In the Shadow of the Waves

Prologue

The wind blew through my hair as I arrived on the island of Batanes. I hugged myself, feeling the cold breeze wrap around me. "What should I do?" I whispered, looking up at the sky where the bright moon watched silently.

A noise outside woke me. It's been two months since I arrived in Batanes, two months since I ran away from everything. "Tao po, Ate Nari!" I stood up as another knock echoed on my door. When I opened it, I saw Darren holding a bowl of food. "Eto po, ulam. Pinabibigay po ni Tita Edna," the cute little boy said with a smile.

"Salamat, Dan." I took the bowl from him and gently tapped his head.

His cheeks turned red. "Alis na po ako." He quickly turned and ran back to their house.

It was already ten in the morning. I took a shower after eating and doing some house chores. That's been my life for the past two months here in Batanes. I'm still trying to figure things out.
Do I really have to do this? What if I just follow what my parents want?

But I made a choice. Because the fear of what waits for me back there... is far worse than the fear of staying here.

My phone rang. I glanced at the screen and answered."Hello? Nyxa Azzrin M. Virelle," my cousin said. She was the one who helped me escape. I waited for her to speak again. "Your papers are ready. I'll ask someone to bring them there," she said.

"Okay, thanks," I replied. "How's everything over there? Are Mom and Dad okay?" I asked, a bit worried.

She laughed. "Are you serious? After running away, now you ask if they're okay? Of course they're furious. Everyone's looking for you," she said sarcastically.

"I'll come back when everything's fine... Please, take care of them whil—" She cut me off.

"I know, I know. Just take care of yourself, okay?" she said, trying to ease my worries. "Bye for now. I have to go. Dad's calling. Byeee!" Sabrinna ended the call before I could respond.

She only calls me after work, asking how I'm doing. She also makes sure my supplies are complete, even secretly sending money though I told her I don't need it. Once, she even sent a guard to check on me. I didn't like that. I just want to live like a normal person.

She sent the guard back and instead hired someone to help clean my place.

Today, I walked on the beach for the first time. I was afraid to go outside, worried someone might recognize me. But the view stole my breath away the golden hour, the sea, the sky. I fell in love with it.
I sat under a coconut tree and closed my eyes, wishing everything could go back to normal. Eventually, I fell asleep.

I felt someone holding my arm.

When I opened my eyes, a man's face was close to mine. Fair skin. Rosy lips and cheeks. A pointed nose. Brown eyes and hair. Damn. He looked like an angel.

I pushed him out of shock. "What the hell are you doing!?"

He looked surprised. "I was just trying to wake you up. I didn't have any bad intentions, calm down," he said, stepping back with both hands raised like he was surrendering. "Just checking if you're okay."
His lips curved into a faint smile.

"Orionnn!" someone called out. "What are you doing there? You might see something you shouldn't. Let's go, it's dinner time," his friend said while pulling him away.

"Where is she?" he asked, trying to look for me. But I had already run and hidden.

Running that's what I'm good at. But in the end, I know it will catch up to me. They deserve to know the truth. But sometimes... silence is the only way to protect yourself from a danger that could destroy everything.