Misguided Hearts

It was my eighth birthday. A celebration that the eight-year-old me thought that it requires a pink dress, a pink oversized bow, a pair of glittered doll shoes, and lots of pink balloons and girly stuff. This is what any eight year old girl would dream of. But the only thing--or should I say person--that excites the mini me, stands a few feet away from me hiding behind the shadow of the tree he's leaning on. Everything about him was just so perfect, at least that was the eight year old me thinks. The way he stares blankly into space, the way his hands were shoved inside the pockets of his dress pants, the way his feet were crossed at the ankles, the way his tousled hair dances with the wind. And my! The way he turns his head towards me, the way he smirks and the way he waits for me to come over to him. Yes, sa murang edad, alam ko na kung gaano ka?-perpekto si Scorpio Daniels Ledesma. He is my first love. I ran across the lawn towards him. Hindi talaga siya kumilos doon, tumaas lamang ang sulok ng kanyang labi habang pinapanuod akong tumakbo na parang may kung sinong humahabol sa'kin. I grinned widely as I stopped in front of him. Nilahad ko sa harap niya ang maliliit kong kamay. "Where's my gift Scor?" I looked expectantly at him. Mas matanda siya ng tatlong taon sa akin pero nakasanayan ko nang hindi siya tawaging kuya. He didn't answer. Again, he just smirked, tossed his hair and started walking behind the tree. I almost squealed. I love surprises! I eagerly closed my eyes, even without him telling me to do so, and waited for him to come back. Bumilang ako hanggang sampu ngunit walang nagsabing oras na para buksan ko ang mga mata ko. My eyes itched to take a peek but I resisted the urge to do so. I don't want to cheat. I know how much Scor hates cheaters! He punched Ponce last week cause he cheated while they were playing on the family computer. "Scor?" I called. Where is he? What's taking him so long? Hindi ko na napigilan at iminulat ko nang bahagya ang isa kong mata. Scor was standing there, looking at me curiously. Napamulagat ako. Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang pisngi ko nang maramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng mga iyon. I blushed in front of Scor. I always blush in front of him. Nang yumuko ako ay nahagip ng mata ko ang gulong ng bisikletang nasa paanan niya. Agad akong napangisi at tumingin sa kanya. "Is that for me?" I eagerly asked. He just shrugged and let me rush towards the bicycle to inspect it. I always wanted a bike but my mom wouldn't let me have one. She said, ladies don't ride bikes. But she didn't know that whenever me and my Kuya went out to play, he lets me ride Scor's bike. Parati akong inaangkas ni Scor. This time, he gave me a bike for my birthday. I am so happy! So happy that I tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. I blushed and stared at Scor under my long eyelashes. He looked at me coldly and asked, "Why did you kiss me, Phae?" I couldn't find the right words to say. "I.. Because.. B-because.." I stuttered. "Y-you don't like i-it?" I asked, biting my lower lip. Was he mad at me for kissing him? "I don't." he said blatantly and turned his back on me. "Don't do that again." I stared at his back open mouthed. I watched him briskly walking away from me. Just like that...He shattered my little eight year old heart. I smiled bitterly to myself. Simula pa lang noong umpisa, he did nothing but break my heart. Why should I trust him with it now?