Serving Into Your Heart

Chapter 2

Thank goodness it's Friday kahapon tapos ngayong sabado, back to reality na ulit. Ayos ayos.

Nandito ako sa bahay ni Dawn dahil gumagawa kami ng research. Mas prefer talaga namin magkasama kami sa lahat ng bagay eh, kahit sa paghahanap ng pogi. Paunahan na lang talaga sino magkajowa?

Ang layo ng bahay nila Dawn mula sa amin, grabe, kabilang street lang. It's big but not exactly extravagant like those in the upper class, just enough for her family. There's a garden, pool, and gym, so I'm not surprised why their whole family is in such great shape.

Completion week lang next week pero kasi the next week, intrams na! Ang pinakaaantay ko sa lahat.

Susunod dito maya-maya si Jelena dahil kakauwi lang niya from Abu Dhabi kahapon kaya sa Monday siya mag-eexam ng lahat. Haha, kawawa.

Kami na lang tatlo ang hindi pa nakagagawa ng parts namin sa research, while our three other groupmates are already done. Crammerist talaga kami pero sa ganoon gumagana utak namin ih at wala na kaming magagawa doon.

"Amelieee! Dawnn!" Jelena screamed as she entered the gate. Right on cue, Raven, Dawn's second brother, stepped out of the house.

Kitang kita ko ang pagbabago ng expression ni Jelena dahil doon. Naka-topless kasi si Raven nang lumabas dito sa garden area. Napa-lip bite siya na tinawanan na lang namin ni Dawn kasi grabe naman talaga. Yummers.

"Seriously, Jelena? Do you even have taste?" Dawn teased, shaking her head.

"Bastos ka ah! Syempre, meron. You just find him ugly since he's your brother, duh," Jelena retorted, and I quickly added, "Tama. Tama."

Nag locked in na kami at 2 PM dahil bukod sa pahasan na, may gagawin pa kami next week.

Hindi mainit dito sa garden area dahil mahangin pa since kakatapos lang naman ng bagong taon. May malaki ring payong dito at something na nakakapagbigay ng hangin.

"Help, alas kwatro na agad?! Halos hindi pa nga yata ako patapos sa pinaghatian natin, Amelie, hehe..." Jelena whined, making a peace sign on me.

"Hey, girls! Mom told me to bring you snacks, so yeah, here it is." Nilapag ni Raven ang 2 plates ng chocolate-covered strawberries with 3 iced coffee kaya naman agad akong naglaway.

"Omg, my favorite!" I felt like my eyes were turning into heart emojis now.

Kumakain na ako habang nagbabangayan si Dawn at Jelena kasi si Dawn ang nagpu-proofread ng Chapter 1 and 2 namin habang tulungan naman kami ni Jelena sa Chapter 3 since may statistics na rito.

Tumunog ang gate at pagkalingon ko, boogsh... Sila Lienzo na naman, kaya nang magkasalubong ang mata namin, ngumiti siya pero inirapan ko lang siya na ikinangiti niya pa rin.

"Hello, kuya? I'm going outside na." Jelena said on the phone as her driver called her. She had to leave early because she still needed to study for the exams she missed. That left me alone to finish the remaining parts.

"Amelie, call me when you need help ha! Pero sana wag na, pretty please. Haha." She kissed me on the check while I just nodded since I am too busy eating strawberries.

After Jelena leaves the house, si Dawn ay nagpaalam muna para pumunta sa sala nila sa loob for power nap, kaya sabi ko ako rin pero sa may pool side.

I brought my laptop to continue working on the sun chairs. But, well, I fell asleep dahil ayoko na makipaglokohan sa sarili ko. Kapag nahiga na, sure na iyan.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Lienzo staring at me, whisphering something.

"What?" I snapped, nahihiya. I wasn't even look good, and there he was, staring at me like... like a boyfriend or something?!

"Is that really your hobby?" He asked, amused, which made me even more annoyed.

"Ang ano?"

"Magtaray every day, every minute." I just glared at him and left, laptop in hand. Nakalimutan ko pa nga tsinelas ko kaya bumalik pa ako. Nakakahiya, shet.

Wait, 5:30 na? Hanggang 6 lang paalam ko!

"Dawnn! Kailangan ko na umuwi. Gabi na." Aligagang pag-aayos ko ng mga gamit papasok sa bag ko.

"Beh, relax. Your house is just around the corner. Five minutes away," Dawn replied, looking at me like I'd lost it.

"Helppp, oo nga. Gagi." Pagkatapos namin magka-eye-to-eye ni Dawn, natawa kami pareho.

"But wait, iuuwi na kita. Let me just grab my dog inside so we can be sure that we are safe."

But after a few minutes of waiting, si Lienzo ang lumabas. Nakahawak pa sa batok niya ang isa niyang kamay while approaching me.

"Can I walk you home?"

"Dawn will already do that."

"She shouted kanina lang na matatagalan pa siya sa cr dahil nagi-emote raw. So how about I and her dog will accompany you tonight?"

I-Dawn Zulueta mo ako 💐 has sent you two messages.

*Picture na naka-peace sign habang parang umiire*

"Sorry, beh. Natae ako bigla and this will be a long journey pa." Talaga bang ngayon pa?!

Lienzo and I started to walk quietly hanggang pauwi kaya naman mas naririnig ko pa ang mga lamok sa paligid ko.

As we neared my house, the classic bungalow came into view, and I finally turned to face him. Our eyes met, and I had not realized just how much taller he was until that moment. I mean, I knew I was only 5'2, but standing this close? He was towering over me, looking down with this intense gaze that made my breath hitch for a second.

I almost hugged him out of habit when someone walks me home, but I caught myself just in time. Hoy, Amelie! Hindi mo yan kaibigan.

His eyes widened for a split second, so I awkwardly waved it off. "Thank you, goodbye, and ingat," I said, trying to sound casual.

Pagkatapak ko sa bahay namin, naligo muna ako bago magpatuloy ulit sa paggawa ng chapter 3, pero nakita ko na lang na tapos na ito...

"... You look so tired and there wasn't much left as your groupmate put a note alin na lang ang kulang, so I decided to finish it. Don't worry, ang kapalit nito ay cheer mo lang on my next game."

My heart skipped a beat as I read that in the end of the google docs. Yeah, acts of service ang love language ko, but I think this is too much. Still, I quickly searched for him on Facebook and sent him a friend request to be grateful once again.

Ten minutes passed, and then I saw it—request declined.

Wow ha?! Siya na nga in-add, siya pa may ganang mang-reject. Ayaw ba niyang magpasalamat ako? Hmpk.

Humiga na lang ako sa kama at nagdasal na sana bukas, magaan na para sa amin ng nanay ko.