Flames of Hearts

04

Big Deal

It was a thursday morning in school. I am sitting at the gazebo wearing my Archi uniform with Danny, doing our remaining plates. The finals is near, kaya malapit na rin ang bakasyon.

"May banner ka na ba?" Danny sunddenly asked me.

My brows furrowed. "What?"

"Banner, girl. Sa sobrang sabog mo ba 'di mo na alam ang banner?" She laughed.

"Boba! What I mean is, bakit kailangan ng banner?" I spat.

"Don't tell me nakalimutan mo, Yna?" She looked at me with accusing eyes.

"What the? Ano ba kasi 'yon?!" I stared at her, being annoyed.

"Bobita! Bukas na 'yung finals sa basketball nila Alen! Nakalimutan mo na?" She looked dissapointed while pointing her index finger at me.

My eyes widened. "Oh, shit!"

"Hala ka. Napaka-unsupportive mo naman. No'ng una, wala ka sa game nila. Ngayon nakalimutan mo naman?!" She fired at me.

Napasapo ako sa noo. Tama siya. I forgot about it. Sa dami ng ginagawa namin, hindi ko na naaalala na bukas na ang game. I'm feeling so guilty now.

At lagi, katulad ng dati, sobrang dami kong iniisip kahit hindi naman dapat. Idagdag pa 'yong nangyari sa akin last week. Ikinuwento ko 'yon kay Danny at tulad ng ini-expect ko, nagulat siya.

"What? Saved you? Bakit?! Ano bang nangyari sayo?!" She was sitting at the cafe when I started telling her about it.

"Don't scream! I'm fine, you know? Buhay na buhay ako, see?" Turo ko sa sarili, explaining that I'm really okay.

Nang tumahimik siya, 'tsaka ko lang sinabi 'yung nangyari kahapon. Pero imbis na kumalma, lalong siyang nag-panic.

"Oh my god! Wala bang masakit sa 'yo?! Sino--sino ba 'yong mga 'yon?! I'll sue them!" Napasapo na lang ako sa noo ko dahil hindi na siya mapakali. Wrong idea pa yatang sinabi ko sa kaniya.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Dan, hey, I told you I'm fine. Good thing Arel...Arel came. Walang masamang nangyari sa 'kin," I looked away, remembering Arel's bloodshot eyes.

"Are you sure? Are you really okay?" She really looked worried.

I rolled my eyes. "Ang kulit mo! Load ka ba, ha? Ang unli mo, e."

"Okay ka na nga. Ang corny mo na ulit, e," she laughed. "But you have just said that Arel...saved you. You're so lucky, Yna! Buti nakita ka niya!"

I nodded and sighed. "I know. And I'm thankful he came."

Even now, it's still clear for me how I felt so relieved and safe when Arel came. Hindi ko alam kung bakit gano'n ang pakiramdam ko, but I think it's just fine. Maybe it's just the thought that someone saved me so i felt relieved.

"Just help me do the banner, Danny," I said after a long pause.

"Ha! Basta free food oks na 'ko lodicakes," she offered a deal.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Just help me with it."

"Yes, babe. I gotchu. I know you are so good doing plates but you suck balls doing those," she teased. Not about the banner anymore. About na 'yun sa paglandi. Gaga talaga.

"Bitch." I glare at her.

She then laughed at me. We continued doing our plates. Wala na kaming panahon pang dapat sayangin kaya kahit break time namin, or bakante kami ng ilang oras, ginagawa na naming dalawa ang mga need na ipasang plates. We're really committed to our plates. Kahit humaharot, we know our priorities.