Igniting a Heartbeat

I wanna love you in every kind of way
I wanna please you, no matter how long it takes
If the world should end tomorrow and we only have today
I'm gonna love you in every kind of way

Every Kind Of Way H.E.R
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"Pota! Sino 'to! Bakit hindi ako 'tong nasa picture ng passport ko!?"

 

 

 

Umagang-umaga palang at saktong pababa na sana kaming dalawa ng Mahal ko nang madatnan namin si River sa kwarto niya habang nagsisi-sigaw.

 

 

 

Nakabukas din kasi ang pintuan niya kaya kitang-kita namin kung paano siya mag-panic while her things are also scattered all over her bed and floor at para bang may hinahanap.

 

 

 

"Shet na malagkit! Huwag mo sasabihing nadampot ko ang maling passport?! At mas lalong huwag na huwag mong sasabihin na pagma-may-ari ito ng babaeng bruhilda na 'yun ha!" 

 

 

 

Patuloy na pagda-daing nito habang tinitignan lang din namin siya ni Rina labas, before sharing a look together, contemplating whether to interfere. 

 

 

 

"Jusko, ang malas-malas mo naman pag nagkataon, Forreston Winterienne River Xantander!" Ginulo nito ang kanyang blondinang buhok, sat onto her bed, looking all dejected and as if like life has been out of her.

 

 

 

So we chose the latter, kaya hindi na rin namin napigilan na katukin siya sa pintuan niya– even though it's already open, to get her attention and of course, out of courtesy na din.

 

 

 

"What's wrong, ilog? Is there a problem?"

 

 

 

"Malaking-malaking problema, Marecakes Emilia. 'Yung passport ko kasi... hindi sa'akin 'yan huhu." Tinuro niya pa ang passport na naka-kalat sa kama niya.

 

 

 

That's why after hearing that, agad naman naming pinuntahan ni Rina ang passport na tinutukoy nito at sinimulang inspekyonin, to confirm her problem at totoo nga, hindi nga sakanya 'to– o ni kahit na kaninong Pilipino.

 

 

 

Dahil disenyo't lenguanghe pa lamang ng cover page ay naiiba na sa Philippine passport. At halatang taga-ibang bansa ang may-ari. 

 

 

 

With that idea, my girl then started to open the said passport to look even more until it finally landed towards the picture River was talking about earlier.

 

 

 

And when the moment my eyes finally saw the image of the woman attached, sandaling nag-glitched pa ang utak ko ng mga ilang segundo bago halos lumuwa ang mga mata dahil sa sobrang pagka-sopresa. Kasabay din 'non ay ang pag-agarang pagtingin ko sa gawi ng girlfriend ko.

 

 

 

Now, I have studied and memorized my girlfriend's features in my mind. It's literally etched into my heart and soul. But right now, her perfect, lovely features seems to have an another... copy... just like mine... with River.

 

 

 

"Hala, Mahal! Magkamukhang-magkamukha talaga kayo oh!" Hindi ko na napigilan na mapasinghap kasabay nang pag-turo sa picture kaya napatingin nnman agad sa'kin si Karina at napatawa. She too looks amused and surprised.

 

 

 

Yes, tama kayo nang narinig. May ka-look-alike din ang Mahal ko. Like as in, magkamukhang-magkamukha talaga sila! And if I didn't know na tanging only child lamang ang Mahal ko, I would have thought na may kakambal si Rina.

 

 

 

Siguro, the only difference noticeable na makikita't madadama mo is their aura. Because if my girlfriend exudes a friendly aura with her soft, playful features; this one... well, she looks so fierce and bold with her long brown hair with bangs and a matching piercing gray eyes.

 

 

 

"Yeah, she does look exactly like me, noh? Except for the color of her hair, eyes and aura." She answered.

 

 

 

"Pero di hamak naman na mas mabait kesa sakanya, Marecakes." Pagsasabat ni River, who was also looking at the picture, atsaka ini-ikot ang mga mata which made me silently chuckled because of that.

 

 

 

"Sawakas, may sinabing ka ding tama, Ilog." My girlfriend joked while River only rolled her eyes again. 

 

 

 

"Y'know, I never knew I could look this so... super maldita. But that's okay. Mabuti naman at may ibang version din ang kagandahan ko." She stated, kaya agad naman kaming napa-ismid ni River dahil sa kahanginang dala niya.

 

 

 

Hindi na talaga magbabago ang pagbubuhat-bangko nito.

 

 

 

"Ang hangin mo talaga, Marecakes Korina."

 

 

 

River uttered, playfully rolling her eyes again for the third time, while I only shook my head in response atsaka namamanghang tinignan ulit ang picture sa passport kase wow, kung ako ay may River version, itong jowa ko naman ay may– teka sino ba 'to?

 

 

 

Allessandra Katherina Vittoria Moretti Del Montezor. 

 

 

 

Wow.

 

 

 

Like sobrang wow sa pangalan.

 

 

 

Ang haba kasi!

 

 

 

"Look, Ilog. It seems like may tatalo na sa kahabaan ng pangalan mo oh." I chuckled as my girlfriend teased my friend regarding her name. 

 

 

 

"Harhar, Marecakes Rated K. Alam naman na'ting lahat na wala pa ring makaka-talo sa mala-unique at mala-makamandag ko'ng pangalan, noh. I mean, pangalan ko palang, ulam na."

 

 

 

This time, itong blondinang hilaw na kaibigan ko naman ang nagmayabang sa sinaad na sagot nito. At kagaya ng kay Rina, kamuntikan na din akong matangay dahil sa sobrang lakas ng hangin na dinala nito.

 

 

 

I just shook my head again. Alam ko na pala kung bakit palaging nagbabangayan ang dalawang 'to. At ito ay dahil hindi magkatugma ang kahanginan nilang dalawa at nagka-clash. Kumbaga, nagpapa-lakasan silang dalawa ng hangin– sa ulo, ganon! Hahaha!

 

 

 

"Okay, let me just pretend that I didn't just heard that disgusting, self-proclaim, buhat-bangko, and totally a lie compliment of yourself, Ilog." My girlfriend shot back na sinimangutan lamang ni River.

 

 

 

"Ang sama-sama na talaga ng ugali mo pagdating sa'kin, Marecakes ha."

 

 

 

My girlfriend only chuckled as she inspected the passport even more, reading the small little details regarding about River's rude, mysterious girl until she came across sa ethnicity nito.

 

 

 

"Hmm, what do we have here? It seems like may lahing Italyana pala itong naka-banggaan mo kahapon, oh." She stated, taking out her phone to search for a picture reference of an Italian Passport and matched it towards the rude, mysterious girl's own one

 

 

 

"Yup, Italayana nga. Ganitong-ganito din kasi kay Yeji eh." She uttered before looking back at us.

 

 

 

"Well, it seems like isa lamang ang ibig sabihin 'non, guys. And that means... na may Italyanang version itong kagandahan ko!" She then look at me, boasting. "Hindi mo kaya 'yon, Mahal." 

 

 

 

Nagkatinginan naman kaming dalawa ni River matapos marinig 'yun mula kay Karina at walang ano-ano'y tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

 

 

 

"Pre, kahit pang-isla lamang ang bersyon na meron ka, atleast sobrang pogi naman!" I only laughed at her statement.

 

 

 

"Mala– teka ano nga 'yung parati nating nakikitang trailer sa Netflix 'nun? Ah! Mala-heart island o di kaya mala-Satan's Impyerno ang hotness ko no."

 

 

 

This time, it was my Karina's turn to laugh real hard.

 

 

 

"You mean, Love Island and Single's Inferno?" Pagko-korek sakanya ni Karina.

 

 

 

"Bakit mga puros tasteless, redflag at toxic dating shows ang inihahantulad mo sa sarili mo, Ilog?" Tinaasan niya pa ng kilay ang kaibigan ko, all while crossing her arms around her chest. 

 

 

 

"Don't tell me na you are like those described three ha? Because if so, ngayon palang, layu-layuan mo na si Leafy ko." She continued, accusing.

 

 

 

River then immediately gasped at that, bringing her hand directly onto her chest. "Masyado ka na talagang mapanakit at mapagbintang, Marecakes Emilyn ha. Nakaka-offend ka na talaga sa totoo lang." She answered, acting offended.

 

 

 

"Pero syempre charot lang! Ang mga katawan ng tao kasi ang tinutuloy ko dun!"

 

 

 

My girlfriend only shrugged. "Same thing. Mga puros pa-ganda at pa-pogi lang naman ang alam nila don. Wala man lang kapersonal-personality."

 

 

 

"Ay? Totoo ba? Edi kung ganon, ampa-pangit naman pala nila. Ayaw ko na silang i-example sa pagde-describe sa'kin." Pagsusumamo nito.

 

 

 

"Eh di hamak naman na mas green pa nga ako kesa sa mga berde-berdeng damo ng isla eh."

 

 

 

"At di hamak na mas may personality din akong tao, noh! Humorous pa nga eh. Sus!"

 

 

 

"Ay weh? I was told na you have a player behavior kaya." Pang-aalaska naman sakanya ng jowa ko. "Tsaka corny din."

 

 

 

"Ikaw, Marecakes Korina ha. Tapatin mo nga ako, may galit ka ba talaga sa'kin?"

 

 

 

I mentally sighed. Nawawala na kami sa topic. At mukhang na-notice naman 'yun ni River. Thank, God. 

 

 

 

"Teka nga, teka nga. Inaaliw mo lang yata ako, Marecakes Emma eh. Hala, magsi-balik na kaya tayo sa kasalukuyang pino-problema na'tin ngayon."

 

 

 

My girl just snickered. "You're right about sa inaaliw lang kita, Ilog. Pinapa-lighten ko lang kasi ang mood dahil ayokong nakikita kang umiiyak dahil ampangit-pangit mo pa naman pagnagkataon." She teased.

 

 

 

But this time, both River and I gasped. Natamaan din kaya ako kasi kamukha ko rin si River!

 

 

 

"HAHAHAHA! Hala ka, Marecakes Emilda. Edi para mo na ring sinabihan na pangit din umiyak si Parekoy Leafy niyan. Hala ka talaga."

 

 

 

Napanguso naman agad ako at mabilis na tumingin ulit sa gawi ng girlfriend ko na humahagalpak na ngayon sa tawa.

 

 

 

"Mahal... pangit ba talaga ako umiyak?" I sulkingly uttered.

 

 

 

Alam ko namang nagjo-joke lang siya dahil kahit na ngumawa pa ako kaka-iyak sa harapan niya ay alam ko parin namang pogi parin ako sa paningin niya– Ay, oops! Sorry, that was the spirit of Karina's kahanginan taking over me.

 

 

 

She just pinched my cheeks, laughing lightly as she gently looked at me in the eyes. "You're such a cutie talaga, My Love." She complimented and I pouted to make myself even look cuter.

 

 

 

"Just so you know, my Leafy. That even if you cry me a river, you'll still look pretty and handsome in my eyes." Namula naman agad ang mga pisnge ko sa sinagot niya. 

 

 

 

Anuba, Mahal ko. Wala talagang pinipiling lugar at oras ang kaharutan. Nakukuha pa talaga sumingit. Hahaha!

 

 

 

"But to be honest," Ay, may kasunod pa pala. "No more crying na ha."

 

 

 

"That's because the panget part is how I hate na palaging namamaga ang mga mata mo sa kakaiyak and how sad and painful it is for me to see you crying. Kaya for now, I promise to only give you endless of love and happiness." She ended, and best believe that it made my heart jump into a pure abyss of joy.

 

 

 

I mentally sighed, dreamily.

 

 

 

Oh to be loved by Karina Ellyse Riego. Damn.

 

 

 

Kaya ayaw na ayaw ko na talagang umahon mula sa pagkaka-hulog na'to eh. It's because of her.

 

 

 

"Ay? Ano 'yan? Akala ko ba nagbibiruan lang tayo dito? Ba't bigla na kayong naglalandian ha! Aba! Hindi pwede ito! Bawal maglandian sa harapan ko!"

 

 

 

"Naiintindihan ko naman na talagang sobrang namiss niyo ang isa't-isa pero kailangan talaga na nasa harapan ko kayo maglalampungan?" We both returned our gaze towards River, laughing.

 

 

 

"Oops. Sorry, sadya." My girl stick her tongue out, obviously teasing the hell out of my blonde friend again.

 

 

 

"Pero kapag naiinggit ka, pumikit ka nalang." My girlfriend continued, retaliating back kaya mabilis na pumikit naman agad si River. Loko talaga!

 

 

 

"Naka-pikit na'ko, Marecakes. Ano na 'yung susunod kong gagawin?" I can only shook my head, chuckling. Inuulit ko, nawawala na naman kami sa topic.

 

 

 

"Ewan ko na talaga sayo, Ilog." My girlfriend playfully rolled her eyes. "Anyway, going back to the topic na." She continued, raising the passport.

 

 

 

"I'll try to go and look for this woman's information more, and see what I can do. Kaya for now, magrelax-relax lang muna kayong dalawa ng Mahal ko. Because I can clearly see na you looked so troubled ever since kanina pa eh." I secretly smiled at my girlfriend's observation. 

 

 

 

"And oh, you need to relax your voice as well since kakanta ka pa mamayang gabi, diba?"

 

 

 

My friend only sighed. "Oo na, boss Marecakes. Copy po."

 

 

 

"Good. And also, don't you worry because I promise to give you, your passport in no time." She assured for the last time and then after that, she looked at me. 

 

 

 

"Mahal, I'll just go and make a phone call muna ha." Pagpapa-alam niya sa'kin and I nodded my head, smiling lightly. "Meanwhile, you and River can join our friends sa baba. That is... kung gising na ang mga 'yun." 

 

 

 

Nag-sleepover din kasi ang mga mokong. Hindi pa nakuntento kagabi.

 

 

 

"Okay po, Mahal." Pagco-comply ko sa request niya. 

 

 

 

"Okay, then. I'll just see you later sa baba ha. I love you, my Baby." I smiled widely. 

 

 

 

"I love you more, Rina ko." I replied, giving her a soft, gentle kiss on her cheeks that made her smiled so widely before finally going out of River's room, leaving us. 

 

 

 

Now, we were left with silence as I slumped myself onto River's bed.

 

 

 

"Alam niyo, ang swerte-swerte niyo sa isa't-isa." I heard my blonde friend uttered beside me and I just chuckled at that, before replying with a soft smile painted on my lips.   

 

 

 

"Yeah. Pero if we're talking truthfully here, I'd like to beg to differ and say na ako talaga ang mas maswerte pagdating sa aming dalawa."

 

 

 

I mean, ikaw ba naman ang magkaroon ng isang Karina Ellyse Riego diba? Hehe. 

 

 

 

"Naks, iinlove na inlove oh." 

 

 

 

I lightheartedly chuckled again. "I guess I really am, huh." I expressed, honestly.

 

 

 

Paano ba naman kasing hindi ako maiinlove dun eh kung talaga nga namang napakasarap magmahal ni Karina– my Karina, sa bawat aspeto ng pagmamahal. 

 

 

 

"Anyway, gusto mo na ba mag-swimming sa baba?" Pag-aaya ko sakanya. "Tama naman kasi ang sinabi ni Rina na kailangan mo munang I-cool-off 'yang kanina pang stress na stress mong utak." 

 

 

 

Narinig ko naman agad siyang napabuntong-hininga sa gilid bilang pag-sagot. 

 

 

 

"Hayst, mabilis lang naman diba? Mahahanap din na'tin agad 'yung bruhildang babae na 'yun, noh? Alam mo naman na hindi ako pwedeng magtagal dito, Leafy. Sobrang mahaba na pananatili na nga para sa'kin 'yung isang araw dito eh." 

 

 

 

She expressed, sighing once again, and I also did the same all while placing my hand onto her shoulders, softly giving it a pat.

 

 

 

"Alam ko, Riv. But trust my girlfriend, okay? Kahit pa yata invisible na tao ay mahahanap at mahahanap 'non." We both laughed as I reminisced the time she went to rescue me from being missing– and well, from getting kidnapped by she who must not be named.

 

 

 

"Hayna'ko. Kung hindi ko lang talaga kailangan na kailangan ng pera ngayon eh." Bumuntong hininga ulit ito ng malalim, habang ako naman ay hindi na rin muling nagsalita pa. 

 

 

 

Pero actually, gusto ko rin naman sana siyang pahiramin ng pera. Eh kaso, medyo matigas din ang ulo nito. Ayaw tumanggap ng kahit na anong tulong kaya hinayaan ko na lamang. 

 

 

 

"Paano kaya kung maghanap nalang ako ng sugar mommy noh, Leaf? Feel ko mas madali 'yun eh." We both laughed.

 

 

 

"Sira! Pero pwede din naman." I snickered, brewing a silly idea. "'O di kaya akitin mo nalang 'yung may-ari ng passport na naka-bungguan mo kahapon. Matic AFAM din 'yun!"

 

 

 

Agad namang siyang umismid. "Yuck! Maghunos dili ka nga, Leafy! Mas mabuti pang mang-akit nalang ako ng mga lalaki kahit na mas lamang pa ako ng kapogian kung ikukumpara sakanila, kesa sa bruhildang babae na 'yun, noh!"

 

 

 

Tinawanan ko lamang siya ng malakas. Ayaw na ayaw niya talaga sa babaeng 'yun ha.

 

 

 

After reassuring my friend, sinunod naman namin agad ang suhestiyon ng girlfriend ko na magrelax-relax muna. Kaya ngayon, pababa na