Fast Forward Nang Kaunti

No matter how long she stared, Mia knew that those two red lines will not disappear. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya nang pulutin ang dalawa pang positive test na hiniling niyang false positive lang. Her heart raced at as she gradually accepted what she'd been trying to deny for the past two weeks.

"Mia, are you okay in there?" a man's voice said from outside the bathroom. Thirty minutes nang nasa banyo si Mia, of course he'd find it weird.

Agad niyang tinago sa medicine cabinet 'yong mag test. Kung magtatagal pa siya sa banyo, mag-aalala na 'yon. And by instinct, hindi niya hahayaang mag-aalala ito. She took deep breaths to calm herself down and unlocked the door.

Before she could turn the knob, nausea hit her like a truck. The next second, Mia was down on her knees as her previous meal was emptied into the bowl.

Naramdaman niya na lang na may humahawak na ng buhok niya at humahagod sa likod niya. "Hindi ka naman nag-inom kagabi 'di ba? May nakain ka bang sira?" Tristan asked, concern evident in his tone. "I'll buy you meds."

She wiped her mouth with the back of hand before slowly turning to face him. "Tristan, I'm..."

His forehead was wrinkled as he stared at her with anxiety-filled eyes, waiting for her reply. He was the kindest soul she had ever met and even though she was hopelessly in love with him, she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth right now. "I'm fine. May natira pa akong gamot na pampakalma ng tiyan."

"Nasa medicine cabinet ba?" Tumayo si Tristan para kunin 'yong gamot.

Sa pagpa-panic, mabilis ring tumayo si Mia at hinarangan ang medicine cabinet, effectively trapping herself between the sink and the tall, gorgeous man. She inhaled his cologne and as much as she wanted to drown in it, she managed to hold herself back. Pilit niyang inilagay sa utak niyang nagpabango lang si Tristan kasi makikipag-date ito.

Dahil may height difference, kailangang tumingala ni Mia. Nakatingin na sa kanya si Tristan at ilang sandali silang nanatili sa pwestong iyon. He must have been shocked at her sudden actions. Marahan niyang hinawakan sa mga balikat at lalaki at tinulak ito palayo. "Kaya ko na 'to. May lakad ka pa 'di ba?"

"Sure ka? Pwede ko namang i-postpone—"

"Tristan, matapos ang lahat ng pagpapapansin at effort mo, niyaya ka na ng babaeng gusto mo na makipag-date, and you want to postpone it? Siya ang nag-initiate for the first time ever, hindi mo pwedeng palampasin 'yan."

"But if you're sick, I will be a good friend to you."

Friend. Hayop, ang sakit pa rin.

"This is minor. If you want to be a good friend to me, 'wag mo sayangin 'yong effort natin sa panliligaw sa kanya. Puntahan mo na siya." She smiled at him. As much as her heart hurt, it was genuine. Mia would always choose whatever would make him happy.

He smiled back. "Basta, magpahinga ka. Kung lumala pakiramdam mo, tawagan mo lang ako."

"Go, get the girl of your dreams!" she said pushing him out of the door.

Now, alone in the bathroom, Mia carefully wrapped the three positive tests in toilet paper and placed them in a plastic bag which she'll be throwing away as soon as she can. She lifted her shirt and ran her hand through her lower abdomen which was nicely toned from her strict workout regimen which she'd have to give up immediately.

7 Years Ago

"'Di ka bagay sa school na 'to! You can't even afford contacts, ew." Claire grabbed Mia's eyeglasses and pushed her hard, causing her to fall onto the sidewalk. "Pinapababa mo lang ang average wealth ng students dito."

How could someone with so much wealth have such a rotten attitude? Gusto niya mang malaman ang sagot, mananatiling palaisipan iyon kay Mia. It was one of those days na minamalas lang talaga siya. Late na nga siya, si Claire pa ang nabangga niya sa labas ng school gate nila. At syempre, bilang matapobreng bitchesa ng taon, 'di pinalampas ni Claire ang chance na maliitin ang natatanging middle class citizen sa year level nila.

Claire smirked before throwing the pair of glasses on the street, away from Mia who was practically blind without those. "I don't wanna be be late so, una na ako ah?" sabi ni Claire bago iwan ang kaklase nitong nangangapa sa malamig na semento.

After few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to find her glasses, Mia felt droplets of hot liquid on her hands. 'Di niya namalayang umiiyak na siya. She had been trying to hold it together for but that shitty encounter with Claire was the final straw that plummeted her into a breakdown. It had been a frustrating year. Kung may fairy godmother man siya, ito na ang perfect time para magpakilala iyon.

Her parents died in a plane crash the previous year and most of the money they left were used to pay off debts. Kung 'di lang kaibigan ng nanay niya ang headmistress ng Minerva International School, siguradong 'di na siya makakapag-aral dito. And since most of her relatives were overseas, she was left in the care of her mother's stepsister who treated her like a maid. 'Di naman siya makapalag sa tita niya kasi wala rin siyang ibang mapupuntahan.

While grieving her parents' death, Mia had to adjust to a much more humble lifestyle and deal with a despicable step-aunt. At dahil sa pagbaba ng kanyang social class, hindi na siya pinapansin ng mga itinuring niyang kaibigan. Isang tao lang sa klase nila ang hindi nagbago ng pakikitungo sa kanya, si Lily, who she had always admired for being down-to-earth even when she was pretty, intelligent and filthy rich.

Claire always acted like an angel whenever Lily was around, napaka-plastic dahil alam nitong influential ang pamilya ni Lily. Pero kasalukuyang nasa ibang bansa si Lily para bisitahin ang kaibigan nito kaya naka-full on bitch mode si Claire.

Tuloy-tuloy ang pagdaloy ng mga luha niya at nararamdaman na niyang uuhugin na siya. Mia lifted her arm to wipe her nose with the sleeve of her blouse but a strong hand stopped her.

"'Wag mo ipamunas 'yan. Use this," said a guy with a deep voice. Naramdaman niyang kinuha nito ang kanyang kanang kamay at naglagay ng isang panyo sa palad niya. Agad niya namang tinanggap ang panyo at ipinamunas iyon ng sipon.

"Th-thank you," she stuttered as she looked up at the guy. Unfortunately, she couldn't see him clearly without her glasses. She blinked a couple of times and squinted but all she could see were indistinct shapes.

"Sa'yo siguro 'to," muling sabi ng lalaki. Hinawi nito ang buhok niya at saka isinuot kay Mia ng salamin na itinapon ni Claire.

Doon unang nasilayan ng dalaga ang lalaking palihim niyang hahangaan nang pitong taon. He had dark brown almond-shaped eyes that were staring right back at her eyes. His thick eyebrows were slightly furrowed in concern.

Mia couldn't help but rake her eyes on his admirable features, that straight nose, those thin lips curved into an uneven smile, those hollow cheeks and that sharp jawline. His slicked back hair completed the polished look of the striking young man.

Judging by the emblem on his blazer, he was from Hadley Academy, the all-boys school across her school. For sure, mayaman 'to. Napakaayos naman kasing tingnan, walang kahit anong gusot sa uniform nito at parang bagong bago pa ang makintab nitong leather shoes. 'Di maiwasang mahiya ni Mia sa hitsura niya. 'Di na kasi siya nakapagsuklay dahil male-late na siya. Nadumihan pa ang uniform niya matapos siyang itulak ni Claire.

The teenage boy stood up and offered his hand to the miserable girl to help her stand. Mia reluctantly took it and he easily pulled her up. "'Di ko na tatanungin ko kung okay ka lang kasi halata namang hindi but I hope you feel better soon."

"Tristan, late na tayo!" Another boy shouted from across the street while motioning for his friend to hurry up.

"I have to go. Late ka na rin siguro so you better get going," sabi ni Tristan. Nginitian nito si Mia bago tumalikod at tumakbo papunta sa kaibigan nito.

She watched him as he ran to the gate. To her surprise, he turned back at her, beamed and waved before he entered. His radiating smile warmed her heart which was beating so wildly that it made her clutch her chest while her other hand gripped the guy's handkerchief. Pa'no ba naman kasi? Fairy godmother pa lang ang wish niya pero Prince Charming na ang dumating.

Present (Start Na Talaga)

Mia sat at the bar, watching Tristan talk to one of her good friends, Kendra. He was just a few feet away but it felt like there was an ocean between them. He would never notice her. Nagpakawala si Mia ng malalim na buntong-hininga nang biglang may magsalita sa gilid niya.

"Want me to introduce you?" It was none other than the birthday boy himself, Sage Hermoso.

"Huh?" Mia almost jumped in surprise.

"You've been staring for a while and that sigh was pretty damn deep. Papakilala na kita kay Tristan," nakangiting sabi ni Sage.

"I-I wasn't!" she said defensively. "Type mo lang si Ken eh."

"What? Ken? No way!" mariin na pagtanggi ni Sage. "Basta, ii-introduce na lang kita, okay? Tapos yayain mo siyang sumayaw, ha?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Yayain siyang sumayaw? Sorry pero hindi ko kaya 'yon."

"Well, kakayinin mo ngayong gabi kasi birthday gift mo sa 'kin 'yon." He grinned. "Or were you about to give me something else?

Napakagat sa labi si Mia bago umiling. Wala siyang budget para bumili ng regalo at sinabi rin ni Ken na 'wag bigyan ng regalo ang mortal nitong kaaway.

"So, do this instead. Para sa 'yo na rin. Kasi, you know, you should get out of your comfort zone." Sage's grin grew wider as he signaled for the bartender who immediately attended to them. "Two shots of vodka, please."

The thought of being introduced to Tristan after silently being his fan for seven years sent a shiver down her spine. It was exciting yet equally terrifying. What if he wasn't anymore the nice boy who helped her years ago?

Naglapag ang bartender ng dalawang shot glass sa tapat nila. Sage picked up one and raised his eyebrows expectantly at her. "Won't you need some liquid courage?"

She smiled awkwardly as she picked up the shot. "Okay, cheers!"

Sabay nilang ininom ang vodka. Mia felt the heat travel down her throat. Was that how courage should feel like?

"Ano, game?" Sage asked. But before she could reply, he grabbed her wrist and started walking towards Ken and Tristan. "Game na 'yan."

And before she knew it, pinapakilala na siya ni Sage sa ultimate crush niya. "Tristan, let me introduce you to your biggest—no, wait, I meant hottest fan, Mia."