Speaking Heartbeats

Heartbeat 2

Heartbeat 2

"Ayiee.."

Hindi ko malaman kung paano tatakpan ang aking mukha dahil sa malakas na hiyawan ng aking mga kasama. I became the center of their teases when they saw what happened earlier.

Hindi nila pinalagpas maging ang mga maiikling komento ni Andrei sa kasagsagan ng aming debate.

"Anong sabi ng partner mo, Alexis? He called you his miss, right?"

Napanguso ako, at mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan sa loob ng jeep.

"Uy.. Huwag nga kayong ano.."

I tried making sense to them, but I felt cornered because even the teachers joined.

"You have great chemistry with that sir from Linavio NHS," my adviser told me, and I felt a rush of blood along my cheeks.

"Uy namumula si Ate.."

I covered my cheeks with my hands, but the audience already saw my reddened face.

"Alam mo, Ate Alexis, lagi ka pa niyang pinagmamasdan habang busy kang nag-o-organize ng ideas mo. We saw him glancing at your direction so many times," another added and their teases intensified.

I made an effort to show them that Andrei does not affect me by calming myself and keeping my face straight, but deep inside of me, I felt my erratically beating heart smile in awe at what I had heard. Really, that happened?

"Tsss.. Kita niyo ngang matindi siya makasabon sa akin ng tanong. May hinanakit ata sa akin."

Nagpasalamat na lamang ako na hindi ko kasama ang apat na bruha ngayon dahil paniguradong sasabog ang loob ng jeep sa kanilang panunukso. Hayok pa naman ang mga 'yon.

"Baka nagpapapansin lang, Ate.." giit nila at hindi nagpatalo.

I shook my head, still trying to repudiate their hilarious conclusions.

Since the first and second placers are qualified for the Division level, we met for the fourth time. Compared to the District level, the debate is much harder this time as all speakers are given the privilege to ask questions during interpolation. There are no assigned interpolators for each participant.

Tahimik kong pinanuod si Andrei nang siya na ang sumalang. Our eyes met for a moment, but when the speaker beside me whispered, I lost focus on him.

"He's struggling with his topic.." rinig kong komento ng aking katabi kaya't napanguso ako.

"What should he do then?"

Napailing ang aking katabing lalaki nang may marinig na tila hindi kaaya-aya mula kay Andrei. "He should steer away from mentioning ideas that he's not certain of."

I did well in the first round. That is why I was eligible to enter the second round.

I took a glimpse at Andrei, silently seated beside his coach. Sadly, he did not reach the second round. He seemed off and out of focus with his performance that I could not believe he flunked.

We had our lunch break first before proceeding to the second round of the competition. Ten minutes before the contest proper, I excused myself and went to the comfort room.

Ilang minuto akong nakipagtitigan sa aking sariling repleksiyon sa salamin hanggang sa mapawi ang kaba. Pagkalabas ko ay nabigla ako nang makita si Andrei sa harapan ng CR ng boys.

Mariin niyang kinagat ang kaniyang labi nang maghinang ang aming mga mata. Unti-unting sumilay ang kaniyang nakakasilaw na ngiti kaya't natigilan ako. Tumikhim ako at iniwas ang tingin nang makahuma. When he cleared his throat, I bit my lower lip and returned my eyes to him.