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The Bombshell

Until now, hindi ko parin maintindihan yung heartbeat ko. Well, that’s not normal, especially in my case, but some point bumibilis lang naman siya kapag nakikita ko si Earn.

I didn’t get kung bakit hindi ako makatulog ng maayos kagabi.  Paulit ulit nag rereplay sa utak ko yung kahapon sa Rancho.

“Tine, okay ka lang ba?” Yanni asked with concern.

“Oo naman po” I said, faking it, haha.

“Sigurado ka? Ayaw mo ba kumain?  Kanina mo pa tinutusok yang tinapay eh” Yanni said.

I immediately looked at the bread and realized that it looked tortured.

“Tine, anong problema? Pwede mong sabihin sa akin” Yanni said.

Hmmm, sasabihin ko ba or wag muna? Baka kasi nag-ooverthink lang ako.

“Yanni, feeling ko may iba pang symptoms yung sakit ko” I said, I already knew what I was feeling but I didn’t want to admit it.

“Halaa, bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?  Ano saan yung masakit? Tatawagan ko na ba si Dr. John? Ano, Tine, magsalita ka” Yanni said frantically.

“Huwag muna, Yanni. Kasi may mga time na ambilis ng heartbeat ko” I said.

“Iniinom mo ba sa tamang oras yung mga gamot mo? Kailan pa nangyayari ito? Bakit hindi mo sinasabi” Yanni asked.

“Yanni, kasi, uhmm, kasi” I didn’t know what to say.

“Tine, ano yun?” Yanni asked.

“Kasi, ganito yan, Yanni. Hindi naman palagi ganitong nararamdaman ko na bumibilis yung heartbeat ko. Nangyayari lang yun kapag malapit or nakikita ko si Earn” I said.

Yanni was speechless for a moment and thought for a while. Jusko, I was so nervous.

“Tine, nagbabasa ka ng mga libro diba? At nanonood ka rin ng mga pelikula?” Yanni asked.

“Yes po, Yanni. Ano pong connect non?” I was even more confused.

“Sa tingin ko, gusto mo yung batang iyon” Yanni said.

Whaaaaattt? Gustooo? Crushh?

“I don’t know, Yanni. Baka kasi, syempre, first time ko magkaroon ng kaibigang lalaki. Baka natutuwa lang ako” I said, hoping that’s all it was.

“Sige, sabi mo eh. Basta Tine, alam mo limitasyon mo” Yanni said.

After that, I ate properly. This day, Earn invited me to visit their house. At first, okay lang. Normal lang naman siguro yun, diba? Tsaka, kasama naman iba pa naming friends.  But last night, the bruhas had plans.  I already said yes to Earn, so no turning back now.

“Tine, pupunta dito mamaya si Earn diba? Susunduin ka” Jusko, why do I feel like there’s something in her tone?

“Uhmm, yes po. Iniinvite niya po kasi kami sa house nila” I said, using the word "kami" because he really invited us, but I’m the only one who can go.

“Sige, magiingat ka ha? And enjoy” Yanni said.

“Yannniiiii, we're friends” I defended.

“Wala naman akong sinasabi, HAHAHA. Pero sige, sabi mo eh, friends" she said.

Honestly, I was nervous because it was my first time. And for heaven’s sake, it’s just the two of us. What if it gets awkward?

One minute and twenty minutes before Earn arrived, while I was waiting, someone called me.  It was an unknown number.

“Uhmm, Hello?” I said.

“Hi, Hella. It’s me, Earn” he said.

Ayy, jusko. How did he get my number? Then suddenly, Alizah came to mind.