Twist Of Fate

Chapter One.

Chapter 1: I met a guy online

Alona Dela Cruz

It was late afternoon when I got home from school. Pagod na pagod na pagod ako, ewan ko kung bakit ako napagod. Anyway, para mawala is ang pagod, nag-internet na lang ako para maka-chat ang mga classmates and friends ko.

OA eh no? Buong araw na nga magkasama sa school, makikipag-chat pa. Walang katapusang usapan about sa school.

Ayun nga, nag-f*******: at nag-Twitter ako, the usual sites I possibly going to. Suddenly, hindi ko inaasahan na may na-click ako na profile and may lumabas. I was shocked nung makita ko, ang gwapo eh.

Maputi

Singkit

Average height

Pompadour hairstyle.

Kaso parang bata pa, tingin ko mga 12 or 13 yrs. old pa lang and nung tignan ko yung about sa kanya, 15 years old na siya. He lives in an exclusive subdivision in Mandaluyong at nag-iisang anak na lalaki na may tatlo pang kapatid na babae.

I want is brown skin, to be real, hindi ako mahilig sa maputi; matangkad, tama lang ang katabaan, a very kind person, also have fear in God, serious sometimes and not a trouble maker.

So, inayawan ko siya pero in-add ko. Parang napaisip ako na masarap siya maging kaibigan. Sa kakatingin ng mga pictures niya, di ko namalayan na gabi na pala at wala pa akong nagagawang assignments. Lagot ako! Rush na naman to.

Biglang nag-ring phone ko. Sino naman kaya ito? Si Kaylee pala, classmate ko.

"Hello? Kaylee, napatawag ka?" Nakakapagtaka, di naman tatawag 'to kung di importante or better yet kokopya lang sa akin ng assignments 'to.

"Tanong ko lang kung sayo yung tubigan na kulay brown na naiwan sa room. Winnie the Pooh siya?" Napaisip ako at biglang napatakbo ng mabilis sa bag ko para tingnan kung nandun tumbler ko.

Kapag minamalas ka nga naman oh! Sa akin nga yung tumbler. Bakit ko ba naiiwan palagi yun? Mahalaga naman yun pero iniiwan ko na lang palagi. "Nakuha mo? Naiwan ko na naman sa table ko."

"Nope, nakita ko lang. So I asked you first kasi makakalimutin ka." Okay na sana kaso bakit di niya pa kinuha? Sabagay di naman sa kanya, bakit niya aangkinin?

"Ang sama mo! Minsan lang makalimot e." Pagmamaktol ko. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa kundi maghintay bukas para kakuha yun.

"Bukas pasok ka ng maaga, pakopya ako ng assignment. Hahaha! Okay lang?" Now I see, pati tumbler ko ginamit niya lang agenda para lang makakopya ng assignment sa akin.

"You are the top of the class yet you're copying from me? Okay, bye for now." Yes, she is top of the class pero kung makakopya sa akin yun wagas! Kulang na lang ako na gumawa ng assignments niya.

"Bye! Ms. Story Teller." Nakakainis talaga siya. Ms. Story Teller tawag sa akin sa school, mahilig kasi ako mag-kwento about samin ng crush ko.

Kinabukasan, I wake up early, mga 4:30AM. Sobrang aga ko, start pa naman ng klase namin ay 8:00AM pa. So, nag-online muna ako. And I can't believe it na in-accept niya na ako. Nahulog pa ako sa may kama ko.

I chatted him for thanking him for accepting me. I was shocked dahil naka-online din siya. So, I waited and waited him but he didn't answer. Busy yata. Okay lang atleast I thanked him.

Pumasok na ako, mga 6:30AM yata to be exact. Well, in three years in high school kahit pang-hapon kami, maaga talaga ako pumapasok. Magkasama kami ni Kaylee sa room and I tried to tell her na may nakita ako na gwapo sa f*******:.

At first, di siya naniwala pero pinakita ko sa kanya. Dala ko kasi laptop ko nun at may wifi yung computer lab na katapat ng room namin.

And to my surprise, a message pop up in my screen. It was Marcus saying that not a prob and thanks as well. Yung lang sinabi? Well, I'm not expecting any message from him at least he responded.

FACEBOOK CHAT

Recently

Alona: Thank you for accepting me

Seen 4:56AM

Marcus Tyler: Not a prob and thanks as well

Seen 6:47AM

Nakita ko na online pa rin siya. Hindi ko na dapat pa kakausapin nang kalabitin ako ni Kaylee. She is looking at the screen and to me and the screen and to me again. I know that look.

I sighed in defeat.

Today

Alona: Hello Marcus Tyler

Seen 6:49AM

typing a message...

Marcus Tyler: Hi Alona

Seen 6:50AM

Alona: Where you from?

Seen 6:52AM

Marcus Tyler: From my mother's womb. Haha!

Seen 6:53AM

Typing a message...

Alona: Very funny. Seriously?

Seen 6:54AM

typing a message...

Marcus Tyler: I'm serious, okay? Hahaha!

Marcus Tyler: I'm from Manda, you?

Seen 6:57AM

Alona: Same.

Seen 7:01AM

typing a message...

Marcus Tyler: Really? :)

Marcus Tyler: In what barangay or subdivision?

Seen 7:03AM

typing a message...

Alona: Typo. Sorry! I'm in Pasig.

Alona: Not that rich to live in a exclusive subdivision.

Seen 7:06AM

Marcus Tyler: I see, it's okay to dream.

Seen 7:07AM

typing a message...

Alona: Actually, I never dream living in big house. Simple life with my family would be better. :)

Seen 7:10AM

typing a message...

Marcus Tyler: Same here. It's too boring here! Few friends and too quite.

Seen 7:12AM

Alona: Hahaha! Maybe you're right. Too bad pinanganak kang mayaman.

Seen 7:15AM

typing a message...

Marcus Tyler: That's okay, sanay na ko.

Marcus Tyler: Btw, seen your photos. You are very adorable. Bye for now, school ahead waiting.

Seen 7:20AM

Di ko alam kung anong ire-react ko sa sinabi niya. Yes, I'm adorable, maraming nagsasabi ng ganun sa akin pero bakit parang iba ang epekto niya nung sinabi niya yun?

Si Kaylee, tulak lang ng tulak sa akin habang kinikilig sa short conversation namin. It was really nothing to me but I'm happy that it goes so well.

So dating gawi kami. Balik kami sa pag-aaral. Nag-lesson yung teacher, took some quizzes, yung iba naman nagbigay ng mga long test at activities at mawawala ba naman ang sandamakmak na assignments.

I went home tired and sleepy. Bago ako pumasok sa bahay namin, nadatnan ko na agad ang mga bulaklak sa may upuan namin at isang may katabaan na lalaking nakaupo katabi ng bulaklak.

All smile pa ang loko.

To my confused, akala ko he just misses me kaya nagdala siya ng bulaklak pero nagalit siya nang makalimutan ko na monthsary pala namin ngayon. Masyadong na preoccupy utak ko, buti na lang at tinanggap naman niya apology ko.

We hang-out sa park, had dinner for two and stayed in their house for about three hours, talking to his cousins. We are officially together and since our family is both friends, they accepted us eventually.

He is not a typical guy for everyone but he is for me. He really showed me that I deserve to be love and he thinks his love is the one for me.

Corny pero nakakakilig lang.

Back to Marcus Tyler, simula nang magkausap kami ng umagang iyon, hindi na naulit pa. Busy yata siya. Okay lang naman pero na-miss ko siya ng di ko inaaasahan. Probably magaan lang siya kausap that's why.

Lumipas ang isang linggo na walang paramdam ni Austin although nagte-text naman siya pero hindi sapat yun para di na siya magpakita sa akin no. And Marcus Tyler, I have no idea what happened to him.

Magkasama na naman kami ni Kaylee sa student organization. Dito lang naman kami namamalagi kapag walang klase. Ayoko din ng masyadong maiay kaya buti na lang may nakakasama ako dito.

"Musta na kayo ni Austin?" Kaylee asked. She knows Austin and vice versa. Kapag magkasama nga silang dalawa, parang sila pa ang mas close kung makaasar sa akin e.

I smiled at her. "Okay lang kami. Getting stronger." Kahit na magkaiba kami ng school ni Austin, we still manage to give time to ourselves. Bihira na nga lang kami magkita kaya madalas nilulubos namin ang oras.

"Eh kayo ni Marcus Tyler, musta?" Nawala ang ngiti ko sa tinanong niya. Buti na lang at hindi niya ako nakikita dahil busy siya sa pagbubukas ng computer.

I rested my head on the table and gave out a heavy sigh. "Kamusta na nga ba siya?" I really don't know. Maybe he is just busy like us. He is a f*****g rich boy so he wouldn't mingle with girls like us.

But there is still a little hope that he is not like the other rich boy I know.

Nagmadali akong maglakad pauwi at iniwan ko si Kaylee sa school. Nag-online ako baka online siya pero offline. So, I waited and waited hanggang sa maggabi na. Naglaro na lang ako sa phone ko ng games.

Inaliw ko sarili ko sa mga bagay na di ko naman talaga ginagawa. Bigla akong nakaalala. Sinubukan ko na buksan yung Skype ko at sa wakas nabuksan ko pa rin!

I accepted to many known friends from Skype and almsot of it are my friends and classmates in school. Di pa ba sila nagsasawa sa mukha ko? To my surprise, I didn't expect that Marcus Tyler added me on Skype. How did he know my username? How? Then, nagulat ako na bigla siyang tumatawag.

Marcus Tyler is calling...

Should I answer it? Nahihiya ako. Di ako ready makipag-face to face sa kanya. What am I going to do? I'm so confused. Dahil pang ilang missed calls na ang inabot ko sa kanya, Wala akong nagawa kundi sagutin na lang.

After I answered, nag-message siya.

Marcus Tyler: Bakit ang tagal mo sagutin? Di naman kita pagtritripan e.

Alona: Bakit ba? Nahihiya ako and I'm not ready.

Marcus Tyler: No need for that, you are perfectly adorable :)

Alona: Are you kidding me? Can we just chat na lang? Walang sense pagtawag mo.

He didn't even reply to my message. When I was about to hang up the call, I suddenly heard a voice from the other line.

"Hello Alona? Helloooo? Are you there? Are you dead?" My widened in surprise. He has this husky voice that every girls would want to a guy that is certainly worth dying for.

"Jerk! Of course, I'm alive and would definitely kick you." I am still nervous. Di ko alam ang gagawin ko o sasabihin ko man lang. Feeling ko talaga nagtataksil ako kay Austin nito.

"Glad to hear that. Don't worry, I'm harmless." Bakit ba ganito siya magsalita? Ano bang ginagawa mo? Inaakit mo ba ako? Di ko alam kung matutuwa ako o ano pero ang ganda kasi ng boses niya.

"Okay, whatever you say. How can I be so sure?" I just rolled my eyes. I'm happy that I can't see his eyes and he can't mine also. But he is really terrifying.

"I just called you. Hindi naman ako lalabas dyan sa computer mo. Ano ako sadako?" Pagbibiro niya. I even heard him laugh to his lame joke. I just sighed.

"Joke mo, tawa mo. Anyway, why did you call?" I changed the topic so I can finished talking with him. Baka mamaya kasi biglang dumating si Austin o kaya naman tumawag yun bigla.

"Masama ba? Kakausapin ka daw kasi ni Daddy. I don't know eh. Eto na siya." Bigla akong nag-panic sa sinabi niya. Anong problema ng daddy niya at gusto niya akong makausap?

He even open his video cam. I can see his dad on the screen while he is at the back. He is really hot, I must say! His dad as well, he really looks like his dad.

"Oh my gosh! Bakit daw? Can we just chat about it, I'm not really into video chats." Nagulat ako nang mag-request siya na mg-video daw ako para makita naman niya ako. Umiling ako ng ilang beses, nahihiya ako ng sobra lalo na dad na niya kakausapin ko.

Suddenly I heard a big voice. It's his dad. Speaking to me. "Alona Dela Cruz, right?" And in defeat, I accepted his request for video chat. I even saw his smile widen in amusement.

"Yes it's me, Sir." Magalang kong sabi. I even bow in the screen para mapakitang magalang ako. He is just looking at me, a little bit serious while Marcus is makimg funny face at the back.

He is really a jerk.

"Can I ask you something about your family?" What about them? Is this kind of syndicate to kidnap us? We really don't have that much riches to exchange from them if ever.

"Sure, Sir." Mukhang wala na akong kawala kaya sinagot ko na lang. They already have my face familiarized.

I know, medyo OA na ako mag-isip pero malaki ang pagtataka ko kung bakit nila inaalam ang tungkol sa akin lalo na ang sa pamilya ko. Nakakatakot lang para sa isang tulad ko na kakakilala lang ng lalaki sa social media.

"Well, I've seen a family photo from you. Is your father named Javier Dela Cruz?" I really don't know what to say or what to react. How did they know my father's name?

"Yes, Sir. He is my father. Why did you asked?"

"I have a cousin named Javier Dela Cruz who lived in Laguna. He is half-Filipino and half Chinese. Is it your father I'm talking about?"

Napaisip ako and dahan-dahan nagsalita. "We lived in Laguna before but I don't know about his mother and father. I'll try to ask him first." Maybe he is not that kind of guy, I'll ask my dad when he got home from work later.

"I see. If he ask who is asking, just tell my name Lance Guevarra. Thanks Alona." He stood up and got away from the screen. I was about to end the call when I heard Marcus Tyler called me.

"Bye for now. I'll just message you when I'm free to chat." He bid goodbye to me. I know he is a busy guy and I don't really go online everyday so and idea came into my mind.

"I'll just give you my number." I know it's really weird of me giving my number to someone I just met online, but it's just a number. He is a nice friend tho, and I would like seeing him befriend with Austin.

I fished out my phone on the screen with my number. "Got it! Text you later. Bye!" He smiled at me and looked at me for about 5 seconds then he flied a kiss for me.

Bago ako makapag-react, binaba na niya ang video call. Ang daya naman niya! Di ko akalain na gagawin niya yun. Nakausap ko pa yung daddy niya. Unexpected from him.

My phone suddenly rang. It must be him.

From +639261234567

Hello. I'm Adrian De Guzman. :)

To +639261234567

Who the heck is Adrian De Guzman?

From +639261234567

Hahaha! Fooled you!

To +639261234567

WTF? Who are you? I'm not kidding here. I don't talk to strangers, bye!

From +639261234567

Sorry! It's me, Marcus Tyler. Calm down, world peace! >:D

To +6392612334567

I see. I thought it was someone. I literally don't talk to strangers.

From +639261234567

Ah. Stranger ba ako? Di naman ah, magkakakilala naman tayo.

To +639261234567

Yun nga eh di ka nagpakilala bigla. What seems to be the problem? :/

From +639261234567

Don't forget to ask your dad sabi ni daddy. I will be online on the night of the 28th day. I really have full schedule this month.

From +639261234567

I'll just text you if I have free time. I'll sleep now, goodnight! I love you! :*

Napatigil ako sa pagta-type nang makita ko ang sumunod niyang message. I can't believed he just said that. I know he doesn't have the authority to say that but he just said it through text.

Naalala ko bigla si Austin. Wala naman problema kung makikipagkaibigan ako kay Marcus kaso ang problema ang magiging kilos niya towards sa akin. Mahirap ipaintindi kay Austin kung makikita man niya ang text na 'to.

Wala naman kaming ginagawang masama pero iba kasi mag-isip ang isang tao kapag nalamon ka na ng galit at alam ko kung paano magalit si Austin.

As for his dad, maybe it would a great news if he will be my cousin if my dad answered me a yes for asking a question. That will be a great opportunity to forget what Marcus feel about me.

But why did I felt sad?

To be continued...

-Moon.