Her Heart's Desire

HER HEART'S DESIRE 04

Love. A word so beautiful yet it causes so much pain. A single word that can cause either your happily ever after or your downfall. Love, love, love.

"Hey." I slightly flinched in surprise when I heard Crimson's voice close to my left ear. Nilingon ko ang binata at binigyan siya ng kaunting ngiti.

"Yeah?" I responded, his face was close to mine. Atleast 12 inches apart, hehe. Mukhang nago-open up na siya sa akin dahil sa walang sawa ko na pagi-interact sa kaniya.

"The teacher is asking you a question." He whispered, I gulped and looked around. I realized that the teacher was looking at me, including my classmates. Kanina pa yata ako nakatulala.

"Miss Acosta, I've been calling your name for three times already." sambit ng guro.

Nilingon ko naman siya at umayos ako ng upo, I cleared my throat and sighed.

"S-Sorry po." Nauutal kong tugon. The teacher sighed, nodding her head.

"If you're tired or something's bothering you, tell me, I'll understand. But when in class, I want your full attention, okay?" Malambing na sabi niya, I nodded. She smiled and continued her discussion, making me sigh in relief.

Buti nalang at mabait ang subject teacher namin na ito, meron din kasi kaming teacher na sobrang strict.

Soon enough, tumunog na ang bell, indicating that classes were finished for now and that it's time for lunch.

Agad na nagkumpulan ang mga kaklase ko para makalabas agad ng classroom, it was like a stampede sa sobrang pagsisiksikan nila.

I grabbed my bag and walked towards the door na rin. Pero dahil nga nagsisiksikan ang mga kaklase ko ay nahihirapan akong makatawid, they were literally pushing each other!

I yelped in pain as a person's elbow hit my stomach, causing me to fall slightly backwards. Napahawak naman ako sa tiyan ko dahil sa sakit, hindi ko man lang napansin na may nakahawak pala sa beywang ko.

I turned to look at the person holding me, it was Crimson!

Nakatitig siya sa tiyan ko na hinihimas ko dahil sa sakit.

"U-Uh, I'm okay Crimson. You don't have to hold me na." pagbabasag ko sa katahimikan naming dalawa.

He paused before nodding and taking his hand off my waist, causing me to feel the loss of warmth on my waist.

Hayst.

I smiled at him before walking off to get to the cafeteria.

"Ang laki naman ng ngiti mo. Hindi pa ba nangangalay panga mo?" tanong ni Kathleen sa akin at pasalampak na umupo sa harap ko.

Ngumuso ako at hinampas siya sa braso. "Wala kang pake!" singhal ko.

"Punta tayo Switzerland." pag-aaya ni Kathleen habang nakahiga sa hita ko.

Breaktime namin ngayon at walang klase for atleast an hour kaya napag-isipan namin na magtambay muna sa garden ng school.

Nakaupo ako ngayon sa isang bench na katabi ng isang puno, habang si Kathleen naman ay nakapikit habang humihiga sa hita ko. Buti nalang at nakapantalon siya kaya kahit bumukaka ang hita niya ay ayos lang.

"Switzerland? Why?" Tanong ko habang hinahaplos ang buhok niyang nakalugay. She shrugged. "Why not?"

I chuckled. Itong babaitang 'to talaga.

"Kailan mo gusto?" I asked out of curiousity. Agad naman na napangiti si Kathleen sa sinabi ko at dali-daling bumangon sa pagkakahiga niya. She looked at me with the widest grin she can muster.

"This december, sa resthouse namin doon." Saad niya."Sama mo na rin sila Tita at Tito, matutuwa sila mommy if ever! Matagal na rin silang hindi nagkikita eh." I laughed softly. "Okay, I'll tell them."

Bago pa kami naging magkaibigan ni Kathleen, ang mga magulang talaga namin ang magkakaibigan. They had been friends since high school, at hanggang ngayon ay matatalik na magkaibigan pa rin sila.

"Switzerland talaga? Ayaw mo sa New York?" Ngumuso siya at umiling, hudyat na ayaw niya sa suhestyon ko.

"Masyadong busy ang city kapag pasko at new year. Gusto ko ng tahimik, tsaka para fresh air na din." She explained, "Mas makakabuti 'yon sa puso mo, masyado ka nang nakakalanghap ng polusyon dito sa pilipinas eh." natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya, pati siya ay tumawa rin sa mga salitang lumabas mula sa bibig niya.

I shrugged, considering her offer.

"Sige, I'll try and ask mom." I replied.

"Aalis ka na?" Tanong ko kay Crimson na sinakbit na ang bag niya sa kaniyang balikat. Tinignan niya lamang ako bago nagsimulang maglakad palayo.

'Malamang.' sarkastiko kong tugon sa sariling tanong, class dismissal na rin kasi. The sun slowly setting to let the moon take over the skies.

Sinundan ko ang mga yapak ni Crimson at tumabi sa kaniya habang mahigpit kong hinawakan ang bag ko.

"May susundo sa'yo noh?" Tanong ko, trying to have a conversation with him again for the nth time these last two weeks.

He hummed as a response, letting me hear his deep and warm voice. The kind of voice that soothes your ears once you hear it, the kind that I would love to hear each and everyday.

I smiled. "Bakit ayaw mo sumakay sa schoolbus?" He shrugged.

I bit my lip. Ayaw niya talaga magsalita. Bakit kaya?

"You don't talk much, do you?" I blurted out.

He snorted at the words; the corner of his lips coming up to form a small smile of amusement, I suppose.

"A good observation." He said in an almost whisper tone, pero obvious ang pagiging sarkastiko niya. But it wasn't an offensive kind of sarcasm, more of like a joking kind.

I grinned when I got words out of
his lips, quite happy of my new accomplishment.

I was about to say something when I saw our family's car getting closer, I slightly pouted before turning to Crimson.

I had to take the family car now dahil ayaw naman talaga nila Dad na sa school bus ako dahil mausok daw, sadiyang nagpumilit lang ako. Nang malaman ni Dad na sumuway ako, ayun, hindi na niya ako tinantanan at talagang pinapahintay ang family driver namin bago ang dismissal para makuha ako.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" Hindi ko na hinintay ang tugon niya at naglakad na papunta sa sasakyan namin. My face plastered with a big grin as I felt happy with my short conversation with Crimson.