Winning Hurricane

XX - Electrocardiogram

"Lima kayo na crush ko non." 

"The hell?!" 

He laughed out loud at my reaction! Omg! Totoo ba?! Don't tell me pati noong high-school madami kami?! 

Nagpapahid na siya ng luha sa kakatawa habang sinusubukan ko ulit kumalma. 

"So pang-ilan ako sa crush mo?" I tried asking as nonchalant as I could. 

Hindi pa siya tapos pero tumawa na naman siya then he puts his hand on his chin, acting like he was thinking just to tease me. I rolled my eyes na ikinalawak ng ngiti niya. 

"Well, you're last on my list." 

What the hell?! So ano ako last choice? Kapag absent yong apat ako yong titignan niya? Don't tell me yong chocolate na natanggap ko ay natanggap din nong apat at mas madami pa? Omg Chandrella, you're crazy! 

Why am I making such a big fuss over this?! 

"Did all those girls receive the same chocolate as I did?" I asked, my right brow arched. 

He smiled softly like he suddenly remembers something. "No. I don't exactly remember everything but I am sure ikaw lang ang binigyan ko ng kisses." 

I shrugged after hearing that. I'll stop making a fuss over it na since super tagal na din noon and I am acting childish! 

I heaved a sigh as I empty the beer. We already stopped playing. Parehas nalang kami nakatanaw sa dagat. 

"So is Cyclone your first love?" 

Napatingin ako sa kanya saglit bago umiling at muling tumingin sa madilim na dagat. Pinapakinggan ang maliliit na hampas ng alon. 

"No. It's Peter." 

"Peter?" 

"My dog," I answered smiling widely, remembering Peter. Narinig ko siyang napatawa kaya napabalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Why? Bawal bang first love ang pets?" 

"Tao kasi. Pero pede naman.. but we're talking about people." 

I shrugged, "Peter filled me, see. He knows everything, he's my first bestfriend. He was always there. He made me feel I am not alone. He loved me and I felt it..then he died. I locked myself up inside my room for one whole week. I just can't accept it na the only living thing who made me feel how great it is when you have someone just.. disappeared forever." I smiled sadly, "He took up the role of the people who should be teaching me what love is." 

Lasing na talaga ako, hindi ako mago-open ng ganito kung walang tama ng alak.. tska siguro kasi sobrang gaan na ng loob ko sa kanya. Na parang okay lang i-share kahit maliit na parte lang ng sarili ko. 

Tumingin ako sa kanya. He's just looking at me so I smiled assuring him, "Don't worry. It wasn't a sad story and I really don't need comforting words." Then I chuckle. 

"It's a tough childhood, huh." 

"Yeah, I think so but it made me strong.. and I may not say it out loud lagi but I am still blessed kasi my parents loves us kahit wala silang time for us, I know they love us kahit nong teenager ko lang na-realize.. and we have Lola who's too loving! And I have five siblings who always back each other up." 

I smiled at him as he smiled warmly, brushing the strands of his hair up. And now, you are here with me. I wanted to add, but I don't know if he's someone to stay. I don't want to set my hopes too high. 

But I am glad he's here in present. 

"And I realize after he died, we really don't need someone to save us, sometimes all we have to do is to stand on our own feet and find the light."