HEART UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CHAPTER 2

Joanna entered the university early morning. She hasn’t reached their floor but multiple screams are heard on the topmost part of the nursing building. She rushed while expecting something bad happening on their area. She went upstairs two stairs at every step. Her heart was beating fast because of exhaustion and nervousness.

To her surprise, a young lad wearing maroon slacks were surrounded by the nursing students and it totally formed a crowd. He looked at her with a wide smirk. He pulled something from his back and presented it in front of her. The crowd started squealing again. He handed her a blue rose with a note hanging on it. Joanna received the flower and pulled his wrist to go somewhere quieter.

They went to the building’s rooftop. The sun is continuously rising, warm atmospheres greeted them. She got off DK’s wrist on her hand. She looked at him and asked, “What are you doing? I can’t face the people now!”. DK chuckled, “Aren’t you supposed to feel something other than annoyingness?” he asked back. Joanna turned around and sighed. Her hands touching the wall’s railings.

“I honestly don’t understand what you are doing. Just go straight to the point” she seriously said. DK stood beside her. “I… am courting you, obviously” he said casually. Joanna and her wide eye gaze faced DK who’s looking afar as if he wasn’t bothered by his own words. “Did you hear what you just said?” she asked. DK didn’t manage to give her a glance. “I do. And I’m serious about it” he answered.

Joanna scoffed, “You’re making me feel uncomfortable” she honestly said. “Are you numb? Oh, it’s your first time, I remember” he replied. “It really is. It felt weird all of a sudden” she said. DK looked at her, their heights were far in difference. “That rose you’re holding is a token to appreciate me and my thought of buying that in an early morning” he said.

Joanna looked up and saw DK’s serious face. For her, he looks dedicated but a certain trust issue pinched her to get to her senses. She cannot let a person she just met a day ago to court her. “What if I decline? You know, we just met” she said. DK breathed heavily, “I said, I… am… courting you and I didn’t ask if I can court you”. Joanna’s eyebrows furrowed, “You’re such a dictator!” she annoyingly said. DK smirked, “That’s how it works in today’s generation” he replied.

The sun is rising little by little. They were filled with silence not until Joanna spoke, “I see you bought this rose early in the morning. Glad you found an open flower shop” she said while playing its stem on her hand. DK looked down, “Do you like it? They said that it is the best seller” he replied. Joanna nodded, “I appreciated this. It’s my first time receiving a flower from a guy. I just don’t know how to react earlier; I apologize for that” she said.

DK felt relieved after hearing that she appreciated the rose. “I don’t mind. I think it was a normal reaction” he answered. Joanna replied, “You’re considerate. By the way, you went home late last night and you still managed to purchase this flower?” she asked. DK chuckled, “Oh, someone’s getting concerned” he jokingly said. Joanna smacked his arm; he’s really testing her patience.

“That hurts. Kidding aside, I’m used to getting sleep -deprived considering the student blues” he replied. Joanna slowly nodded, “Thanks, Dior” she simply said and walked to part ways. DK felt something strange. Of all the gratitude he had in his life, this one’s different. He ran to quickly arrive in Joanna’s distance. He held her hand and walked as if they are already in a relationship.

When they reached the nursing building, he gently lifted Joanna’s hand and placed a kiss on it. “You’re welcome, babe” he said and winked before leaving the building. Joanna was left speechless; she can’t even look at her hand. She watched him go to his building while tucking up his backpack straps in his shoulders.

His warm hand and soft lips gave her tingles that she never experienced before. Her heart started beating fast and it is beyond her control. Dolan went outside their classroom after seeing DK retreat back to the engineering building. He gently tapped her friend’s shoulder. Joanna was shocked at the moment. “You startled me!” Joanna complained. Dolan crossed his arms; “You’ve been blushing since he left and I know what happened. I witnessed it from the very start!” he said with excitement.

“Quiet down! I don’t want to make an issue” she said. Dolan imitated like he’s zipping his lips close. Joanna caressed the blue roses’ petals. It is shiny soft and it looks like a magical one. She never knew that this kind of rose exist. With him, he finds everything new. He is her first but she doesn’t want to get her hopes up.

She gently pulled the tiny note hanging on the flower. “Have a good day, I’ll see you at lunch – DK” the note contained. She’s looking forward to more acquaintances with DK. Little by little, she’s getting comfortable; the fact that they both know each’s life story.

DK walked to their building; the room was already full and he’s not used to being greeted by the boys in their room. Jash approached him, “It’s queer. You usually go in first” he said. DK smirked, “This one’s different. I got someone again” he replied. Jash wowed, “You just dumped the high schooler yesterday if I’m not mistaken, yet you baited someone again?” he reiterated. DK nodded, “The nursing student we met yesterday. She’s the one” he introduced.

Jash shrugged, “I can’t believe you. Given that you have the looks, how did you make her fall in just hours?” he asked. DK looked at him unbelievably, “I didn’t say that I already got her. I will court her” he answered. Jash’s eyebrows furrowed, “You’ll court a girl… that’s the first time I heard you say the ‘court’ thing”. DK patted his friend’s shoulder, “She is conservative. I like it. It’s something new” he said.

Jash sighed, “DK, a piece of advice. You can’t just break a conservative girl especially if you are her first” he seriously said. “This feels different. She’s not boring compared to my pasts. I bet; this one will last” DK replied. Jash tsked, “I hope you won’t end up eating your own words buddy” he said.

Joanna failed to focus well on her class. She’s currently mopping the hallway. It’s lunchtime and no one passes by the area. She wiped her sweat away using her arm. She’s currently continuing her job when someone held her waist and presented her a handkerchief. “Haven’t you read the note?” DK asked. Joanna replied, “I read it. I thought of it several times actually”

“So… can we eat now? I’m sure you’re also starving” DK invited. Joanna replied, “Can’t you see? I’m still cleaning”. DK looked around and found a spare mop in a corner. Joanna looked at her, eyebrows rising. “What are you planning to do?” she asked. “I’m going to help you obviously” he simply answered. Joanna attempted to grab the mop that DK is holding but he shoved it away.

“I presented to help. Just let me” DK seriously said. Joanna shrugged, “I know you’re not used to doing this kind of thing” she replied. DK sighed, “I’m still a human. I can do these kinds of things. Even a kid can do this” he said. Joanna was turned on with DK’s perseverance but a thought popped again in her mind saying that maybe he’s just doing it to rush off the time to finally grab the lunch. That thought for her is unreasonable and it went crazy again.

The two finished it quickly. DK is holding the pail they used. He thought of something childish; he dipped his finger to the bubbly soap and wiped it to Joanna’s cheek. DK laughed continuously while Joanna is being annoyed. She did the same but it made it hard for her because DK is tall enough for her to reach. The two played with the soap bubbles ‘til their uniforms got wet.

They sat on the hallway’s corridor; laughs still on their faces. Joanna started a talk, “I haven’t done that since young. It felt really nice” she said. DK looked at her with a smile, “It’s my first time either. It’s awkwardly satisfying” he replied. He stood up and presented his hand to help Joanna stand. “Let’s clean-up” he said. Joanna received DK’s hand and stood up, “Right, and let’s get changed”.

The two doubled their work after a childish play. The smiles they have still can’t be removed from their faces. They talked about silly things while drying up the floor. DK started a topic, “You know, they said that this school was once a cemetery then a hospital before it ended up being a school” he said. Joanna looked at her pathetically, “I’ve heard that rumor since first grade. It’s the story of almost all schools” she said.

They both laughed. DK replied, “Yeah right. At first it was a bit spooky but really, it is just a childish way to scare off the students”. Joanna looked at the man in front of her. Suddenly, time ticked slower than the usual for her. He’s such a gentleman and it softens her heart. His smile is easy to get. The way he helped her made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

She stopped fantasizing upon feeling DK’s snaps in front of her. She went back to her senses, “Should we go now? We can’t dry these wet clothes while wearing them” he said while presenting his hand again to her. She grabbed it again and started walking with him on the way to their locker rooms. After changing, they had the meal they were longing for.

It’s lunchtime and all they have is cafeteria food. He’s holding two trays of food with the same servings. He gently placed it down and sat on the chair in front of her. DK poured her a drink while she is already consuming her food. DK looked down and glanced at the food. It looks delicious, a main course with a tempura as its side dish. He clipped it with his chopsticks and placed every tempura he has in Joanna’s plate.

Joanna looked at him. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I saw you enjoying it. Besides, I’m allergic to prawns” he said. Joanna nodded, “Pity you, this tastes so good” she said. As she spends the time with DK, little by little, every single thing about him is revealed. His personality, his casual moods, even the things she’s not expecting to know.