Beats of Eros (One Shot Story)

The moment my heart played its own beats for you... harmony and melody came into my life.

I started strumming my guitar and played with the other sounds of different musical instruments inside the music room. It was nine in the morning and I was so focused on playing my chosen instrument, when Matilda, my annoying classmate, bugged me again. 

"Eros! Sino ba'ng crush mo?" she hissed.

I frowned as I answered her, "Wala!"

"Tss! Baka naman nahihiya ka lang aminin sa akin na ako 'yon? C'mon! We're already in grade seven, I am allowed to have a boyfriend," she whispered near my ear.

"Tumigil ka nga! Ang panget panget mo, bakit ako magkakagusto sa'yo?" 

"Hmp!" Inirapan niya ako at tumalikod na sa akin. 

Mabuti naman. Grade one pa lang ay magkaklase na kami ni Matilda, at grade one pa lang kami ay pinipilit na niyang may crush ako sa kaniya. 

"Ang ingay niyo naman, Eros. Ayaw niyong mag concentrate sa klase." Ashley plucked the strings of his guitar.

"Tell that to Matilda. Siya itong nangungulit sa akin," I said and plucked the string of the guitar I'm playing.

I was too focused on listening to the music that's filling the room when someone entered inside the door. 

"Class, sorry for the interruption. But I'd like to introduce to you your new classmate, Aphrodite. She's from Manila but they decided to stay here in her father's province. Be nice to her, okay?" My teacher said and slightly pushed the girl in front. 

"Go on." My teacher mouthed.

The girl awkwardly smiled and faked a cough before she finally decided to speak.

"Hi." She waved her hand slightly. "I'm Aphrodite Maningas," she said. 

"Ganda ng name mo! Kapangalan mo 'yong favorite kong Greek Goddess of love," ani isa kong kaklase. 

"Uy, hindi ba si Eros, Greek God of love? Ayie!" tukso no’ng isa ko pa’ng kaklase. 

"Ayie! May partner na rito sa room natin!" sabay-sabay nilang tukso sa amin. 

Some even nudged me, pinched me, and slightly punched me. I glanced at Aphrodite and saw that her cheeks flushed. She looked at me but when our eyes met, she immediately looked away.

And at that very moment, I heard my heart playing its own beat that I'm not familiar with, along with the other music inside the music room. 

"Hello, my name is Eros Corcolon," I said and extended my hand for a hand shake. 

Aphrodite shyly took it and smiled, "I'm Aphrodite." Then, she let go of our hand shake. She proceeded to eat her sandwich.

We're inside the cafeteria, eating our food for recess. I was actually with my friends, but then my sight suddenly flew to her and I noticed that she's alone, that's why I decided to approach her. 

I think that she knows we're classmates, right? She saw me yesterday in the music room. Even though this is our first interaction, she must know that we're in the same class.

"Gusto mo?" Alok ko sa kaniya ng kinakain ko'ng V-Cut. 

"No, thanks. Hmm... Ikaw? Gusto mo?" Siya naman ang nag-alok sa akin ng kinakain niya.

Ngumiwi ako bago sumagot. "Ayaw ko, puro gulay yata 'yan, e." 

She pouted cutely before taking back the sandwich that she's offering to me.