Space in Between Us

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Xiarra Aveline

"Damn, Ellie asan ka na?" bulong ko sa hangin habang nakaabang sa mga lumalampas na sasakyan.

Ellie, my best friend, has volunteered to pick me up because we are heading to Cielo's to grab a shot. Pero ilang minuto na ako nakatayo at nag-aabang ngunit wala pa rin siya, twenty minutes ago she said she's on her way.

I glanced across the street at the crowd of people that was already there when I came. 'Tila mayroong aksidente kanina, mukha namang hindi masyadong malala since both drivers are still standing and talking to each other.

A guy in the crowd caught my eye, he's caressing the shoulder of the owner of the red car, like he's trying to comfort him. Dressed in a crisp white dress shirt paired with black trousers and covered with a black coat. Despite the tired look on his face, in the midst of the bustling crowd, he stands out as a lone figure, attracting attention with his unique presence. I'm not sure what his face features look like now that so many years have gone.

'Tila yata napatagal ang pagtingin ko at naramdaman niya kaya napalingon siya sa gawi ko. Nang magtama ang paningin namin ay agad akong nag-iwas at napatingin sa bumusina sa harapan ko. Binaba nito ang bintana at iniluwa ang kaibigan kong kanina ko pang hinihintay.

"Sasakay ka pa ba o d'yan ka na?" bakas ang inis sa boses nito.

Pagak akong tumawa, "ikaw pa inis n'yan? On the way twenty-five minutes ago pa kahit ten minutes away lang naman mula sa condo niya."

She smiled cheekily, "sorry, may humarang na bakulaw."

Pinaikutan ko siya ng mata at binuksan na ang pinto para sumakay, ngunit bago pumasok ay tinapunan kong muli ng tingin 'yong lalaki. Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng pisngi ko sa hiya nang makitang nakatingin pa rin ito sa akin.

Damn, nagmumukha akong marupok.

Nang makasakay ay pinaharurot na agad iyon ni Ellie papalayo.

"So who's the bakulaw you're talking about?" tanong ko kay Ellie upang mawaglit ang engstrangherong lalaki sa aking isipan na panigurado namang hindi ko na ulit makikita.

"Who else? Edi si Aurelius! That freaking cheater na ayaw ako tigilan palibhasa hindi gumana 'yong pinalit niya!"

Nakaramdam ako ng inis nang makinig ang pangalan ng lalaking pinaka-iinisan naming dalawa.

"You know what? Until now nagtataka ako kung anong nagustuhan mo sa kaniya, he's a playboy and he's so mayabang kaya!"

She laughed, "ikaw talaga mas galit sa kaniya 'no? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin 'yan dati ha, edi sana hindi ako nabiktima. 'Tsaka parang hindi ka din nauto ng lahi niya ah."

I rolled my eyes, "duh how can I say that kung nakikita ko na tuwing kasama or kinukwento mo siya kulang nalang may twinkle talagang lumabas sa mata mo. You're so head over heels for him! 'Tsaka 'wag mo isisi sa'kin kaya ka nabiktima, tanga ka talaga kaya mabibiktima ka talaga. And lastly, dati lang 'yon hindi na 'to papa-uto 'no!"

"Fine, fine na po!" she surrendered, "hayaan mo isho-shot natin 'yan sa Cielo's!"

I instantly became excited. It's weekend tomorrow, so we can drink till dawn without worrying about tomorrow's work.

In less than twenty minutes, we arrived at Cielo's. While she parks, I take my lipgloss out of my purse to touch up.

"Make sure your lipstick is smudge proof ha! Last time, mukha kang tanga paikot-ikot sa dance floor habang may kalat na lipstick sa pisngi."