Young Heartbeats [COMPLETED]

Prologue

"Palagi niyang sinasabi saakin noon na okay lang umiyak sa tuwing nadadapa basta't babangon kaagad. Sabi niya makakatulong 'yon para maging mas matatag at mas maingat na ako sa susunod," the girl said in a cracked voice.

"Sabi niya noon normal lang na masaktan kapag ginagamot ang sugat... na tiisin ko lang ang panandaliang hapdi kung gusto ko 'tong maghilom agad," she continued after she took a deep breath.

She closed her eyes for a second then said, "Pakiramdam ko nasa ganoong sitwasyon ako ngayon... nadapa ako pero alam kong mahihirapan akong bumangon. Hindi ako sigurado kung kailan maghihilom ang sugat o kung mawawala pa ba ang sakit. Masyado akong nasanay na nandito siya lang palagi para sa'kin."

"Paano nalang ngayon? Naiwan na naman ako," she said in between sobs.

I watched as her tears rolled down her cheeks. She sounds so pained and helpless. This is my first time to see her and I hope this will not be the last time. I don't know her whole story but I can see different characters from one person by just staring at her. It's so ironic how she looks fragile yet tough; transparent yet mysterious; and perfect yet broken, all at the same time.

She's like a math problem and I'm a student who badly needs to solve her or else I will fail my exam. And I'm willing to use all the possible solutions just to arrive to the correct answer.

She's like an interesting book. Just reading a few lines from the back of its cover makes me want to know more of its content.

This feeling is weird. Hindi ako ganito. Wala akong pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid ko. In fact, palaging sinasabi saakin ni dad na may sarili akong mundo. Well, I never had a good conversation with that old man since that day happened.

I snapped out of my reverie when the girl in front cleared her throat and uttered her end speech. "True love lasts even after we stop breathing. Kahit wala ka na, sigurado akong mananatili ang pagmamahal mo at ang mga aral na natutunan ko mula sa'yo. Makakaasa po kayo na tutuparin ko ang lahat ng pangarap natin. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo, lola."

She wiped her tears then roamed her eyes around the silent crowd before she managed to form a smile – a small, very sad and longing smile.

I don't know what got into me but I suddenly want to see her real, happy smile. Damn! Why do I even care?

When she stepped out of the podium, a middle-aged but beautiful woman hugged her as she whispered her words, probably to console her. I know this woman. She's my father's trusted secretary.

"Let's go, son. I need to attend an important meeting tonight. We've already made an appearance and I think it's enough," said the old man seated beside me. I just glanced at him then shifted my gaze back to the mysterious girl. There are no more tears on her face but her puffy eyes can tell how much she cried her heart out just a moment ago.

Aalis ako ngayon pero sisiguraduhin kong magkikita pa tayo. I will make sure of that.