foreword

Sinag hated Justin with passion just as much as she loved him passionately when they were kids. Halos lahat ng pag-iwas ay ginawa na niya para lang hindi na magtagpo pa ulit ang mga landas nila. But what would she do when the red string connecting them decided to finally shorten its length after being apart for so long? Would she keep on running away, hiding from the comforts of her empty castle? Or would she finally move on and step out from the walls she built?

"Sabi ni Lola, nanlalamig daw ang kamay ng isang tao kapag malungkot siya. Warm naman daw kapag happy ang isang tao," he said smiling softly at the young girl in front of him.

He felt a hint of hesitance at first but he then pushed it deep down inside the trenches of his heart as he slowly took her hands and intertwined it with his. They both looked at their fingers that were locked together.

"Your hands are so warm, Justin."

He grinned widely showing off his growing front teeth and ruffled her hair gently.

Of course his hands were warm! He's with her, why would he feel cold?

"My hands are cold, Sinag."

She stared at him hard, face devoid of any emotions but her heart says otherwise for it was raging, seething, mad and hurt. The band-aids she plastered to cover the crevices of her heart were falling piece by piece, revealing that very moment how wounded she still is.

"Talaga? Dapat lang."