Interdicted Passion: The Nerd's Prodigy (AGS #1)

KABANATA 17:

Side

Warm, wet and sticky

That's how I felt. My skin felt hot as if it has been under the scorching heat of the sun for hours.

My eyelids felt heavy to even take a peek. I felt the warm sand against my skin and together was the sound of crashing waves.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko no'ng maramdaman ang unti-unting paggaan nito. Napapikit ako ulit dahil sa sobrang liwanag na tumama sa aking mukha.

I tried moving my limbs. Halos mapahiyaw pa ako nang maramdaman ang sakit ng mga buto ko.

For the second time I tried opening my eyes, and succeeded. I looked around.

Beach?

I got confused. "Crap!" Mura ko nang maalala ang nangyari kagabi. I am sure I heard an explosion.

I'm washed off a beach in God knows where!

Itinukod ko ang mga kamay at itinulak ito upang makatayo. My arms shook and I fell again on the warm sand. I groaned.

I looked around hoping I could seek for refuge. Napansin ko ang taling nakatali sa baywang ko. As I looked at the rope I realized that I am wearing a life jacket.

I saw the other end of the rope being washed on shore by the waves.

Sa nanginginig na kamay ay hinatak ko ang kabilang dulo ng tali. It was tied in a round shape. When I saw footprints being washed away by the waves and another life jacket not that faraway from me. I knew I am not alone here.

With shaking hands I removed the vest and the rope tied on my waist.

Sinubukan kong tumayo. Dahan-dahan ay nagawa ko ito.

Nangunot naman ang noo ko. I saw Ramirez infront of me. Nahagis niya pa ang mga dala niyang kahoy dahil sa pagkabigla.

"Y-you're awake!" He stuttered and looked around, his fingers were fidgeting. I know he's nervous. Mukhang gusto pa yatang magtago.

"Where the hell are we?!" I asked in frustration. Baka hinahanap na ako ng pamilya ko!

"I-I... I don't k-know." He stuttered. Mas lalo siyang natakot sa akin.

Nang maalala ko si Lia ay kinabahan ako. Baka umiiyak na iyon at hinahanap ako! "Oh! crap I need to go home!" I shouted and with an absent mind, went straight to the vast ocean.

"Wait! W-Wait! Saan ka p-pupunta?!" I heard Ramirez shouted.

I heard the splash of water. He followed me.

"Oh fuck!" I cursed when I stepped on something.

Heck, it's painful!

I continued groaning and cursing.

"What? What? What happened?" Natatarantang tanong ni Ramirez. He held my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

I did not answer.

"W-We need to go b-back." Ramirez said pulling me.

Agad kong iwinaksi ang balikat ko, hindi ko sinasadyang mapasabay ang kamay ko at natamaan ang suot niyang salamin.

Napasunod ang tingin ko sa tumilapong salamin kasabay ng paglubog nito ang pagsinghap namin.

"Oh no." I murmured, looking down. Kahit masakit ang lahat sa akin ay nagawa kong tumingin sa baba.

"Oh crap." I managed to say. In front of us are sea urchins, not just one, two or three but a lot of them. I can't even count them! and I just stepped on one!