CHAPTER 17:SHADOWS BENEATH THE PINES
513 Words
The morning sun filtered through the agoho trees, casting dancing shadows on the paths of Agoo Eco-Park.
Cool breeze. Pine scent. Salt from the sea.
Nothing like the suffocating corridors of San Fernando.
“Wow... Malia, ang ganda naman pala talaga rito sa inyo,” Reuben said, scanning the landscape.
Simple white shirt, denim shorts. Effortlessly handsome beside me.
“Para tayong nasa Baguio, may halo lang na beach vibe.”
“Sabi ko naman sa’yo, Mr. Accountant, hindi ka magsisisi na sumama ka rito,” I teased, pride swelling for my hometown.
“Hoy, kayong dalawa diyan! Huwag kayong masyadong mag-solohan, may chaperone kayo!”
Julienne waved her phone ahead, grinning mischievous.
She’d been my neighbor since we were scraping knees in elementary.
The moment she heard I was home—and that I brought a tall, devastatingly attractive guy from the university—she hijacked our morning.
“Julienne, nangingialam ka na naman,” I chided, cheeks warming.
“Anong nangingialam? Nagpapasama kayo sa Eco-Park, ‘di ba?
O ayan, ako na ang official photographer niyo!”
She jogged back, eyes twinkling at Reuben.
“Reuben, baka gusto mong tabihan itong si Malia doon sa tapat ng mga puno
para aesthetic ang picture? Bagay kayo, mukhang poster ng Korean drama.”
Reuben chuckled low, dimple flashing.
“Sige ba. Walang problema sa akin, Julienne.”
Before I could protest, he stepped closer.
His shoulder brushed mine.
My chest fluttered.
In my past life, I never got moments like this.
Too consumed by Mark’s possessiveness.
Now, with my childhood friend and my anchor, I felt alive.
“One, two, three... smile!” Julienne clicked away, squealing.
“Grabe, Malia, ang ganda ng rehistro niyo!
Ipo-post ko ito sa f*******: mamaya, ha?
Para naman makita ng buong Agoo na may ‘King’ na ang ‘Queen of Engineering’ natin.”
“Huwag mo nang i-tag si Auntie Tita, baka atakehin sa puso ‘yon,” I joked.
“Naku, si Tita? Balita ko nga kay Mama, galit na galit na naman daw ‘yon kagabi
pagka-uwi galing sa bahay niyo. Kesyo pinalayas daw siya ni Tito Renato
dahil lang sa ‘di kilalang lalaki,” Julienne said, then waved it off.
“Hayaan mo siya rito, Malia. Masisira lang ang aura natin sa Eco-Park.”
We spent the next hour walking, laughing, sharing stories.
Reuben rode along with Julienne’s jokes, but his eyes never left me.
Shaded side of the path. Handkerchief when the heat hit.
Always watching.
But peace doesn’t last.
By noon, heading for the entrance to grab lunch, the air turned ice-cold.
My footsteps stopped.
Parked near the gate was a sleek black SUV.
Out of place. Wrong.
Standing beside it, checking his watch with an impatient scowl, was him.
Mark.
My breath hitched.
The scars of my past life screamed awake.
Beside me, Julienne gasped.
She recognized him from the video.
Reuben’s playful look vanished.
Jaw tightened. Eyes sharpened into dangerous, protective blades.
He stepped in front of me, shielding me from my past.
The storm had reached Agoo.
- Writer
