1 Prologue

I am walking in the park inside our village while holding a book about the human body which I am planning to read when I saw a group of children my age cheering and playing in one of the slides. I really want to join and make friends with them but I am afraid that they might ignore me so I sat under the tree near them and open the book I am holding.

I can't seem to focus on what I am reading for they are too loud which made me jealous. Others look at me like they are wondering why would a 6 year-old boy be holding a thick book that is all about the human body.

Reading a book is not new to me eversince I learned how to read. I was much advance compared to children my age that made it hard for me to make friends for they considered me as a bookworm and others say that I am too boring to be with. I just ignored them because my parents taught me not to care about those people because I will eventually find someone who will understand me.

I am trying to focus with what I am reading when I saw a pair of eye from a girl with a cute ponytails watching me from the crowd of children playing. I'm trying to get it from my mind but when I look back, she's still looking at me like she wanted to say something. I ignored it and continue reading but to my shock, she's already in front of me.

"Pwede ba tayong maging magkaibigan?" She said while looking at me and I admired how cute she is when speaking in tagalog for I rarely hear that in our home but I know how to speak and I understand the language. I am used to speak in English because a lot is expected from me because of my parents. They are both doctors which are popular in their field of work.

"Why are you asking me when I think you already have a lot of friends?" I asked while looking at her. I tried not to sound rude for I also want to be friends with her but I am wondering why does she wanted to be my friend if she already has a lot of it.

I saw her frown but stifle a smile like she realized something amusing.

"Hindi ako magaling magEnglish eh kaya pwede bang magtagalog ka nalang din? Andito ka naman sa Pilipinas eh." I really find her cute but her personality screams strong and independent kind of girl.

"Napansin kasi kita na nagiisa dito kaya sabi ko bakit hindi nalang kita kaibiganin, parang kawawa ka naman kasi tapos ang kapal pa ng libro mo." She then checked what I am reading and her face looks like she saw a ghost.

"Hoy! Bakit ganyan yung hawak mo? Nakikita ko yan sa ate ko eh. Magkaedad lang naman siguro tayo diba? 6 years old ako eh, ikaw?"

"I am 6 years old too pero gusto kong basahin ang mga ganitong libro. Story books are not my taste for they are not real."

"Ay di kita keri! Ako kasi binabasahan ng mama ko ng storybooks kapag may oras siya.Ang advance mo naman masyado. Ano bang pangalan mo?"

"I'm Xykz Asher Santiago. You can call me whatever you want but they usually call me by my first name. Ikaw, anong pangalan mo?"

"Wow ang ganda naman ng pangalan mo. Tatawagin nalang kitang Ash ah?" She looks amazed by my name when I said it and she smiled after that. She looks beautiful, really.

"Princess Vien Fernandez naman yung pangalan ko but you can call me baby! Charot! Nadinig ko lang yun sa pinsan ko pero Princess yung tawag nila sakin."

I didn't quite get the joke she said but I just laugh with her because she might find me rude and leave me afterwards.

"I'll just call you Vien then, Princess is too common. Baka tawagin kitang Princess tapos may humarap na iba, nakakahiya yun."

She agreed with what I said. I smiled at her and then we talked about a lot of things. I like how talkative and carefree she is. I admired her cute gestures whenever she is talking. She became my first and will forever be treasured friend.

I never imagined that talking to this girl with a cute ponytails named Vien will set my young heart into chaos.