Heart Beats Again

Tutor And Coach

[Lea's POV]

Where is he?

Napatigil ako sa pagtakbo at hinihingal na umikot para tingnan kung nasaan siya. I cannot find him in his classroom and he's also not in the cafeteria. Saan pa ba siya pwedeng magtungo?

Hayyst, Lea! You know Cy, you know everything about him. Saan kaya pupunta ang isang Theo Cyrus De Jesus kapag may problema?

Napatigil ako at parang nabuhayan ako ng loob nung may isang lugar na pumasok sa isip ko. He should be there, I can't think of anywhere he can be other than the chapel.

Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. I've seen him alone inside the chapel for numerous times.

Napatigil ako sa harapan ng chapel at agad na napangiti nung makita ko siya sa may hardin katabi ng chapel na mag-isa at nakasandal sa pader habang pinaglalaruan ang mali-liit na tanim ng santan.

Few meters away from him, I could already feel the sadness of his mood. His eyes were so unhappy and I know why... I know he's disappointed for not making it.

Kilala ko na si Cy, he's always been desperate to have good grades and doesn't eat that much just to ace every tests. I wonder what happened...

"Congratulations, Cy." I said after I went to his side. He raise his gaze and he looked so shock to see me.

"Congratulations? I barely made it," he scoffed.

"And? May next quarter pa. You can still pull your grades up para sa overall computation."

"Think of it. After the end of this school year, tig-apat na medals ang makukuha ng iba habang yung akin tatlo lang." Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at tinitigan siya. Mabilis naman siyang umiwas ng tingin dahil sa ginawa ko.

"So ba't hindi mo ginawa? Ba't hindi umabot yung grades mo sa qualifying grade para sa mga makakatanggap ng medals?" Napayuko siya at kita kong umigting ang kanyang panga.

Kumibit-balikat ako at umupo sa damuhan. Tumangla ako sa kanya at naguguluhan niya lang akong tiningnan kaya ngumisi ako bago hinila siya paupo.

"Ikaw? Bakit hindi ka nakakuha ng medal?"

"Duh, parang hindi mo naman ako kilala."

Gosh, gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko. Sino ba naman ako? Hindi nga kami close, my gosh!

Tipid siyang ngumiti at niyakap ang kanyang mga tuhod bago nagsalita. "My Dad left us... for another woman. My life is a wreck that I couldn't even possibly focus on my studies."

Napatigil ako sa narinig. Si Tito Chevy? I met him before and he even helped me carried my bag nung nag-camping kami noong elementary. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala na magagawa iyun ni Tito, I actually thought that Cy's family was perfect. I'm always stalking her younger sister, Eli, on social media. Palagi silang gumagala kung saan na kompleto.

"How's Eli?"

"She's stuck."

"What about you? How are you?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko habang nakasilip sa mukha niyang pilit niyang tinatago sa gitna ng mga tuhod niya.

"I'm f****d, i'm a mess, i'm so disappointed at myself."

"You did nothing wrong, Cy. Maybe the best thing you can do right now is be the man for your sister and for your Mom. Be the man that your Father can never be."

I want to comfort him. I want him to know that the world haven't turned its back at him yet... not yet until i'm here.

"Yeah, tama ka... hinding-hindi ako magiging kagaya ni Dad. Psh, Dad... I don't think he's worthy to be called by that term."

Napalingon kami sa may entrance ng chapel nung makarinig ng tawanan at nakita namin na magkakaibigan iyun na kumukuha ng selfies... lahat sila ay may medalya sa leeg.

"I was just one point away and I couldn't even get it." Bumaling ulit ang tingin ko kay Cy nung magsalita siya.

"Kahit maging-70 pa ang grades mo, hindi mababawasan ni katiting ang paghanga ko sayo, Cy. You're more amazing than you think you are." His lips parted and he was left staring at me with his eyes rounding. Napayuko ako nung maramdaman ang init sa magkabilang pisngi ko dahil sa pagtitig niya.

"C-crush mo ba ako, Lea?"

Napalunok ako at tumango. There's no reason to hide it. "Oo, matagal na. I've always wanted to talk to you pero nahihiya ako."

"Yeah, ako rin."

"Totoo?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko na ikinatango niya. "I hesitated, thinking that you might ignore me."

"Hoy, ano akala mo sa akin? Famous?"

"Well, you are. Everyone in school knows who the Tennis Queen is."

"Not anymore. Si Violet na yung pumalit sa akin."

"Siya yung nagpalit sayo sa tournament, pero hindi sa titulo ng pagiging Tennis Queen. No one in PHS can match-up to your skill."

Pigilan mo ang ngiti mo, Lea. Huwag kang ngumiti o baka masampal kita.

"It's just a title, it's useless if I can't play again."

"Well, you can still play again... maybe next quarter."

Naguluhan ako sa kanyang sinabi lalo na nung ngumisi siya at parang gusto ko siyang yakapin nung makita ko ang matalim niyang canine na sobrang attractive. Mommy, ang hot niya po!

"W-what do you mean?"

"I can help you. I'll tutor you and make you play tennis again."

"Seriously? You'll do that?"

"May kondisyon nga lang ako." Putcha, kahit ano pa yan basta siya yung magtu-tutor sa akin, gora lang! Hindi naman masama kung lalandi ako paminsan-minsan.

"Ano?"

"Will you be Eli's coach? She wants to learn lawn tennis and I guess playing could also help her ease the pain that my Father left. Hindi mo na kailangang magtrabaho, makakapag-aral ka rin at makakapaglaro ng tennis."

Halos hindi ako makapagsalita sa kondisyon niya. Hell, i'm not dumb to disagree. This is my only chance para makapaglaro ulit at syempre, para maging malapit sa kanya.

"Sure. Kailan ba ako magsisimula?" Excited na tanong ko. Gusto kong tumalon sa sobrang saya o hindi kaya ay magpagulong-gulong sa kanal.

"Bukas kung available ka hanggang sa matapos ang semestral break."

"Where should I meet you?"

"Sa bahay na lang. Should I fetch you?" Oh my gee! Sa bahay niya kami mag-aaral... teka, sa kwarto ba niya?

"No need, alam ko naman kung saan ang bahay niyo." Psh, ano pa ba ang hindi ko alam tungkol sayo, Cy?

"I'll see you tomorrow then."