Head Over Heels For Ezzio (Villaverde Series #1)

Prologue

"Si Ezzio Martinez ang gusto ko, okay?!"

Have you ever confessed something like that in public? Well, not super public. But let's say... in the middle of a class? With your Professor and classmates around, kasama na rin ang mismong may-ari ng pangalang isinigaw mo.

Kasi ako, oo. 'Yun nga lang, hindi totoong gusto ko si Ezzio.

"Half an hour to go," I murmured right after checking my wrist-watch. Nakaupo ako sa mataas na parte ng bleachers malapit sa football field. I had been sitting here for about an hour, waiting for my next class.

It's a typical Wednesday afternoon. I was just doodling something on my notebook to pass the time. Little did I know, that simple doodle would cause me a hell of a mess later on.

I looked down on my notebook. 'Yon ang gamit ko sa last subject namin ngayong araw, which is Accounting and Financial Management. I just reviewed our lesson last meeting. Eventually, out of boredom, I decided to make a doodle on the next page. It was a half-finished doodle of the name, 'King Largo'.

A small smile crept on my lips. Si King. Ang lalaking gusto ko since first year college.

I sighed dreamily at the thought of him. Isang Mass Com senior student si King sa university na pinapasukan ko. Bukod doon, siya rin ang captain ng Hawks- basketball team ng La Montreal- pangalan ng university namin. At sa lahat ng game nila, wala pa akong ni-isang absent.

As if naturally, an image of him flashed through my mind. His tall, athletic figure that complemented his dark hair and charming face. And the way his smile showed his perfectly white teeth and his chinky eyes.

I first met him back on my freshman year. Nagmamadali akong naglalakad sa hallway for my next class. I had my books wrapped in my arms. I was already 10 minutes late when I heard someone calling out to me.

"Miss! Miss!"

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad no'n at agad na lumingon. That's when I saw him. The King Largo of La Montreal's basketball team, Jersey #7, was walking towards me with his backpack hanging over his left shoulder, and a white handkerchief in his right hand. He stopped a few meters away from me.

"Nahulog mo panyo mo," Sabi niya. He gestured his hand and it gave me a clearer view of the handkerchief. I opened my mouth to say something but not a word came out so I closed it instead.

I hadn't known who he was back then. But something about him had me dumbfounded and speechless. Was it because his dark hair suited him very well? Or his eyes that were extremely captivating? It took me days before I realized what was it about him that struck me; It was his aura. This light aura he gave off, this aura that gave you a sense of kindness and generosity when you lay your eyes on him.

Naglakad siya palapit sa'kin.

"Late ka na sa next class?" He had asked as he handed me the handkerchief. Kinuha ko iyon. His voice sounded warm and calming. I hugged my books tighter and nodded. And then, he flashed me one of the most charming smile I had ever seen in my entire life. Muntik na akong mapabuntong-hininga.

"You better get going, then," He said. I nodded again and walked away as fast as I could because I know if I hadn't, it would've been too late for me to do so because I would've been glued on the ground, appearing completely stupid in front of him.

So, that was it. As simple and as cliché as that. Dahil lang sa pangyayaring 'yon, nagkagusto ako kay King. Siguro normal lang na magkagusto agad sa kanya tapos mawawala lang din agad. Pero ang magkagusto pa rin sa kanya after two years? Nababaliw na yata ako.