Rekindled Hearts (TAGLISH)

Eleven

Isang taon na ang nakalipas, ganoon pa rin palagi ang tagpo. Magbabasa si Antonette at si Alexander naman ay nasa kabila, natutulog o di naman kaya ay naglalaro, but it changed when she heard Alexander had found himself a girlfriend. Alexander never came to his usual spot to sleep. It didn’t bother Antonette, though. Ang naisip niya lang ay mag-aral at makatapos para maging isang beterinaryo.

Pero dumating ang ikatlong taon niya sa kolehiyo. Third year college na si Antonette at, sa awa ng Diyos, she never once failed a subject at consistent pa rin ang pagiging scholar nito. The University celebrated its hundredth anniversary and was hosting games. Kalaban nila ang mga Criminology students and there she saw Alexander. Ngumiti ito sa kanya at nginitian niya naman ito pabalik. The last time she heard about him was when he and his girlfriend broke up. Alexander was known on campus — handsome, rich, and intelligent. Isa itong campus crush.

“Uy, kilala mo pala si Alexander?” tanong ng kaklase niya. Napailing si Antonette at tumalikod.

“Tara na, girls. Volleyball na daw ang next,” sabi ng isa pa. Sumunod si Antonette. She wasn’t the sporty type pero kailangan niyang sumali bilang maliit lang ang students ng veterinary medicine.

“Girls, hindi talaga ako marunong,” sabi niya pagdating nila sa volleyball court. Ang daming tao kahit match pa lang ito sa first day.

“Kaya mo ’yan, Nette!” sabi ni Liza, kaibigan niya. Pumito na ang referee at pumasok na sila dahil kasali siya sa first five.

The game started in favor of the Criminology students. Malakas ang bawat hampas ng bola na siyang nagbibigay ng kaba kay Antonette. She was afraid of the ball — hell, she was terrified!

“Antonette, ilag!” sigaw ng kasamahan niya ngunit huli na. Antonette was struck by the ball… in the face. She landed hard on the floor, her nose probably bleeding. Agad namang nagsilapitan ang mga kaklase nito, checking if Antonette was fine. Magsasalita pa lang ito nang may nagbuhat sa kanya. She immediately wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, afraid that she might fall on the ground. When Antonette looked up, she saw Alexander.

“I’ll bring you to the clinic,” he whispered.

Nagulat ang lahat sa kanilang nasaksihan — because who would have thought Alexander would do it?

“Hoy, legit nga kilala ni Alexander si Antonette?” tanong ng kaklase ni Antonette kay Liza.

“Hindi ko alam,” tanging sagot ni Liza habang tinitingnan sila na naglalakad patungo sa daan kung saan naroon ang clinic ng eskwelahan. Girls looked at them with envy while boys were irritated because Alexander was the center of the day again.

Pagkapasok sa clinic, isinara ni Alexander ang pintuan. Nakita niya habang naglalakad kanina ang nurse-in-charge at nagpaalam na ito na gagamutin si Antonette. Pinayagan naman siya ng nurse dahil alam nitong may certification at training si Alexander sa first aid.

“Masakit pa ba?” tanong nito kay Antonette habang nilalapatan ng cold compress ang parte kung saan tumama ang bola.

“Medyo,” sagot niya.

“Pagkatapos nito, dalhin na kita sa hospital,” sabi ni Alexander. Mabilis na umiling si Antonette. She didn’t have the money to spare for the hospital.

“Huwag na. I can manage. Gagaling din ’to,” sagot niya.

“I insist. I will handle the expenses, tsaka kilala ko ’yong may-ari ng hospital,” sabi niya. Napabuntong-hininga si Antonette. Mukhang hindi siya makakatanggi.

“Sige, sabi mo e,” sagot niya na lang.

The clinic was filled with silence. Tanging ingay lang na naririnig ay ang tunog na nagmumula sa air-con at ang hiyawan sa gymnasium.

“Thank you,” pagbasag ni Antonette sa katahimikan. Tumingin siya kay Alexander at ngumiti. “You didn’t have to do that pero ginawa mo.” Ngumiti naman pabalik si Alexander.

“Wala iyon,” sabi niya. “Bakit ka ba kasi naglalaro ng volleyball e hindi ka naman marunong?” tanong niya. Namula si Antonette at nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Wala naman akong choice, kakaunti lang kami sa department namin,” sagot niya.

“Tagal mong nawala, a,” pabirong sabi ni Antonette at tumingin kay Alexander.

“Busy e,” sagot ni Alexander. Busy nga siya pero hindi sa academics kundi sa girlfriend niya — but he got tired of her constant nagging and controlling attitude, that’s why he decided to end their two-year relationship. And now, he was single again.

“Bakit? Miss mo ba ako?” tanong nito at seryosong tiningnan ang babaeng nasa taas ng kama.

“Baliw, hindi a!” Napatawa naman si Alexander.

“Ako, na-miss kita,” sabi niya. And it was the truth. He missed the quiet place where he rested on his break, and he missed Antonette beside him, quietly studying her notes and watching videos of cute animals.

After his relationship ended and he saw Antonette laughing with her friends, something tugged inside him. He wanted to know her more.

“Hay nako, Alexander. Please, huwag ako. Mas gusto kong mag-aral,” sagot ni Antonette na namumula — and deep inside she felt butterflies in her stomach at what Alexander said.

Napakamot naman ng ulo si Alexander at natawa.

“Totoo nga,” he said. Hindi na kumibo pa si Antonette. They went to the hospital after the nurse came back and gave them the gate pass. Mabuti na lang at dala ni Alexander ang sasakyan niya at hindi ang big bike nito. He opened the door for Antonette and sped away.

Days turned into months, and then into a year. Mas naging malalim ang samahan ng dalawa, and Alexander decided to court Antonette. Antonette saw his sincerity and said yes after six months of courtship.

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Nagising si Antonette sa ingay ng manok ng kanilang kapitbahay. She stared at the clock and heaved a sigh. Sa lahat ng araw, bakit ngayon niya pa talaga napanaginipan si Alexander?

Bumangon siya at tumayo. Iniligpit niya ang kaniyang higaan at pumunta sa banyo. Pagkatapos ay pumunta siya sa kwarto ng anak niya.

“My love, rise and shine,” she whispered. Tiningnan ni Antonette si Mikael. Habang lumalaki, nakikitaan na ito ng malakas na hawig kay Alexander. Hanggang kailan niya maitatago sa lahat — at sa tunay na ama nito — ang totoo, lalo na’t nandito na ito sa lugar nila.

“Mommy?” tawag ni Mikael sa kaniya. Nabalik si Antonette sa reyalidad at niyakap ang anak.

“Let’s go have breakfast, anak. Ihahatid ka ni Ate Andeng mo sa school and after that, you can visit the clinic to play with pets, okay?” Antonette said.

“Really, Mommy?” Mikael said and smiled like a kid given his favorite lollipop.

“Yes, baby, as long as you behave,” sagot nito. Masaya niyang tiningnan ang anak. Antonette didn’t care about Alexander — and if the truth comes out, ilalaban niya ang karapatan niya sa anak niya. Sa kaniya lang si Mikael. Hinding-hindi siya makukuha ni Alexander sa kaniya.