The Beating of a Metal Heart [On Hold]

Chapter Six: Why? Deja vu.

Mathilde's Point of View

When lunch time came, Lothaire joined us, after Hilda invited him to. Strange. Although both of them did say that they became quite close during my absence.

Knowing Hilda, I could conclude that something's in the works.

What even makes it stranger is that seeing Lothaire, it reminds me of something... I feel something that I only felt when I was a child.

What it is?

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Warmth. I felt warm, in his presence. Not happy, because, logically I have no reason to be, but quite uplifted. 

"Oi Mathilde!" Hilda shrieked into my ear. It instantly shattered my reverie. We were in the canteen, just about to choose our food. As to why, I had agreed, DEIGNED, to actually include Lothaire.....

well..

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"Bakit?"

"Kanina ka pa kaya di gumagalaw diyan."

I wondered why it had to matter.

"Walang batas sa konstitusyon ng Pilipinas ang nagbabawal sa akin na wag gumalaw."  I muttered that with a conviction, and I was shocked when I heard a CHUCKLE from someone.

Lothaire. Ugh. "Charming." and he went on laughing.

"I meant what I said." I shot back.

"You don't have to be that fiery anyway.. I can see right through you." he said.

"Jerk." I hissed. That's it. I thought, I'm totally going out of here. 

"Teka ngaaaa." Hilda intervened. "Pumili na tayo ng pagkain dun." Oh fine Hilda. 

Why fight it? Ok then, I'll go with them. Wala naman sigurong mawawala.

Lothaire's Point of View

Hat's off to Hilda. I did sense that at some point, talagang aalis na si Mathilde. Kung di lang kay Hilda. Galeng. Lakas ng hatak neto eh.

We went to the food booth and fell in line, Hilda in the lead, followed by Mathilde, and then yours truly. When the time came to pick utensils however......

"Ooops!"

My hand accidentally landed on top of Mathilde's.

Di ko talaga sinasadya, promise! May narinig kasi akong kalampag sa may likuran ko kaya di ko nakita kung ano yung madadampot ko!

The accidental touch on her hand.... eh well, nasampal tuloy ako.

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*****PAK*****

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Yung narinig ko palang ingay, it was the sound of trays falling to the floor; the cleanup guy dropped them. He immediately clapped a hand to his mouth when he heard the slap. "ooops." I heard him say.

Eh well, nakakahiya na nakakainis at nakakabwisit. Kailangang bumawi. Iba tuloy ang impression, baka akala ngayon ni Mathilde na manyak ako. Which I am DEFINITELY not....

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Pero ang lambot ng kamay nya, infairness, ang sarap hawakan.

I looked at Mathilde again. She had that look on her face... one of extreme displeasure...

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Parang nakita ko na 'yun. Bakit ba kasi?!

Mathilde's Point of View

I knew full well that he didn't mean to land a hand a hand on top of mine. But the slap came about automatically. Wala na kong magagawa. Kung mag-sosorry pa ako sa kanya.. baka mapwersa pa akong maging close sa kanya...

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Which is something that I didn't really want to happen, and yet I knew was somehow inevitable.

I didn't like that feeling. I was flustered, without knowing why. Screw it. Screw him. Normally I would have dismissed it, and then just forget, pretend that nothing happened. But then, it was different. I wanted to confront him... but..

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But...

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Why? Why? Bakit ba kasi? 

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After the slap, I noticed that he was looking at me, in curiosity and amazement. I could have sworn I saw that glance before.