Chase of Heart

Chapter One

Flashback

I OPENED MY EYES SLOWLY as the sunlight that was passing through my uncurtained window touched my face, another typical day where I need to wake up early to study. I roamed my eyes around my room for a moment before deciding to stand up and made my way to the comfort room.

I took my clothes off and turned the shower on. I moaned as I felt the cold morning water on my body. I did my morning routine on shower and turned it off.

Right after I’m done, I went downstairs for breakfast. There I saw Mama, cooking breakfast while Papa is already sitting on his place, reading newspaper with his long sleeves and tie and coffee in front of him.

“Good Morning, Pa,” I gave Papa a kiss on his left cheek; he just flashed me a smile and nodded slowly, “Good Morning, Ma.” I also greeted Mama as she put the bacon and egg in front of me.

“Good Morning.” Mom replied as she planted soft kiss on my right cheek.

“Hanggang kailan pa ang pasok niyo?” Papa asked as he sipped on his coffee. I helped myself get some bread before answering.

“Papa naman, siyempre hanggang March pa,” I answered as I filled my own plate with egg and bacon.

“Just asking.” Papa said while shrugging his shoulder.

“Oo nga naman, hon.” Mama giggled.

“Sabi ko naman sa inyo na kaya ko na. Matanda na ako at kaya ko na.”

Nagtinginan silang dalawa at hindi sumagot. I was just on my second year college, studying Business Management and as of them, next year we will migrate to Paris since Papa was given a chance to have a career there.

He’s one of the Manager of WCS or William Construction Supply which is under William Group of Companies and as of him, that’s what he really wanted since he’s been working on that company for quite some times now.

Hindi kami mayaman, isa na rin siguro sa mga dahilan kaya masyadong nasasabik si Mama na makapunta sa Paris dahil kung sakali ay iyon ang magiging unang beses na makakasakay siya ng eroplano.

“P’wede naman. Pero ayaw ka naming iwanan dito, alam mo naman na tatlo lang tayo sa pamilya. Atsaka makakapag-aral ka ulit doon ng fashion designing at ang kumpanya ang sasagot, hindi ba at iyon naman talaga ang gusto mo?” Papa said.

As I heard the fashion-designing-thing, I suddenly smiled.

They’re right. I have always wanted to be a fashion designer, and back when I was still a kid, I was always telling them that I’ll never get that course if it’s not on Paris.

“Yup. Sasama ako sa inyo at mag-aaral ulit sa Paris.” I said with a hint of smile on my face.

“Eh bakit ipinagpapatuloy mo pa ang pagaaral mo dito?” Mama asked.

“Naumpisahan ko na kasi. Atsaka hindi ko na tatapusin ang buong apat na taon. Dalawang taon na lang kasi sayang ang diploma.” That’s how it goes in our university. For the first two years, we will receive a diploma that we already ended two years.

“Oo na, panalo ka na. Basta ang usapan ay aalis na tayo sa susunod na taon at buwan ng marso, maliwanag?” Papa asked. I smiled and nodded slowly.

“Sige na po, aalis na ako!” Tugon ko at agad na tumakbo pabalik ng kwarto ko para makapag-toothbrush.

I took my toothbrush and put an ample amount of toothpaste in it before brushing my teeth. I spit it on the sink, open the faucet for water, gurgle and spit it again. Right after I’m done, I get my handbag so I can finally go to school.

Lumabas ako ng subdivision namin at agad na naglakad hanggang sa sakayan ng jeep. Hindi naman naging matagal ang biyahe at nakadating na ako kaagad sa University.

“Heart!” Agad akong tumingin kay Aya nang tawagin ang pangalan ko. Ngumiti ako at agad na kumaway, agad naman niya akong nilapitan nang nakangisi, “Anong ngisi ‘yan?” tanong ko pagkalapit niya.

“Nakausap ko si Nico Asuncion kanina!” kinurot pa niya ako sa tagiliran kaya napangiwi ako.

“Iba rin talaga ang kabaliwan mo eh, ‘no? Halika na nga, mahuhuli na tayo sa klase.” Sagot ko naman at nagsimula nang maglakad. Sinabayan naman niya ako sa paglalakad at nagpatuloy sa pagku-kuwento ng kung ano-ano.

“Huy!” Muntikan na akong mapatalon nang bigla kaming gulatin ni Mike. Kaibigan namin siya ni Aya. Halos araw-araw ay kaming tatlo ang magkakasama.

Maliban na lang kung may practice sila sa banda nila. Nostalgia is the name of their band. Mike is the vocalist and guitarist, Nico Asuncion is the keyboardist, Marco Asuncion is the bass guitarist while Chase Delos Santos is their drummer.

Akala ko noon ay imposibleng mangyari sa totoong buhay ang eksenang magsisigawan at tilian ang mga estudyante at kulang na lang ay sambahin ang mga kilala sa kanilang mga paaralan. I thought at first that those kinds of things only happened on a teen fiction story, but I thought wrong.

Sa unibersidad na pinapasukan namin ay ang banda ni Mike ang sinisigawan at tinitilian. Well, I can’t hide the fact that they’re all equally good when it comes to their passion on music and looks. Mike Castro and Aya Guzman are my best friends since ages of time.

Kaya kahit na may ibang kaibigan na si Mike ay halos sa lahat ng oras ay laging kami pa rin ni Aya ang kasama niya.

“Bwisit ka, Mike!” Inis na saad ni Aya, hawak ang dibdib dahil sa gulat.

“Watch your mouth, woman!” Mike hissed, “Sige ka, hindi na kita ilalakad kay Nico.” Mike added with a grin on his face, I just shook my head at their childish acts.

“Ewan ko lang kung anong kinababaliwan niyo sa Nostalgia na ‘yan. They’re not even handsome, I mean, yes they are, but not as handsome as those boy bands that are on the televisions.” I said trying to tease Mike. He just chuckled and shook his head.

“Did you just hear that, bro?” Mike said ignoring my sentence. He said it as if he’s talking to someone on my back.

“He-he. Nagbibiro lang siya, Nico.” Si Aya naman ang nagsalita.

I quickly turned my back to see if there’s really someone on my back. My eyes grew wide and my blood ran out of my face as I saw the whole Nostalgia. Ang dalawang magkapatid, sina Nico at Marco ay nakangisi habang si Chase naman ay nakasimangot at nakataas ang isang kilay sa akin.

“If you don’t like us you can just shut your mouth rather than talking nonsense.” Chase stated matter of factly.

Teka, hindi ba niya tanggap na sinabi kong hindi siya g’wapo o hindi niya tanggap na may mas g’wapo pa sa kanya? I don’t get it, but hell yea! He looks a hell of a Greek God with his brow furrowed.

“I-I’m just stating my opinion. I mean, t-this is a free world after all.” Chase smirked and stared at me intently. He even played his chin using his left hand and scanned me using his pair of chocolate brown eyes.

“Base on your looks, you’re one of the old fashioned girls who don’t know how to kiss, boring to make it short. I don’t like your jeans, hindi siya maganda tignan sa sapatos mo,” he said in a low voice, “and your fitted tee shirt doesn’t suit you fine either. It’s just emphasizing how flat-chested you are.” He added, my jaw dropped, I mean literally dropped. I blinked a couple of times. Damn! He just insulted me.

“Chill. That’s my best friend you are speaking with, Chase.” Mike said in a warning voice. Chase shrugged his shoulder and smirked.

“I’m just stating my opinion. I mean, this is a free world after all.” Tugon niya na ginagaya ang linyang sinabi ko. Damn this guy! Yes, I must admit that he’s one of a hell Greek-God-like, but he’s just so rude. What I said awhile back was just a joke and I was just trying to tease Mike. But it turns out all wrong for him.

“Hindi ako flat-chested! Malaki ‘to! Atsaka marunong akong humalik!” Bigla akong namula sa sarili kong sagot nang magtawanan silang lahat. Ngumisi naman si Chase at bumulong sa akin.

“Really, so… can you show me the proof?” And I guess, I turned crimson red even more. s**t!

With my full force, I hit his thing-down-there using my knee and he groaned out of pain. He even knelt on the cold hard ground while his eyes are hardly closed because of pain.

“s**t!” Mike said, trying hard not to laugh but the other two already burst out laughing.

“S-Sorry.” Agad akong lumuhod nang makita siyang namimilipit sa sakit. I didn’t mean to do it. Agad akong binalot ng kunsensiya. Aalalayan ko sana siya pero bigla niya akong hinigit.

In an instance, I just found my lips next to his. And I feel like it brought me into different dimension. It’s as if everything just slows down and it’s only the two of us are moving. The kiss lasted for a minute or less.

Sunod sunod na pagkurap ng mata ang ginawa ko pagkatapos niya akong halikan. I stared at his perfectly handsome face not minding the grin that was plastered on his lips. I was caught off guard. I lost on words. The only thing that’s on my mind was his sweet lips and kiss.

“I’m right. You don’t know how to kiss.”