Half A Heart

For A Change

Chapter 6: For A Change

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June - Sophomore Year (Highschool)

Within the summer mas naging mas close pa si Ysabelle at Alexandra. Hindi man nila lagyan ng meaning pero alam ni Alex na hindi lang sila magkaibigan ni Den, bestfriends siguro... siguro.

"Hi." sabi ni Alex. Nakita niya sa locker room si Den. Maaga silang pumasok sa school dahil may announcement si Coach Tin.

"Hi Lex! Good Morning!" sabi ni Den.

"Good Morning it is! hahaha" sabi ni Alex. "Excited na ko!"

"For?" sabi ni Den.

"Basta!" sabi ni Alex at lumabas na siya sa locker room. Iniwan niya si Den. Pag pasok sa gym ni Alex nakita niya si Ella at pinuntahan niya yung kaibigan niya.

"Wow. Nice. Buhay pa nag gupit ng buhok mo?" sabi ni Alex kay Ella habang natatawa siya sa Bagong hairstyle ng kaibigan niya.

"Shut up! Nakakainis! Si mama kasi! Sabi ko ayoko ng bangs. Unfortunately, di niya narinig o talagang gusto niya kong gawing miserable" sabi ni Ella at nilagyan niya ulit ng clip yung bangs niya.

"Grabe ka naman. Tita wont do that. I love your mom so much!" sabi ni Alex at umupo siya sa tabi ni Ella.

"Ofcourse you love her! Wala kayong ibang ginawa but ruin my day... my life actually." sabi ni Ella.

"Ouch! Sakit ah?" sabi ni Alex.

"Ito ang mas masakit! Kilala mo ba si Kevin?" sabi ni Ella.

"Ah? Yung swimmer? Crush mo?" sabi ni Alex kay Ella "Ihhhh! Hahaha" pagbibiro ni Alex kay Ella.

"Ha! Kala mo lang! Binigyan niya ng Love letter si Besh kanina!" sabi ni Ella at tatawa sana siya kaso nakita niyang nadeformed muka ni Alex. "Uy!"

"Si Kevin? Yung panget na third year? Eew! Di naman magugustuhan ni Den yun! Asa pa siya!" sabi ni Alex.

"As if! Bakit kinikilig si Besh kanina? Huh?" sabi ni Ella. "Yan! Ang bagal kasi!" Inasar niya si Alex. Di man aminin ni Alex kung anong naramdaman niya nang sinabi sakanya yun ni Ella, she can easily say na… masakit sa pakiramdam, nakakapangit ng araw.

"Please. Just stop saying that. Pareho lang kayo ni Jov! Wala naman kayong alam... Ha!" sabi ni Alex at biglang dumating si Den.

"Besh! Dito ka!" sabi ni Ella. Pagkaupo ni Den umalis si Alex at lumipat ng upuan.

"Anong problema nun?" Sabi ni Den.

"Hehehe. Medyo sinabi ko sakanya yung binigay ni Kevin sayo. Medyo lang naman" sabi ni Ella and Den pouted immediately when she heard what caused Alex to act that way.

"Haay, Ano ka ba naman, besh. Kaya naman pala..." sabi ni Den at namula siya bigla.

"Ay? Ano yan? Namumula ka? Oh my! Kinikilig ka Besh nuh? dahil nagseselos so Lex." sabi ni Ella "Ang cute niyong dalawa! Hahaha"

"Ano? Hindi no!" sabi ni Den. Sa di kalayuan nakatingin si Alex sakanilang dalawa. Nakita niyang inaasar ni Ella si Den at namumula na parang kinikilig si Den.

Bakit ba ko nagagalit? selos? Di ako marunong nun no! Kala niya maganda siya! Di naman ah... Konti lang.

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"Kumpleto na ba lahat?" sabi ni Coach Tin ng maglakad siya papasok sa gym.

"Yes coach!" sagot nilang lahat.

"Okay. So dahil graduate na si Perez, Magaappoint ako ng bagong captain ball. Hindi dahil Fourth year, kayo na yun. I based this decision on experience and her mastery around the court. Her team brought a lot of championships in this school nung grade school. So I would like to give the leadership of this team to Valle! Lex?" sabi ni Coach kay Alex.

Nakatulala lang si Alex dahil iniisip niya pa din yung sinabi ni Ella sakanya.

"Alexandra? Alexandra!" sumigaw na si Coach at bigla siyang napansin ni Alex.

"Yes coach?"

"Join me here. Ikaw na ang captain ball. Come here" sabi ni Coach.

"Ako?" sabi ni Alex at tumango si Coach Tin. "Thank you Coach. I wont fail you... Go sharks!" sabi ni Alex at pinalakpakan siya ng mga teammates niya.

"Woohoo! Go Lex!" sabi ni Ella at si Den din chinecheer si Alex.

"So here's a gift card for you Lex. Haha. As we always do here, enjoy!" sabi ni Coach. 

Alex’s mind still wandering accepted the gift card as she nodded without totally processing what just happened.

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Kriiiiing!

Nagbell na para sa lunch at lumabas na si Ella at Den galing sa Biology class nila. Sa katabing room naman World history class nila Jovee at Alex. Lumabas ng room si Ella at Den para hintayin yung dalawa pero si Jovee lang yung nakita nila.

"Si Alex?" sabi ni Ella at Jovee. Sabay silang nagtanong.

"Hindi siya pumasok. Tinetext ko nga siya. Akala ko naman may meeting kayo sa volleyball" sabi ni Jovee as he started to look around baka nasa paligid lang si Alex. His face lit up when he saw who’s jogging on her way papunta sa grupo.

"Tara! Kain na tayo!" sabi ni Alex nang bigla siyang dumating mula sa likod nung tatlo.

"Woah! Saan ka galing?!" sabi ni Ella sakanya at hinampas niya yung braso ni Alex.

"Aray! Wala nagpalamig lang." sabi ni Alex.

"Lex bahala ka. Di ka nanaman pumapasok. Kahit di mo na kailangan makinig sa lecture, just attend class. Buti na lang napagtakpan pa kita kay sir." sabi ni Jovee while a sly smile crept in his face, he knows something.

"Oo na! May ginawa lang ako. Tara na nagutom ako." sabi ni Alex at naglakad silang apat papunta sa canteen.

"s**t! Sino naman kayang gumawa nun? Bago pa mapalitan yung-" yan lang narinig nila nung may nakasalubong silang dalawang lalaki.

Naupo sa lunch table si Ella at Den habang bumibili si Jovee at Alex. Pagdating nung dalawa nagtanong si Ella.

"Anong nangyayari? Bakit wala yung iba dito?" sabi ni Ella as she scan the athlete's table. Meron kasing part sa canteen nila na rule na may sariling table for athletes since they need reserved seats especially they have to take breaks during training, to make sure they have a spot to eat kahit busy yung cafeteria.

"Baka may meeting din. Alam mo naman first day ng school. Pero yung basketball team kaninang umaga din." sabi ni Jovee. Habang kumakain sila dumating si Kevin.

"Hi Ysa!" sabi niya kay Den "Hi guys!" sabi niya kay Alex, Ella at Jovee.

"Kevin anong nangyayari?" sabi ni Jovee.

"Yun. Naglilinis kami ng pool. Meron kasing naglagay ng isang malaking pack ng detergent sa pool. Bumubula tuloy." sabi ni Kevin habang nakikinig yung tatlo si Alex naman nakatungo lang. Alex did not know that Jovee is already side eyeing her. 

Pagkarinig ni Ella at Den tumingin sila kay Alex at nakita nilang nakangiti si Alex, Jovee was giggling at the side trying not to burst in laughter.

"Ganon? Saan naman galing yung maraming detergent na yun? Sino namang gagawa nun?" Jovee sarcastically asked the group trying so hard not to give away anything, but still failing miserably even though he tries so hard.

"I dont know. Siguro yung mga walang magawa nanaman na students. They broke in sa quarters nung janitor tapos yun. Bakit nila ginagawa sa mga athletes to? Sana gumawa sila ng kalokohan kung nabigyan na nila ng Championship Trophy tong school. Hehehe." sabi ni kevin at napataas ang kilay ni Alex " Sige na. I really got to go. Galit na galit si Coach samin. Bye Guys... See you around Ysa!" sabi ni Kevin at umalis.

"Oops! Besh ano yan? May Love letter ka nanaman?!" sabi ni Ella ng nakita niyang may inabot si Kevin.

"This is nothing. Im not really into this right now. Volleyball muna. Hehehe." sabi ni Den pero si Alex parang pinapatay sa titig si Ella.

"Wow. Nanliligaw sayo si Kevin? Malas lang mukang buong week sila maglilinis ng pool para matanggal yung sabon..." sabi ni Jovee.

"Malas talaga. Tanong mo kaya diyan sa bestfriend mo kung anong kinalaman niya diyan" sabi ni Ella kay Jovee.

"Huh? Ako? Wala no!" sabi ni Alex.

"Yea whatever you say Lex. Dont lie. Nung sinasabi ni Kevin yun aabot na sa langit ngiti mo noh!" sabi ni Ella at natatawa si Den.

"Lex totoo? Seryoso? hahaha Pano mo ginawa yun?" sabi ni Jovee and they exchanged high fives under the table.

"Hahaha Si Max" sabi ni Alex.

"Cool! Nakakainis di mo ko sinama! Alam mo namang partner in crime lagi tayo diba!" sabi ni Jovee.

"Ay naku! Jov imbis na pagsabihan sinalihan mo pa si Alex sa kalokohan niya!" sabi ni Ella.

"Alexandra..."

"Miss Guzman!" sabi ni Alex at napatayo siya.

"Detention after class" sabi Miss Guzman.

"Ma'am? Bakit po?" sabi ni Alex at nakatingin lang yung tatlo kay Alex.

"Yung world history teacher niyo kinausap si Coach Tin. Hindi ka pumasok. You cut class again. Akala ko di na kita makikita sa detention room. You disappoint me Valle. See me after class" sabi ni Miss Guzman at umalis.

"Kala ko nahuli ka na..." sabi ni Jovee "Detention ka nanaman"

"Ha'ay what's new?" sabi ni Alex.

"Feeling ko na lang minsan favorite ka ni Ma'am. Gustong gusto ka niyang makita lagi... hahaha." sabi ni Ella. "Good luck na lang sayo"

"Lex kasi... Why you have to do that? Dapat di mo na ginawa yun. I’m pertaining in both, you cutting class and what you did sa swimming team." sabi ni Den sakanya.

"Im so sorry..." sabi ni Alex at kinuha niya yung bag niya at umalis.

"May sinabi ba kong mali?" sabi ni Den.

"Wala. Mapride kasi yang si Alex..." sabi ni Ella.

"Lalo na ikaw pag nagsabi sakanyang umayos siya... She'll come around. Hayaan mo lang." sabi ni Jovee at nalungkot si Den. “I mean, I wont tolerate or enable those kind of behavior BUT-”

“Shut the f**k up, Jov!” Ella shushed him up and made Den smile.

She’s so lucky to land a circle of friends like them… She appreciates them so much, through better and for worse, I guess?

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15 minutes na lang 5pm na. Matatapos na yung 2hr detention ni Alex tapos tinawag siya ni Miss Guzman.

"Alexandra. May I talk to you?" lumakad si Alex palapit sa teacher niya.

"Ma'am... First of all, I’m sorry" sabi ni Alex at umupo siya sa upuan "I swear this is the last time you'll see me here ma'am... I’m sorry" sabi ni Alex.

"We have expectations sayo, Valle. But yung privillege mo naman sana is gamitin mo in a good way. You're a really good kid. I know your mom and dad. Make them the happiest people. Do this for them. Change. Will you?"

"Yes ma'am... Im so sorry. Meron pa po akong sasabihin." sabi ni Alex.

"You did that are you?"

"Ma'am..."

"You think I wouldn’t know? You cut class. Nabuksan mo yung quarters ni Manong Max. Lex, I've known you for as long as I can remember... Papalagpasin ko to dahil that pool really needs cleaning, but hanggang diyan na lang yan. Okay? Can I trust you?"

"Yes Ma'am. Im really really sorry" sabi ni Alex at naiiyak na siya.

"This is the first time you ever said sorry. Do this for your parents okay? Bestfriend ko ang mama mo. Make her the happiest." sabi ni Miss Guzman.

"Opo ma'am..."

"Sige... You may go" sabi ni Miss Guzman at lumabas na si Alex dala yung bag niya. Pinupunasan niya yung luha niya at nakayuko habang naglalakad.

Naglakad si Alex palabas ng gate ng school di niya napansin na nakaupo si Den sa waiting area.

"Hey!" sabi ni Den.

"Not today Den..." sabi ni Alex.

"I just wanted to apologize. Im really sorry sa nasabi ko. I’m sorry."

"Wala yun... Si Ella at Jovee?"

"Umuwi na..." sabi ni Den kasabay niya ng naglalakad si Alex.

"Hm-mm. Do you have time? Lets use my gift card. Kain tayo." sabi ni Alex.

"Sure. Gutom na din ako."

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Pumunta sila sa Bread and Bean. Isang maliit lang na resto malapit sa school nila.

"How did it go?" sabi ni Den habang kumakain sila ng pasta ni Alex.

"Good..."

"Good lang?"

"As usual. But this time I told her na last time ko na yun... and I also told her about sa nangyari sa pool" sabi ni Alex.

"You did?!"

"Hm-mm... Its my fault, ako dapat umako ng ginawa ko..."

"Hala. Ano daw gagawin nila sayo?"

"Peace talks. I just promised I won’t do it again... And I never break promises." sabi ni Alex.

"Wow. I’m so proud of you. That's a brave thing to do..."

"It’s the right thing to do..." sabi ni Alex.

"Wow. Ang sarap ng cheesecake dito." sabi ni Den.

"Mas masarap yung gawa ni Dad dito. Hehehe" sabi ni Alex at nagsmile siya.

"Yan ngumingiti ka na ulit. Hehe. Nagendorse ka pa. I really need to taste this cake you're telling me..." sabi ni Den.

"Oo naman... Punta ka lang sa bahay." sabi ni Alex. "Ready to go?" sabi ni Alex at nilabas niya na yung coupon para ibayad sa kinain nila. Pinigilan siya ni Den. "What are you doing?"

"Do you really want our first date to be free? Dapat yung nagyayaya ang nagbabayad..." sabi ni Den habang hawak niya yung kamay ni Alex.

"Date? Like a date?" Tanong ni Alex and Den smiled at her while nodding. “No, wait, like date DATE?”

"Yes. Like a date DATE." Den mimicked how Alex asked her and the girl smiled so happily. Kinuha ni Alex yung pitaka niya at binayaran yung nakain nila.

"Wala munang tip. Baon ko pa bukas to. Haha. Tara na?" sabi ni Alex.

"Lets go" sabi ni Den at kumapit siya kay Alex at naglakad sila palabas ng Bn'B at umuwi.

Alex looked up and found her star...

"Thank you..." sabi ni Alex sa star niya at umuwi siyang nakangiti at masaya. Si Den? Nasa study table niya, kaharap ang libro, may hawak na ballpen at nakangiti lang sa kawalan... 

I know and I am aware I am feeling these things for Alex, something my family won’t even tolerate, but I’m happy, I’m happy to make the person making me happy, happy. I am so happy. Den knows there will be a problem along the way, but not trying to explore her feelings for Alex will also be a problem.  At least I tried, at least I did not dismiss this. 

A decision she did not know that will change her life forever… fighting for love.

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