Piece of the Past (Delfino Series #1)

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

"Kilala niyo si Joseph Jalloren?" Saturday asked, and we both shook our heads. "Yung star player sa Neborough."

"Ahh, oo, anong meron sa kanya?"

She suddenly cursed and rolled her eyes heavenward-as if she had had a painful experience with him.

"Ghinost ako," she said, "umiling pa siya." Disappointment was reigning on her face. "Akala naman niya kina gwapo niya 'yun."

"Nakachat mo yun?" Tuesday asked, and she nodded weakly.

"Oo! Siya ang unang nag chat, nag reply lang ako bilang respeto. Tsk tsk. Nag chat kami ng halos dalawang linggo tapos nagpaalam lang maligo, hindi na bumalik. Nalunod na ata yun," kwento niya kaya nagtatawanan kami ni Tuesday.

"Nagpabiktima ka naman don. Balita, marami ang nabiktima nun," I laughed hastily.

She shook her head in disappointment and crossed her arms over her chest. Nandito kami sa hallway nakatambay; dito talaga kami kapag walang klase. We're not classmates, so we don't often get along.

"Rain! Crush mo!" biglang sabi ni Tuesday saka ako niyugyog.

"Teka! Asan?" I suddenly composed myself when she pointed the way to the canteen.

"Ayon oh! Kasama ang team nila."

"Hala! Dito papunta! Itulak niyo 'ko! Itulak niyo 'ko sa kanya!" natatarantang sabi ko at nagtatawanan naman sila.

I suddenly stood straight, and I heard their chuckle behind me. I stood near where he was going and then raised my eyes to my friends to let them do what I wanted.

"Hi, Marru!" bati ni Tuesday nang makalapit na sila.

"Hi, girls--"

Napapikit ako at napangiwi sa sakit nang itulak ako ni Saturday at napaupo ako sa sahig. The painful impact of my buttocks on the floor made me wince. I bit my lips in full embarrassment.

"Hey, you okay?" Boses niya ang narinig ko kaya napadilat ako ng wala sa oras pero bago pa siya makalapit ay nasa harapan ko na si Marru para tulungan akong makatayo.

I clung to his hand and found the strength to stand up. I shook my ass and was shocked to see a few students watching us. That included the team that accompanied them on their walk. I cleared my throat to lessen the embarrassment and then looked at Saturday, who was holding back a smile. She bit his lips and averted his eyes.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong ni Marru at hilaw naman akong ngumiti. My cheeks suddenly burned with embarrassment.

"Oo, ayos lang. Salamat."

"Sa susunod, wag kang mag dive kung wala namang tubig ha?" natatawang usal niya kaya nakagat ko ang labi ko.

"Tara na!" It was the voice of their captain, Klein.

I looked at them but also turned to Marru when he stroked my hair. I slapped his hand, which made him laugh. I simply glanced at Zach, who was busy on their team. I just pouted when he turned around and joined the other players.

"Wag ka na mangarap," boses iyon ni Marru kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Ang pangarapin siya ay para naring gusto mong maabot ang buwan. Napakaimposible!"

"Alam mo ikaw!" dinuro ko siya. "Kapag ako napuno sayo makikita mo talaga ang buwan!"

"Chill!" tumawa siya. "Next time, don't be clumsy just to get his attention. Adios!"

I glared at him before I rolled my eyes, and he laughed before he waved at us. Annoyed, I watched him walk away.

I looked at my friends. They fell silent and averted their eyes from me. Tuesday was looking at his cellphone, while Saturday was busy with her bag.

"Busy niyo naman. Nakakaistorbo ba ako?" tumaas ang kilay ko, sabay naman silang tumingin sakin.

"Huh? Hindi! Hindi!" sabi ni Saturday kaya hinarap ko siya.

"Bakit mo nilakasan ang pagtulak!" inis na sabi ko. "Dapat yung sakto lang, sakto lang na masalo niya ako!"

"Sorry, hindi ko talaga sinasadya," aniya at ngumuso siya kaya bumuntong hininga naman ako. "Sa susunod, sakto lang."

"Ano, ilan nakuha mo na isda?" Tuesday laughed, which made me roll my eyes. "Nakakahiya yun, nakatingin pa si Zach sayo."

"Ito kasi eh," naiinis na usal ko at dinuro pa si Saturday. "Sa susunod na gawin mo yun, lagot ka talaga sa akin."

Tuesday laughed out loud again, so Saturday pouted. I sigh, much pissed. They straightened up as soon as they saw that I didn't laugh at what they did.

"Tara, manood na lang tayo ng practice," biglang anyaya ni Tuesday. "Mag f-five na oh. Paniguradong cleaning na ngayon."

We agreed and then made our way to the gymnasium. We are not really truant. Our grades are high, and we are known as the top students on the entire campus. We just don't want it when it's cleaning time. Actually, we are not classmates. We are both in 10th grade, but in different sections.

They are the only two I am close with here. Apart from being cousins, we are also friends. They are twins, but they are not alike, so sometimes they are mistaken for not being twins. We still have two cousins here, but those are guys and not very close. I have a half brother, and we are just in the same batches. Actually, he's two months older than me.

"Doon tayo, para kita."

We go near the seats of the players. They are basketball players, and when they have basketball practice, we are used to actually watching them. Some of the students who love them will gather here in a covered court and watch them practice.

The intramurals are also close, so they are already preparing for the big event that everyone has been waiting for.

I smiled, then looked at a man-the reason why I'm here. He was standing while smiling, and before, he was wearing a t-shirt with the school logo. Now, he is wearing a jersey and a towel around his neck. I smiled when he turned his back on me. Delfino, 10.

Ever since I liked him, my favorite number has been 10. Maybe I'm just so set on him. I was immediately able to sit up when our eyes met. I blinked as if it were just a dream. Did he really look at me, or was I imagining it again?

"Ang cute ni Marru," kinikilig na sabi ni Tuesday.

I frowned and looked at Marru, who was holding a ball while he was dribbling and laughing while talking to my brother. When he was able to shoot, the audience shrieked, including the one next to me.

Delfino was also stamped on his back. Actually, there are four Delfinos here. All of them are basketball players, but I bet the quiet one is better.

When they were stretching to start the practice, I just smiled and looked at him like a crazy girl-head over heels for him.

I was just like a fool watching them. When it was over, I just woke up from my daydream and looked at the watch I was wearing and was amazed to see that it was six twenty-eight o'clock already. I looked at my cousins, and they didn't seem to know the time because they were still watching.

"Gabi na!"

They innocently looked at me.

I bit my lips and pointed at my wristwatch. They both looked at my watch and at me after - confusion was very evident on their faces.

"Alas sais na," I said.

"Shit!"

I winced when they both cursed in unison.

"Anong sasabihin natin?"

"Hindi ko alam," sagot ng kapatid niya.

It's only until six o'clock that they can go out-they have a curfew. I thought of a way because they can't spend the night this long. With an idea, I looked at Rainier, who was still on the court.

"Alam ko na," sabi ko, at tumingin naman sila sakin. "Sasabay tayo kay Rainier tapos sasabihin natin na nanood pa tayo ng laro nila, which is totoo naman. I'm sure hindi magagalit si tito kasi kasama si Rainier tsaka nandito naman ako."

"Good idea," aniya lumiwanag kaagad ang mukha nila. "Buti na lang at naisip mo yun! Ang galing!"

"I know." I winked, and we both laughed.

We continued watching them. We can't help but scream when one of the players can shoot. When their game was over, the others approached the bleachers to be with the players. We went there and approached them as well.

"Ang galing niyo!" pinaulanan kaagad sila ng papuri kahit pa practice lang iyon.

We approached Rainier there, but my eyes were on someone drinking on the other side. My eyes widened, and the others frowned when he took off his jersey but immediately changed his shirt. My throat went dry in just a few seconds after watching him take off his shirt.

"Oh! You're still here," untag sa akin ng kapatid ko kaya napakurap pa ako bago bumaling sa kanya.

I swallowed very hard and restrained myself from looking at my crush.

"A-ahh! O-oo nanood kami ng laro ninyo," ngumiti ako. Seryoso naman siyang tumango saka sumulyap kay Zach na nasa likuran ko banda.

"Hi, Rainier! Ang hot mo naman," sabi ni Saturday, saka pumulupot ang kamay sa braso ng kapatid ko.

I glanced at Zach and pouted when I saw him exiting the hall while the white towel was pleasantly placed on his shoulder.

"Let's go," sabi ni Rainier, kaya sumunod kami sa kaniya.

"Tito will be mad." Sinulyapan niya ang pinsan namin. "Late, na, but you're still here."

"That's why we need your help," said Ngumuso on Saturday. "We'll tell him that we were watching your practice, which is true, naman."

"Tss!" umiling siya saka tumingin sakin. "Is it because of you?"

"What? Bakit ako?"

He shook his head and focused on walking-we were tailing him. We waited for someone to pick us up.

Rainier is my half-brother on my father's side. Simula noong namatay si mommy ay sa kanila na ako tumira at trinato naman nila ako na parang sariling pamilya kahit na anak ako sa labas. I am a mistake, I know, but hindi nila iyon pinaramdam sakin. In fact, sobrang bait sa akin ni tita, unlike my own mother. Mas naramdaman ko pa sa kanya ang pagmamahal ng isang ina kaysa sa totoo kong ina.

When Daddy found out that Mommy used to treat me badly, he tried to take me, but Mommy didn't agree, so he didn't do anything. But noong namatay si Mommy, Daddy grabbed the opportunity to get me. At naging maayos naman ang buhay ko sa poder niya.

My mom killed herself. Hindi ko alam ang totoong pangyayari, pero ang tanging alam ko ay nagpakamatay siya dahil sa isang lalaki o ano. I've not been curious about her since she died. Ilang taon narin ang nakalipas kaya mas pinili ko nalang na huwag ungkatin ang nakaraan ko kung saan naranasan ko ang madilim na kapalaran na kailanman ay hindi ko na gusto pang maranasan ulit

"You're late," salubong ni daddy, kaya ngumiti ako sa kaniya at hinalikan ang pisngi niya, ganoon din kay tita.

"I'm with Rainier," tumingin ako sa likuran kung saan pumasok si Rainier. Lumapit siya at hinalikan ang pisngi nila.

"Practice again, son?" Tanong ni daddy at tumango naman siya saka nagpaalam na umakyat para magbihis.

Ganoon din ang ginawa ko at bumaba pagkatapos para kumain ng hapunan. Naka-upo kaming apat sa lamesa. Magkatabi kami ni Rainer at si Tita Sarah naman ang nasa harapan namin samantalang nasa kabisera si daddy.

"Palagi ka na lang late umuuwi?" tanong ni Tita.

"The intramurals are approaching, so we need to practice more, mom."

"What about you, Rain?" bumaling siya sakin. "Kung manonood ka ng practice, make sure sasabay ka sa kapatid mo pag-uwi."

"Yes, tita. Lagi naman po."

The dinner went on while Daddy talked about whatever business I couldn't relate to. I just listened to the whole
time and spoke when I was asked. This is my family. They consider me one of them. They accepted me wholly, even though I'm the daughter of a mistress.

To be continued...