Creating Wildfire (Sandoval Kisses Series #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I sighed as I started fixing my things. Our third subject just ended and I feel so tired already. Pakiramdam ko ay babagsak ang katawan ko sa pagod. I clung my bag onto my shoulder before I went out of the room. Pagka-labas ay namataan ko agad ang grupo ng mga lalaking nagta-tawanan. My eyes landed on Gabriel Matteo Zamora. He's looking at me intently, parang kanina pa inaabangan ang pag-labas ko.

Inirapan ko sya bago lumiko para pumunta sa cafe. I don't like him, I mean yeah, he's handsome and all that but he's a flirt. Akala mo ay seryoso pero malandi pala. And besides, I can't like him because our familyies are enemies.

Pagpasok sa cafeteria ay nakita ko agad kung saan nakaupo ang mga pinsan. Nag-lakad ako papalapit sa table namin at umupo sa tabi ni Chloe.

Savriel and Chasie are sitting beside each other while I'm beside Chloe, Loraine is on Chloe's right and I was on the left side. There's a lot of food on the table. I bet Chasie ordered them.

"You're late!" nakataas ang kilay na sabi ni Chloe.

''And you're ugly," I mocked.

Inirapan n'ya 'ko.

''Yuck! You're so kadiri, Loraine!" Chasie hissed in disgust.

Loraine chuckled.

''What? Ako na nga ang nagshe- share ayaw mo pa?"

"You're sharing your s*x life! We don't need to know about your wild escapades 'no!"

"Loraine, have been talking about her s*x life to annoy Chasie. They're a bunch of kiddos!" Chloe shook her head.

Kinuha ko ang juice ni Chloe at ininuman 'yon. My eyes darted on Savriel who's busy reading. Malaki ang eyebags nya at halatang kulang sa tulog pero maganda parin naman sya.

"She's the only stressed person that's still beautiful," Chloe said.

I chuckled lowly. Right. Sabrina's really pretty. She's the prettiest among us and the softest too.

"Solace! Andyan ka na pala, hindi kita napansin. Kakarating mo lang?" Loraine asked.

Inirapan ko s'ya.

"You're busy talking that's why you didn't notice me," matabang na sabi ko.

"Busy talking about her s*x life!" Chasie rolled her eyes.

Kibot kibot lang ang labi ni Loraine.

"Aalis ako next week, pupunta 'ko sa New York. I have a fashion show to attend and a photoshoot," Chloe said.

Tumango ako. "You can be Vitoria's secret supermodel."

"I'm not that influential!"

I looked at her dramatically.

"Not influential my ass! You're so famous! The brands are running after you, stupid!" I rolled my eyes.

It's true though. She's really influential. She started modeling at an early age that's why she's so famous now. She has a lot of fans. Lahat ng sikat na brands ay gusto syang kunin. She built her name without using the family's influence.

"Maybe after I graduate, I will consider being Victoria's Secret supermodel. As of now, I want to focus on my studies first," she said.

I sipped on the juice.

"Your mother's still bothering you?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes

"What's new? It's her hobby."

I laughed a bit. "Your mother is kind though."

"Hindi sya nag mana kay tita Ella," Loraine butt in.

''Right. Chloe is mataray and tita Ella is super bait," It was Chasie.

"Whatever."

"Seriously, Sabrina? How can you read that so f*****g thick book here? It's so nosy!" I asked Savriel.

She glanced at me and smiled a bit.

"I need to review a lot, our midterm is coming," she said.

"You don't even need that to pass the midterm," I said sarcastically.

Come on! She's the have the second-highest IQ among us. Lahat ata ng nakasulat sa mga libro ay kabisado niya kaya sinong niloloko nya? She doesn't need to review that book!

She just smiled at me.

"Let her. Reading keeps her happy," Chloe said.

I just shrugged.

''Dada wants us to visit them in the mansion. Kakauwi lang nila ni momma galing sa Europe," Loraine said.

"I'm gonna tell it to Kuya Terrence too so that they will come,'' sabi ko.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bag at binuksan ang i********: acc. Good thing our school has free wifi, it's easy for us to open our social media accounts.

@Itchsoleneashiance_

Kuya, dada wants to see us.

Pinatay ko ang cellphone ko pag send ng message. Sana ay makapunta sila. Our grandparents are always traveling that's why we barely see them. Dada loves to travel a lot with our momma. They're spending their hard work on traveling. Maraming napalago na negosyo si dada nung kabataan nya kaya naman naging maayos ang buhay namin. My grandfather is a hard-working man.

Savriel closed her books then she removed her glasses. Ngumiti siya at inaayos na ang gamit nya. Aalis na agad siya? Hindi man lang niya ginalaw ang mga pag-kain.

"I have to go," she said softly.

"Where are you going?'' I asked, raising my brows.

"Library?"

Ngumuso ako at tumango. After she bid goodbye, she left us.

"She's a real nerd," Loraine said while following Savriel using her eyes.

"She's so pretty to be a nerd duh," Chasie said.

"She's the carbon copy of Spencer," mahinang sabi ko.

Chloe nodded.

"Spencer is cold and Sav is soft so nope, she's not the carbon copy of Spence!" Loraine shook her head.

"But they're both matalino," kunot noong sabi ni Chasie.

Tumango tango ako bilang pagsang ayon. Spencer is really like Savriel but their attitude is different. They're both good at everything though.

Ngumuso akon habang naglalakad papunta sa parking lot. My cousins are already in the car. Nalate ako ng labas ng room dahil inutusan ako ng prof ko. While walking, I saw Gabriel sitting on his motorbike. He's holding his helmet, smoking. His dark blue eyes glance at me. Ngumisi siya nang makita ako.

I greeted my teeth and rolled my eyes at him. Binilisan ko ang pagla-lakad para mabilis na malampasan sya. I don't know but I just really hate him. Pwede bang magalit sa isang tao kahit na wala naman siyang ginagawa sayo? well, siguro oo lalo na kung si Gabriel ang taong yon.

Huminga 'ko ng malalim ng maka-lagpas na sa pwesto nya.

"Every time I see you, I see walls," he uttered while smirking.

My lips parted. I licked my lower lips before I faced him.

"Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" I asked.

He's pissing me off.

He pouted to hide his smirk. He nodded vulgarly, "You look like a walking wall."

I dramatically gasped. Ang kapal kapal ng mukha nya! Yes, I'm flat-chested! but I'm not a f*****g walking wall! This f*****g guy is getting to my nerves! palibhasa ay puro malalaki ang hinaharap ng mga babae nya.

Huminga 'ko ng malalim at kinalma ang sarili.

"Hindi ako palamura pero tangina mo. Mabaog ka sana!" madiin kong sabi at tinalikuran sya.

I heard his chuckles. I shook my head before I continued walking towards our Van. Pagdating sa sasakyan ay inis akong pumasok. Dwyne, Dylan, Troy, and the girls are already inside. Spencer started driving silently.

I'm sitting beside Dwyne, beside Dwyne is Dylan and Troy. Nasa driver's seat si Spencer habang ang tatlo naman ay nasa likuran namin.

My forehead was crumpling while looking outside the window. Why is he acting like we're close?

"Terrence is already there," narinig kong sabi ni Loraine.

Wala sa sariling tumango ako.

"Uuwi muna tayo bago pumunta sa bahay nila dada," Troy said.

"Tanga, syempre, nasa bahay pa si Lauren," Dwyne said.

"Sasama ba s'ya?" Savriel asked softly.

"Of course. We all know that she misses lolo so much," Chloe said.

"Ha? miss nya si lolo?" naguguluhan na tanong ni Dwyne. "Sinabi n’ya sayo?" he added.

"Diablo talaga," Chloe whispered.

"Hoy! anong diablo? sinong diablo? Sabi ni mommy anghel daw ako!"

"Nagkakamali din si mommy minsan, bunso," Troy said and chuckled lowly.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Dwyne sa sinabi ng kapatid at hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ito. Umiling nalang ako sa usapan nila.

"Edi pangit ka? minsan kasi sinabi ni mommy na ikaw daw ang pinakagwapo sa'ting tatlo!"

They laughed.

"Gago!"

"Dylan is the most gwapo," Chasi said, pouting.

Savriel nodded.

"Lugi!" maasim ang mukhang sabi ni Dwyne.

I chuckled. It's true that Dylan is the most handsome among them. Dylan actually looks like Felix Mallard, the cold version. Even though he's super handsome, he still couldn't get himself a girlfriend well, maybe because he's busy with his career as a swimmer.

Troy chuckled.

It's already seven pm when we arrived at the house. I went to my room and changed my clothes. I wore a Square Neck Ruffle Trim Plaid Dress and flat sandals. Pagkatapos magpalit ay bumaba na agad ako.

I saw my cousins on the sala. Nakapagpalit na rin sila. When they saw me, Dwyne helped Lauren to stand up.

"Let's go to the mansion!" masayang sabi ni Chasie.

"She's so in love with Chanel, she's becoming Heart Evangelista," Naiiling na turan ni Chloe.

"Sa bahay lang ni lolo nakasuot pa ng ganyan, tanginang ‘yan!" asik ni Loraine. .

Chasie glared at her, "You don't have a pake!"

"I have a pake," pang iinis pa ni Loraine.

"Stop fighting, let's go," Dylan said.

Nagkibit balikat ako.

Pagsakay sa sasakyan ay sinimulan na ni Spencer mag drive.

"Lauren, are you excited to see Dada?" I asked softly.

Bumaling ang ulo nya sakin at ang mata ay diretso ang tingin, para 'akong hangin sa harapan niya. Tumango siya at nanatiling malamig ang mga mata.

"Our grandchildren are here, Esme," masayang salubong samin ni dada pagkapasok namin ng mansyon.

I saw momma glance at us. She's sitting on the sofa with kuya Terrence. Dada kissed us. Pumunta kami sa pwesto ni momma at isa isang yumakap sa kanya. Momma isn't strong as before. Her body is getting weak.

Kuya Terrence nodded at me. Nginitian ko sya at umupo sa tabi nya. Kuya Terrence is my oldest brother. He's not living with us anymore because he already has his condo.

"My Lauren is getting pretty," momma said before she caressed Lauren's hair.

"Lauren is always pretty, mamita," Dwyne said softly.

"Kuya, how are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine, how about you? How's mama?"

I swallowed and looked away. "She's.... she's good."

The truth is mama and I never talked to each other without saying bad things because mama is too strict when it comes to me. Hindi naman sya strikta sa mga kapatid ko, sa'kin lang. Bente anyos na ako pero bata pa rin ang tingin niya sa akin. I don't want to be treated like a kid.

Pangalawang rason ng pag alis ni kuya ay ang pagiging strikta ni mama. Simula nang umalis si kuya sa bahay ay hindi na siya bumalik uli pero natawag naman sya at nakikipagkita sa'ming apat.

"How the kids?" he asked.

"They're fine. Sarrence is studying well and the twins well, they're good too. Hindi naman sila napapagalitan ni mama."

Tumango sya at humalik sa ulo ko.

"If you're having problems in the house just call me, okay?" malambing na sabi n'ya.

"How are you, my Solace?" momma asked.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti.

"I'm fine, momma," I said softly.

Tinitigan nya 'ko na parang namamangha sa mukha ko.

"Listen up, kids, Chloe have something to say," seryosong sabi ni dada.

Nagiwas ng tingin si Chloe, "I...I passed the PMA Entrance Examination."

My jaw dropped. Hindi makapaniwala na tinignan ko sya. Maging ang mga pinsan namin ay nagulat din.

"You what?!" Gulat na tanong ni Spencer.

"I passed the PMA Entrance Examination," paguulit ni Chloe nang hindi natingin.

"Do you know how dangerous that is?! Being an Army is not a joke, Chloe!" Dylan hissed.

"You are a girl!" It was Troy.

Kumunot ang noo ni Chloe at malamig na tinignan si Troy.

"So what? Yes, I'm a girl so? I know this is dangerous but what can I do? This is what I want!"

"Dada! Why did you let her?" inis na tanong ko.

I didn't even know about this! Chloe didn't tell me anything about this! Bullshit! anong gagawin niya don? She can be a doctor or something else but not a soldier!

Dada smiled at me, "Your cousin wants to follow the steps of her father."

Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko si Chloe na kunot ang noo na tila hindi natutuwa sa reaksyon namin. She looked at me, hoping that I will accept her decision.

hah! no way in hell that I will accept that! Her father died at a young age because of being a soldier and she wants to follow his steps? Niloloko n'ya ba kami?

"This is my dream," nagsusumamong sabi nya.

"Why, Chloe? Why didn't you tell me about this? I can't believe you," mahinang sabi ko.

I don't know what to feel. Disappointment, fear, and sadness are mixing inside me. Hindi ako sigurado kung alam ba niya ang pinasok nya.

"She will leave next month for her training."

"Lolo! it's too dangerous for her!" Kuya Terrence said.

tumango ako bilang pag sang ayon sa sinabi nya.

"Chloe, don't go." Dwyne pleaded like a kid and hugged Chloe.

Chloe sighed.

"Sorry, I already made my decision. This is the path for me," she said softly.

"Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? Your father died because of that work tapos gagaya ka din?" inis na tanong ni Loraine.

Chasie, momma, and Lauren are just silent.

"My father died because of betrayal! He didn't die because of being a Soldier!" she hissed.

"Calm down, kids. Chloe is old enough, alam niya ang pinasok n'ya," Dada said.

Umiling ako.

"Don't be mad at her. What did I tell you? I told you to always trust and support your cousins and siblings and Chloe needs your support and trust now," Momma said calmly.

"She always has our support and trust, mamita but not on this one," Troy said seriously.

"We can't lose her," It was Dylan.

"Hindi ako mawawala sa inyo!" Chloe hissed.

"Pwede kang mawala samin sa pagpasok mo sa bagay na 'yan!" I shouted frustratedly.

Hinawakan ni Lauren ang kamay ko na parang pinapakalma 'ko. She couldn't understand us! We're worried about her! My heart is aching so bad.

"Solace..."

"How about your sister and brothers, huh?! They're so young! Sino ang mag aalaga sila pag wala ka? It's not all about you!" sigaw ko. Nangingilid ang luha sa aking mata.

"Solace, calm down," Kuya Terrence said.

Chloe's lips parted. Gumalaw ang labi nya na tila may gustong sabihin pero hindi niya masabi. She shook her head, her eyes look so disappointed. She licked her lips before she stood up and left.

"Solace, let's talk in my room. Follow me," Momma said. "Mauna na kayong kumain ng mga bata, Benito."

Tumayo siya at nagsimula nang maglakad paalis. Tumango sa'kin si lolo. I sighed before I stood up and started following lola. Pumasok ako sa kwarto ni momma at umupo sa sofa. She's sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Solace, do you think... Chloe is selfish?" she asked. Pinagsakop nya ang mga kamay nya habang nakatingin sakin.

Nagiwas ako ng tingin at marahang tumango. It's a lie. Chloe isn't selfish. Ako ang pinaka nakakakilala sa kanya at alam kong hindi sya ganon.

"You know how much Chloe cared for her siblings. Sa Inyong magpipinsan ay si Chloe ang pinaka mahirap pakisamahan dahil mataray sya pero sya din ang pinakamahalaga," pinagsakop niya ang kanyang mga palad.

Tumango ako. Natatakot ako na baka pagalitan ako ni mamita dahil sa inakto ko kay Chloe pero ayos lang. I just voiced out my feelings and opinions.

"The truth is.... before her father died, he asked her to follow his steps. Her father is too selfish to ask her that. Chloe doesn't have a choice because she promised him." Huminga s'ya ng malalim at ngumiti.

"Maiiwan ang mga kapatid nya, momma," kunot noong sabi ko.

"They have us, apo," malambing na sabi nya. "Your cousin doesn't want to break a promise, that's why she's doing this. Sana ay maintindihan mo s'ya."

Tumango ako. I understand her point. It's a promise and we should do a promise. Sandoval doesn't break promises. Guilt built inside me. I shouldn't shout at her.

Momma smiled at me, "Go, sweetie, say sorry to Chloe."

Tumango ako.

"Solace? you should understand your cousin better,"

Humalik ako sakanya bago umalis ng kwarto n’ya.