Chase of Heart

Chapter Six

I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY WITH A SMILE ON MY LIPS. I don’t know why but it seems like I’m so happy, I can say this because I can feel it. I put my feet down the ground from bed and I giggled as I felt how cold it was.

Agad akong nagtungo sa banyo para makaligo na. Pagkatapos ay sinabayan ko sa almusal sina Mama at Papa na nasa kusina. Kagaya ng dati, si Papa ay nagbabasa ng diyaryo habang umiinom ng kape habang si Mama naman ay nagluluto.

“Good Morning,” bati ko sa kanila.

They flashed me a smile and greeted in return. I was about to sit on one of the vacant chair when my phone beeped so I took it out of my pocket to see who sent me a message.

Chase:

Good morning, baby. Let’s have breakfast outside? I’ll be there in five minutes.

I smiled out of nowhere upon reading the message. I was about to type my reply when Papa cleared his throat.

“Is that Chase?” he asked, his brow furrowed but his stare was still on the newspaper.

“O-Opo.” I replied, sounding unsure.

“I see. Kaya pala napakalawak ng ngiti mo. What did he say?” Papa asked. His tone of voice is demanding.

“Tumigil ka, Arman. Hayaan mo ang mga bata.” Saway naman ni Mama kay Papa.

“What? I’m just asking.” Papa giggled trying to defend his self.

“H-He’s asking me to have a breakfast with him outside.” I replied in a low voice.

“Oh, why don’t you just invite him here instead?” Papa asked. I flashed them a smile and nodded. Agad akong humarap sa cellphone ko at nagtipa ng mensahe para kay Chase.

Ako:

Good Morning. Do you want to have a breakfast here instead? Papa’s inviting you. Galit siya kasi umalis ka noong nakaraang araw at iniwasan mo ‘ko.

And then I clicked the send button. It didn’t take too long and my phone rang, sign that he’s calling. Without any hesitations, I slid the screen into answer button and put in on my right ear.

“Hello?” I asked in a low voice.

“Hi baby, a-are you sure? What did he say, s-sobrang galit ba siya sa akin? Do I need to bring him something just so he won’t take my actions against us?” he asked, sounding worried. I chuckled and nodded even if can’t see.

“Relax, do you want to talk to him?” I asked. I heard him cursed in a low voice.

“N-No! I… I’m already here. P-Puntahan mo ako.” Bakas sa boses niya na kinakabahan siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit samantalang naka-harap na naman niya sina Mama at Papa ilang araw ang nakalipas.

“Sasabihin ko na lang kay Papa na sunduin ka diyan sa labas.” I said trying to tease him.

“Heart!” he groaned. I burst out laughing at his reaction, “I’m just kidding, Chase. Palabas na.” I said as we both hang up the phone call. Naabutan ko siya sa labas ng bahay.

Agad ko namang binuksan ang pintuan at ngumiti sa kanya. Napaka-gwapong nilalang kahit na naka-simangot. He even looks hotter with his sweaty forehead.

“I was just kidding, Chase. Sinabi ko kasi na niyayaya mo akong mag-almusal sa labas kaya ang sabi niya dito na lang daw tayo.” Marahan siyang tumango at huminga ng malalim.

“You scared me.” He said in a low voice as he moved closer to me and wrapped me with his warm embrace.

“Let’s get inside?” I asked. He nodded slowly and flashed me a smile.

Pagkapasok namin sa loob ay naabutan namin si Mama na nakaupo na kasama si Papa. Foods are even served, I flashed Chase a smile and so he did. I turned to see Papa as I heard him cleared his throat. Tapos ay tumingin siya sa kamay namin ni Chase na magkahawak.

Tumingin siya kay Chase at tinaasan ng isang kilay. Imbes na bitawan ni Chase ay mas lalo pa niyang hinigpitan ang hawak sa akin. A small smile formed in my lips with that simple but sweet action.

“Good Morning po, Tito, Tita.” Chase greeted my parents politely. Mama flashed Chase a smile and nodded while Papa remained on his poker face.

“Magandang umaga, hijo. Umupo na kayo’t kakain na tayo.” Nakangiting sagot ni Mama.

Agad naman kaming umupo ni Chase, magkatabi. Nasa harap namin si Mama at Papa dahil good for four lang talaga ang dining table namin.

“Sige na kumain na kayo at baka mahuli pa kayo sa klase niyo. Sabay ba kayong papasok?” tanong ni Mama. Ngumiti si Chase at tumango.

“Yes po, Tita. I mean, if it’s not too much to ask for, gusto ko po sana na ako na lang ang maghahatid sundo kay Heart araw-araw, para naman po hindi na siya makisabay kay Mike minsan o hindi kaya ay mamasahe.” Ngumiti si Mama kay Chase.

“Baka naman maka-istorbo na ang anak ko sa ‘yo.” Chase shook his head and smiled.

“Never in my life po, Tita.” Inabot ni Chase ang fried rice tapos ay nauna niyang nilagyan ang akin bago ang sa kanya.

“Chase, tinapay lang ang kinakain ko kapag umaga.” Reklamo ko habang nilalagyan niya ng hotdog at tocino ang plato ko. Chase shook his head and raised me one brow.

“Hindi p’wede sa akin ‘yan. Kita mo ang payat-payat mo?” Nakasimangot na na sagot niya. Again, Papa cleared his throat.

“What’s between you two?” Tanong ni Papa. Tumingin ako kay Mama na nagpipigil ng ngiti.

“We’re dating Tito. I’m actually courting your daughter.” Taas noong sagot ni Chase.

“Really.” Papa stated boredly. Tumingin sa akin si Chase at ngumiti.

“Eat, baby.” Utos ni Chase.

“Baby, eh?” Papa teased. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang ngumiti siya at umiling, “you know what, Chase? This is actually the first time that Heart brought someone here, well, aside from Mike and Aya of course, so you must be really something special.” I turned crimson red with what he just said.

“Papa!” I hissed. Chase chuckled and laughed slowly. He even held my hand and pressed it.

“It’s okay, baby. There’s no need to be ashamed of. Espesyal ka rin naman sa akin.” Tumawa na naman si Papa at umiling pa.

“Parang tayo lang noong mga bata pa tayo, hindi ba mahal?” tanong ni Papa kay Mama. Sumimangot naman si Mama kay Papa.

“Tumigil ka, Arman. Pinikot mo lang ako.” Sagot ni Mama kaya natawa ako.

“What? Sino kaya nilasing ako at ginapang sa k’warto ko?” natatawang biro ni Papa kay Mama. I raised one brow as I grimaced at them two.

“You guys are gross. Aalis na kami, baka late na kami eh.” I said as I stood up. Tumingin ako kay Chase na tumayo na rin.

“Thank you po for the breakfast. I’ve enjoyed it.” Chase said politely. Ngumiti si Mama at Papa bago marahang tumango.

“Walang anuman. Bumalik ka ulit ha? Sige na at baka mahuli na kayo.” Sabay kaming lumabas ni Chase ng bahay at sumakay sa kotse niya.

“I don’t actually feel like going to school today. Can we just have a date?” Chase asked with a smile on his face. I raised him one brow before rolling my eyes.

“I don’t want to fail any of my subjects, Chase.” I reasoned out.

“It’s not like you’re going to fail just because of one absent. Ayaw mo lang akong makasama eh.” Tumingin ako agad sa kanya. He’s looking at me with his sad expression. My heart skipped a beat and so I sighed heavily.

“Fine. Just don’t ever make that face again, Chase. Ngayon lang ha?” Bigla siyang ngumiti ng napakalawak bago tumango.

He gave the car’s engine a life. Right after then, he drove off the same way as he did when we went to the place where he told me about his past. Pagkadating namin ay binuksan niya ang compartment ng sasakyan niya tapos ay kinuha ang isang basket, may kumot na kulay pula na may halong puti ang nakatakip dito.

“Picnic.” He stated happily. I laughed and shook my head.

“You’d plan this, right?” I asked. He nodded slowly as he held my right hand using his left hand while his right hand is holding the basket.

Agad kaming naglakad papunta sa ilalim ng puno ng acacia. Ang pamilyar na preskong hangin ang bumungad sa aming dalawa. Still refreshing as ever.

“What do you call this place?” tanong ko habang inaayos niya ang kumot at inilalapag ito sa ilalim ng puno ng acacia.

“Well, nothing. But from now on we can call this our place.” He replied emphasizing the ‘our’ word.

Nang matapos na niyang ilatag ang kumot ay agad siyang umupo at tinapik ang p’westo sa tabi niya. Agad naman akong lumapit doon at umupo.

He flashed me his killer smile as he kissed me on my left shoulder. Napangiti ako sa ginawa niya.

“I can’t wait to build a home here, and then marry you. I can’t wait to see our kids running around here. And then we will tell them about our love story right here, under this acacia tree. I can’t wait to spend my whole life with you, Heart.” Hindi ko alam kung may mas sasaya pa ba sa sobrang saya dahil sa mga narinig ko mula sa kanya.

I don’t know where but I’ve read exactly that in a relationship, once a girl thinks about her future with her boyfriend, it’s just a normal thing. But if the guy was the one who thinks about the future with his girl, then he’s serious about it.

And I can see the sincerity on his eyes as he said me those words.

“Sabihin na nating limang taon mula ngayon ay kasal na tayo,” nakangiting sagot ko sakanya. Ngumiti naman siya at tumango.

“Right. Mabilis lang ang panahon. If I were the one who’s going to decide, then I don’t want you to work since I can provide you everything, but then, I know exactly that this is your dream so I’ll let you chase it. Alam ko naman na tayo na talaga eh. Even destiny doesn’t have a say on that because I’ll fight for us even if it’s death.” Marahan akong humalakhak at isinandal ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya.

“Ako rin,” I said with full sincerity, “I might not be perfect but I promised to love you everyday even if we’re apart, Chase. Hindi kita basta bibitawan hangga’t hindi mo sinasabi. Five years from now, I will give you a happy family of our own.” Chase smiled genuinely and he leaned closer so he can plant a small kiss on my lips.