Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 3

"Mom, I think we need to see my cardiologist. "

My Mom turned her head to look at me. I am sitting boringly at the passenger seat. Siya ang sumundo sa akin dahil kinailangan ni Dad ang driver ko.

Concern filled her eyes immediately. "What happened, anak?"

"My heartbeats were abnormal earlier."

Inalala ko kung gaano kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko kanina. I was so worried that I had to take my medicine and stay at the clinic before leaving.

"But we just met your cardiologist last Sunday. Ang sabi ng doktor ay walang problema. You just need to limit your physical activity."

Then why the hell my heart reacted that way? Wala naman akong ginawang nakapapagod. Puwede bang dahil sa iritasyon 'yon? I don't think so.

There's no single day that I'm not irritated and yet my heart beats normally. Not until today, when that bastard said something mischievous.

"If you insist, anak. I can set an appointment with her."

I hate seeing white ghosts, aka doctors. They will say hopeful words about life to hide the fact that I'm sick and I'm going to die anyway.

"Nevermind, Mom. Maybe I'm just hallucinating."

"Are you sure, anak? I am free on Friday, just in case you're worried I'm not home."

"I have changed my mind. Maayos naman ako, baka guni-guni ko lang 'yon."

Despite of my decision, my Mother still called my cardiologist to drop by our house today. Hindi talaga siya mapakali sa tuwing magsasabi ako ng iniinda at walang pagdadalawang isip ay tatawagan ang doktor.

Sinabi ng doktor sa akin na ayos lang ako, pero bakit kinailangan niyang kausapin si Mommy sa labas? Liars!

Mag-isa na lang bumalik si Mom sa kuwarto ko. I was busy searching for Gucci scarves when she interrupted me to ask something.

"Did you do something heavy, Leigh?"

"Mom, ang kulit mo. Wala akong ginagawang mabigat o nakakapagod."

"Then why do you think your arrhythmia attacked you earlier?"

Her question opened my mind, letting Zach in to occupy my thoughts. It happened so quickly when he whispered it to me. Parang tanga naman kung sasabihin kong dahil lang sa sinabi niya ay naging abnormal na ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Someone told me a gibberish, Mom. The next thing I knew, my heart was racing."

Kunot ang noo siyang tumingala sa ceiling. Nang ibaba niya ang mga mata sa akin ay nanunuya na ang tingin niya. A playful smile glimpsed on her lips.

"Are you sure it was just a gibberish? Anak, baka naman kinikilig ka lang."

Naibagsak ko ang phone sa mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. The bridge of my nose almost broke.

"Mom, he's not even handsome enough for me that I can not use the word attractive to describe him. He's conceited, blind and annoying!"

Higit na lumapad ang ngiti sa mukha ni Mommy. I hate that look.

"So, it's a boy pala. Ano ba ang sinabi niya sa 'yo at masiyado mong kinamumuhian ang lalaki?"

"Mom, I don't like the way you stare at me. It's creepy."

"You did not answer my question, Leigh. What gibberish could it be that your heart fluttered?"

My heart fluttered? I didn't say something like that. Kung meron man dapat sisihin dito ay ang sakit ko.