Speaking Heartbeats

Heartbeat 12

Heartbeat 12

"Bakit niyo isinama ang lalaking 'yon?" matalas na tanong ko kay Lena.

She shrugged while making herself float in the waters. "Para magkausap na kayo, Alexis."

I rolled my eyes and sarcastically smiled. "Ayoko."

Napabuntong-hininga si Hannah sa aking tabi. "You should talk to him, Alexis. Hindi na kayo mga bata para iwasan ang isa't isa. Walang mangyayari kung hindi ninyo haharapin ang mga issues ninyo."

"Talking will solve the problem," dagdag pa ni Nely.

"Or not," I disagreed.

Pumailalim ako sa tubig-dagat kaya't nakulong ang mga daing ng kaibigan. They are not pleased with my resistance. Pag-ahon sa ibabaw ay sinalubong ako ng kanilang pag-iling.

Nang maramdaman ang masakit na sinag ng araw, we stopped swimming and chose to stay at the sun loungers. Pagpatak ng twelve, the boys called us for lunch. It was supposed to be a sumptuous meal, but it seems that the audience is more focused on the awkward tension between Andrei and me.

The burning stares of the people around us are evident every time the two of us are enclosed in a tight space. I did my best to ignore Andrei. Umiiwas ako... but I can feel him following me in my every move.

To get away from their suffocating stares, lumapit ako sa water jug at kumuha ng maiinom na tubig. It's so hot, and their gazes are making it more uncomfortable for me. Inis kong tinumba ang water jug nang walang lumabas na tubig.

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang may maglahad ng bottled mineral water sa aking harapan. Our eyes met, and my heart harshly pounded.

"Here, take this.." Andrei offered.

I wanted to decline, but my throat really felt dry. With a forced small smile, I accepted the offer. "Thanks," mahinang kibot ng aking labi.

Sumipol si Michael kaya't napairap ako. I opened the bottle and relieved my thirst.

"Uy nag-indirect kiss sila.."

Napasigok ako dahil sa malakas na pang-aasar ni Michael. Andrei came to my rescue. Tinapik niya ako sa likuran hanggang sa mahimasmasan ako. Saglit akong napaatras nang mapansin ang malapit na distansiya namin ng binata.

"Ininuman mo na 'to?" hinihingal kong tanong kay Andrei.

Napaiwas siya ng tingin kaya't alam kong guilty siya. I bit my lower lip and gave the water bottle back to him.

I walked out when I couldn't take their teases anymore. Sumilong ako sa puno ng niyog at naupo sa buhanginan. I sighed and stared at the sea, wanting the calmness of the waves to reach my chaotic thoughts.

The tiny bubble of silence was disturbed when a figure took the space beside me.

"What is it?" I calmly spoke.

Lena did not answer immediately. Tila nag-aalangan pa ito ngunit sa huli ay itinuloy niya ang nais iparating sa akin.

"Alam naming may problema kayo ni Andrei. All we wanted is to help you, Alexis. Lagi ka na lang malungkot at problemado lately kaya sana ay kausapin mo siya."

I never told anyone about my problems that even the girls doesn't really know what happened. Sinarili ko ang lahat kaya naman napakabigat ng aking dibdib.

"Humingi ba ng tulong si Andrei sa inyo para kumbinsihin akong kausapin siya?"

Tumango si Lena. "But we also want to make things better for you.. Alam namin na kapag kinausap mo si Andrei, maaayos ninyo ang problema."