Bleeding Heart still Pounds

Suitor

"Congratulations Ashley Janed Calayag and Grace Angelica Medina for winning the women's double badminton category."

I went up on the stage as soon as I heard my name. I get my certificate and I shakehands to the principal. We took a photos for the newspapers of our school. Aldwin was there sitting on the floor. Nandito kaming lahat sa covered court dahil awarding na ngayon.

After the awarding, I went straight home to slept early. Hindi pa lumulubog ang araw pero nakatulog na agad ako. Aba'y apat na araw ba naman akong naglaro e!

The next day, I wake up so early in the morning. I went to the bathroom to take a bath. I wore my maong shorts, and maroon crop topped shirt. I combed my hair and did my morning care routine.

After fixing myself, I went down on the kitchen to eat my breakfast. I was singing happily but stopped when I saw a familiar figure seating on one of our chairs in the dining.

"Good morning Ashley." Aldwin greet me with a smile drawn in his lips.

I was shocked knowing that he was here so early in the morning. I did not answer him so he greet me again.

"Ah, morning." I awkwardly said.

My feet glued to the floor when I saw my mother entertaining Aldwin. My father was reading his newspaper but he was still talking something to Aldwin. My Ate Maxine is not yet awake probably because she slept last night.

" 'Nak, samahan mo na kaming mag-almusal dito." my mother invite me.

I disapproved to her idea but I'm already starving so I eat my breakfast with them.

Napapatigil ako sa pagnguya sa 'twing nakikita ko si Mama na naglalagay ng kanin at ulam sa plato ni Aldwin. I also noticed that there are so many foods as if it was a fiest. Wait, did Aldwin tell my mother that he will going to visit our house? Kaya ba ang daming niluto ni Mama dahil alam nyang darating si Aldwin? Well, I knew that he will serious of asking permission about him courting me but the thing is, he came so early in the morning. And, I did not know that today was the day that he will pay a visit.

"Ilang taon ka na?" my father interrogate Aldwin, his eyes were in the newspaper.

Aldwin carefully put down his fork and spoon. Parang takot syang gumawa ng ingay dahil sa seryosong tanong ni Papa.

"13 po." he answered while his hands were shaking. I can say that he was really nervous because my father put him in a hot seat.

"May bisyo ka ba?" my father was dead serious.

"Wala po. Hindi po ako naninigarilyo at umiinom ng alak." Aldwin swallowed so hard.

"Anong plano mo kapag sinagot ka na ng anak ko?" Papa continue asking some random questions.

"Ahh..." umayos ng upo si Aldwin, getting uncomfortable now. "actually po, marami po akong plano sa buhay noon pero nag-iba na po ngayon simula po noong nakilala ko ang anak nyo. Pangarap ko po talagang maging basketball player at maglaro sa PBA."

" 'Yun lang? Hindi ka mag-aaral ng kolehiyo? Hindi ka kukuha ng apat na taong kurso?" my father sounded so disappointed.

My mother gestured Aldwin that he don't need to answer my father's question but Aldwin insisted.

"Kukuha po ako ng Engineering course."

"Dahil lang sa pinilit kita?" Papa raised a brow.

"Hindi po. Bata pa lang po ako ay pangarap ko na pong maging engineer. Nangibabaw nga lamang po ang pangarap ko na maglaro sa PBA pero may plano po akong kumuha ng Engineering course sa college. Magtatapos po ako ng pag-aaral, kikita ng maraming pera, bibili ng kotse, magpapagawa ng bahay at pagkatapos po noon ay pakakasalan ko na po ang anak nyo." Aldwin's knee was shaking.

I got so bored while listening. Hindi pa naman ako pakakasalan ni Aldwin pero grabe kung magtanong si Papa. Nanliligaw pa lang naman si Aldwin but my father makes him so uncomfortable. Baka mamaya'y matrauma pa si Aldwin kay Papa e.

"Okay." binaba ni Papa sa lamesa ang binabasa nyang dyaryo.

"Po?" Aldwin asked with so much confusion in his eyes.

"Permission Granted."

"Po?" wala na yatang alam na sabihin si Aldwin kung hindi ang salitang 'po'.

"Gusto kita para sa anak ko kaya't sige, binibigyan kita ng permiso para ligawan ang anak ko."

I went back in my room after that long conversation. Tumagal ang usapan dahil chinika na ni Ate Maxine si Aldwin. She keeps on showing to Aldwin my photos when I was a kid. She just stopped teasing me when I teased her too. Sinabihan ko lang sya na 'walang jowa' kaya automatic na tumikom ang bibig nya. That words hit her. Mukhang naghost sya, nireject ng crush nya or something like that.

The next day was Sunday so there was no classes again. I went to the church to attend the mass. Pagkatapos ng misa ay umuwi na agad ako sa bahay upang matulog ng maaga. Paniguradong marami kaming gagawin dahil tapos na ang intramurals. Babalik na naman sa normal ang lahat. Bibigyan na naman kami ng maraming schoolworks ng iba't iba naming subject teachers.

Tama nga ang hinala ko't ganoon na nga ang nangyari. This day became worst when Mrs. Mendoza, our AP teacher gave a surprise quiz. It was really hard dahil identification ang type ng question.

She open up a new lesson again. After that ay nagbigay ng seatwork tungkol sa lesson na tinalakay.

I get my book inside the cabinet but I did not find it. I was trembling when I sat back on my chair. May minus five pa naman kapag nakalimutan mo ang libro.

"Uy. Anong nangyari?" Aldwin asked worriedly.

He was sitting beside me temporarily. Irish was absent so the sit beside me was vacant.

"Nawawala ang AP book ko." I almost cried.

Kung ang items sa seatwork ay over ten, edi magkakaroon na lang ako ng five points. Hindi pa iyon sure dahil hindi ko naman alam kung tama ang lahat ng sagot ko.

Mrs. Mendoza was roaming around the class, scolding some of my classmates who were talking to each other. She was holding a red ballpen, ready to deduct the score of those students who did not bring their books.

She stopped infront of my armchair when she noticed that Aldwin and I shared one book.

"Ms. Calayag, did you forgot to bring your book?!" boses pa lang nya, nakakatakot na.

"Ye-----"

"I am the one who forgot to bring mine Ma'am. This book belongs to Ashley so she had nothing to do with this matter. I'm the one who was at fault, Ma'am."

"Uy." siniko ko sya ng palihim, not liking what he was saying.

"Give me your paper. You will automatically have a minus five on your score." Mrs. Mendoza offered his hand to Aldwin.

"Okay Ma'am." Aldwin stay so calm even if he has a minus five in his score.

I want to cry right now after the class dismissed. It was my fault for being so irresponsible. I let Aldwin suffered for my stupidity. Now, he got five over ten.

Ako naman ay nakakuha ng perfect score but I don't think it was fair. Guilt was eating me right now. He was suffering where in the first place, it was all my fault.

"Pupunta ako kay Ma'am Mendoza. Sasabihin kong ako ang nakaiwan ng libro para perfect ang score mo." I made up my mind, ready to leave now.

"Hindi mo gagawin iyan. Ayos lang ako. Grade is just a number. Wala akong pakialam kung palakol ang grades ko sa subject nya. Gawin nya kung ano ang gusto nya. Basta ako, masaya ako dahil ginawa ko iyon para sa'yo." he held both of my shoulder to force me to sit down.

Hindi na nga sya papipigil kaya't sinunod ko na lang ang gusto nya. Baka sabihin nya pa na hindi ako appreciative na tao e.

Just like he said, wala syang pakialam sa grades nya pero kabaligtaran naman ang nakikita ko. He was doing his best to studied and to teach me some lesson in Math that I can't easily understand.

"Ikaw naman magsolve." he handed me his pen.

I stared at him for a long period of time. Who would have thought that he can be my math tutor and suitor? Napaka multi-tasking nya.

"Hoy. Nakikinig ka ba?" he asked so I snapped back.

"Ah, sorry. Paki-explain nga ulit." I scratched the back of my head.

He explained again but I'm not listening to him. I was busy staring to his handsome face. I pay attention to his adams apple as well as his serious facial expression.

"Matutunaw ako nyan." he suddenly said.

"Icecream ka ba?" I talk back, not taking his eyes off him.

"Pick-up line ba 'yan?" he gave me an awkward smile.

"Syempre hindi. Ang sinasabi ko ay hindi ka matutunaw dahil hindi ka naman icecream." I rolled my eyes to him. So assuming naman nya. Ibinalik ko rin ang tingin ko sa kanya. His eyes were so attractive as if it was hipnotizing me.

He laugh a little as if I said something funny. May nakakatawa ba? I just want to stared at him! Am I not allowed to do that?!

"Tama na ang landi. Mag-aral na tayo." he looked back again to his math notebook that was placed in the bench.

"Hindi kita nilalandi. Assuming ne'to." I defended myself.

He looked away, containing his laugh to hisself. There were times that he was smiling when he was staring at my handwriting.

"Ang ganda ng sulat mo." he complimented.

"At?" I asked, hoping that he will get what I mean.

"At maganda rin ang nagsulat." he added, giving me an assuring smile.

Eto ang nagustuhan ko sa kanya. He was a quick-witted person. That is what I like the most about him.

I focused on solving the problems that he made. Nahihiya na ako dahil kanina pa sya nageexplain pero hindi ko pa rin maintindihan. I did my very best just to answered the problem correctly.

I confidently gave my math notebook to him. I had so much guts that I got the correct answer this time.

He directly looked at my paper with a furrowed brow. He was very focused while checking my work.

"Ang galing mo. Correct 'yung answer mo." his smile brought a relief in his eyes.

"Syempre. Math wizard." pagyayabang ko.

He just rode on what is my trip. I'm glad that he wasn't kill joy.

Another silence came between us. We ran out of topic so we kept quiet. In just a while, the environment suddenly became noisy when Aldwin's friends approach us.

"Pre! Nandito pala kayo!" Eron sat on the bench infront of us. Magkatabi kaming dalawa ni Aldwin tapos sina Ren, Justin, Zhen at Eron ay umupo sa bench na kaharap namin.

"Pre, nakakaistorbo ba kami?" Ren asked worriedly.

"Ano sa tingin nyo?" Aldwin asked back. Ang ayos nya talagang sumagot!

"Hindi? Haha." Ren guessed, laughing a little.

"Epal talaga ng mga kupal." Aldwin whispered to hisself, getting mad now dahil dumagdag pa ang mga kaibigan niya sa kanyang tuturuan.

He almost forgot that I am here because he was busy teaching his friends. Justin was scratching the back of his head same as Zhen. The two of them were having a hard time solving numbers. Well, kahit ako rin naman.

"Explain mo nga ulit. Di ko gets e." Eron demanded with a furrowed brow.

Aldwin looked up in the sky, running out of patient now.

"Dios ko. Torture 'to." mariin nyang ipinikit ang mga mata.

I laugh when I saw him controlling his emotions towards Eron. Kanina pa pinapaliwanag ni Aldwin ang lesson kay Eron pero hindi pa rin ito naiintindihan ng kaibigan nya. Kahit na ganoon, mas nangingibabaw pa rin ang pagmamahal ni Aldwin para sa kaibigan. He still want Eron to learned something from him.

"Hala, ang galing. Ang dali lang pala. Ganoon lang pala iyon. Bobo ko naman." Eron said.

"Matagal na Eron. Sinasabi ko 'to incase na hindi mo alam." Aldwin insult his friend.

Eron dramatically held his chest as if he was totally hurt.

"Ilan nga pala I.Q. mo pre?" Ren asked out of curiosity.

"Mas mataas ng I.Q. mo." Aldwin answered arrogantly.

"Yabang." Ren also laugh, getting amazed now.

The next day, we had a summative test to prepare for the periodical test. Buong araw ay nagsummative lang kami.

A day before the first periodical exam, Aldwin asked me if I can accompany him to the barber shop. He will going to have a haircut dahil malapit na ang exam.

"Arat na." I sounded like an excited kid. He hold my hand as well as my books and my bagpack.

Our hands intertwined to each other while walking. When we arrived at the barber shop, Aldwin sat on the monoblock chair, facing the mirror. The barber start to cut his hair. Ako naman ay naglalaro lamang ng candy crush sa cellphone ko.

Sometimes, I glanced at Aldwin and I saw him glancing back to me. Later on, he smiled and so I did the same.

Nakatapos na yata ako ng tatlong level sa candy crush pero hindi pa rin tapos gupitan si Aldwin. Inilabas ko na lang ang mga notes ko para magreview. Time is so important so I don't like to waste my time.

"Naks naman. Sipag mo naman Ash. Sana all." nangibabaw ang boses ni Jake na kakapasok lang dito sa loob ng barber shop. He was so sarcastic.

I continue to focused on what I am reviewing but Jake's voice and presence really distracting me.

"Bakit ang ingay mo at bakit binubwisit mo ako? Higit sa lahat, anong ginagawa mo rito? Sinusundan mo ba ako?" I concluded so fast, not even thinking about it.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo Doktora ha. Exam na bukas kaya kailangan ko na ring magpa-trim ng buhok." he messed his hair.

I smiled when I heard him calling me Doktora. Masarap lang talagang pakinggan ang salitang 'Doktora'. Napangiti tuloy ako habang iniisip ang mangyayari sa future. I can't wait to achieve my ultimate dream. I can't wait to wear a lab coat and worked in the hospital.

"Ikaw? Anong ginagawa mo rito? Nag-iisa ka yata? Wala kang kasama?"

"Hindi. Kasama ko si Aldwin. Ayun sya oh!" I pointed to Aldwin who was glaring on us. I can see on the mirror that his brow furrowed. Nagkakaganito lang talaga sya kapag nakikita nya si Jake.

"Paktay! Nalintikan na!" Jake panicked while taking his eyes off to Aldwin.

"Sige Ash. Bye na muna." he suddenly said.

"Teka, akala ko magpapagupit ka?" I asked while laughing so hard.

"Ayoko ng magpagupit. Nakakatakot ang mga tao rito lalong-lalo na 'yung manliligaw mo." he whispered the last two words to me.

I watched him as he running as fast as he could just to get rid of Aldwin. Hindi ko na napigilan ang tawa ko habang sinusundan ng tingin si Jake.

Aldwin glared at me in the mirror so I make a serious expression. He looked so mad or upset about something.

The barber put a powder around his neck. He took off the tissue and the black cloth. Aldwin payed for the haircut and then he get our bags, not talking or even glancing to me.

"Oy! Anong inaarte-arte mo dyan?" hinila ko ang laylayan ng uniform nya upang bagalan nya ang kanyang lakad.

"Oy! Hintay lang kasi." puwersahan ko syang pinatigil sa paglakad.

Sandali syang huminto, tumingin sya sa'kin pero agad ding nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Bakit ba bad mood ka na naman?" I asked, almost running out of patient.

"Dahil nakipag-usap ka na naman doon sa Jake mo. Kaunti na lang talaga't malilintikan na sa'kin ang lalaking iyon." Aldwin clench his fist.

I smiled widely when I figured out that he was jealous. I shouldn't be happy because he was upset but I just can't stop it.

"Babe, AKSA." he reach for my hands just to hold it. His voice was sweet although it sounded a little mad.

"AKSA?" I asked back, getting confused now.

"Akin ka, sa'yo ako." he smiled.

That was our last time that we had our conversation. We decided to focused in our studies just to make sure that we will have a good score for the first periodical exam. Nag-uusap naman kami sa classroom dahil naggugroup study kami. We hangout rarely unlike before na palagi kaming tambay sa seven eleven.

"Ashley, seven eleven tayo?" Aldwin suddenly appeared infront of me.

"Sure, arat na." I answered without any hesitation.

Our first periodical exam was over now so Aldwin invite me to eat lunch in seven eleven. Half day lang ang pasok namin dahil first periodical examination ngayon. Aldwin bought two meals of giniling for us. He insisted that he will pay for everything.

We looked for a vacant table so that we can start to eat our lunch. The seven eleven was so crowded so it wasn't easy to find a vacant tables.

"Kamusta exam?" he break the silence between us.

I stopped from eating just to looked up on him.

"Ayos lang naman. Napagod nga lang ang utak ko." I put down the spoon and then I laugh a little.

"Gusto mo na bang umuwi pagkatapos nating kumain? Malalamlam na ang mga mata mo e, parang inaantok ka na." he said worriedly.

"Ayoko pang umuwi. Nakakabagot sa bahay. Dito muna tayo sa seven eleven tumambay. Gusto rin kasi kitang makasama ng matagal. Promise, hindi pa ako inaanto----" I cut my own words when I yawn.

Sumingkit ang mga mata ni Aldwin at napatigil din sya sa pag-kain.

"Tara na Ashley. Uwi na tayo. Hatid na kita sa inyo." his decision was final so I can't do anything about it.

We rode on a same jeepney so I had a chance to slept on his shoulders. He gently tapped my face just to wake me up.

"Aldwin, huwag mo na akong ihatid sa bahay namin. Umuwi ka na lang sa inyo para makapagpahinga ka na rin." I suggested but he was really stubborn.

He did not even listen in my opinion. He walked me home just to make sure that I arrived home safely.

"Kita tayo bukas." he messed my hair as if I am his dog. Anak ng pating.