Artemis

Prologue

As I walk in the middle of the crowd, the image of the people and the city never left me. All the panics and the cries I can hear from the people who lost their loved ones, and I'm here and I cannot help at all.

I tried running but it was useless, the people were pushing one another and it was so crowded, I don't even know if evacuating safe. I am too scared of leaving and staying at the same time. I no longer feel safe anywhere or anytime.

A Tectonic Earthquake happened here at Zambales. It was very scary, lalo na ay malapit kami sa dalampasigan. Maraming pumanaw nang dahil dito.

All I hear is shouts and cries from people. Nang makarating ako sa evacuation center ay agad kong kimuha ang bag ko. Naglabas agad ako ng first aid kit at agad lumapit sa mga nasugatan.

Nang matapos kong linisan ang mga sugat ng iba, the rescue team thanked me and I asked for more medical kit, since I'm a graduated medical student they quickly gave me one.

I saw a man having trouble with some pieces of broken glasses on his shoulder and some few scratches. Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan at nagpaalam muna.

"Hi! I'm a graduated med student, I'm about to perform a first aid medical treatment for you." Paalam ko.

Tumango lamang ito ng marahan, inangat ko ang tingin ko sa mukha niya and my jaw almost dropped. The man is very handsome, on top of that he looks like a hot mess right now! His soft-dark brown hair is wet and water were dripping from it. His features were very sharp, his eyes were very intimidating and he has a pointed nose, sexy red lips and a firm jaw line. God! He's like the younger version of Leonardo Di Caprio!

Umigting ang panga niya na naging dahilan ng pagkabalik ng katinuan ko. I quickly grabbed the forceps to pick out the sharded glasses on his shoulder.

"Please tell me if it hurts." Sabi ko agad habang tinatanggal isa-isa ang mga piraso ng salamin sa kamay niya.

As I perform the treatment at him, I can feel his stares that made me tremble. I cannot show a patient that I am uncomfortable or so, but a Greek God is staring at me right now, who wouldn't be?

"It's done, sir! Please tell me kung may masakit pa po sainyo." Agad kong sabi nang matapos kong gamutin ang mga sugat niya.

His lips curved into a naughty smile.

"I think I hurt my lips, would you mind treating them?" He said with his playful smile on his lips.

Agad kong nakuha ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig at nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"H-huh?" I stuttered and I almost cursed myself about that!

He laughed nolachantly and turned at me.

"I'm fine, just kidding. Go help some people now." He said.

I bowed and quickly turned around to leave but he called me.

"May I know your name?" He asked.

I smiled at him, almost a smirk. My name. My pride and the thing I hate the most.

"Art Ignacio." I said plainly and shrugged.

"Nice name." He sneered.

"Pretty plain, I guess." I shrugged.

He was about to speak but he was cut off by a call.

"Dei! What the fuck man? Let's go!" Sigaw ng isang lalaking hindi kalayuan sa amin. Mabilis namang tumayo ang lalaking ginamot ko kanina, so his name is 'Dei' or maybe his nickname?

"Fuck you!" He just shouted and ready to leave.

He turned to me with a playful smile. "See you soon or maybe never, Art Ignacio."

"Never is fine, Dei." I said and stormed out.

As I walk, I find myself smiling because of a stupid conversation.