Igniting a Heartbeat
 

You're like a circus running through my mind
Got those sneaky eyes, what you trynna hide?
You're like a hurricane inside my veins
But I like it babe, so bring on the break

Overdose Ciara (Dave Luxe Remix)
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"Leafy, wake up. We're here na."

 

 

 

I slowly opened my eyes as soon as I heard her soft voice. Hindi ko na pala namalayan na nakatulog na'ko habang bumabyahe. Inayos ko kaagad ang pagkaka-upo dahil naka-dukdok na pala ang pwesto ko sa may gilid ng bintana atsaka tumingin sa labas sabay mabilis na kumapa sa bibig kung may tumulo bang laway.

 

 

 

Wala naman, kaya I decide to look at her direction.
Kahiya naman kung meron.

 

 

 

"Ang ganda ng tulog mo, I'm sorry if I woke you up." She flashed me a soft smile, hands still holding onto the steering wheel.

 

 

 

"It's okay. Salamat sa paghahatid sakin dito, Karina." I returned her smile at niready na ang sarili para lumabas. The door is already open when I stopped for a second causing her to furrowed her brows in confusion.

 

 

 

I gulped as I felt myself hesistating in shyness. Nagdadalawang-isip kung itutuloy ko pa ba ang plano na ibigay sakanya ang ginawa ko kagabi.

 

 

 

Gago, self. Ba't ka ba mahihiya ha? Eh magbibigay ka lang naman ng bulaklak sa tao.

 

 

 

"Yes, Leafy? What is it? Is something wrong?" She asked, concerned. Nararamdaman niya siguro ang mental struggle ko ngayon.

 

 

 

I wet my lips and ran a hand through my hair. "Uhh, wala. Nga'pala, I want to give you something," I replied, shyly while scratching the back of my neck and I immediately saw how her expression changed from concerned to excited.

 

 

 

"Really?" She grinned, tapping happily on the steering wheel. "What is it?" She added, excitedly.

 

 

 

"Oo, pero huwag kang mag expect ng something grand ha." I paused, looking back at her again and she nodded eagerly, expression still sporting the same excited ones.

 

 

 

I shook my head, smiling gently. "It was just something I thought of last night. And so, I decided to give it to you since I think it's quite fitting for today." I added, explaining. At the same time, I opened the zipper of my bag taking the rainbow paper bouquet I took with me earlier and lightly handing it to her.

 

 

 

"Oh, para sayo."

 

 

 

I heard her gasped in surprised as I felt my cheeks burned in shyness? Honestly, I don't know kung saan ba'ko nagb-blush but I totally felt my heart melts into a massive puddle of goop when she finally took the bouquet in my hands and looked at it like as if it was the best looking bouquet she ever received today.

 

 

 

Uy rhyme. But that's not the focus right now.

 

 

 

I felt a surged of proudness ran in my veins after that. Maganda rin naman kasi ang pagkakagawa ko. It was a perfectly clean origami– I made sure of it since may pagka-oc rin ako when it comes to art works and art-related stuff– tas yung pagkaka-arrange ko pa is aesthethically pleasing on the eyes.

 

 

 

Okay, ang yabang ko nang pakinggan.

 

 

 

"Hindi 'yan magarbo kagaya ng binigay nila ate Giselle and that... guy sayo, pero atleast." I shrugged.

 

 

 

"Leafy," was still agape in astonishment as she sat frozen in her seat, then there's also a clearly visible blush on her cheeks and ears. "This is beautiful." She added, lightly, habang manghang tinititigan pa rin ang bouquet.

 

 

 

I fought real hard to hide the re-occurring smile on my lips but it was really impossible to do so kaya hinayaan ko nalang na ngumiti ang sarili ko ng ganito.

 

 

 

"Congratulations once again, Miss Spiker." I mimic her action kanina sa gym– by patting her head, turning her even redder. "You did great. Ang galing mo talaga kanina. Walang halong biro." I added, softly as I finally took my hand off her head.

 

 

 

Even her hair feels so soft. Hayss.

 

 

 

"Alis na'ko ha. Text me when you get home, okay?" I strapped the bag on my right shoulder ready to leave the car when I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder halting me from my action, before forcing me to be pull back once again on my previous position.

 

 

 

But.... what came after that completely shuts down my entire system when I felt the softest pair of cottony lips pressed gently against my cheeks.

 

 

 

Now, ako naman ngayon ang parang tuod dahil hindi makagalaw sa gulat. My grip on the bag strap also tightens as I felt something ignite within me... again. 

 

 

 

Feeling ko, para akong lalagnatin dahil lahat yata ng init sa katawan ko ngayon ay akmang lalabas na sa buong pagmumukha ko especially onto my nose and ears.

 

 

 

Just like those cartoon characters who turns super red with steam coming out of their ears and noses because of anger, pero ang kinaibahan nga'lang sakin ay hindi dahil sa galit... ngunit dahil sa isang hindi ko pa maipaliwanag na dahilan.

 

 

 

"Thank you, Leafy." I heard her mumble near my ear. "But, pinapahirapan mo ko ha." she whispered, chuckling, and then I felt her moved away kaya I quickly turned around to catch her eyes and she smiled so sweetly nung magtama na ang mga tingin naming dalawa.

 

 

 

Pero... pinapahirapan? Saan banda ko naman siya pinapahirapan?

 

 

 

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked with my brows  knitted.

 

 

 

"Wala." She laughed in delight. "I just... really appreciate you coming to my game, cheering for me, and eating streetfoods with me after that. And now, this," She showed me the bouquet I made and smiled with her eyes shining. "parang... it makes me want to re-do the compromisation earlier and demand more tuloy." she chuckled, shaking her head.

 

 

 

"Well, gusto mo ba i-redo ang compromisation kanina?" I asked. Baka this time may hingin na siya talaga. "Kung ganon, ano 'yun?"

 

 

 

"Hulaan mo." She giggled, teasing, "but no, I'm fine with what I asked from you earlier. Besides... mas gusto ko nang kusa." She added so faintly that I almost miss what she said.

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

"Wala haha." She dismissed. "Pero I heard somewhere na kapag nag-bigay ka daw ng paper flower or bouquet to someone, ibig sabihin daw 'non, gusto mo magkaroon ng papel sa buhay nila." Kibit-balikat na paliwanag niya.

 

 

 

My eyes widened at that revelation.

 

 

 

"What!? Totoo?"

 

 

 

"Yes daw." She replied, smirking before tilting her head and giving me another yet of her famous playful look. "Ikaw ha, gusto mo magkaroon ng papel sa buhay ko ha." Panunukso niya. "Rainbow pa talaga. Yieee, so ibig sabahin ba niyan... gusto mo maging makulay papel mo sa buhay ko?"

 

 

 

I scrunched my nose before giving her an eyeroll.
"Sa pagkaka-alam ko, wala akong nababasang ganyang inpormasyon."

 

 

 

Ang dami ko nang nabasa na libro sa library about varrying topics including the different meanings of giving flowers to someone pero ni isa wala 'yun.

 

 

 

That's when she started cackling with her head bent backwards. "Oo, dahil wala naman talaga. Gawa-gawa ko lang 'yun, Leafy." She then sighed while shooking her head. "Bata ka pa nga talaga, ang bilis mo mauto eh."

 

 

 

For some reason, I don't like the way she called me a kid and my body quickly reacted without my permission until I didn't notice that I was inches close to her face.

 

 

 

"I told you, I'm not a kid anymore." I replied, seriously, looking directly in her eyes. "Tsaka, hindi ako uto-uto no." I tsk-ed.

 

 

 

She gulped. "R-Right haha, I forgot. Hindi ka na nga pala parte ng kabaatan." She her lips and somehow my gaze followed the action. My eyes then travelled all the way to the small mark right beside her left lower lip.

 

 

 

Bagay na bagay talaga ito sakanya and I think it enhances her beauty even more.

 

 

 

And... it was super attractive as hell if I'm being honest.

 

 

 

Natauhan lang ako when she cleared kaya agad din akong lumayo while looking away, clearing mine as well to masked what I just did.

 

 

 

Gago, nakakahiya.

 

 

 

Pero feeling ko, sinasapian na yata ako ng engkanto at kung ano-ano nalang pinang-gagagawa ko. Kelangan ko na talaga yata magpabarang.

 

 

 

"Uhm, Leafy?" She called for me kaya tumingin ako sakanya. "Can I post your picture?"

 

 

 

My brows furrowed, "Saan?" I asked genuinely. "And I already told you before na ikaw na bahala sa picture ko."

 

 

 

She chuckled. "Still, consent." I arched a brow at that, smiling a little. "pero sa Instagram. Tag kita, kaya you should follow me."

 

 

 

"Inuutusan mo ba'ko?"

 

 

 

She pouted, whining a little bit. "Leafy naman."

 

 

 

Tumawa ako ng mahina. "Wala akong Instagram." I replied, instantly. Eh sa messenger lite nga lang, hindi na kinaya ng dati 'kong cellphone, instagram pa kaya?

 

 

 

"Well, you should make one now. Tas post mo rin 'yung kinuha mong picture ko, but don't forget to tag me ha." Tinaas baba pa niya ang kilay niya. "Pero suggestion lang 'yon. Kung gusto mo, edi go. Di naman ako aangal." She added, giggling. 

 

 

 

I sighed. "Oo na, mamaya. Kung may free time ako, magpapaturo ako kung pano magpa set-up kila Ryujin."

 

 

 

She smiled brightly beaming me again with her sunshine. "Yey! Good!" She celebrated like a kid as I chuckled. Siya yata ang parte pa ng kabataan dito eh.

 

 

 

"Anyway, thank you sa pabigay ng bouquet once again ha. Ang ganda, sobra! Ito na ang pinakamaganda na natanggap ko today, Promise!" I bit the inside of my cheeks when she raised her right hand cutely.

 

 

 

"Tas ano, text mo rin ako pag tapos na kayo sa research niyo or vacants niyo hehe." She added, kaya tumango ako.

 

 

 

"Oo na, Karina. Goodnight na. Pahinga ka agad  pagkauwi mo ha." I smiled softly at her na sinuklian naman niya ng mas magandang ngiti.

 

 

 

"Will do po. Goodnight, Leafy. Research well."

 

 

 

Kumaway ako, bidding her goodbye hangga't sa naka-alis na nga siya nang tuluyan before completely turning around. Pero, I got the scare of my lifetime when I saw a bunch of heads popping out sa magkabilaan ng gate posts ng bahay nila Yuna.

 

 

 

Nak ng! Ano ginagawa ng mga kupal na'to.

 

 

 

At talagang nakangisi pa nang nakakaloko ha.

 

 

 

"Hoy! Anong ginagawa niyo diyan!?" I shouted, as I started walking towards them.

 

 

 

"Hi, Leafy!" Sabay-sabay na bati nila. I rolled my eyes.

 

 

 

I took a glance at my wrist watch at halos isa't  kalahating oras ko na rin palang kasama si weird girl. Dala na diyan ang paghahatid niya sakin.

 

 

 

"Ginagawa niyo?" I asked them again. Mukhang walang balak tumino ng mga ngisi nila eh.

 

 

 

"Wala. Nanonood lang ng live kabadingan." Malisyosong sabat ni Ryujin.

 

 

 

I sighed. Sabi na eh.

 

 

 

"Speaking of, we saw the bouquet ate Rina was holding earlier. Yun ba yung niresearch mo ng isang araw sa library? 'Yung kung pano gawin?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong ni Ryujin.

 

 

 

"Yeah?"

 

 

 

"Really? Ay oh. Ayaw masapawan ni bading." Nagtawanan naman silang lahat while I could only sighed and shook my head.

 

 

 

"Haynako. Alam niyo, ang laki niyo'ng issue! Tara na nga!"

 

 

 

Bahala na sila sa kung ano mang gustong isipin nila. Basta ako, tamad na'ko mag-explain and I'd rather start doing my part in the research.

 

 

 

We finally managed our way inside Yuna's mansion pagkatapos nilang makipag-kulitan sa labas. Kung hindi pa nagpaka-leader si Ningning in her stern voice ay hindi pa mapapasunod ang makukulit samin.

 

 

 

Sa sala kami ngayon naka-pwesto at heto ako, naka-tutok sa ipinahiram na extra laptop ni Yuna habang nagnanaliksik at nakakunot-noong nagtitipa ng mga impormasyon galing sa internet.

 

 

 

I didn't found any printed books sa library that we can use sa RRL 'nung pumunta kami don last time pero there's a few e-books sa net na pwedeng-pwede namin pagkuhanan.

 

 

 

Peste kung bakit kasi may pa-research subject research subject pang nalalaman eh.

 

 

 

Tangina. Minimum of 7000 words per 5 pages? Tangina good luck sa english ko amp.

 

 

 

Kung tutuusin, it's not that hard dahil alam kong may mas malala pa dito but, ang pinaka-ayaw ko kasi sa lahat eh ang pag-gawa ng academic essays. Mas gugustuhin ko pang gumawa ng istorya gamit ang aking imahinasyon kesa sa mga ganito.

 

 

 

The other members were also continuing their parts. Naudlot daw kasi kanina dahil nga mas inuna pa nila ang kalokohan. We also took a few 5-minute quick breaks to eat snacks and after that we proceed to working again.

 

 

 

It was almost 11:30pm bago naming maisipang kumain ng dinner. Nab