Chase of Heart

Chapter Five

THE FOLLOWING DAYS, my life went back to normal. I mean, I don’t know if it’s just me but my life seems not normal when Chase is around. I feel like its not boring and the joy was always overwhelming.

“Friend, narinig mo na ang balita?” Tanong ni Aya.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa cafeteria at kumakain. Hindi nakasabay sa amin si Mike dahil kasama niya ang buong Nostalgia kanina.

“Anong balita?” I asked trying hard to sound interested but I miserably failed.

“Ewan ko sa ‘yo. Interesado ka ba o hindi? Nitong mga nakaraan araw parang wala ka sa sarili mo.” Tama siya at hindi ko alam kung anong problema sa akin.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay hindi na ako pinapansin ni Chase. Pagkatapos niyang umalis mula sa bahay ay hindi na niya ako pinansin pa. Parang iniiwasan na niya ako.

Nakakapagtaka rin dahil si Nico ay lagi paring isinasama si Aya sa practice nila tuwing hapon ngunit hindi na ako niyayaya pa ni Chase. Nakakapagtaka na isang araw lang ay wala na agad.

What was it with him then? God! He’s driving the s**t out of me crazy. He’ll feed me with so much sweet words and what I don’t know that those sweet things are just tasteless. I shouldn’t be affected, but hell, I can’t help myself.

“Ayun na pala sila,” Aya said while looking at my back. I really want to turn around and look at them but I stayed still and managed myself not to.

If he realized that he don’t really like me, then so be it. I wasn’t raised to please anyone, anyway.

“Hey, mind if we share a table?” Marco asked politely. I just nodded in approval since I don’t really find anything wrong with it. Agad na umupo si Mike sa tabi ko, kaya umusog ako pakanan upang makaupo din si Marco.

Umupo naman si Nico sa tabi ni Aya. Nagulat ako nang umupo sa harapan ko si Chase, katabi si Loisa. Hindi ba nila alam na good for six lang ang mesa? Uupo pa sila ng magkatabi kahit alam nilang masikip na.

I nearly rolled my eyes in annoyance but still, I managed myself not to do so. I don’t know why I am pissed all this time but I know in myself that I need to manage this and cool down.

Mike grimaced at me and raised me one brow. I also raised one brow and ask “What?”

“Are you eating or what?” he asked in return. ‘Saka ko lang napansin ang kawawang karne na nadurog na ng tinidor.

“Oh,” I tried to laughed, “wala kasi talaga akong gana kanina pa.” palusot ko. Nabigla ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang noo ko. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Loisa sa nasaksihan. Hindi ko na lang pinansin.

“What happened? Are you sick or what?” Mike asked. This kind of things is normal when it comes to us three, inclusind Aya, so I didn’t really care.

“Nope. I guess I just need to rest. Aalis na ako, I’ll just see you guys around.” I said as I quickly stood up and left them.

Half day lang ang pasok namin lagi, nakasanayan na lang namin ni Aya at Mike na kumain na muna ng tanghalian sa cafeteria pagkatapos ng klase.

“Heart!” dinig kong tawag ni Chase sa pangalan ko pero hindi ako lumingon. Agad kong itinaas ang kamay ko para tumawag ng tricycle.

Agad namang may humintong tricycle sa harap ko. I was about to hop in but Chase stopped me by holding my right arm and forcing me look at him.

“What? I want to go home, Chase. I’m not really feeling well.” Akmang sasakay na ulit ako ng tricycle ay hinigit ulit niya ako.

“Ano ba, sasakay ba kayo o hindi?” iritadong tanong ng driver.

“Sasaka-”

“Hindi,” sagot ni Chase at hinarap ako, “we need to talk.” I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t utter a word.

How dare you ignore me these past few days and then just shows up one day saying that we need to talk? But I’ll let you, Chase Delos Santos.

Chase dragged me on the parking lot and we stopped in front of his car. He opened the door for me indicating that he want me to hop in, and so I did.

I watched him put the key on the ignition as he got his self inside and gave the car’s engine a life. Agad naman niyang pina-andar at hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta.

A couple of minutes have passed; he stopped his car in front of a huge gate. It’s actually a vacant lot and there’s a sign board saying that the land is a private property.

Mula sa butas ng gate ay pumasok si Chase sa loob at tumingin sa akin.

“Let’s go.” He said. The F! He’s expecting me to come inside when the sign board’s so big and telling that no one should enter it?

“Ayoko. Makasuhan pa ako ng trespassing.”

“Why would I do that to you?” he asked in a bit irritated tone.

Ang galing, Delos Santos. Ikaw pa ang may karapatang mairita. Tugon ko sa utak ko. This guy is really driving me crazy.

“Fine.” I said as I walked inside too. Sa kanila ito kaya mayabang siya at nakumpirma ko iyon base sa sinabi niya. Bakit nga naman niya ako kakasuhan kung siya mismo ang nagpapasok sa akin, hindi ba?

Naglakad kami ng ilang sandali bago nakarating sa ilalim ng puno ng acacia. Sinalubong ako ng malakas na hangin at tinanaw ang malawak na lupain.

God! It’s so refreshing in here. Mula sa p’westo namin na nasa ilalim ng acacia ay tanaw na tanaw ang kabuuan ng lupain, ang iba pang mga puno at mga bulaklak. May duyan din sa ibaba ng acacia.

Nanatili akong tahimik at pinapanuod ang kabuuan ng lugar habang ang preskong hangin ay hinahawi ang buhok ko.

“I’m sorry,” Chase started trying to open up a conversation. I know exactly what hes talking about, but being the naïve me, I want him to realize it.

“What for?” I asked as if I don’t have any idea on what he’s sorry about.

“For ignoring you these past few days, damn, I’m sorry.” Naramdaman ko ang pagyakap niya sa akin habang nakatalikod ako.

His warm body sent shivers down my spine. It’s as if I just wanted to stay like this with him forever. So comfortable.

“Bakit?” I asked, I badly want to know he’s reason. He placed his chin on my right shoulder and I heard him sighed heavily.

“I’m scared. I’m afraid…” he replied in a low voice.

“Of what?” I asked trying to sound concern as much as I do.

“Being left. Hanging.” He replied, and I can feel his warm breath on my neck. That explains everything. He heard my parents and Mike’s parents talking about the Paris thing and that’s the reason why.

“Why?”

“When I was seven, Mom left me and Dad for another man. I saw how miserable dad was, kaya nawalan din siya ng oras sa akin at inilunod na lang niya ang sarili niya sa trabaho. He can’t even look at me as if I have a disgusting disease,” He said, I can only imagine how far he had gone through with his life.

“I even heard him talking to one of the maids that he never wanted to see me because whenever he does, all he can see is Mom and her mistake. Kaya imbes na makasama ako sa isang bahay ay bumili siya ng isa pang bahay at doon ako pinatira. Puro katulong ang kasama ko,” he laughed, but there’s a sound of bitterness on his voice.

“My childhood life was miserable and it was all because of Mom, because she left us. Me. Dad. Iniisip ko na wala akong kwenta kaya iniiwanan ako lagi, that’s why I was scared by the thought of you, leaving me. I never wanted to feel worthless again. Kaya iniwasan kita, kasi alam ko naman na walang mangyayari kung aalagaan ko ang pagmamahal na nararamdaman ko sa ‘yo,”

“What for, right? Aalis ka rin naman. Iiwanan ako. Kaya mas maganda kung maaga pa lang ay kalimutan ko na.”

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa. Agad akong humarap sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

“Alam mo ba na noong una ay wala akong alanganin sa pagsama kina Mama sa Paris? Kasi pangarap ko ang maging fashion designer at matapos ang kursong iyon sa Paris, but then, you came. Parang nagdadalawang isip na ako. Pero alam ko naman na kahit na anong gawin ko ay kailangan,” huminga ako ng malalim at bumitaw sa kanya.

I flashed him a smile, “Pangarap ko iyon eh. Pangarap ni Mama at Papa para sa akin. Apat na taon, Chase. Hindi naman por que aalis ako ay iiwanan na talaga kita. I mean, I don’t really know what’s between us but I don’t ever want to leave you even if I need to. Uuwi ako kapag may oras, para makasama ka.”

“I understand, b-but can you please promise me that you’re still and always mine even if you’re far from me?” marahan akong tumango at ngumiti.

“Promise Chase, atsaka ano ba itong drama natin eh matagal pa iyon, next year pa kaya p’wede bang huwag na muna nating pagusapan, pinapaiyak mo ‘ko eh.” Marahan siyang humalakhak at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

“Right. What we are going to do is to enjoy our everyday. And be ready miss, because after four years, kapag naabot mo na ang pangarap mo, pakakasalan na kita. At itong lupang ito?” itinuro niya pa ang kabuuan ng lupain, “dito tayo bubuo ng pamilya.” I smiled with what he just said.

I know exactly that what we have is a whirlwind romance, but I still have a lot of time to know him more. Chase is an uptight man, and I am so much willing to break those icy walls around him.