Igniting a Heartbeat
 

Ellyse the builder
Can we fence it?
Ellyse the builder
Yes we can!

"Can we fence it?" Ellyse the Builder theme song(Parody)
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"What I meant, Yeorum... is what's mine is only mine. And when I already own it, I always get to keep it. Alone."

 

 

 

Damn. I bit my lips, concealing the smile that was about to form from it. I didn't know that seeing Rina acting like this was such a sight to see. It's totally different from her usual light, playful and humble state.

 

 

 

I'm not gonna lie, imbes na matakot ako sakanya, mas gusto ko pang magwala at magpagulong-gulong sa sahig dahil sa kilig. Pero dahil astig ako, sa isip ko nalang 'yun ginawa.

 

 

 

"Woah, no need to get aggressive." Yeorum held her hands up, slightly backing away. She got this shaken smile etched on her lips.

 

 

 

I mean, I would be too if I was not too smitten to care. Now that I know Karina can be hella scary when she's full on serious.

 

 

 

My Rina's brow only shot upwards for a second before giving the girl in front of us a sweet smile, showing her crescent eyes. "Oops, sorry." She replied in the most nonchalant tone she could ever muster and I chuckled.

 

 

 

Nope, she's not one bit sorry about it.

 

 

 

"I am a business-minded woman after all. Just gotta protect all my assets." She continued, shrugging, before giving me a look. Ngumiti lang ako sakanya pabalik, showing how much I admire her right now.

 

 

 

Thinking that it was time to go, I put the other plate onto my left hand, so I was now carrying two plates on it– a trick I learned from working at my previous jobs and of course, Benny's. Then, I took Karina's hand from my hips and intertwined it with my free one, giving it a light squeeze.

 

 

 

Bumaling ako sa babaeng nasa harapan namin. "See, kaya ko pong bitawan ang isang hawak ko." I smiled at Yeorum na hindi na maipinta ang mukha ngayon. Che, buti nga sayo. "Depende lang talaga kung worth it ba ang hahawakan ko."

 

 

 

parted as she looked at me in pure disbelief. "Wow, how rude–"

 

 

 

"Una na po kami, Miss Yeorum." I cut her off. Rude na kung rude. Ganon din naman siya kay Baby Rina ko. "Gutom na po kasi kami ng nililigawan ko." I dismissed atsaka hinila na si Rina palayo.

 

 

 

Habang naglalakad, I can feel my girl's gaze kaya walang anu-ano'y tinignan ko siya pabalik while raising a brow. She snickered at what I did, eyes filled with adoration and amusement before shaking her head and looked away.

 

 

 

I just smiled in return, tightening the hold of our intertwined hands even more.

 

 

 

Nang makarating sa table, our friends immediately confronted us about what happened kasi apparently, they saw the whole thing pero hindi lang sila naki-gulo since they know that both Karina and I got it covered.

 

 

 

Tama naman sila.

 

 

 

"Bob, the builder. Can we fix it? Bob, the builder. Yes we can!" Napalingon kami sa gawi ni ate Irene when she sang that. Samantalang napatawa naman ang iba naming kasamahan sa table.

 

 

 

"Greatest block by Ateneo's Lady Blue Eagles, Karina Ellyse Riego of jersey number 10!" My girl and I could only chuckle. Sabi na nga'bang puros pang-aasar matatanggap namin.

 

 

 

"Sana ini-spike mo na din ang makapal na mukha niya, Rina." Ate Jennie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Nang maalog naman utak niya. That is... kung meron man."

 

 

 

I mentally laughed. Sumemplang na siguro ang babaeng 'yun kaka-roast nila.

 

 

 

"Uhmm... excuse me, Leafy?" Lumingon ako nang may tumawag sakin– si Minju. "Uh, hi again, guys." Nahihiya niyang bati sa lahat.

 

 

 

Kung kanina ang energetic niya, ngayon para siyang tinutu-tukan ng baril sa likod with the way she's acting so cautious. Especially when both Karina and her exchange some few glances.

 

 

 

"Hi, Minmin! Invited ka din pala! Bakit hindi mo sinabi!" Masiglang bati ni Yuna. Thank God for her because the atmosphere suddenly became a little cold. Must be dahil friend ya ang babaeng 'yun.

 

 

 

"Hi, guys." She greeted back bago tumingin saming dalawa ni Karina with a timid smile.  "Ate Rina, Leafy. I-I just wanted to say sorry sa inasta ng kaibigan ko– ni Yeorum." Her eyes fell downwards. "I saw the whole ordeal and what she did was really rude, kaya sorry po talaga."

 

 

 

Kumunot ang noo naming lahat sa table. Why is she saying sorry?

 

 

 

"You don't need to apologize on behalf of your friend." Tama. Bakit siya ang humihingi ng pasensya para sa kaibigan niya.

 

 

 

"Oo nga. Ikaw ba spokesperson niya? Last time, ikaw din ang humingi ng sorry 'nung and I quoted, 'na-aksidente' si Karina." Ate Irene interjected.

 

 

 

Hindi makasabat si Minju at sa halip ay yumuko na lamang. At that time, I moved my line of sight to her friend, feeling inexplicably dissapointed to see her 'supposedly' friend just picking on her nails, looking bored and completely unconcerned about the situation.

 

 

 

Nakakahiya. Some friend she is.

 

 

 

"I- uh, sorry po." Paumanhin niya ulit.

 

 

 

During the months of being classmates with Minju, I can tell that she's soft spoken and nice. It's what I observed and proven. Her school friends are too. Which is why hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit magkaibigan sila ng girly na 'yun.

 

 

 

Karina sighed. "Minju, I don't take apologies from someone who did nothing wrong to me. Kaya wala kang dapat ika-sorry, okay? Besides, it's not your responsibility to do."

 

 

 

We nodded, smiling gently.

 

 

 

"T-Thank you po."

 

 

 

"Psst, Minju." Tawag ko sakanya. "Kung magwo-worry ka, atleast sa tamang sitwasyon. Kagaya bukas." I smiled, pertaining to the our performance tomorrow. "Let's ace our dance, yes?"

 

 

 

"Haha yes. We will, Leafy." She replied, pink hues forming on her cheeks. "By the way, food's amazing, ate Rina. Especially the Lumpia."

 

 

 

Oh no. Not the Lumpia again. Instantly, I felt my baby's arms wrapped their way around my waist so now she's hugging me while sitting. Then, itinung-tung niya ang kanyang baba sa balikat ko while in return, I put my arms around her shoulders, running soft caresses on it.

 

 

 

"You're not planning on asking me for my recipe too, are you?" I can hear her completely kahit na mahina lang ang pagkakasabi niya 'non. I slightly turned my head to see her reaction.

 

 

 

She gave Minju a scruitinizing eyes habang nakataas din ng kaunti ang isang kilay nito. I put some pressure on her shoulders to calm her down.

 

 

 

Minju quickly shook her head, in panic. "Ay no po! I know that it's solely for you." Tumingin pa siya sakin bago bumuntong-hininga. "So, no. I'm not planning on asking for your recipe nor would have an intention to."

 

 

 

Tumango naman si Rina, satisfied by her answer.

 

 

 

"That's good. Kasi if ever, that would be the one thing I would make you feel sorry for." Pagba-banta nito habang binigyan ng soft smile si Minju.

 

 

 

"Haha, uhm... alis na po ako. Sorry sa istorbo." She bowed atsaka tumingin samin. "Kita-kits nalang tomorrow, guys." And with that, she retracted.

 

 

 

"Putangina, Karina. Pati yata sakit hindi madadapuan si Leafy– lumpia recipe pala– sa pambabakod mo." Natatawang kantyaw ni ate Irene. My girl only shrugged, tightening her hold around me while I chuckled. Nasa same position pa rin kami.

 

 

 

"What if bitawan niyo muna ang isa't-isa, no? Napaka-disgursting shet niyo naman." Ate Jen cringed her nose at tinakpan ito.

 

 

 

"Pare-parehos lang naman kayong madudumi dito." Ate Irene pointed at all of us na may mga partner. "Buti pa'ko single."

 

 

 

"Single din po ako, ate Irene. Tas crush kita yieee."

 

 

 

"Lumayo-layo ka sakin demonyong bata ka, Yuna."

 

 

 

"Joke lang 'yun ate. Hindi kita type no. As if." Mukhang na-offend naman ng todo-todo si ate Irene. She even had her hands on her chest with her jaw dropped.

 

 

 

she looked at Yuna incredulity and scoffed. ", I'm everyone's type."

 

 

 

"Hindi naman ako si everyone." Yuna smirked kaya nayamot si ate at nag walk-out.

 

 

 

"Luh, nag walk-out haha." Tumayo siya. "Sundan ko lang hehe." We just raised our brows at her and she smiled, winking.

 

 

 

"Tangina mo, Yuna. Si ate Irene pala ha. Kaya pala nasa club ka namin pero wala ka namang sinasabing crush mo." Tumawa lang ito bago sinundan ang nagwalk-out.

 

 

 

"Hmm. Baby, do you know kung saan pwede mag donate ng buhok?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

 

 

 

"Huh? Bakit? Mag-dodonate ka?"

 

 

 

"Depende. Mukhang may magpapakalbo o di kaya magkaka-easy money ako, Babe." She beamed. "Libre kita if it's the latter."

 

 

 

Tumango nalang ako bilang sagot. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na may pagka-weird girl pala 'tong nililigawan ko.

 

 

 

"Anyway, are you guys done eating na? Let's moved sa pool. Nomi-nomi!"

 

 

 

"Iinom kayo?"

 

 

 

"Konti lang naman. Tsaka, I have a high alcohol tolerance. Don't worry." Tumaas ang kilay ko while she just smiled cutely at me. Nagpa-cute pa eh.

 

 

 

"Wala ba kayong klase bukas?"

 

 

 

"Nope! That reminds us, can we... go see your performance tomorrow?" My brows furrowed.

 

 

 

"Sa pe namin bukas?"

 

 

 

"Yup! Can't miss my baby wearing a Barong Tagalog kasi." She ran a hand on my suit then fix my tie afterwards, alluring me with her playful eyes that I know I can't refuse. "So, can I? I'm an alumni, I have an ID."

 

 

 

I really want to look away. But instead, I ended up gulping my thirst while nodding absementally.

 

 

 

Nakaramdam akong may tumamang tissue mula sa likuran ko. I picked it up, then, I shifted my attention towards the culprit– si Ryujin. Nakabalik na pala sila kanina pa. Mahigit trenta minutos din natapos ang usapan nila ha– kung usap nga ba.

 

 

 

"Ang hina mo naman, Dahon. Bigay agad eh." Aba! Aasarin mo pa'ko ha. I glared at her before smirking, playfully.

 

 

 

"Ah talaga ba, Jinjin? Ikaw nga diyan eh. Mukhang nag-enjoy ka yata sa thirty minute talk niyo ni ate Yeji ah." I laughed when she looked away, as her cheeks easily went into a crimson color.

 

 

 

"She's guilty, your honor." Biglang taas kamay ni Chaeryoung like as if she's appealing in court. The other girls can only laugh at their silliness.

 

 

 

"What kind of mixed drinks do you want to drink, ladies?" I offered– well, except sa mga kaibigan ko. All of us are legal to drink naman but, we can't because we got a performance to do tomorrow. Sayang.

 

 

 

Andito na din kami ngayon sa may pool area kung saan nakalatag ang iilang botilya ng Tequila at Vodka. At base palang sa brand ng alcohol, alam kong mawawasak sila mamaya.

 

 

 

"Simple mixes will do, Leaf. Mas masarap uminom ng puro! Whoo! Cheers!" Ate Giselle wildly raised her glass for a 'kampay' pero inirapan lang siya nila Karina.

 

 

 

"Wala pa nga pero para ka nang lasing diyan, Giselle." Karina stated kaya umismid naman si ate Gi.

 

 

 

I chuckled as I stood up, taking a bottle of Tequila with me, nodding at the assignment. Pupunta akong kitchen muna to mix for a Margarita. Malapit lang naman.

 

 

 

"Can I come with you, Baby?" Rina held me sa laylayan ng damit ko while cutely pursing her lips at nag-puppy look pa.

 

 

 

I smiled as I felt my heart throbbed at her display of cuteness.

 

 

 

"Of course." I held my hand out and she happily took it, standing up.

 

 

 

"Drinks ang imi-mix ha! Leafy, Rina, balik agad." Ate Jennie warned sternly na parang nanay kaya napatawa kami ni Karina.

 

 

 

"Of course, hindi naman ako katulad ng iba no– Yeji."

 

 

 

"Ate Rina! Nag-usap lang po talaga kami ni Kassandra!" Namumulang pagtanggi ni Ryujin.

 

 

 

Karina laughed. "Wala naman akong sinasabi, Jinjin hahaha. Let's go na, baby ko." Hinila na niya ako.

 

 

 

When we finally arrived sa malaking kitchen ng bahay nila, I directly went to the cabinets kung saan nakatago ang mga utensils such as the knives and chopping board then, took out some ingredients from the fridge.

 

 

 

Feel at home na feel at home talaga ako dito.

 

 

 

After I gathered all that I needed, I took off my suit jacket at itinupi ang manggas ng long sleeve ko hanggang bisig. Para hindi madumihan kung sakali man.