Chase of Heart

Chapter Two

I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. He kissed me. Chase Delos Santos just kissed me. And that fvcking kiss keeps me dumbfounded for the whole time.

“Hoy!” nagulat ako nang magsalita si Aya. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa cafeteria at kumakain, “halik lang ‘yon teh, move on!” Dagdag niya at isinubo ang kutsarang may lamang pagkain. Mike just laughed and shook his head.

“That A of a hole is obviously into you. I just can’t imagine that he has his own way of winning you.” I glared at him as he laughed again for the nth time around.

“Shut up, Mike!” I hissed. He just shrugged his shoulders and flashed me a smile.

“Can we join you guys? Wala na kasing bakante eh,” Agad akong lumingon nang marinig si Nico na nagsalita, katabi niya si Marco. Napasinghap ako nang makita si Chase na nasa likod nila.

“Sure.” Nakangiting sagot ni Aya. Agad naman akong tumayo at ngumiti sa kanila.

“Sige ba. But I actually need to go since I still have something to do.”

And of course, that was just my excuse since I know exactly that it’ll be awkward for the two of us. Ayoko nang isipin ang halik na iyon.

“B-But you haven’t touch your food yet.” Mike said trying to stop me but I already started walking away from them.

Even if I am hungry and I haven’t eaten anything yet, I just decided to go to the Science Garden for fresh air. Tahimik dito at walang masyadong pumupuntang estudyante. Agad ko namang isinandal ang likod ko sa isang puno at umupo sa madamong lapag.

I sighed heavily and took chocolate-bits out of my bag and opened it. This can be enough for my lunch I guess. I took three pieces of it and shove them inside my mouth. I was taken aback as Chase sat in front of me and raised me one brow.

“I’m sorry.” He said. Sincerity was written on his face, “I know that you wanted to avoid me because of what happened. I’m sorry.” Inilapag niya ang dalawang styro ng pagkain at dalawang bote ng mineral water.

“I-It’s okay. I… I should be the one saying sorry, I mean, I don’t really mean what I said. I was just trying to tease Mike.” I explained. He nodded slowly and flashed me a smile.

“Let’s eat? I know you’re hungry.” Tapos ay siya na ang nagbukas ng styro at ini-abot ito sa akin. Kahit na nagaalangan ay kinuha ko ito at ngumiti.

We ate together in silence since the aura is awkward, well, I don’t know what to say.

“How long have you known Mike?” He asked, breaking the silence.

“Noong mga bata pa kami. Magkapit-bahay kasi kami kaya lumaki na kaming magkasama.” Tumango naman siya.

“And he’s not courting you, right?” My eyes grew wide at his question.

“Siyempre hindi,” agad na sagot ko, “he likes Loisa Andrade.” I added, referring to one of the prettiest student here in our university.

“I like Loisa too, I mean, she’s pretty and all,” I don’t know why but there’s a pang of pain that I felt on my chest as he threw those words, “but I love someone.” He added.

“P’wede ba ‘yon, magkakagusto ka sa dalawang tao?” Ngumiti naman siya.

“P’wede. Like and Love are two different things. We can like anyone we wanted but we can only love one.” He replied matter of factly.

“Words of wisdom, eh?” Marahan siyang humalakhak at ngumiti sa akin, “Sino ba ang mahal mo?” nagulat ako sa sarili kong tanong. Ngumiti siya at pumikit.

“Nakita ko siya noong unang beses na tumugtog ang banda sa stage ng University. She’s watching us but she looks bored. Napansin ata ng isa sa mga kasama kong nakatitig ako sa kanya kaya sinabi niya sa akin ang pangalan niya. Right after that time, lagi ko na siyang hinahanap. I didn’t stalk her, but I always wanted to see her every day. And as time passes by, I just found myself falling in love with her. Nakakatawa kasi wala pa siyang ginagawa pero hulog na ako.” Ngumiti ako sa k’wento niya at marahang tumango.

“Why don’t you court her? G’wapo ka naman. Mukha ka pang mabait kahit na may pagka-manyak. Basta payo lang ha? Kung liligawan mo siya, huwag mong lalait-laitin at hahalikan.” Marahan siyang humalakhak at tumango.

“I’m sorry about that.” Umiling naman ako at ngumiti, “Halika na, hatid na kita sa room niyo?” Kumunot ang noo ko at agad na umiling.

“Wala na akong pasok. Mauna ka na baka ma-late ka pa.” Imbes na makinig sa akin ay agad niyang kinuha ang pinagkainan namin at itinapon ito sa malapit na basurahan. He flashed me a smile as we started walking.

“Wala na rin akong pasok. Pero tuwing hapon ay may practice kami sa bahay nina Nico at Marco, gusto mong sumama?” Umiling naman ako at ngumiti.

“Nahihiya ako. Atsaka baka maka-istorbo lang ako sa inyo.”

“Of course not. Aya will be there too. And we actually need audience to tell us what we need to improve.” Marahan akong tumango.

“Sigurado ka ba na ayos lang kina Nico at Marco?” may bahid ng pagaalangan ang boses ko.

“Yup. Nico actually wanted to date your friend.” Chase replied.

“S-Si Mike?” Chase burst out laughing and quickly shook his head.

“Silly. Si Aya.” Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya.

“Alam ko. Pinapatawa lang kita.” Umiling naman siya at ngumiti.

We walked to the parking lot of the university and stopped in front of the Corolla Altis. He clicked something causing for the car to make a sound. Pinagbuksan naman niya ako ng pinto at ngumiti sa akin.

“A-Aalis na tayo agad, nanduon na ba sila?” I asked as I hopped inside it. Pinanuod ko siyang naglakad patungong kabila nang maisara na niya ang pinto at sumakay.

“Nauna na sila kaninang sinundan kita kaya baka hinihintay na nila tayo.” He replied. I nodded slowly and shut my mouth. The whole ride, we remained in silent. Only Panic at the Disco’s Hallelujah on his Ipod’s playing and making a noise.

“All you sinners stand up, sing Hallelujah…” Sinabayan ko ang kanta. Tumingin naman sa akin si Chase at ngumiti.

“You know the song?” he asked and he put his eyes back on the road.

“Yup. I really love Brendon’s band.”

“Cool. It’s actually rare for a girl to love this kind of songs.”

“Maganda naman kasi.”

“You have a good voice. Why don’t you start a singing career?”

“Ayoko. Mahilig ako sa mga kanta pero hindi ko pinangarap na maging mangaawit. I want to be a fashion designer.”

“I see. It’s obvious from the way you dressed.” Sinimangutan ko naman siya.

“Sabi mo kanina pangit.” Reklamo ko. Marahan siyang humalakhak at umiling.

“I was just trying to tease you. Alam naman nang lahat na kahit anong isuot mo ay bagay sa ‘yo. Kahit na gaano kapangit ang ipa-suot sa ‘yo ay nadadala mo.” Sagot niya. Napangiti naman ako. Mayamaya lang ay ipinarada na niya ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang malaking bahay.

Namangha naman ako. Akmang lalabas na ako ng kotse pero pinigilan niya ako.

“Ako na.” Saad niya.

“Kaya ko naman na.”

“Just let me, please?” hindi ako sumagot, “Normal lang na gawin ito ng lalaki sa nililigawan niya hindi ba?”