid hanggang sa iangat niya ang ulo sa langit na nag-aagaw na ang liwanag at dilim.

Hindi niya namalayang may luhang umalpas sa gilid ng mata niya. He bit his lips hard that he could feel the sharp taste of rusty metal.

He started his intervals and a couple of long run hours ago to clear his mind apart from having a hectic schedule.

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao at mayamaya pa ay tumakbo nang mabilis. Nagbabasakaling sa pamamagitan nito, gaya ng nakasanayan, ay magpapawala sa lahat ng pait at dalamhating naranasan niya sa pagdaan ng mga taon.

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