Heartbeat (ON-HOLD)

Chapter 28.

Bianca’s POV
 
“Hindi ka namin sisisihin” Coleen said
 
“Tell us what happened?” Mahinahon nitong sabi after ako mapakalma.
 
To tell you honestly, Coleen has this kind of aura na mapapakalma ka talaga, the way she speaks, the way she responds, the way she listens. She’s really good at it. Di na rin ako magtataka why Yumi really admire her. Dahil kahit ako, humanga sa kanya.
 
“I asked her about Mico” I sadi. Nagulat siya.
 
“w-why? H-how did you know him?” she asked. I looked at Yumi.
 
“I---- I’m sorry Coleen. I’m really sorry” sabi ko. Crying again.
 
 
“Shhh. N-no it’s fine. Tell us kung paano mo nakilala si Mico” sabi n ito. I can’t tell her about the diary. Fuck. I can’t say something. Only Yumi should know that I have it.
 
 
“She introduced me to him as her secret friend… and You” sabi ko
 
 
“And you acted na hindi mo ako kilala the first time we met?” sabi niya
 
“N-no Coleen. I know you by name, not by face. I----- I heard your conversation with Mico at your school cafeteria. I was on video call with Yumi, Mico sat in front of the screen. I did’nt saw you tho, only him. Then when Yumi came back, umalis kayo dahil ayaw niyo makita kayo ni Maxine with her” sabi ko. Nataranta naman siya and looks around.
 
 
Max and Heart is not around..
 
 
“What did you hear that time?” she whispered. Bakit siya bumubulong?
 
 
“That you and Max are cousins and that Mico is your----- b-boyfriend. Which I heard secret lang kay Meng.” sabi ko
 
 
“Sinabi mo ba sa kanya?” tanong ni Coleen
 
 
“N-no. I just asked her about the two of you. Why? Big deal pa rin ba yung about don ngayon? I mean--- you and Max are okay---- and”
 
 
“Hindi pa rin alam ni Iyen” sabi nito
 
 
“Ha?” gulat kong sabi
 
 
“She doesn’t know na boyfriend ko si Mico that time, pero alam na niya na we are cousins ni Max” she explained
 
“Hindi niya alam na naging kami ni Mico.. never niyang nalaman. So please Bianca. Don’t tell her. Please” sabi nito
 
 
“w-why Coleen?” sabi ko
 
 
“It doesn’t matter anymore Biancs. He died in a car accident. Ayoko mas lalong maguilty si Adi about it lalo na pag nalaman niyang boyfriend ko si Mico. Please Bianca. Promise me, you won’t tell her. At least not this time na she’s close to healing. I’ll tell her, but not today, not tomorrow. Maybe after she heals. I’m afraid lang na baka mas lumala yung mental health niya.” sabi nito
 
Oh. Tumango ako. I understand now. Sheesh! She really loves Yumi. Fuck.
 
“Pag gumising siya, please act as if nothing happened. Pretend you didn’t ask her about Mico. Please” sabi nito
 
 
“Why?” takang tanong ko
 
 
 
“Believe me. She’ll also gonna act as if nothing happened. She’ll also pretend na parang walang nangyari. Just act okay? For her lang din naman. She’ll open up when she’s ready Bianca. Just don’t force her. You saw har struggling kapag nagkakaattack siya. Don’t trigger it. Please” sabi niya ulit
 
 
“Oh. Okay. I’m really sorry. Okay. I’ll pretend.” sabi ko.
 
“You’re calling her Iyen. Why?” dagdag ko
 
“Don’t call her that name. Only Mico and me can call her that. Pero after the incident, hindi kami nagbabanggit ng things na connected kay Mico, that nickname is special to her.”
 
(Author Note: Yumi’s full name Lilienne Yumi Garcia)
 
“Huy Biancs” napabalikwas ako dahil sa gulat. Nasa MOA kan=mi ngayon, hinihintay namin yung order namin. Nandito kami sa Jollibee. Naalala ko lang yung conversation namin ni Coleen.
 
“Iyen” sabi ko pero mahina lang. Nagulat nga kasi ako. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
 
“Ha?” tanong niya. I looked at Coleen na umiiling. Shit.
 
 
“Ah. Iyan na. Iyan na yung order oh” sabi ko tumingin naman ito sa tinuro ko
 
 
“Ah. Akala ko naman kung ano. hehe” sabi nito. I awkwardly smiles at Coleen.
 
 
Paano ko ba to masesekreto kay Meng? AHhhhhhh. Na-guguilty ako pero para sa kalagayan niya, I’ll do everything para lang okay siya. Natatakot akong mangyari ulit yung nagngyari sa kanya nung nakaraang araw. Ayoko na ulit ako yung maging dahilan non. NEver again.
 
 
 
Yumi’s POV
 
Storm passes. The sun is now shining brightly. What a beautiful day.  The seven of us (including Coleen) decided to go to Mall of Asia, syempre para mamasyal. Tomorrow is Coleen’s flight back to US.
 
“You guys ready?” Ate Ashtine ask
 
 
We all nod. Kung nagtataka kayo what happened after the scene of Bianca asking about Mico, well, I acted.
 
Yes. Acted!!! Na wala lang sa akin yung nangyari, na kinalimutan ko na din na nagtanong si Bianca about don. I acted as if I’m okay. Para hindi na sila magtanong. Para makalimutan na nila yung about don. Magaling ako don sa bagay na yun e. Yung mag pretend. hehe
 
 
Nahuli ko si Bianca na nakatingin sa akin. I smiled at her. Na para bang walang nangyari, na para bang okay ako. Di ba? Magaling  ako. Ang galing ko magpretend hehe
 
 
We’re finished eating at Jollibee. Naglalakad lakad lang kami bago pumunta sa bay area para tumambay.
 
 
“Sakay tayo sa ferris wheel later ha” sabi ni Fat
 
 
“G.” sabi naming lahat.
 
 
Umupo kami sa damuhan. I held bianca’s hand and played with it.
 
 
“Schoolmate na ulit tayo Biancs” sabi ko
 
 
“I know. I’m excited Meng” sabi niya. Dati sobrang inlove ako the way she look at me pero ngayon…… hays. I looked at Coleen, she’s admiring the view. Yung hangin na nililipad yung maikli niyang buhok na dahilan ng pagkagulo nito. She’s really beautiful.
 
 
“Matunaw naman yan” bulong sa akin ni Bianca. Tumawa ako.
 
 
“Ang ganda niya no?” sabi ko kay Bianca at tiningnan siya.
 
 
“Oo Meng. She’s beautifull inside and out.” sabi niya. I nod
 
 
“You think pwede maging kami?” tanong ko. Nagulat siya.
 
 
“A-ahhh hahaha. Sasabihin ko sana na may screening muna sa bestfriend bago maapprove kaya lang…. naisip ko.. pwede naman. Deserve niyo ang isa’t isa” sabi niya.
 
 
“Eh? Talaga? Approve na ba sa bestfriend ko?” sabi ko at tumawa.
 
 
“Bestfriend mo na ulit ako?” tanong niya. Apakacute
 
 
“Oo” sabi ko. Nagulat ulit siya at ngumiti.
 
 
“Tangina niyo. Ako na maglilibre sa ferris wheel mga hangal” bigla niyang sigaw kaya napatawa ako hindi lang dahil sa ginawa niya. Dahil na din sa reaction nung lima
 
 
“Aba At. Tangino mo rin.” sabi naman ni Fat.
 
“Hoy” sabi ko at tumawa nang malakas.
 
 
“Bakit ba e bestfriend ulit kami e” sabi nito at tumalon talon. I looked at Coleen, she smiled at me and mouthed “I’m proud of you”. I just smiled at her.
 
 
 
“Ay pak. Dapat hindi lang ferris wheel ang libre no. Pati dinner din dapat” sabi ni Ate Ash
 
 
“Wait I’ll inform mom to cook something for us tomorrow lunch. G kayo? Before nating ihatid si Coleen sa airport, lunch tayo sa bahay.” excied niyang sabi. Natigilan ako.
 
 
“Ah eh. I’m scared.” sabi ko. Natigilan naman silang lahat.
 
 
“Why?” tanong ni Bianca
 
 
“T-tito------“ sabi ko.
 
 
“It’s fine. I will be there with you” sabi ni Bianca sabay hawak sa kamay ko and kisses my forehead
 
 
“Okay.” sabi ko. Pero takot pa rin talaga ako. Alam ko namang hindi ko sila maiiwasan ngayon pa at same school ulit kami tapos magbestfriend ulit kami ni Bianca. Siguro it’s time to face Tito Ed. Mico, please I know you’re proud of me. Sabi ko sa sarili ko at tumingin sa langit.
 
 
“Oo nga pala. Si tita?” tanong ni Bianca sa akin
 
 
“Japan. Dun na ulit siya nagwowork sa company ni Dad. Si Tita Mel and Dad naman sa US, inaalagaan ni Tita si Dad. Since di na kaya ni Dad magwork, si Dany boy ang nagmamanage ng business sa US.” sabi ko.
 
 
“What happened to Tito ba?” tanong ni Ate Ash
 
 
“We just heard from Tita kasi nung time na nagvisit kami sa inyo na she’s going back to Japan for your business daw since okay na sila ni Tito. Wala na kaming balita after that” sabi naman ni Fat
 
 
I looked at Max. She nods. Kaya mo yan Yumi. Kahit itong story mo na lang muna about your Dad ang maopen up mo sa kanila. Unit-unti. Little steps.
 
 
“He--- my dad is sick guys” I started. Nakikinig naman sila
 
 
“Wala naman daw talaga siyang balak kunin ako kay Mommy that time dahil he can see naman daw na okay kami. Basta nakakatulong nga siya sa pamamagitan ng pagwowork ni Mommy sa company niya.” dagdag ko
 
 
“Galit ako sa kanya. Galit ako nung una. After ko malaman na sila MAx pala yung family na pinalit sa amin ni Mommy, mas lalo akong nagalit sa Dad ko. Pero kay Max and Dany, hindi. ALm mo ba yung feeling na mas napanatag yung loob ko na pumunta ng US dahil may kilala ako which is Dany and Maxine?. Hindi ko magawang magalit sa kanila, sa Dad ko lang and kay Tita Mel.” tumigil muna ako at tumingin sa taas
 
 
“That was the time na nagrebelde ako sa kanila. Max knows, Dany knows dahil nasa iisang school kami. I was depressed with the thought of me living with his new family, with the thought of leaving you guys here, especially Bianca.” I stopped
 
 
 
“That was also the time I decided to shut you off. All of you. Hindi ko kayo kinausapp dahil sa sobrang lungkot. Dahil naiinggit ako kasi magkakasama kayo. I go to school, drunk. It was the first time I met Coleen, the nerd girl who is always at the library. Lasing ako so I decided to sleep at the corner of the library para walang istorbo sa tulog ko. Sa sobrang sarap ng tulog ko that time, hindi ako nagising. I remember her dragging me to her car para ihatid sa bahay” I smiled at the memory.
 
 
“We became secret friends… she convinced me to visit a psychiatrist. That’s when I was diagnosed with depression. I started attending sessions with a psychologist since kaya pa naman maiwasan with talk therapy.”
 
 
 
“Coleen became my knight---- a knight in a girls body. She also introduced me to someone. A very special person. We became bestfriends. Max doesn’t know. Walang nakakaalam.” I slowly calmed myself.  Lumapit naman si Coleen caressing my back.
 
 
 
“Naging okay ako nungkinausap ko na ulit kayo thru video calls, thanks to Coleen again. She encouraged me to talk to all of you again. That’s the beginning of something, between me and Bianca. I courted her, all of you know that.Then something happened that broke my heart----“ I looked at Bianca na ngayon ay naka tungo na.
 
 
“Anyway, that part is okay now. She explained it to me noong nasa Vigan tayo. I already know her reasons.”
 
 
“Back to the story, after the incident with Bianca’s family, we went back to US immediately. Hindi ulit ako okay. I shut you off again for the second time. Hindi ako nagpatulong agad sa psychiatrist ko. Nadagdagan pa nung malaman ko na Dad has diabetic retinopathy that affects his eyes due to diabetes. He told me his reasons why he decided na kunin ako. Gusto lang daw niya makita pa ako befor he loses his sight. I was broken, and mas nasira pa ako nung nalaman ko yung about sa sakit niya. Later on we learned na he has dementia dahil nakita namin na madali siyang makalimot ng bagay, events, at iba pa. Triple kill. Masakit sobrang sakit. Doon ko napatawad ang Daddy ko. Ngayon, hindi na niya ako nakikilala. He knows na may anak siya, pero din niya ako kilala.” sabi ko while crying
 
 
 
That’s it. Yun lang yung kaya kong ikwento pa ngayon.
 
 
Coleen hugged me.
 
“Little steps baby. You’re doing great.” she whispered. I hugged her tightly. Max, Heart, Fatima, Ate Ash, and Bianca joined us.
 
 
“Thank you for sharing that Meng. We’re proud of you” sabi ni Fatima.
 
Tumango ako. Tahimik naman si Bianca sa tabi ko.
 
 
“If you’re still gulity of what happened between us, then stop overthinking. I’m already moved on with that okay? we are starting a new relationship between us as bestfriends. Don’t overthink too much, nangyari na ang nangyari. We can’t change the past. Okay?” sabi ko sa kanya.
 
 
“Sorry. I just can’t help it. Pero thank you for giving us another chance” sabiu niya. I smiled.
 
 
“O-okay, let’s eat dinner first then we will ride in the ferris wheel.” sabi ni Max, maybe to ligthen up the mood.
 
 
“Yes. Libre daw ni Bianca e” sabi ko naman. Tumawa naman silang lahat.
 
 
 
I sighed.
 
 
“You okay?” Coleen asked linking our hands together
 
 
“Yes Adi. Ang gaan sa pakiramdam na unti-unti ko na naoopen sa kanila. Sana lang ganito pa din reaction nila pag nalamn nila yung pinaggagagawa ko sa US Adi. Nattakot pa rin ako sabihin sa kanila” sabi ko
 
 
“It’s fine. Take your time. They are your friends. Maiintindihan ka nila.” sabi nito.
 
 
After we ate nagdiretso kami sa linya ng ferris wheel.
 
 
“Wait for me here Adi. May bibilhin lang ako saglit” sabi ko
 
 
I texted Bianca.
 
 
To Bianca: Una na kayo. Sunod kami. May bibilhin lang ako.
 
 
From Bianca: Di tayo same ng pods? L
 
 
To Bianca: Nope. I have a plan J
 
 
After that I went a store with mini teddy bears. Nang mabayaran ko na yung binili ko, nagdiretso ako kay Adi.
 
“Let’s go Adi.” sabi ko sabay hila sa kanya
 
“What is that? turo niya sa paper bag na hawak ko
 
 
“Secret.” I said smiling at her.
 
“You don’t like secrets pero nag sesecret ka na ngayon?” she said
 
I scratched the back of my head and looked away. Sorry Adi. Secret lang muna.
 
 
“Ayun sila o.” Turo niya.
 
 
Ayaw kaming paunahin ng mga nasa pila sa harapan namin kaya ayun naghintay kami ng turn namin. 6 passenger lang daw kayang dalhin ng isang pods. Ohh.
 
Pagdating namin sa bayaran. I whispered something to Kuya na nagcocollect ng payment.
 
 
This is it.
 
 
“Wait. Tayong dalawa lang?” Tanong ni Adi.
 
“Yuppp.” sabi ko. Piningot naman niya yung tenga ko.
 
“Sayang yung binayaran mo” sabi niya
 
“Eh. Walang kaso sa akin yon Adi. Sakit naman” sabi ko at hinawakan yung right ear ko.
 
 
“Di porket mayaman ka e magsasayang ka ng pera” sabi niya
 
“Di naman sayang eh. I just want us to be alone together.. Look outside” sabi ko. Namangha naman siya sa view.
 
 
“Wow” sabi niya
 
 
“Ganda no?” I asked.
 
“I just want to cherish this moment with you alone Adi. Sorry na” sabi ko while pouting
 
 
She looked at me.
 
 
 
“Masakit ba? Sorry” sabi naman niya at hinawakan yung tenga ko na piningot niya.
 
 
“Okay lang. Ikaw lang pwede gumawa non sa akin. Joke” sabi ko naman
 
 
“For you” sabi ko sabay abot ng paper bag sa kanya
 
 
“Para di lang ako ang may Sandy. Ikaw din Adi.” Sabi ko
 
 
“Awww. Thank you Adi.” She said closed to crying. I held her face with my both hands.
 
 
 
“You deserve everything especially me Adi. Please I really really like you” sabi ko
 
 
Umiwas naman siya ng tingin sa akin.
 
“Adi, we’ve already talked about this” sabi niya.
 
 
“What’s stopping you from liking me Adi? I can feel it. Ramdam ko naman na---- “
 
 
“Then stop assuming things. I like you as a sister Yumi. I care for you as a sister. I already told you that.” sabi niya
 
 
 
“I just want us to try Adi.” sabi ko almost crying
 
 
“Ayoko lang mag bago yung relationship natin bilang magkaibigan Yumi. Hindi tayo sigurado sa papasukin natin. I don’t want our friendship to last. Mahal kita. Kaya gusto ko magkaibigan tayo habang buhay. Adi, hindi natin alam kung ano mangyayari pero kapag pumasok tayo sa ganyan, maraming magbabago. What if we’re not meant for each other? I don’t want to hurt you. Please” sabi niya
 
 
“I don’t understand Coleen. Why do you keep on saying sasaktan mo lang ako sa huli? Na we are not meant for each other? Bakit mo pinapangunahan lahat? Gusto ko lang naman i-try natin” sabi ko
 
 
“We can’t Adi” sabi niya
 
 
“Why? Bakit hindi pwede? Do you love someone else?” I asked. Natigilan siya.
 
 
“W-wala Adi. I----“
 
 
“Okay. I understand now. It’s fine Adi.” I said. Tamang-tama naman na huminto yung ferris wheel. Nasa pinakaitaas kami.
 
 
“I’m sorry Adi.” Sabi niya, hugging me
 
 
“Shhh. Lagi mo akong iniintindi. I’m sorry I assumed things. I guess it’s time to move forward and accept the fact na you and I are not for each other Coleen. Whoever that person is, He/She is so lucky to be love by you.” sabi ko
 
 
“You’re lucky din naman kasi I love You. Yumi wala namang magbabago between us right?” tanong niya
 
 
“Yeah. Walang magbabago Coleen. Ikaw pa rin ang Adi ko. Mas nalinawan na ako ngayon. Pero ipapakilala mo ako sa kung sino man ang nagpapatibok jan ha?” sabi ko.
 
 
“Yes Adi. I will. I will.” Sabi niya at niyakap ako habang umiiyak siya.
 
 
 
Biglang bumukas yung pods signalling na tapos na yung time namin. I saw them looking at us. I sighed.
 
 
“Keep my version of Sandy Adi.” sabi ko sa kanya. She smiled at me.
 
 
“I will. Let’s go. The right person for you is already waiting outside.” sabi niya kaya naguluhan ako.
 
 
“What do you mean?” I asked her
 
 
“Nothing. Let’s go.”Sabi niya sabay hila sa akin papalapit sa lima.
 
 
“Ah kaya pala nag solo, may pa-gift. Sweey naman ng Imuy na yan” Fatima teased me.
 
 
“Ano ka ba, ako lang to!” sabi ko naman.
 
 
“Hahaha. So, what’s the plan?” tanong ni Ate Ash
 
 
“Coleen’s apartment daw. Netflix and chill lang” sabi ko
 
 
“Ohh. Great idea. Ano Biancs? G?” tanong ni Fat kay Bianca. She looks sad. Bakit kaya?
 
 
“I don’t know Fat. I mean, natatakot ako magpaalaam kay Dad” sabi niya.
 
 
“Why? Di ka papayagan?” tanong ni Maxine
 
 
“Tito became super strict to Bianca lang. No boyfriends, no chill with friends unless sa house nila yung ganap” Fat expl;ained. Oh.
 
 
“Really? Ipagpapaalam ka namin” sabi naman ni Coleen
 
 
“I’m not sure lang kung papayag si Tito” sabi ulit ni Fat, I looked at Bianca na nakatungo.
 
Wow. She’s really suffering a lot too. Imagine? May kasama ka sa bahay na pinaghihinalaan ka na may ginagawang hindi tama? Just because she’s not straight. Just becausedi tugma sa beliefs nila. Wow.
 
 
“Let’s give it a try. Walang mawawala kapag sinubukan natin. Kung hindi okay, then let’s proceed to plan B. Sa house tayo nila Bianca, and since maglalunch din naman tayo dun tomorrow, diretso na. Diba?” sabi ko sa kanila.
 
 
“Wow. Nice one Meng. Tara na.” sabi ni Heart
 
 
“Lapitan mo na Adi” Coleen said.
 
 
“Ha?” sabi ko
 
 
“Kanina ka pa kasi balisa. Talk to her. Nagdadalawang isip ka na naman. I know you a lot. So, Go talk to her” sabi nito
 
Oh. Okay.
 
Pagkalapit ko kay Bianca, I circled my arms around her shoulder.
 
 
“It’s okay Biancs. Your bestfriend is back. Ipapaglaban na kita this time bilang bestfriend mo. And I will win their hearts again para mabalik yung trust nila sa akin.” sabi ko sa kanya. Natigilan naman siya.
 
 
Nagulat akonang bigla niya akong yakapin. Napatingin ako sa mga kasama ko, they are smiling at us.
 
 
“Thank you Meng. Thank you so much” sabi nito habang humihikbi.
 
I held her face then stared intently at her eyes.
 
“This friendship will last forever. I prayed it Above, I wished for it on the moon. Bianca, this second chance I gave to this friendship should be worth it. No, it must be worth it.” sabi ko sa kanya then kisses her forehead. Sabay yakap sa kanya. As I closed my eyes, tears escaped from it.
 
 
Lord, thank you for giving me courage. This is worth it. I AM SO HAPPY.
 
 
Can’t wait to put this on my Diary.
 
 
 ---------------------
Author's Note:

Hey hey!
I know all of us are saddened by the news of Yumi leaving LITZ.
Let's still support LITZ okay? Nawala man si Meng sa group, we all know sinusuportahan niya pa rin yung sisters niya.

If Yumi can still support and can be proud of Bianca, Heart, Fat, and Ashtine, then we can also support and can be also proud of the other members!

Anyway, Happy 14th BiaMi Day!

Mahal ko kayo na continue na nagsusupport sa story ko po!

Comment you thoughts mga mahal! Love love! Spread godvibes and Take Care y'all! ♡