Always

Prologue

Pagtingin ko sa phone ko, it's already 8:30 in the morning. Ugh, as much as I'd like to sleep in, ayokong masabihan ng tamad. Ok, time to take a bath.

I fished out my toiletries and towel and got out of the room. Nakasalubong ko yung pinsan ko. Si Shara ata to. Well how will I know, she's all grown up and shit. Maganda siya pero mas matangkad parin ako kesa sa kanya. Skin as white as porcelain. And lips as pink as rose.

"Hi ate." she smiled at me. Syempre, I smiled back at her. "San cr niyo dito? Gusto ko sanang maligo." I asked.

"Dun sa labas ate. First door." she said. "Sige thanks." I said turning around not wanting to make the comversation long.

Duh sino naman daw maglalagay ng cr sa labas ng bahay? Sila malamang. Ang lamig ng tubig grabe! Hoo!

Pagkatapos kong maligo, umakyat agad ako sa kwarto ko. Ano namang isusuot ko dito? Hindi naman masyadong malamig eh. Magshoshorts nalang ako at shirt.

Pagtingin ko sa salamin, nanlumo ako sa itsura ng hita ko. Nakalimutan ko na nahazing lang pala ako 3 days ago. Damn that hurts but it's totally an adrenaline rush and it's totally worth it. 3 strips of blueish bruise ran across my thighs at mejo mahapdi pa yung paso ng sigarilyo sa paa ko. Pero ok lang, I'm going to flaunt my bruises proudly here. Huh!

Paglabas ko ng bahay, may mga taong hindi ko kilala na kausap si dad. Nagtatawanan sila nila tita and as I let my eyes roam around, my aunt pulled me in the small crowd that has built up.

"Alex girl, meet Alex boy." she said pointing at the guy whose not paying attention. "Alex." my aunt sought for his attention again. His head snapped up and he meet my eyes. His were caramel, warm eyes. Fanned with thick lashes, with thick brows, well defined jaws, musculine skin tone. Well, not that I know of. Bata pa kami kaya hindi ko pa masasabi kung gwapo siya when puberty hits. But I can't deny that his lips were perfectly sculptured and it's literally pink. I can't take my eyes off of those lips.

I tried hard to look away from him and succeeded. When I was back to present, his hand was outstretched infront of me to shake my hand. Masyado bang natagalan pagtitig ko sa labi niya? Jusko nakakahiya. I reached for his hand awkwardly and shook his hand.

His hand was thinly calloused and is warm. When I lift my head to look at him, he was smiling. Nakakatunaw yung ngiti niya. I sense friendlyness in his smile. Is that bad? Hindi naman siguro. Syempre nginitian ko rin siya.

I let go of his hand and shoved my hands in my pocket. Staring past him. When I looked at him again, his eyes were fixed on my thighs and his face is wearing a deep frown.

Out of instinct, I turned and went inside again. What were you thinking Alex? Alex? Hmm parehas kami ng pangalan. Ngayon lang nagsink in sa akin. Siguro baka Alexander pangalan niya or whatever. Baka nickname lang niya yun.

Pagkahiga ko, tinawag ako ng kapatid ko. Lalarga na daw kami. Ok lego!

**

Naglakwatsa lang kami sa Baguio. Pumunta sa burnham, minesview, pacdal. Hmm nothing new.

Gabi na nang makauwi kami. Nakita kong nakabukas pa yung store nila tita. Ayoko pang pumasok sa loob. Shara's company is better than my dad's.

Pagpasok ko sa store nila, nakita ko agad yung mahabang itim na buhok ni Shara.

"Sha, ok lang ba na tumambay dito?" I bravely asked. "She turned and looked at me. "Oo naman ate. Pasok ka, wala din lang akong kasama eh." she kindly answered. Pagpasok ko nakakita ako ng junk food na matagal ko nang hindi natitikman. Wala kasing ganto sa Manila eh, dito lang sa Baguio nabibili.

Bumili ako ng dalawa hanggang sa umabot sa lima. Habang kumakain ako, may kumatok sa bintana. "Gumatang ak man." (pabili nga) sabi nung lalaki sa labas. Nasa cr si Shara, "Sha! May bibili." I called for her. Nagmadali naman siyang lumabas.

"Anya gatangem kuya Alex?" (anong bibilhin mo kuya Alex?) tanong niya. Alex? I craned my neck to see kung si Alex nga. No doubt, si Alex nga. First time ko marinig boses niya. Wow haha natawa ako para akong tangang naaamaze sa boses niya.

"Paload ako. Smart." sabi niya. "Ate Alex paabot nga nung Smart jan sa tabi mo." sabi ni Shara sa akin. "Ahh, sige." sagot ko. Lumapit ako sa may bintana para iabot yung cellphone.

When our eyes meet again, para akong naparalyze. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

"Kuya, yung number mo na ah." reklamo ni Shara. "Ay, sorry. Sabi niya habang abot sa cellphone. He typed his number at binalik kay Shara. Pagkatapos niya magload, "Punta na ako, Shara, Alex." sabi niya. Hmm it felt so wierd hearing my name roll off of his mouth.

Pagkaalis niya, bago ko napigilan ang bibig kong magsalita, "Shar, pahingi ako ng num niya."

***

Hello! Thank you for choosing my story to read. pasensya na po at madaming typo, sa phone ko lang po kasi ginagawa eh. 

Anyway, maraming maraming salamat po. ieedit ko po yung chapters one at a time para makompleto na. Please don't forget to vote thank you :)

ghen<3