Arrange Hearts

CHAPTER 2

Felix and I decided na mag meet na lang sa library to discuss about our project. I was set up in my usual corner of the library, waiting for Felix with a mix of excitement and nerves. This was our first project together, and I wanted to make a good impression.

When Felix walked in, coffee in hand and laptop bag slung over his shoulder, I couldn’t help but smile. He looked relaxed and confident, perfect for the quiet vibe of the library. His friendly smile as he approached was a relief.

“Hey, Felix!” I greeted, trying to sound casual despite my nerves.

“Hi, Ada!” Felix replied, setting his things down and taking a seat across from me. “Ready na ba tayo?”

I nodded and cleared some papers to make space. “Yeah, ready. Where do you want to start? Data cleaning, feature selection, or should we talk about the model?”

Felix took a sip of his coffee and leaned back thoughtfully. “Let’s start with data cleaning. Kailangan natin ayusin ang missing values, i-normalize ang data, at tingnan ang mga outliers.”

“Sounds good,” I agreed. “I noticed a lot of missing values in the dataset. We might need to use imputation methods. Plus, there are some inconsistencies with the categorical variables.”

“Good catch,” Felix said, glancing at my screen. “We can use mean imputation for numerical data and mode imputation for categorical data. For normalization, what do you think—Min-Max scaling or Standardization?”

“I’m leaning towards Standardization,” I replied. “Mas maganda yun kapag iba-iba ang scale ng features. It helps with models that assume normally distributed data.”

“Great choice,” Felix said, looking pleased. “Once we’ve cleaned the data, we can move on to feature selection. Maybe start with correlation analysis to find the key features?”

“Agree,” I said. “We should also consider feature engineering to create new features.”

Felix’s excitement was contagious. “I’m really looking forward to this. Once the data’s ready, we can decide on the model. I was thinking of starting with logistic regression, but we can explore Random Forest or Gradient Boosting later.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said, feeling a rush of excitement. “I’m glad we’re working on this project together.”

“Me too,” Felix said, smiling. “Let’s get started!”

As we turned our attention back to the laptop, I felt a genuine thrill. Working with Felix on this project was even more exciting than I had imagined, and I couldn’t wait to see where our collaboration would take us. Felix was so thoughtful, definitely my type. As we worked on our laptops, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. His focused expression and the way he tackled the project made me admire him even more. Ang galing niya talaga, and it made me admire him even more. His concentration and the thoughtful way he handled every detail made me realize just how well we were working together. Every time he looked up and caught my eye, there was a brief, almost unspoken connection. I could see the determination and genuine interest in his eyes. Nakakatuwa na magkasama kami sa project na ito. I found myself looking forward to every moment of our collaboration, both because of the project and because of him.

At one point, Felix looked up and caught me staring. Instead of making a joke or teasing, he simply flashed a small, genuine smile and said, “Alam mo, you look really focused today. And ang ganda ng look mo, bagay na bagay.”

I was taken aback, my cheeks warming slightly. “Oh, talaga? Salamat,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite my surprise.

Felix’s smile was soft and sincere. “Yea, I just noticed. It’s nice seeing how dedicated you are, and you look good doing it.”

His unexpected compliment about my appearance, along with his genuine tone, made me feel both shy and really happy. It was one of those small, surprising moments that made the project even more enjoyable.

“Thanks,” I said, smiling softly. “I appreciate that.”

We both laughed quietly and returned to our work, but there was a new, pleasant energy between us, making the rest of the session feel a little brighter. I was focused on finding additional resources for our project. I stood up from my seat and spotted a book I needed on a high shelf.

“Naku, kailangan ko ‘to,” I said to myself as I reached up, stretching on my tiptoes. The book was tantalizingly close but just out of reach. I tried jumping a little but still couldn’t grab it.

I was about to give up when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around and found Felix standing so close behind me that our faces were just inches apart. I could feel my cheeks flush at the sudden proximity.

For a moment, everything around us seemed to fade away. The hum of the library, the distant chatter of other students—none of it mattered. All I could focus on was Felix’s presence, the way his eyes sparkled with a mix of concern and amusement. The close proximity made me acutely aware of the scent he carried, clean and subtly comforting.

I noticed how his features softened into a warm, genuine smile. Ang saya ng pakiramdam ko, parang nagiging sentro ng mundo ko ang moment na ‘to kahit na hindi ko inaasahan. I’d admired Felix from afar before, but this was different. The way he looked at me, with that kind smile, made me feel like I was truly seen.

Bakit parang ang bilis ng t***k ng puso ko? Was it just the surprise of being so close, or was there something more? Felix’s voice, soft and reassuring, broke through my thoughts. “Need some help?” he asked, his tone so gentle that it made my heart flutter.

I realized then that my usual composure was slipping away. Siguro sobrang pula na ng pisngi ko, and I was struggling to maintain my usual calm. The closeness was disorienting but strangely pleasant.

“Uh, yeah,” I managed to reply, trying to sound casual. “I’m just trying to get this book, pero sobrang taas.”

Felix reached up effortlessly and grabbed the book from the top shelf. As he handed it to me, our fingers brushed lightly, sending a small jolt through me. “Here you go. Didn’t want you to strain yourself.”

I took the book, feeling a mix of gratitude and an unexpected sense of contentment. The brief touch of his hand was electrifying, and the closeness of the moment felt surprisingly intimate. It was a small interaction, but it felt significant.

“Thanks, Felix,” I said, trying to regain my composure. “I really needed this for our project.”

“No problem,” Felix replied with a warm smile. “Glad to help.”

As he turned back to his seat, I couldn’t help but glance at him, feeling a blend of warmth and anticipation. The unexpected closeness and his gentle manner had made the evening more memorable, and I looked forward to our next time working together.

As it was getting late, Felix and I decided na ituloy na lang ulit yung project next time. The library was starting to empty out, and the quiet atmosphere was giving us both the hint that it was time to wrap up.

“See you around?” I said.

“Absolutely,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “Looking forward to it.”

As we packed up our things and prepared to head out, I couldn’t help but feel a bit excited about our next session. The evening had been unexpectedly enjoyable, and I was already looking forward to spending more time with him, both for the project and for the moments in between.

“Good night, Ada,” Felix said as we reached the library entrance.

“Good night, Felix,” I replied, smiling. “See you soon.”

As Felix and I started to part ways, hindi ko na mapigilan ang kilig. Grabe, sobrang hirap ng pagpipigil ko kanina. Parang ang soft girl ko bigla, totally caught off guard by these feelings.

Walking home, I replayed every detail of our interaction—yung magkalapit ang mukha namin, his warm smile, and the brief touch of our hands. Ang sweet at thoughtful niya, at hindi ko talaga maalis sa isip ko.

I found myself smiling uncontrollably, thinking about how nice it was to spend time with him. It was such a pleasant surprise, and now I was looking forward to seeing him again, not just for the project but for the moments in between.

Pagdating ko sa bahay, hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti ko. The feeling of kilig was so strong, and I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but I was really happy that I got to experience this with him.

I kept thinking about our next time together, and how nice it would be to have more moments like this. It felt like I was floating, and I couldn’t wait for whatever might come next.

"Bakit late ka na?" My mom asked, arms crossed and looking at me with a disapproving expression.

"Uhm, project," I replied, trying to sound as indifferent as possible.

My mom’s eyebrows shot up. “We’re having a family dinner tomorrow at 7PM with the Ellis family.”

The mention of the Ellis family made me feel a flicker of irritation. Ang dami na ngang pinagdadaanan, tapos ngayon kailangan pang makipagkita sa pamilya na ‘yun.

“Really? The Ellis family?” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral but failing to hide my annoyance. “busy kami gumawa ng project” I tries to sound convincing, hoping this excuse will get me out of it.

But my mom just smiles, not buying it for a second. “Project shouldn't run that late. You can make it.”

“What’s this really about, Mom? Don’t tell me this is another attempt to—” I pauses, glaring suspiciously at her mom, “—make me meet him.”

“Shh, dont make arguments. Just make sure you’re on time,” my mom said firmly. “It’s important.”

“Mom, I told you, I’m not interested in this arranged marriage. I don’t even know him.”

Nagging serious ang expression niya. “Wala ka nang choice, Ada. Para to sa family natin. We’re depending on you. Besides,” she adds with a hint of excitement, “you might be surprised. Evan is a wonderful young man. Magugustuhan mo siya.”

I bit my tongue, feeling the frustration welling up inside her. I want to fight it, to refuse once and for all, but I know it’s no use. My parents have made up their minds, and they’re not going to budge. They’ve already cut off my allowance, limited her access to her credit cards—what’s next if I keep refusing?

"ok, I’ll be there.” As I retreated to my room, I couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh. The thought of spending time with the Ellis family, the same family my parents were trying to arrange me to marry into, was frustrating. I just wanted to focus on my project and avoid the whole mess of this arranged marriage nonsense.

At the moment, all I wanted was to escape from everything and just have a break from the constant pressure. Instead, I had to prepare for another forced family dinner, which felt like just another hurdle in my already complicated life.

I tried to push my feelings aside and focus, but I can't help but think about how different things could be with Felix. His effortless charm makes me feel special, yet I constantly pulled back to reality. The arranged marriage feels like a cloud hanging over me.

“What if I miss my chance with Felix?" I wonders, but I quickly pushes those thoughts away, reminding myself of the commitment my parents demand.

WaaaAahh ang hirap.