Darted Hearts

38

Nanunuod ako ng Fairy Tail sa sala habang hinihintay sila. Up until now, binibigyan ko pa rin ng oras ang anime kahit gaano kaliit man lang. It completes me.

Naglapag si Nina ng leche flan sa harap habang nakatitig lang ako sa screen.

“You might wanna eat something while watching it.” Ngisi niya.

Ina na rin ang turi ko sa kanya. She’s always there for me to lend me a helping hand. Buti pa siya one call away lang, samantalang... fuck it nevermind.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya, “Thank you Nina. You made these?” Tanong ko.

“Yes, honey. Just try it out, I’m not quite sure if I did it right.” May pag-aalalang wika niya.

Kinuha ko kaagad ang kutsara sa harap at tinikman iyon.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang ninanamnam ang pagkain. It tastes so good! Pwede ng ibenta!

“My, Nina, it’s heaven! You can even sell these! You’ll earn hundreds of bucks for sure!” Anikong nagpangiti sa kanya.

Kumuha ako ng isa pang plato at nilagyan iyon para sa kanya.
“Come on, have some.” Anyaya ko na agad din naman niyang pinaunlakan.

Nagkukwentuhan kaming dalawa sa sala habang hinihintay sina Haste. She never fails to feed me foods for the thought.

“Demi told me that he’ll be flying back to Philippines. You wanna go with him? It’s been years since you’ve visited your grandma and cousins, Riya.” Sunod-sunod na wika niya.

Napahinto ako sa pagkain. Pinoproseso ang sinabi niya.

“I-I can’t.” I spoked and stared at the floor.

I can’t meet her gaze, alam kong mababasa niya ang iniisip at nararamdaman ko.

“You can, you just don’t want to.” Wika niyang sumapol sa ulo ko.

Yeah. Kaya ko but it’s still me who’s depriving myself to do it.

“I’m afraid, Nina.” Pag-amin ko.

Nakita kong nilapag niya ang kanyang pinggan at hinarap ako. Hinawakan niya anv magkabilang braso ko at pinirmi iyon.

“Fuckin’ drop the what ifs and start being brave. Afraid on what you might find out when you got there? Afraid on what might welcome you when deep inside yourself you’re expecting to see Frau? Afraid on what kind of news might fucked up the already fucked up situation? Why not try?” I was shocked on the way she spoked, parang hindi siya ang Nina na palaging kasama ko.

Magsasalita na sana ako nang inunahan niya ako.

“You will never know unless you try, Riya. Some chances do not knock, some of them are chased. So go grab some ticket and fly with Demi, if the result is not good, that will never define you as a loser but a woman with a brave heart, you may not find Frau in there but it could lead you to have a clearer vision of those answers that you have looking for.” Mahabang wika niya.

She never even let me insert a phrase! nor a word!

Unti-unti ko pang pinoproseso ang lahat ng mga sinabi niya. Should I really give it a try? Ito naman ako di’ba? You asked for an adventurous life, Riya and now you were given one. Not to mention na mas thrilling ito.

Napabuntong- hininga ako bago nagsalita, “Okay, I’m going back to Philippines.”

Humalakhak si Nina at yinakap ako. Ang saya niya yata ah?

“That’s it, honey. Be his Scarlet, let your fire rule over you.” It pulled a strand of my heartstrings.

“Where did you learn that Scarlet-thingy, Nina?” I asked curiously.

Because I am so sure na hindi ko iyon nabanggit sa kanya. Could it be Mamay?

“It was Demi, he used to tell me stories about you and Frau. Specially the initiated kiss yo-”

“Okay, okay. Enough. I heard enough.” Halakhak ko. Damn! Iyon pa talaga ang ibinalik? That was just so embarrassing!

Patuloy lang kami sa panunuod nang marinig ko ang busina ng mga sasakyan sa labas.

Halos tinakbo ko na mula sala hanggang grahe namin dahil sa sabik na makita si Audrey.

Unang lumabas sina Demi at Vast na nag-aasaran. Dala ni Vast ang ilang pinamili nila.

Bumukas ang pintuan ng sasakyan ni Haste at lumabas siyang nakabusangot ang mukha. Cute.

Dali-dali siyang umikot upang buksan ang isang pintuan ng kanyang sasakyan at doon iniluwa si Audrey.

Wearing a floral tube top and a black hip hugger shorts paired with her grayish heeled boots, and a pony tailed hair,dare I say it, she’s perfect.

Tatawagin ko na sana siya nang marinig ko ang inis na usal niya kay Haste saying, “I can do it by myself, I don’t need your help, old man.”

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi humagalpak sa epekto ng sinabi niya kay Haste. Strike one?

“I do favors for little girls, Adrienne.” Pang-aasar ni Haste, showing his smile full of mockery. Okay, one for Audrey, one for Haste.

Matalim siyang tiningnan ni Audrey, “I told you it’s Audrey! Stop calling me by that name!”

“Blame your parents for baptizing you with that name, don’t blame me.” Striktong sagot ni Haste na papalapit sa akin.

He smiled, showing me his perfect set of teeth. Huminto siya sa harap ko and greeted me with a forehead kiss. Always the charming one.

“She’s so noisy.” Maktol niya.

Tumawa lang ako. Hindi talaga nagkakaintindihan ang dalawang ito, but I tell you, may chemistry! Tulungan mo akong magship sa dalawa!

“I’m sorry about earlier, I was just... I-I wa--”

“Shh, it’s okay. You know we’ll always understand. I’ll be inside, I’ll help Nina prepare the food.” Paalam niya.

Nang pumasok na si Haste ay tsaka ko binalingan si Audrey na wala na pala sa paligid.

“Audrey!” Tawag ko sa kanya.

Walang sumagot so I tried looking for her.

Tatawagin ko na sana ulit ang pangalan niya nang nakita ko siya sa bukana ng Maze Garden.

“Damn it! The nerve of that guy! I hate you! You one of an arrogant, egoistic, handsome bastard! Ugh!” Inis na sigaw niya habang sinisipa ang ilang mga dahon sa garden.

So she’s really that affected on him, huh? Mmm...