Igniting a Heartbeat

 

You might have an idea
How I feel when I'm with you
But did you know it goes deeper?
'Cause, oh, it goes deeper
Overjoyed when I see you
Baby, but when you're leaving
I lose a piece too
'Cause it goes with you, but

I could think about you
Every single hour

 

Crush on You Finding Hope
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"Hayst grabe, nabusog talaga ako!" 

 

 

 

She sighed, contentedly, leaning at the back of her chair while rubbing her full stomach in satisfaction. Meanwhile, I lowered my head a little, shaking it and chuckled in amazement because wow, naubos lang naman niya ang lahat ng pagkaing inorder namin. Eh ang dami-dami non!

 

 

 

Plus! Napaka-siksik pa mamigay ni Nanay Haney ng mga servings. Pero, ang totoo? May mga alaga bang buwaya na pinapalaki 'tong si weird girl sa loob ng tiyan niya? O di kaya, na-reincarnate 'yung mga dinosaurs as her appetite? 

 

 

 

Nevertheless, ang lakas-lakas niya paring kumain, jusko. But, it's not like I wasn't any better haha. Naka-ilang kanin din naman ako kaya busog na busog at happy rin ang tummy ko ngayon. Ang sarap din naman kasi magluto ni Nanay Haney eh. 

 

 

 

"Halata naman," I replied with a teasing tone kaya she playfully rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms along with what seems to be a "maldita look" she thought she can pull-off. 

 

 

 

I let out a laughed. Well, sa ibang tao siguro matatakot sila, but not for me though. Nasanay na kasi ako sa playful nature niya that's why instead of looking maldita, mas lalo pa siyang nagmukhang adorable sa paningin ko. 

 

 

 

"Ang cute mo talaga, Rina," I complimented with my head tilted a little to the side while also giving her a sweet lopsided smile.

 

 

 

I chuckled softly when that garnered a shy look from her tas 'yung mga tenga't pisnge niya ay pulang-pula na din. Then, she leaned forward and gestured for me to do the same kaya ginawa ko 'yun. But my brows furrowed when she raised herself a little, atsaka inabot ako para hampasin sa braso. 

 

 

 

My mouth parted at nag-loading pa'ko 'nung una bago dali-dali'ng hinawakan ang nananakit na braso dahil sa lakas nang pagkaka-hampas nito sakin. 

 

 

 

"Aray! Baka nakakalimutan mo ulit na spiker ka sa team niyo?!" I frowned while lightly caressing my arm. Grabehan lang makahampas itong weirdong babae na'to. Parang matatangal na braso ko sa impact!

 

 

 

"Ikaw kasi! Alam mo naman na kanina pa kinikilig ang buong sistema ko dito dahil diyan sa mga pinang-sasabi mo! Tapos dadagdagan mo pa grr!" She complained, pouting, and I bit the inside of my cheeks dahil sa cuteness na pinapakita nito. 

 

 

 

I can't help but stared fondly at her while taking a deep breath as I felt a new fluttering sensation inside my stomach na para bang inaatake ito ng milyon-milyong paru-paro sa loob. 

 

 

 

Samantalang 'yung puso ko? Well, hindi na talaga yata mawawala ang paglakas ng tibok nito everytime she would say something so endearing sa pandinig ko. 

 

 

 

"Kaya please lang, I can only handle so much kilig, you know," She continued, habang ako naman ay tinawanan lang siya ng malakas. 

 

 

 

"So, ano? Tiklop ka ngayon?" I decided to while raising my brows and amusement dancing in my eyes. 

 

 

 

"Haysst, Leafy." She sighed, defeatedly. Hindi pa din nawawala ang nguso nito sa labi. "Nakakagigil ka. Baka kapag ako na ang lumandi sayo diyan, manigas ka nalang bigla sa kilig," She continued, boastfully, atsaka binigyan ako ng isang kindat. 

 

 

 

I smirked then leaned forward, giving her a challenging look with my daring dark eyes. "Talaga lang ha. Sige, pasample nga," I replied, hoarsely, and gaped partnered with a dumbfounded look, totally unexpectant that I would reply that to her. 

 

 

 

Well, sorry siya. I'm acting based on my feelings here and I know that it's not gonna stop anytime soon kaya bahala siya kiligin diyan. Sabi nga ni Hammurabi, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." and now, in Leafy's virtue, "A kilig for a kilig and a landi for a landi."

 

 

 

Pero syempre, solely for Karina– my crush, lang applicable ang Leafy's virtue na 'yan. 

 

 

 

Nang matauhan, agad din niyang iniwas ang mga tingin sakin at tinakpan ang bibig gamit ang isang kamay para hindi marinig ang malalakas na tili nito habang marahang pinaghahampas ang lamesa. 

 

 

 

"Shocks! Grabe! Wait lang, atleast let me breath first huhu." I watched carefully as she tried to calm herself down. Inabutan ko din siya ng tubig na agad naman niya'ng kinuha sakin, drinking it in one go bago ulit magsalita. "Hindi kita kinakaya ngayon, Leafy. Grabe ka," She spoke immediately after niyang mahimasmasan. 

 

 

 

I just shrugged at ningitian siya, taking her hand. Nagtaka pa siya 'nung una pero hinayaan lang ako nito sa kung ano man ang gagawin ko but, soon her eyes widened when I placed her palm on my chest, right to where my erratic heart is to let her feel how just how fast it beats for her whenever she's around me. 

 

 

 

"Feel that? That means na pareho lang tayo dito, Rina," I replied, honestly while giving her a soft smile. Pasensya ka na, self. Mahirap na talaga magpigil ng ngiti when it comes to her. "Kinikilig din ang buong pagkatao ko sayo just by using your mere oresence alone," I continued, as I let her soft hand go but not before squeezing it lightly. 

 

 

 

She shook her head at nagpakawala ng isang malaking ngiti combined with a reddened cheeks and ears pagkatapos ay tinapunan ako ng isang lukot na tissue. Nasalo ko naman ito at ibinaba habang tumatawa ng mahina.

 

 

 

"Ano ba 'yan, Leafy! Ang yabang-yabang na natin tignan dito dahil puros pag-ngiti at kilig nalang 'yung ginagawa natin," She said and we both laughed because of that. "Ang totoo? Kumain lang yata tayo dito para magyabang ng kilig eh." 

 

 

 

I shrugged. "Eh ano naman? Eh totoo naman talaga ah. Plus, hayaan mo sila mainggit diyan. Wala naman akong pake," Kalmadong sagot ko, not really giving a damn about what the people would think about us.

 

 

 

As long as Rina's happy with me, then that's all that matters. 

 

 

 

Suddenly, our moment was halted when a group of guys younger than my age timidly walked up to us– to Rina pala. My eyes then squinted 'nang makita kong nagtutulakan pa sila sa kung sino ba ang dapat na mauuna sa harapan nila.

 

 

 

I also noticed that each of them were holding a sports magazine na si weird girl lang naman ang nasa cover. Siguro mga fans niya to.

 

 

 

I quickly cleared my throat to gather their attention at tinignan sila nang masinsinan isa-isa, exuding my inner dominance. 

 

 

 

"Yes, bakit? May kailangan kayo?" Seryoso kong tanong while still looking at them intently. I even grinned mentally when they all went stiff at parang natakot sakin. 

 

 

 

Unexpectedly, nakatanggap na naman ako ng mahinang hampas sa braso ko. I looked at the culprit and saw her already smiling towards the scrawny-looking boys. I clicked my tongue at sumimangot. 

 

 

 

Tsk. 

 

 

 

"Hello, guys! Sorry about the masungit here. Pero may kailangan ba kayo? Hehe." I cringed a little when she greeted them with her cheerful tone. Psh. 

 

 

 

"H-Hello din po. Uhmm, okay lang po, cute din naman po ni ate Leafy," One of them replied at automatikong tumaas naman ang kilay ko when I heard my name. "In fact po, bagay na bagay po kayo," Dagdag pa nito at nag-panting naman bigla ang tainga ko don sa tuwa. 

 

 

 

I cleared my throat to hide my excitement. "Talaga?" I asked and they all nodded. 

 

 

 

"Yes po!" Masigla nilang sagot. Tumango ako at tumingin kay Karina who was now giggling at our interaction. She met my gaze at nagkibit-balikat, winking at me. I just shook my head and drank some water to hide my smile atsaka bumaling na ulit sa mga batang lalaki. 

 

 

 

"M-Miss Karina, s-sorry to intrude your breakfast po pero we saw you here at agad na pumasok dito k-kasi f-fan niyo po kami. U-Uhm, baka pwede po makahingi ng autograph niyo sa magazine namin at p-papa-picture na din po." Nauutal pa sa hiya 'yung sumunod na nagsalita. 

 

 

 

Karina nodded but look at me beforehand, giving me a look like she's asking for my permission and I furrowed my brows in confusion dahil bakit nanghihingi ito ng permiso sakin? I mouthed "bakit?" and she answered, mouthing back. "Okay lang sayo?" 

 

 

 

"Bakit naman hindi?" I continued with our mouthing game, not minding the boys who are already looking at us with their confused faces. Yung iba ay napapakamot na nga sa mga ulo nila. Ang weird na siguro namin tignan sa paningin nila. 

 

 

 

They're right though. Dahil ang weird nga naman talaga na naiintindihan ko ang mga salita na lumalabas sa mapupulang labi ni weird girl kahit na walang kalakip na sound and vice versa. 

 

 

 

"Kasi baka magselos ka. Mahirap na, crush mo pa naman ako." I raised my brows and scoffed. At eto na naman po tayo sa kanyang kahanginan. 

 

 

 

I just shook my head, sighing. "Ewan ko sayo, Rina. Do what you want to do and I'll support you either way," I uttered, with my voice back on. "kaya pirmahan mo na ang mga magazines nila dali. Kanina pa sila naghihintay oh," I continued, pointing my lips towards the boys. 

 

 

 

"Don't point with your lips, Leafy." She said that so seriously, voice mode:on na din but I shot her a quizzical look. 

 

 

 

"Ha?" 

 

 

 

"Basta haha," She dismissed at agad na bumaling sa mga batang lalaki. "Anyway, about the autographs, sure! Give me your magazines hehe." Masayang sabi nito sa mga bata. Ang bilis naman magpalit ng mood. 

 

 

 

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon, agad namang nag-unahan ang mga bata sa pagbigay sakanya ng magazine. Nilahadan din siya ng pentel pen ng mga ito. Halatang preparadong-preparado ah. 

 

 

 

While they are in the process, itinukod ko ang braso sa lamesa, supporting my chin and chuckled when I saw just how excited they are when Karina started signing their magazines. Kumukinang pa ang mga mata nila sa tuwa. 

 

 

 

But, during the whole time though ay nakatingin lang ako kay Rina at ngumiti ng magaan dahil napakahalata sakanya na masaya siyang makipag-interact sa mga fans niya.

 

 

 

I also shamelessly snapped some more photos of her para may ma-ipost na naman akong bagong picture niya sa instagram account ko mamaya. Wala na din akong paki kung marinig man niya o nila ang shutter button ng cellphone.

 

 

 

Nang matapos na sila sa magazine signing, tumayo na din si Rina para makapag-picture na sila ng maayos. I also did the same, even volunteered na ako na ang kukuha ng mga pictures nila. They agreed and handed me one of their phones with the camera app already openened.

 

 

 

I started pointing the phone camera at them. "Okay, 1, 2, 3, smile," Utos ko na sinunod naman nila. Mga uto-uto haha, chour. 

 

 

 

I took their solo pics first at isang group photo, showing their newly signed magazines. Ang lapad lang ng mga ngiting ipinaskil nila pagkatapos ng lahat. 

 

 

 

I mentally laughed. Dream achieved na ba mga totoy?

 

 

 

"Thank you po talaga, idol Karina!" They all thanked her at akmang yayakap pa sana kay weird girl nang pasimple akong humarang sa gitna nila causing them to stop midway. 

 

 

 

Sorry, Kiddos. Pero bawal yumakap kay weird girl kapag hindi si Winter Leafy Reyes ang pangalan niyo. 

 

 

 

"Phone mo, bata. Check niyo muna ang mga pictures," I commanded to the owner of the cellphone while also pursing my lips with my brows almost meeting in between as I continued acting like I was cleaning our mess on the table habang nasa gitna pa din nila. 

 

 

 

Karina noticed the purpose of my action and giggled at the sight. She went near me at umakbay, shooting me a wink with her clearly amused and playful eyes kaya I raised my brows in return. Tuwang-tuwa pa talaga siya ha. 

 

 

 

"Welcome, Kiddos! Nuod kayo sa next game ko ha. Start of preliminaries na," She informed them and the boys excitedly nod. 

 

 

 

"Yes po! Pupunta po kami, promise! Thank you po again, Idol Karina and ate Leafy!" I just gave then a nod nang magpalaam na sila samin, while Karina waved at them goodbye at sinabihan pa na mag-ingat. 

 

 

 

"Alis na din tayo, Rina?" I asked her after kong ma-settle ang lahat ng mga dumi namin sa mesa. Yung arte ko kanina na maglinis ay nagka-totoo pa nga.

 

 

 

Naka-akbay pa din ito sakin kaya I moved my head to looked at her but my brain haywired dahil ang lapit lang pala ng mukha niya sakin!

 

 

 

Sakto kasing kakatapos niya lang amoyin ako closely kaya napa-angat din ang ulo niya when I called for her at the same time nung tumingin ako sa gawi niya. 

 

 

 

Nagkatinigan pa kami ng mga ilang segundo, pero nauna din siyang umiwas at kinuha ang kamay mula sa pagkaka-akbay sakin, umupo atasaka tumingin sa gawi ko. 

 

 

 

She then tapped the seat next to her and my brows furrowed.

 

 

 

Ano na naman kaya ang trip nito?

 

 

 

"Let's take a photo together muna bago umalis dahil alam kong gustong-gusto mo din magpa-picture sakin," She said that so smugly kaya napa-scoff ako. 

 

 

 

"Ang hangin mo talaga, Rina. Pero tiklop ka naman kapag nilalandi kita," I replied with the same amount of smugness kaya natahimik siya bigla and formed into a straight line. 

 

 

 

I smirked. "Oh see? Tama ako." 

 

 

 

"Che! Nagugulat lang kasi talaga ako," She rebutted habang pulang-pula. I chuckled.

 

 

 

"Pano 'yung gulat?" I kaya inirapan niya'ko and that made me laughed even more. Oh, look how the tables have turned now.

 

 

 

Iba pala talaga kapag 'yung palaging inaasar na 'yung nang-asar no? Hahaha. 

 

 

 

I did what she was asking from me earlier at umupo na sa tabi niya. I asked for her permission to use her phone para sa picture taking naming dalawa to which she eagerly obliged, even telling me her password. Napailing nalang ako but still felt a sense of giddiness dahil ang bilis-bilis niyang magtiwala sakin and to this day, I promise myself to always make her feel safe for trusting me. 

 

 

 

I opened her phone and my brows immediately shot in happiness and my smile widens when I saw the picture she took of me last time nung kumain kami ng streetfoods as her lock and home screen. 

 

 

 

I tapped the camera app at umayos na kaming dalawa ng pagkaka-upo. I raised the phone up para kita kaming dalawa pero medyo bitin pa din kaya ang ginawa namin ay umakbay siya sakin habang ako naman ay pinulupot ang kamay sa bewang niya. 

 

 

 

We both stiffen when we realized what I just did. Akmang tatanggalin ko na sana ang kamay ko, when her other hand stopped me from doing so and maintained it there. 

 

 

 

"Oka