SHADOWS

By: John Paul Miranda and Michal Pasaporte

A soft cool breeze crawls up my spine, the whistle of pine trees passing towards me, the loving smell of newly cut grass and the low humidity that hits my bare skin--- this haven must be Baguio. Baguio a peaceful, relaxing town that had been covered with the natures secrets from the very start of time. Where tranquility of nature had been roaming around the mountaintop. In a small subdivision inside Baguio lives a girl who has a common boy problem and her name is Rina Spinoza.
.."Life seems like an unending loop of mistakes..", Rina shares to her friend Michalle Hobbes, having her heart being hurt a couple of times, Rina wants to conclude that life, itself, is just a series of UNFORTUNATE events for her. Having their conversation grow into something much more than friendly chatter...the two girls got into more intense feelings of doubt, hatred and fear of loving once again. Michalle jumps into the hole of endless murmurs that invade the mind of her dear friend Rina, .."Girl, you have to start over again...let your heart love again, but keep a part of it for yourself....." suddenly, as they strode quite briskly down the rugged pathway, Rina bumped into this figure--- A tall, lanky, dark guy figure having this distinct southern trawl in him... to be precise, then the figure move towards her and stretched out a helping hand and said with a low clear voice .."are you alright?.." as she touch the hands of the stranger, goose bumps started to arise in her skin. Her head felt light and her heart felt as if it stood still then suddenly the stranger said .."damn I.."m already late.." then the stranger said goodbye and sorry to her and left in an instance... .."That was strange..", Rina whispered. She turned to see where that guy went, but he was nowhere to be found. So with the strange feeling that she had felt they went to house of Rina in Scout Barrio subdivision Rina entered the blue gate which matched their roof---it wasnt just a house--it was a home it was her mom.."s home and now it was hers too...so in the room of Rina, she started to share how she felt when she touched the strangers hands to Michalle .."Who would have the nerve to hit me while walking?.." AAAAUGHHH!!! .."NO manners not even the will to say that it was his FAULT!.."AUUUGHHH said the angry Rina but in fairness with his gaze, and that mysterious aura in his presence---he sticks to my mind, Michalle. .."Hmmm. here we go again. Infatuation, girl, plain infatuation....."Michalle said, but in her mind she knew that HE might be the one.... .."Oh yeah, do you want to go to this dinner party with me.." said Michalle with a rush...and Rina automatically said .."sure.." The night sky was almost nearly perfect... and the stars were in the right place... the party was held in a satin tent near one of the orchards of their close friend Rina was wearing this sleek black cocktail dress that flowed with her wavy hair...she was wearing her faithful heels to bring her up to that height that showed off her physique... the party went on nicely until Rina.."s calf aches which sends her to quietly sit at the corner of that tent she takes off her shoe, and raises her leg up a seat then suddenly she realizes this figure in front of her in a low voice he says, .."miss, Im sorry, but this is my seat....." so he grabs another chair, and helps her get comfy... and they talk the night away--- After the best night of Rinas unromantic life, Rina went over extatically to Michalles pad to tell her friend about her dream come true, Rina slumps down on the couch with a smile at pace then sighs, what a night! she said in a shouting tone. Michalle with curiosity asked, hmmmyou look flushed, what is the name of the guy that made you this way? OMG! Rina replied in a screaming manner. She continuously banged her head not so hardly on the wall repeatedly saying STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!!!. After a few minutes of anger, tears filled her eyes I didnt get his name again. Weeks and months passed by, with both guilt and anger to oneself, Rina went back to her dull life, but turned out to be a house bum. A year passed, and still the same, Michalle asked her, uh, Rina, I know you dont like going out much, because of you know whatbut as a friend would you, be a chaperone, Im meeting an old friend way back. Come on, girl, puhlease?! Rina nods and says sure, why notok dont worry about me, its nothing? At the café Starbucks, two friends settle down in a table for three waiting for the special guest. Rina, uninterested, reads a magazine as she sips a cup of caramel frappucino. The sun shines brightly but there a tall, lanky figure casts a shadow on her face. could this be him? she asks herself. Michalle says ahead, Rina, meet Jason Mirandola, Jason, meet Rina then slowly Rinas head peeked out of her magazine slowly glancing from foot to head hoping it was the one hi, there, Jason says. Rina looks in shock, then tears fell down, silently wiping her eyes, she says sorry for the tears, this is just me, hi there. Jason grabs for his handkerchief and hands it to her, she takes it humbly.
The threesome talk the Jason ends up inviting both to a party. Michalle backs out and gives certain reasons to not go. Rina solemnity accepts. At the party. Rina enters the restaurant and heads for the assigned table where she was to meet Jason. She sees a guy seated on her assigned chair. She clears her throat then says excuse me, youre seated on my chair the guy glanced back, seeing Rina standing near, their eyes met with familiarity. Rinas heart sped like a thousand miles per second. But before anybody could talk, a woman sits silently still hanging on, then says, uh, so Jason your new girl?! Jason says, no, shes my new friend, the woman stands up and says, she calls Rina, you too? Rina stands up and follows. The girl is named, Claire and starts to talk with rina, so, Im warning you, Jason isnt as gentlemanly as he seems and by the way, I didnt know that you have met my new BF, Johnny, you guys seem as if youve known each other since birth.? Rina cautiously says slowly, No, Johnny is a nobody, just met recently Rina keeps her tears inside as they returned to the table. Claire repeats the question so, Johnny, Rina, howd yall really meet? both replied, uhshes/ hes a nobody, just met awhile ago. Johnny and Rina said. Dinner was a silent one. And Jason bought Rina home afterward. Rina cries herself to sleep, then at 4 am, Michalle calls Rina, I know you dont care but this drama is too much for me. My close friend and his recent GF just broke up few hours ago, and all because of another girl?! Would you believe it?! Rina yawns. Go to sleep, Michalle! and hangs the phone. The next morning Michalle goes into Rinas pad and storms in. dragging Rina out of bed and scolding her for hanging up on her. you owe me a frap, you girly sissy Rina smiles, ok, frap would do.
The two walked to Starbucks and Rina finds a seat. While Michalle walked to the counter to order. two fraps and a cheesecake, Mindy. The somebody taps her shoulder and said make it three fraps and a cheesecake pls. With a low but charming voice. The familiar sound traveled from the ear of Michalle, which made Michalle turn quickly to look who it was. oh its you, Mr. Cavendish so how was the breakup going? Michalle asked, uhIm doing better. Mr. Cavendish said. I see you bought a friend along he said as he saw the back physique of Michalles friend. The two walked towards the table, and Rina didnt peek out from her book. Rina felt a shadow cast upon her. She didnt look up, until that tall, lanky figure said, hi, there, stranger, this time I must get your name. Rina smiles up to Johnny and saidwhat took you so long??? well to be honest its difficult to find a nameless goddess. Johnny said with a smile