Heatwaves

Chapter 1 Faye Villanueva The heatwaves woke my senses up as I sat in the sunlight, sa labas ng paborito kong coffee shop, kaharap ang mahabang linya ng pedestrian street. The street was crowded as people come and go, like ants carrying luggage and food to their queen. May ibat-ibang kulay ng mga bulaklak na nakalagay sa maliliit na kahon na nasa lilim ng mga punong nakahanay sa daanan. It was a perfect day, though I came here to study, hindi ko magawang alisin ang paningin sa bulaklak na nasa harap ko. It was withered, and sparsed—dalawa hanggang tatlo lang ang tangkay nito. It’s petals were crisp, brown, and curling like the fingers of a corpse. Smells like ash. I thought. The warmth of the summer breeze dancing up the avenues of the city teases my skin and the sun warms up the side of my face. My fingertips taps the keyboard, my eyes narrowing as it traces every word on the articles I was reading. My phone vibrated. A text from Angel. My best friend, roommate, and the most annoying buddy I’ve ever had yet I am grateful because she’s my comforter. She listens, and give advices, as what friends should do. Hindi ko binasa ang kanyang mensahe. Alam kong kukulitin niya lang ako at ayaw ko. May kailangan pa akong tapusin. A slender hand with blood-red-colored fingernails slammed my laptop shut. Gulat kong tiningala ang bagong dating. A set of striking brown eyes meet my gaze. “Hindi mo binasa ang text ko,” nakasimangot na wika ni Angel. Bumuntonghininga ako. “Ayaw kong pumunta. I have things to attend to at gahol ako sa oras.” “Sinungaling. Akala mo ba hindi kita pinagmasdan? Kanina ka pa tapos sa research paper mo at nakatulala ka lang kaya huwag kang engot! Sumama ka.” Napapiksi ako. She knows when I lie and I can’t help but hate it. Masyado niya na akong kilala. “Angel—” “No. We need to celebrate.” Itinaas ko ang baso ng latte na binili ko. “I already celebrated.” Inirapan niya ako. “That’s not a celebration, Faye. Araw-araw ka namang nandito. ” I rolled my eyes at her. “I can’t go.” “Ano?” hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong. Umupo siya sa harap ko at mataman akong tiningnan. “I will not accept a no from you. It’s your birthday, Faye. Come on!” pagmamaktol niya sa harap ko. A small giggle came out of my mouth. “You’re so dramatic. Hindi bagay sa ’yo.” “Girl—” “I get it,” pagsuko ko. “Sasama ako kung saan mo man ako dalhin.” She beamed with a wide smile plastered on her face. “I got us on The Raven.” Kumunot ang aking noo at nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan. “Paano mo nagawa? Alam mong mahaba ang pila roon?” Hindi ako makapaniwala sa kanyang sinabi. Tinawanan niya ako. “I have connections,” mayabang niyang sabi. Inirapan ko siya. “Psh. Do you want to get us killed?” Angel rolled her eyes. “Ssh! Napaka- OA mo naman! Iinom lang tayo at magpa-party. Don’t be ridiculous!” The Raven is impossible to get into. Sa sobrang haba ng pila ay kailangan pang magpa-appoint upang makapasok sa naturang club. At alam ko kung bakit. It was owned by no other than Rage Gavin Bloodstone. People call him ruthless, cruel, evil, and the worst of all, a demon. Wala pang nakakakita sa totoo niyang mukha. It was rumored that he has a scar on his face, he has a complexion just like that of a corpse. Scary? No—I was intrigued to meet him, though it won’t happen in a million years. Masama ang tingin sa akin ng bulaklak sa harap ko. It reflects all of my failures. Para itong nakikiusyuso sa pag-uusap namin. Wala akong nagawa ng kaladkarin ako ni Angel pauwi. Maliit lang ang apartment namin. A small kitchen, a small dining table, living room and two rooms. One for me, one for her. Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan habang abala sa paghahanap sa kanyang maliit na closet. It was full of clothes. Halata masyadong mahilig siyang lumabas dahil sa klase ng mga damit sa kanyang closet. “Bakit parang tuliro ka riyan? Maaga pa naman,” sabi ko sabay upo sa kanyang kama. Hindi niya ako nilingon. “Girl, mahirap mag-ayos. And look at you, kahit liptint ay wala ka. And my hair, they are gross. I need hours to do my hair kaya mag-ayos na tayo.” Dumapa ako. “I don’t feel like going, really.” Bigla siyang huminto at nakapamaywang na humarap sa akin. “Iniinis mo ako.” Ngumiti ako. “Oo na. Bilisan mo. I’ll cook first para naman may laman ang tiyan natin.” “Good.” Tama nga siya. She needs hours to do her hair at naroon pang kahit pagplantsa ng buhok ay hindi ko magawa kaya siya pa ang nag-ayos ng buhok ko. She even did my makeup. She let me wore a white dress, the strap hunged on my delicate shoulders, it's low v-neck line hugged my cleavage. The hem of the dress barely touched my knees. My hair was tied in a messy bun, strands of hair on each side of my face, a small gold hairclip clung on the side. I partnered it with my usual flipflops with gold straps. I hate high heels and this is the closest to the comfort I know. I feel a heat down on the pit of my stomach. Taas-kilay niyang sinulyapan ang aking mga paa. Inirapan ko siya pabalik. “I don’t like it, Faye. Hindi bagay,” komento niya. Bigla siyang pumasok sa kanyang kuwarto at bitbit niya na pagbalik ang isang stiletto na kulay silver. It glitters in the light. “It will look stunning on your creamy skin, Faye. Wear it.” I did not complain. Tama siya. It complimented the color of my skin. And I like it. I sighed. “Ano ba ang gagawin ko roon, Angel?” “Gods, Faye. You can drink, dance, and kiss! Isn’t that fun? And you can gamble a little.” I blushed and looked away. Hindi ko pa naranasang makipaghalikan sa isang lalaki. Hindi ko pa naranasang mapaligiran ng mga lalaki hanggang pumasok ako sa kolehiyo. Even then I kept my distance. Takot ako sa nanay ko. My mother always warned me about men and she hates them. “Tandaan mo, Faye. Isa lang ang tingin ng lalaki sa mga babae—laruan. Paiiikutin, paiiibigin, at sa huli’y paiiyakin.” Hindi ko malimutan ang sinabi niya sa akin. I tried to convince her that men do love. They marry because of love and she would laugh at me. “Napakainosente mo pa, Faye,” my mother told me once. “Love will ruin you.” She’s bitter. Maybe because my father left her for another woman. Saka ko lang napagtanto na tama ang aking ina ng lumaki ako. I saw it with my very own eyes. Hiwalay rito, hiwalay roon. None of the married couples loved each other, mas pinili pa nilang ubusin ang kanilang oras sa pagloloko and then seek revenge for being betrayed. Men do not settle. They jump from one woman to another. Pathetic and cowards. That means I would die a virgin. “I don’t really want to meet Rage.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue because those words were lies. Gusto ko siyang makita, makilala. I was curious about him and his world. Na-intriga ako sa kanyang buong pagkatao. He was elusive. Rage Gavin Bloodstone represented everything I wasn’t—something dark and tempting. Nakakatukso dahil isa siyang misteryo. Mysteries are adventures at iyon ang gusto ko. I wanted to see his face, to know his name, touch his body. I cringe at the thought yet it ignited something hidden inside me. “He won’t be there, Faye,” sagot ni Angel. “Hindi siya ang namamahala sa kanyang negosyo, and duh, sino ba tayo para pag-aksayahan niya ng oras,” dagdag niya pa. I shrugged because her statement are true. Rage prefer the dark gloom of his world. Sumulyap sa akin si Angel hanggang tuluyan siyang humarap. “Bakit? May problema ba?” she asked, concerned at my gloomy face. Bumuntonghininga ako. “Takot akong mapagalitan.” Angel softened. “Faye—pwede namang hindi tayo tumuloy.” Huminga siya nang malalim. Umiling ako. “Huwag na. Sayang ang pagpapaganda natin kung hindi tayo tutuloy.” Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi hanggang sa tuluyan siyang ngumiti. “Yes!” We hailed a cab dahil tamad siyang sumakay ng bus. Sa histura namin hindi bagay ang mag-bus at baka pagtawanan kami. Malapit lang din naman sa tinutuluyan naming apartment ang The Raven. I am sure I will regret this tomorrow, but I, Faye Villanueva, wanted to be a rebel for once.