Chasing the Heart's Pursuit (Heart Series #1) - COMPLETED

Chapter 36

HEART

36

60%.

Tiningnan ko ulit ang midterms exam ko.

60 out of 100.

Our test booklets we're given depending on the scores. The higher your score, the earlier you are called.

I can feel my classmates' stares as I return to my seat. I agree. It is really surprising. The one who always got the almost perfect score and highest score in the class got one of the lowest scores in a midterm examination.

Pinipigilan kong umiyak. I am wishing for a latin honors in college. Dati, parang ang dali-dali lang pero bakit ngayon parang napakahirap na itong abutin.

Nakatingin si Edson sa'kin habang paupo ako, gamit ang kanyang mga mata ay tinatanong ako kung ayos lang ba ako. He got the highest score in this subject. I am proud and I am very happy for him. But, I can't help but to feel sad with the score that I got.

Even, Carlo. He is looking at me sadly. Ever since, Edson and I reconciled, I tried my best to talk to him casually. He is actually a big help in our case analysis. Simula nang nangyari 'yon kay Papa, kinakailangan ko ring ibigay ang oras ko sa kanya. Kuya Doji and Kuya Samuel have work and they have to attend there to earn. Papa's bill is increasing. Si Kuya Samuel nga, habang nagtatrabaho ay pinapamahalaan din ang farm. Binibisita niya kung bakante siya at wala masyadong siyang ginagawa.

Me? The least that I can do, is to visit Papa and be there for him. Nandoon naman si Nana, pero ang pangit naman na napakalapit ko na pero 'di ko pa mabisita si Papa.

There are times when Papa's condition get unstable and I am usually there to processed everything. Hindi na kasi kayang makipag-usap ni Nana at nahihirapan siyang intindihin ang bilin ng doctor ni Papa.

Kaya naman, sa loob ng tatlong buwan ay madalas wala ako sa klase. Tinataon ko lang na kung RLE class ay pumapasok ako, para iwas extension kasi syempre, dagdag bayarin na naman 'yon.

Tinupi ko 'yong test booklet ko at tinago sa bag. I can't cry right now. Nakakahiya. I don't want my classmates to pity me.

"Ms. Flores, see my later at my office," Ma'am Robinos, the program head and our CI in this subject said to me.

"Okay, Ma'am."

"Well, then. You can have your break now. Good day, class."

Mabilis na lumapit sa'kin sila Edson pagkalabas ni Ma'am. He held my hands and look at me straight to my eyes.

"Are you okay, Love?"

I glared at him. "Don't call me that inside the classroom. Nakatingin na tuloy ang mga kaklase natin."

Tumango siya. "Are you alright? Do you want to cry? Do you want anything?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

Ngumiti ako ng tipid sa kanya. "I'm fine. But, I have to go to Ma'am Robinos' office first. Kakausapin daw ako."

"Okay. Do you want me to accompany you? Or I'll just wait for you at the usual spot?"

Damn it. Edson, why do have to be so –

I really love you, Edson. I hope that you'll never leave me even if I am at my worst right now.

"Is something wrong?" He held my face.

Umiling ako.

"Let's talk about you father later, 'kay?"

Habang palapit sa Faculty Office ay kinakabahan ako. Is it about my grades? Is it about my absences? I always hate disappointments. The look in Ma'am Robinos' face says it all.

"Ms. Flores, alam kong may ideya ka na kung bakit kita pinatawag. Alam mong we are rooting for you. You're one of the best students we have here if not the best. But, these past few months, your clinical instructors and me had noticed that you've been out of focus. You did not score as how you usually answered your examinations," Ma'am started.

I clasped my hands tightly together before beginning to speak. "A-a lot has been happening to us recently, Ma'am."

"I see." Tumango si Ma'am. "I have heard about your father's condition. But, you have to remember Ms. Flores, this is your last year here. This should be the time that you'll give your maximum. Nagtitiwala ako sa'yo. Matagal na akong nagtuturo at alam ko ang mga may potensiyal na mga estudiyante. Isa ka roon." Ma'am gave me a warm smile.

Somehow, it lightened my mood a little.

"I know you are aiming for latin honors. I look up at your records. You still have your chance. Your past quizzes have been exemplary, only this midterm that you've fell short. By doing well in your finals, you can still have that latin honors."

Natahimik ako. Tila ba 'yon na ang sagot ko sa lahat. Pasasalamat at kasiyahan.

"Can you promise me that, Ms. Flores?"

"I promise, Ma'am. I promise."

For the first time in the past three months, I've genuinely smiled.

Pagdating ko sa tagpuan naming, nandoon na silang lahat. Kahit si Yusseff na madalas, wala ay nandun. Sila Rax at Chade, kahit gustong gusto magsalita ay pinipilit na tinitikom ang bibigay.

Seems like Edson warned them, huh?

"Don't touch Mory's waffles, Chade. You have yours already," paasik na sabi ni Edson kay Chade nang sinubukan nitong galawin ang mga waffles sa mesa.

"Isa lang naman. Mukhang masarap 'yong chocolate flavor eh. Lima naman 'yan. Ni hindi nga alam ni Mory na lima ang waffles niya dito, eh!"

"Baby, can't you do this for Mory. She's really down," Rax said.

"Sige na nga. Ba't parang ang sama-sama ko na. Waffles lang yan, eh."

Hindi na nila ako napansin, tanging si Yusseff lang ang nakakita sa'kin kahit na kanina pa ito parang may sinasagutan sa libro.

Kinabahan ako. Meron na naman bang worksheet na kailangan sagutan? May nakalimutan na naman baa ko?

"Hey, Mory," Yusseff greeted me.

Ngumiti ako. "What's that? Meron bang assignment? Kailan ipapasa?"

"Ah, wala yan, Mory. Kay Thaliah 'yan, ginagawan niya ng reviewer si Thaliah. Grabe talaga, dude!"

Yusseff looked at Chade coldly. That stare that says, 'If you won't shut your mouth, you'll be damned'.

Chade raised his hands up in the air.

"Okay na. Sige na. Nakakainis. Lahat lahat na lang."

"Love..."

Edson called me as he was tapping the seat beside him. He is also opening up the package of the waffle.

"Thought this might cheer you up."

"Thank you. Saan mo 'to nabili? Wala naman ganito dito, ah."

Chade interrupted again. "Pinabili niya sa isang bodyguard nila Mory. Lakas mo talaga, eh."

Kinurot ni Rax si Chade sa tagiliran. "Hindi ka talaga tatahimik. You want your punishment? Gusto mo?"

"Sorry, Baby."

The whole break, I told them about Papa's condition. They planned to visit Papa during weekend. I told them what we're looking for. Everything that has been making my heart heavy, I shared it all to them.

They just listened to me.

For me, I think that's enough.

The succedding months, I did my best. Kahit konti na lang ang tulog, sinubukan kong ibalanse lahat-lahat. Huling taon na lang naman din. Kaya ko 'to. Kung saka-sakali ito na ang pinakamagandang regalo kay Papa.

"Audrey, we found a heart donor for Papa. Papa can finally undergo a heart transplant operation."

I can almost see Kuya Doji's smile even though I can't see him.

It's really a thing worth smiling for.

At last, I can finally see Papa's eyes again.