Exchanged Hearts (Complete)

Chapter 3

"Ang ganda pala dito, Xy." France said with amusement.

We're at the beach. Dito ko plinlano mag date ni France and this place is where I'll do my plan too para mapaalis siya sa buhay ko. Nagdala kami ng basket na may pagkain at kumot, a picnic date would do great for my perfect plan.

France grabbed my wrist and ran towards the sea. She bent down and pick up the shell. Napailing nalang ako, ang childish talaga niya.

"Xy, it's so beautiful here. Ito ba ang favorite place na sinasabi ni Tita Lara." She asked and I nod.

She gaze at the horizon again and raise her two arms as she inhaled deeply. "Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit naging paborito mo 'tong lugar. The sand is so white and the ocean is so clear. Dagdag mo pa ang sariwang hangin dito."

"Yeah." Tipid kong sabi at nilapag ang kumot sa buhangin.

She immediately walked to help but I just gave here a boring look. "Huwag ka nang tumulong." Sabi ko. Pero nagpumilit siya.

"Ako na, Xy. Baka mapagod ka, eh." I grab the sheet and throw it to her face. She's making me mad!

"Suit yourself." I coldly said at lumakad palayo.

I don't want to ruin my plan but she's making me furious! Kahit kaunting galaw niya lang ay naiinis na ako, her face, her presence, all of them! Nakakainis!

"Xyrone, wait!" Sigaw ni France.

I continued walking and just completely ignore her. "Xyrone, sandali lang!"

"Don't follow me!" I shouted back.

"Diba date natin 'to diba?" Huminto ako sa paglalakad. I can hear her footsteps behind  at nang maramdaman ko na nasa likod ko na siya, I faced her.

"Yeah, it's a date. Just freaking date. Kung sa tingin mo na may meaning sa'kin ito, no. Wala. If I were to chose hindi kita ide-date dito, France." I said.

Alam kong naiiyak na siya dahil nangingilid na ang luha niya. "P-pero, gusto ni Tita na mag-date tayo sa birthday mo."

I scoffed. "Yun na nga, eh. Birthday ko! Pero nandyan ka sa tabi ko sinisira ang araw ko! I don't want to be with you on my birthday!"

She sniffed at tumulo ang luha niya. I don't care kung nasasaktan man siya ngayon. "But I want to be with you, Xy. Mahal kita, gusto kitang makasama buong araw. I love you so very much to the point nagmumukhang tanga na ako!"

"Then, leave me alone. Tanga ka naman talaga, eh! Hindi kita mahal, ayoko sa'yo! Why are you forcing yourself to me?! Can't you see, I'm not happy!"

Hindi siya sumagot dahil umiiyak na siya. She cried infront of me and I felt something inside na gusto ko siyang patahanin, I want to say sorry for what I said but I shook my head. Hindi ko dapat ito maramdaman. Just stick with the plan, Xyrone!

"B-bakit? Why do you hate me that much?" She asked and I laughed at her.

"Alam mo kung bakit?" Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinila ang braso. "Dahil nakakahiya ka. I don't want to be with a person who is the daughter of a prostitute!"

Then in a swift move, I felt her right hand on my cheek. I smirked. I'm just starting my plan.

She gritted her teeth. "Don't you ever say that to my, mom! Wala kang alam, Xy. Wala kang alam sa pinagdaanan ko!" She cried.

Yes, her mom is a prostitute. Yon ang sabi-sabi ng mga students sa school namin and I used that to make her stay away from me.

"Walang alam? Oh come on, France, alam natin pareho kung anong klaseng pagkatao mo! Kaya siguro ka lapit ng lapit sa'kin dahil gusto mo ng pera ko, no?" I said angrily.

She shook her head. "No! That's not true! Mahal kita Xyrone at hindi pera ang habol ko sa'yo!"

"Hindi nga ba? You manipulated my mother! You made her think that you and I might be together. Alam natin—no, alam ko na hinding hindi mangyayari 'yon! Dahil simula palang hindi kita gusto!" Sigaw ko and I felt like my breathing stopped dahil sa lakas na sigaw ko.

Umiling siya at pumikit ng mariin. "H-hindi 'yan totoo, Xyrone!" She gasped. "Hinding hindi ko iyon magagawa sa'yo. Oo, anak ako ng isang pokpok, bayarang babae—O ano pa ang tawag diyan, pero mahal kita, Xy! At hindi pera ang habol ko sa'yo!" I can see the pain and sadness in her eyes.

She suddenly step forward at pinalo-palo ako sa dibdib. "Bakit ka ba ganito, Xyrone. Kahit ang sakit-sakit na ng ginawa mo ay mahal parin kita at mamahalin pa rin kita!" Her sobs are more louder at hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa. Something stung on me chest that I'm actually seeing her crying in front of me.

Diba ito naman ang gusto mo? Ang mawala siya. Don't let that conscience eat you up and do what you must do!

I narrowed my eyes at tinulak siya ng malakas. She even fell on the ground with a loud thud. "Hindi ka na ba nahihirapan, France? If you're hurting, then stop! Stop what you are doing right now! I don't love you, hindi kita mahal! Ano ba ang hindi mo maintindihan diyan sa salitang 'yan!" I shouted.

Bumangon siya at agad ako niyakap ng mahigpit. "No, I can't do that!" Sinubukan kong kumawala sa yakap niya but her grip is too tight. "I can't, Xyrone. Mahal kita, please don't let me do this. Nagmamakaawa ako." She said.

I sigh deeply at tinulak ulit siya. "You're so stubborn, France! Umalis ka nga sa buhay ko, I don't need you! Ayaw kita makasama, ayaw kitang makita at ayaw kitang mahalin! Please, just step out in my life and don't ever come back!" Pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon ay biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko. I groan.

I grip my shirt on my chest and closed my eyes tightly. Damn! I can't breath! "Xy, Xyrone, are you okay?" France asked but I ignore her and grasped for air. Hindi ako makahinga.

Napaluhod ako sa buhangin habang nakahawak sa dibdib. Narinig ko na sumisigaw si France ng tulong and I was taken over by darkness.