Battle Of Hearts (COMPLETED)

HEART 18

Chatty's PoV

Ngayon na sila pipili ng top five. Natawag na ang representative ng Educ Department, MasCom Department at pati na rin ang representative ng Accountancy. Dalawa nalang.

"From Architecture Department! Number twelve!" si Gerika. May pag-asa pa kaya ako?

Isa nalang Lord, please... say my name... say my name...

"We are up to the last contestant for the top five! You may come forwad..." shet Lord please naman... I don't want to disappoint my friends and blockmates.

"...come forward number nine! From Business Administration Department!" kusa akong napahawak sa aking dibdib nang tawagin ako. Rinig ang palakpakan ng madla. Pero sa iisang tao lang ako tumingin.

He mouthed 'congrats', then I smiled.

Oras na para sa Q and A. Pinapasok muna kaming lima. Gerika was the first one na tinawag. Lahat kami ay may suot na headphones na may tugtog.

I was praying hard. Una ko pa lang 'to pero gusto kong huwag madisappoint ang Department ko. Lalo na si Mommy. She was the one na nag-asikaso ng mga susuotin ko. And she even trained me how to walk.

Kinalabit ako ng isang staff at tinanggal ang headphone na suot ko.

"Ikaw na," he said.

Agad naman akong lumabas at nakita ang mga nakangiting judges.

"Now, Miss Romualdez, do you have an unforgettable event in your life?" itinutok niya sa akin ang mic.

"Yes," I smiled.

"The question is... what event in your life do you regret the most? What lesson did you got from it? And what will you advice the audience about it?"

"Well, I only regret being selfless. I always put others first than myself. I love someone so much that I forgot about myself. I forgot that I can also be fragile. So at the end, I end up hurting myself. Losing myself. And by that I learned that you should consult yourself sometimes. Kasi akala mo ayos ka lang, pero sirang-sira ka na pala. Ganyan kasi 'pag sanay kana. Ayos nalang sayo but eventually you will feel that you are broken. That you are incomplete and you have to find that missing piece of yours for you to be fixed and renewed to start over. Thank you," nagpalakpakan sila.

"What a wonderful answer number nine. Thank you," ani ng host.

Nagkaroon ng celebration sa bahay. Naghanda sila Mommy ng isang bohemian dinner sa garden. There's low set table on the grass with patterned cushions for us to seat.

I got the first runner up. Well, that's good for a first timer, right? Gerika got the title.

After party na ngayon, nasa garden lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko kasama si kuya Van, Ate Nikki at Kuya Kiannu. Habang sila Mommy at Daddy ay umakyat na sa kwarto nila.

"I'm so proud of you, princess," umakbay si kuya sa akin habang kumukuha ng inumin.

"Thanks kuya," I said.

"Sayang at natangkaran kalang ng kaunti no'ng nanalo. Kaya siguro 'yun nanalo," pinalo ko si kuya sa dibdib.

"You're so rude!" I shouted then he chuckled.

"Rude ba? Rude pala 'yon," oh damn this monkey.

"By the way, anong ginawa mo sa States? Ang bilis mo naman," puna ko.

"Bakit ayaw mo ba akong umuwi rito?" natatawa niyang tanong.

"Pinapalayas ka na ni Chatty, kuya!" gatong ni Gaisler.