Her Heart's Desire

HER HEART'S DESIRE 13

"Ready?" Napalingon ako sa gilid ko nang marinig ang boses ni Crimson.

I gulped, fixing my posture and my clothes. Nasa labas kami ng classroom at hinihintay na tawagin ang pangalan namin para makapagsimula na sa reporting.

"I'm just nervous." I blurted out.

"You'll be fine." Crimson said, "You're the one reporting, which means mas alam mo ang sinasabi mo unlike them. Therefore there's no need to worry." I suppose he was trying to comfort me with those words, and it helped, to be honest.

"—Crimson and Vivienne." I felt my body turn cold when I heard our names get called. Nanigas yata ako, hindi ko magalaw katawan ko.

I'm used to people looking at me, actually. Watching me. I played the piano since I was three, performed in front of an audience at five.

Pero natigil ako sa pagperform when I was ten because my heart stopped beating ten minutes before I had to step on stage, and if it weren't for a high school student that saw me laying unconcious on the floor, I would've been long dead.

Hearing a chuckle, napalingon ako kay Crimson. 'Since when did he learn to chuckle?' He had the faintest of smile plastered on his face as his hand found its way on my back and gently pushed me forward.

Nakangiti lahat ng mga kaklase ko nang makapasok kami ni Crimson at tumayo sa harap, anticipation was clear in their eyes. Akala mo naman talaga magpe-perform kami sa harap, magre-report lang naman.

Once settled, I looked at our teacher who gave a curt nod, signalling us to start. I took a deep breath and smiled. Kaya ko 'to.

"Hello, everyone. Our chosen topic for today is all about Politics." Pagsimula ko, tahimik naman na nakinig lahat ng mga kaklase ko.

"Politics," I gulped. "Is an art and science of the government. It's the excercise of power. " As I spoke, everyone's eyes were on me.

With one last glance towards Crimson who gave an encouraging nod, I continued with our presentation.

...

"And that's all, thank you." I concluded our report with a satisfied smile, lahat naman ng mga kaklase ko ay pumalakpak at naghiyawan pa ng 'yehey' nang matapos ako.

I turned my head to look at our teacher who was also smiling proudly.

"Thank you for that amazing presentation, Miss Vivienne and mister Crimson. Well done, well done, both of you children." She stood and clapped.

Hearing it from a teacher feels good, pero woah, kay miss Antoinette 'to nanggaling na papuri! Our most stict teacher praised our presentation, she even smiled! Para akong dinuduyan sa kalangitan!

I smiled widely at the compliment and basically spun around to look at Crimson, who was actually standing beside me already, and hugged him in glee.

I felt his body stiffen against mine, his hands limp against both his sides. And as I heard my classmate's teasing giggles and chatters, hindi ko pa mare-realize ang ginawa ko.