Winning Hurricane

XX - Electrocardiogram

"No way!" I exclaimed. 

I must be drunk. Really. There's no other answer to why I am shouting and laughing as we play chess now. May bonfire sa unahan namin, may mga beer in can na nag-kalat. 

"Checkmate, doc!" 

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Nakangiti habang tumutungga sa beer na hawak hawak. Magulo na ang buhok niya dahil sa hangin. And he looks happy, and I am happy. 

"So, spill the tea." 

Napatawa ako habang naiiling. Nag-iisip ng pwede kong aminin. Actually kanina pa kami nag-lalaro ng chess but with a twist. Kada talo mag-sasabi ng sikreto. Nakakainis lang kasi naka tatlong talo na ako habang isa pa lang siya! It must be the alcohol.. magaling ako sa chess! Argh. I really hate losing over this dude! 

"My secrets were all out." 

"Ha! Can't fool me." 

I rolled my eyes at him. Nakakainis! Hindi ko alam kung magandang idea ba na sabihin sa kanya yong pinaka kinakahiya kong sikreto.. pero yon nalang talaga ang naiisip ko! Nilagay ko sa likod ng tenga ko ang ilang strand ng buhok ko na kumawala sa pagkaka-ipit bago bumuntong hinga. 

"I'll never talk to you again kapag may ibang nakaalam." I warned. 

Tumawa siya bago tumango. 

"My first crush was.." sinasadya kong bitinin. I wanted to see his reaction. Suddenly, he became more alert. Mas napatuwid siya ng upo. I smiled inwardly. What will he say after I tell him the name?  

"Who?" 

"Cyclone." 

Silence. 

It was a minute of silence before drinking his beer to its last drop. His brows furrowed as his laryngeal prominence moving sexily with every gulp. His hair's dancing with the air. He's really hot. 

I wanted to laugh at his reaction so I did. Tinapon niya yong can sa gilid bago tumingin sakin at umiling. Hindi makapaniwala sa inamin ko. Duh! Kahit ako hindi matanggap na si Cyclone talaga ang first crush ko. Kaya nga sa tuwing titingin ako kay Cy naaasiwa nalang ako sa old self ko. I mean, duh, nong naging mag-kaibigan kami hindi ko talaga natanggap na nagustuhan ko siya for one whole grading! 

"When?" 

"Grade three."  

"Grade three? Why?" 

"He gave me chocolates back then!" 

Mas kumunot yong noo niya bago maang na napatawa. Parang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. Duh, what does he expect? Elementary palang kami that time and any little gesture makes a girl's heart flutter. Kids just appreciate everything. That's how pure children are. 

"I was the one who gave you chocolates." He said pointing at himself. 

My right brow shot up, "No. I am positive it was Cyclone." 

"Inabot lang niya sayo pero ako ang nagpa-bigay." 

"You're kidding me.." 

"No." he chuckles, shaking his head. "So kung nalaman mo na ako nagpaigay ako dapat ang first crush mo?" 

I frowned, reminiscing our grade school days. "No." 

"Why?" 

"Because you were my competitor. I really hated you." 

Nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa dibdib niya, umaaktong nasasaktan. Baliw! 

"So crush mo na ako nong grade three?" I asked, stifling a smile.