When The Heart Beats (Completed)

Ch. 38

Ch 038
Journal Entries 4-6

Entry #4

Pagkagising ko, wala akong masyadong maalala. Hindi ko rin maalala na inatake pala ako, kaya niya ako nabangga. So obviously, I was mad at her thinking that it was all her fault.

Sumama siya sa Pampanga para alagaan ako. Hindi ako pumalag kasi naniwala ako na kasalanan niya ang nangyari at kailangan niya yung pagbayaran.

Malupit ako sa kaniya. Wala yatang araw na hindi ko siya sinisigawan.

Nagbago yun nung isang araw, sa cafeteria ng ospital, she defended me against a group of women who were talking ill about me. That changed my opinion of her. Mabuti pala siyang tao.

Ang kaso, dumating sila Mommy noong araw ding yun at nalaman kong anak pala si Paige ni Sir Guzman. I had a terrible past involving that professor and the stress brought about by the memories caused me to feel really dizzy.

I had to get out of the scene because I didn't want everyone to witness how pathetic I am during my attacks.

Sabi ko kay Paige na wag niya ako sundan. Sinigawan ko na naman siya kahit nangako akong hindi ko na ulit yun gagawin.

Ang gago ko lang.

But that sudden attack triggered my memories prior to the car accident. Bigla kong naalala lahat. Hindi niya kasalanan kung bakit ako nasagasaan.

I wanted to apologize to her; but the next day, she was gone.

•••

Entry #5

I don't know where to find her, but at least I knew who her father was. I looked for Sir Guzman and fortunately, he was back in the Philippines so I took the chance and visited him.

Sinabi ko lahat sa kaniya, and asked him to give this planner to Paige. That way, she would know that it wasn't her fault, I was just a total jerk, and that I'm truly sorry.

But Sir Guzman didn't know where Paige was, either, so he rejected the planner and told me to bring Paige back home first. I accepted the challenge.

Jenna wouldn't tell me where Paige was; of course they became good friends and I was mean to her friend. There was no way she would tell me.

Buti nalang nadulas si Treble isang araw noong kausap ko siya sa phone. He said he was recruiting Paige to work for Superb Shopping Center and that they will be picking her up at the airport.

I waited for a few days for her to adjust to her new job.

I organized the annual charity event for the elderly and deliberately added some orders so that the original supplier would not be able to secure the deal. I told the Purchasing Department to order from Superb instead. Ang talino ko.

I originally wanted to pick up the items so I could see her; yes, that was the original plan, but some reliable source tipped me that she was going to supervise the delivery. Kapag siniswerte ka nga naman.

So how would I describe how I felt when I saw her?

I was fucking nervous. Kabado hanggang bituka. She acted like she didn't know me, like she wasn't surprised that I was already able to walk! Kung alam lang niya kung gaano ko pinilit ang sarili kong lumakad na para mahanap siya!

Tsaka ang ganda niya. She had so much passion for her work kahit bago palang siya. It made me see her in a different light.

I told the purchasing officer not to sign the invoice. Ako na ang pipirma, I told her. Of course I had to make a way to make her stay longer so I could think of a way to talk to her.

But I realized my incompetence was keeping her captive kahit na kailangan niya na talagang umalis.

So I made a deal. Pipirmahan ko yung invoice kung kakain sila. Ayoko siyang umalis na gutom.

Hindi ako nakuntento pagkaalis niya. Sinundan ko siya pagkatapos ng event at nadatnan kong inaaya siya ng isang katrabaho na umangkas sa motor nito.

Parang gustong manuntok sa oras na yun. Ewan ko lang, pero ayaw kong makita siyang may kasamang iba.

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Entry #6

Birthday ni Exodus. Hindi naman sinabi ni Jenna na may ibang gumagamit sa lumang kwarto ko sa matandang bahay. Humiga ako sa kama tapos bumukas yung pinto ng banyo.

Tangina. Naka tuwalya lang si Paige at sobrang iksi pa nun. Nakatitig ako ng matagal. Kabado. Hindi alam ang gagawin. Hanggang sa natauhan ako, napamura, at lumabas na.

Doon pala siya nag-iistay.

After a while, things got a little complicated noong pinalayas ni Jenna si Paige sa bahay. Akala niya kasi babae ng boyfriend niya si Paige. Ang hindi namin alam, ewan ko ba kasi bakit hindi nila sinabi agad, magpinsan pala sila.

Oo. Si Paige at yung boyfriend ni Jenna.

Pabor naman sa akin dahil dinala ko si Paige sa bahay ko noong pinalayas siya ni Jenna.

So nag-uusap na kami ulit. Ng normal. Ng hindi niya ako tinatarayan. Nag-inuman kami isang araw at doon nabulgar na hindi pa siya nakakapag move-on ng tuluyan sa ex niya. Somehow, naiisip ko pa rin naman si Denzel at naiinis pa rin ako na ikakasal na siya kay Treb.

Itong si Paige, weird pala pag lasing. Gustong i-distract ko daw siya para makalimot siya. Okay lang. Hindi ko naman gaanong sineryoso.

Kaso nung naaksidente si Trench, yung boyfriend ni Jenna at pinsan ni Paige, napasugod kami sa Buenos Grande. Sinamahan ko siya kahit nilalagnat ako. Parang hindi ko kayang hindi siya samahan.

Nasa ospital kami nun, nung dumalaw kay Trench yung ex ni Paige. Barkada pala ni Trench yung si Ringo. I looked at Paige and holy shit, hindi siya makahinga ng maayos. Ramdam ko ang tensyon, ang awkwardness, at ang effort niyang wag ipahalata lahat ng yun.

I felt the need to step in and save her. So I did.

Ewan ko ba pero hindi ko kayang makita siyang ganoon. Dahil sa isang lalaki. Dahil sa ibang lalaki.

Maraming nangyari pagkatapos nun. Isa na doon ang pagbackfire ng request niyang i-distract ko siya. Mukhang ako ang na-distract at ako rin ang nahulog. Too bad, hindi niya ako sinalo.

- - - end of entry 6 - - -

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Author's note:
I hope ya'll aren't bored with Henry's side of the story. It's just fair that we get to see things from his point of view, right? Thank you for reading and for voting. I appreciate you guys.

Xx, eyyrin