Boundless

CHAPTER ONE - The Shadows of Truth

The Shadows of Truth

*Gasp!*

Napabangon si Avery, habang hawak hawak ang bandang dibdib niya. Para siyang nawalan ng hangin. "A-Again?, Ba-bakit palagi na lang akong nanaginip na tumatakbo?" patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsagap ng hangin habang pinapaypayan ang sarili. She tried to focus herself on her surroundings. She sighed for a relief nang na-confirmed niya na nandito pa rin siya sa kanyang kwarto.

"Avery! Are you awake?!" tawag ng kanyang kaibigan at dorm-mate sa labas habang ito ay kumakatok nang malakas sa kanyang pinto.

"Para namang wawasakin ng gagang 'to ang pinto ko." Bumubulong siya sa kanyang sarili habang naglalakad papuntang pintuan upang buksan ito. " Yes! I am wide awake.. and please Nej stop knocking on my door like you want to destroy it. Inaano ka ba ng pinto ko?" naiinis niyang sambit dito.

Pero parang wala lang sa kanyang kaibigan na si Nej ang kanyang pagiging irritable, siguro nga ay sanay na rin ito sa kanyang pagiging dragon tuwing umaga.

"Hay naku Avery, you should be grateful that I am here with you kahit na magkaiba tayo ng department at course dahil kung wala ako sino na lang ang gigising sa iyo at magpapaalala na kailangan mo nang ipasa ang mga designs mo ngayon kay Ms. Lin" sabi ni Nej habang ngumunguya ito ng pandesal at bumalik sa kusina upang ipagpatuloy ang kinakain.

Magkaibang-magkaiba talaga sila ng bestfriend niya since she is in the Fashion Design Department while Nej is pursuing her passion as journalist. Aside from that, Nej was also a weightlifter during their high school years while she was trained for Muai Thai. Their friendship started when they met and helped each other fighting those goons na may balak sanang i-rape ang babae nilang school mate sa may kanto nang kanilang paaralan. Kahit na ilang pasa pa iyong natamo nila, seeing the girl they saved safe and sound made it all worth the pain. Simula noon, hindi na sila mapaghihiwalay.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Avery sa kanyang narinig. "Why didn't you tell me right away?! Shucks! I need to hurry, I thought the deadline will be tomorrow. Pero... ano 'to?" napasabunot si Avery sa kanyang kulot na buhok habang nagmamadaling pumunta ng banyo upang magtoothbrush at maligo.

Nej amusingly stared at the closed door of the bathroom where Avery is. "Tsk!Tsk! Ave another reminder, please try to avoid Mr. Santos today as he is still doubtful of your hair color. Bakit ba kasi napaka-southeast Asian ng lahi mo pero yung kulay ng buhok mo ay orange? At instant noodles pa ang kurbata. Hahahaha!" tumatawa si Nej at muntik pang nabilaukan dahil sa kinakain.

Avery released another sigh when she heard Nej. Mr. Santos is the disciplinarian in their university. It is true that her hair is so unusual na kahit siya ay hindi niya naiintindihan kung saan niya namana ang ganitong pisikal na katangian. Maybe from her father? Or mother? Both of whom she never meet dahil ang kanyang Uncle Dito, who is one of the professors sa Architecture Department, na ang kanyang nakagisnan na umaruga sa kanya at itim naman ang kulay ng buhok nito.

Oftentimes, her hair is the main cause of the miserable things she experienced in school or even outside the school's portal that is why she even tried to dye it black before pero for unexplainable reason bumabalik pa rin ito sa natural color nito.

So she gave up and she was also tired explaining to others about her hair. Another unusual thing in her is her irremovable ring which she always wears in her right thumb. It has a rose emblem and it is made of silver. For unknown reason, her uncle Dito would always remind her to never remove the ring unless the situation will call for it. Although she wants to remove it because it sometimes annoys her especially when she draws clothing designs, she just CAN'T.