This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I was getting dizzy by the time I woke up. I probably spent a minute or two just staring blankly at the wall and smelling the fresh flowers from my side table.

Recognition hitting me, I turned again to the white roses resting gloriously on my rutted wooden table, the comparison glaring red. Kaagad akong bumangon at inabot ang mga rosas. There was no note, but I know exactly where it came from.

I blinked. Ilang segundo kong pinagmasdan ang mga rosas bago ako napilitang tuluyang tumayo. I could hear the giggles of the women outside and the faint roar of the truck's engine. It's still six in the morning but I could hear the buzz of the busy people trying to continue the services for the community.

Mabilis kong sinunggaban ang aking roba. I shrugged it on and pulled my messy hair in a loose ponytail before throwing the door open. Unang bumungad sa akin ang malamig na hamyos ng hangin. Iginala ko ang paningin sa paligid.

Then I saw Zeus, bathing in the morning sun like a Greek god. Wala na siyang suot na pang-itaas kaya kitang-kita ang pagtagaktak ng kaniyang pawis mula sa noo, patungo sa leeg, hanggang sa kaniyang malapad na dibdib. I watched him in silence as he lifted a sack of rice, the veins of his arms protruding in the process. The women shared gasps of admirations and flirty giggles as a crooked smile tugged on his lips before he turned and started walking with the sack on his shoulders.

Hindi kaagad ako nakagalaw sa nakita. What is a notorious rock star doing in this place lifting sacks of rice so early in the morning?

"Parvana!" natutuwang tawag sa akin ni Teacher Aimee, isa sa mga kasamahan kong hindi rin pumayag na umalis sa nayon pagkatapos ng anunsiyo ni Chairman Fresco. Malawak ang ngiti sa kaniyang mukha nang lumapit siya sa akin.

I blinked again, trying to process what I just saw today. Teacher Aimee tugged on my arm and smiled widely.

"Can you believe it? We have a new volunteer!"

"New volunteer?"

"Si Vincent." Aniya sabay turo kay Zeus na ngayo'y pabalik na at pinupunasan ang kaniyang leeg ng puting tuwalya. Pareho namin siyang tinitigan ni Aimee hanggang sa malagpasan na niya kami. When he left, Aimee turned to me and suppressed a giggle. "He's so... dreamy!" she rose on her toes and whispered to my ears. "At kamukhang kamukha niya ang bokalista na si Zeus Ferrer."

I stared at her, shocked that she failed to recognize it was Zeus Ferrer himself blessing the women of his topless glory in this morning. May iilang lumapit pa sa kaniya at nag-alok ng tubig. I saw him politely refuse the ladies as he continued to transfer the sacks of rice to the warehouse.

"Ano kamo ang sinabi mong pangalan niya?"

"Vincent. Tawagin nalang daw natin siyang Vince." She replied, the smile never fading from her face.

Vincent, huh?

I went back inside my room to take a bath and change for the day. Hindi mawala sa isipan ko ang ginawa ni Zeus. Whilst I understand that him introducing himself as Vincent is for his privacy, I failed to comprehend what he's still doing here. After that heated conversation last night, least I was expecting is to see him being worshipped by the ladies in our foundation because of his holy presence.

Napailing ako. I slipped into a pair of straight-cut jeans and white blouse before heading outside. Sakto namang pagbukas ko ng pinto ay ang pag-angat ng kamao ni Teacher Maggie sa ere, akmang kakatok. She smiled brightly at me.

"Kakain na tayo, Parvana!" she said cheerfully.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa masiyahing bati niya sa akin. She quickly turned and started hopping towards the hall where volunteers and members of the foundation are going to eat. Nang igala ko ang paningin sa paligid ay wala na ang truck at pati na rin si Zeus. Wala na rin ang mga babaeng kanina pa nakaaligid sa kaniya.