↭ ♡ ↭

∽ m i r a c l e ' s p e r s p e c t i v e ∽

Maaga akong pumasok ngayon. Aalis si Kuya Mike, today. May business trip sa Palawan. Kaya, heto ako, nag-iisa sa room. 5:30 AM pa lamang nandito na 'ko.

Hindi ko kasabay si Nate ngayon, kasi ayaw na ayaw niyang nagigising nang ganitong kaaga. Hindi rin siya maasahan na maagang pumasok sa school, lagi siyang late. He's in the number one spot on the list of late-comers.

But this is fine. I mean, arriving at school this early. Also, Kuya Mike won't come home for three consecutive days. I will miss him, honestly, that's why on his day of living, I tagged with him.

Napagdesisyon kong pumunta sa secret place ni Ancy. It is really refreshing there and I want to sleep.

I alarm my phone to seven twenty-five, so I still have five minutes to compose myself and go back to the classroom.

My phone rings and I wake up that instant. As I head back to our room, I meet Nathan with his buddies. He smiles at me and I cringe. They go where I am as they start talking to me.

"Good morning, Miss Cute!" Sean greets.

Napangiwi ako. 'Miss Cute', iyan ang laging salubong ni Sean sa akin. "Ah. Morning din, Sean." I return as I give him a rue smile.

"Tara, sabay na tayo." Sabi niya at inakbayan niya ako.

"Eh?"

"Bitaw." Nate says sternly with his menacing voice.

"Ang sama, Pinuno! Para akbay lang." Reklamo ni Sean.

"Basta, bitaw!" Nate interjects and grabs my other hand.

"Ayaw!" Sean insists and holds my other arm tightly.

"Bitaw! Sa akin siya sasabay!" Nate argues.

"Ayaw! Sa akin siya sasabay!"

Boo. I'm starting to get annoyed.

"Kawawa naman si Nat." Justine comments boringly.

"Oo nga. Para siyang rope sa 'tug-of-war'." Yaehl agrees.

"Tsk, tsk. Para silang love triangle." Kieffer adds.

I imagine the three guys that they are like chibis whispering about us.

I just notice, why Ancy is not here?

"Bitaw, sabi eh!" Go back to Nathan.

"Ayaw, sabi eh!"

"Tigilan niyo nga ako!" I yell and they immediately let go of my hand. "Kaya kong maglakad ng mag-isa." I shut them off as I start to walk away, leaving them. It is a bad reason to start my morning.

"Oh. Bakit ang busangot ng mukha mo?" Salubong ni Ash noong nakarating na ako sa room.

"Wala lang." I reply in boring tone and sit down on my chair. I put my elbow on my desk with my right palm on my chin.

"Ah. Okay." She only responds and she keeps herself silent.

"Kasalanan mo kasi, eh!" Reklamo ni Sean kay Nate habang papasok sa room.

"Anong ako? Kung sana binitawan mo na siya agad, sana 'di na siya magagalit!" Balik ni Nate.

Napayuko na lang ako sa aking desk.

They are annoying. Para silang mga bata.

May naramdaman akong lumapit sa akin. It is Yaehl. I know his aura.

I lift my head and meet his gaze.

He is wearing a warm smile and handing me something. "Here, sa 'yo na." Kinuha ko ang lollipop na binigay niya.

"Thanks." I tell him with a sweet smile.

"You're welcome, Natsu-chin." He says as he winks at me.

"You Japanese?" Tanong ko.

"Nope, I just love watching animes." Tumawa naman siya nang marahan.

"Oh, animes, huh? So you're a weeaboo?"

"No! No! Otaku is more suitable than weeaboo."

Napatawa naman ako. He knows the difference of weeaboo and otaku.

"Hai, hai."

"Okay, Natsu-chin. I'mma leave you now."

"Sure, thank you again, Yaehl-kun."

Tumawa ulit siya at umupo na sa seat niya.

Tinignan ko ang lollipop. Mm. Strawberry flavor, favorite. I open the lollipop and eat it.

Hanggang dumating si Miss Marionne—which is Ate Bea—kinakain ko lang 'yung lollipop hanggang maubos.

And I wonder, bakit wala si Ancy?

Baka kinuha na ng mga aliens. Aliens, huh? I chuckled to myself. I don't know, but I think Chance is already an alien. He's an alien carved in a human for me.

"Nat!" Ash suddenly calls me.

I gaze at Ash with a questioning look. Bakit niya ako tinawag?

"Miss Marionne has been calling your name." She whispers cautiously.

Tumingin ako kay Ate Bea. She's grinning at me. But I can sense her fury. "You're not listening to my class."

Boring.

"Now, stand up, Miss Montero."

Sighing, I stand up to her command. I can see all the mocking looks of my classmates.

Stare all you want. You guys are making me believe that I'm beautiful. Yah.

"Answer this question, Miss." I just shrug my shoulders, waiting for her question. "Can you differentiate—"

But her question is cut out when someone knocks on the door. Ate Bea quickly opens it. "Yes?" And she greets.

"Miss Marionne, ipinapatawag po si Ate Natsumi sa principal's office." Sabi ng isang junior student.

Ate Bea glances at me, with 'you-are-lucky-for-today' look. I just smirk at her. I maybe am.

Pagkalabas ko sa room, tinanong ko na siya. "Can I know your name?"

"I'm Keena Yuriah Cain, Ate. But you can call me 'Key'." She politely states.

"Cain?" I repeat.

"Yes, cousin of Kuya Chance."

I know. "Your name is beautiful, Key."

"Thanks, Ate Nat!"

"Hmm? You know me?"

"Of course, everyone knows you. Tapos, noong Acquaintance Party, ikaw ang pinakamaganda." She compliments.

I chuckle softly, "Hindi naman."

"Yes, you were. Kaso wala ka na noong Awarding."

"Hmm, umuwi na ako." I tell Key in a playful tone.

"Hmp. Sayang 'yun." She mumbles. "Kung nandoon ka sana, partner kayo ni Kuya Chance. Y'know, Ate Nat, OTP ko kayo ni Kuya Chance."

"OTP?" Takang tanong ko.

"Yup! OTP, as in, One True Pair!"

"Ack!!" Hell, I choke!

Even this girl? Ugh. Screw this.

"Ayos ka lang, Ate?" May gana pa siyang tanungin ako. Meh.

I compose myself and clear my throat. "Sure, I'm fine."

"Sayang talaga. Kaso wala rin si Kuya Chance. Bakit kaya? Kasama mo ba siya noon, Ate Nat?"

"Eh?" Napasigaw ako, kasabay ng pagwawala ng kalooban ko. "H-Hindi! Hindi kami magkasama! K-Kasi . . . U-Umuwi na ako sa amin!"

"Gan'on? Bakit noong pauwi na, kasabay mo si Kuya Nate?" Inosenteng sabi niya. "Teka! Kasabay mong umuwi si Kuya Nate, 'di ba?! Tinawag ka rin niyang 'baby'!"

Oh, dear. I'm dead.

"Wahh!! Sabihin mo sa akin, Ate Natsumi!! Boyfriend mo si Kuya Nate?! Edi kung gan'on, wala ng chance si Kuya Chance?"

Gee. This is . . . ughh.

"You got it all wrong, Key." I grimace with a facepalm. "Yah, Nate called me that disgusting word, but he was just teasing me at that time. No serious relationship involves."

I lied again.

"Ah. So it's just like that, then my OTP is still alive!"

Seriously, fangirl ba siya?

I just shrug my shoulders as we head to the principal's office and Key leaves.

I open the office's door. "Good morning po." I greet while entering the office.

"Oh, Miss Montero! Finally, you're here!" She says with her voice that's bit agitated.

"May kailangan po kayo?"

"Actually, yes, dear."

Well, that's a stupid question coming for me.

"Ano po iyon?"

"Come on, dear," she states and stands up, "I want you to take care of Ancy. I'll excuse you to your teachers."

What? Take care of him?

"Is that okay to you?" She asks with a sorry smile.

I grin and nod as my response. "Nas'an po ba siya?"

"He's in his room, here in University." she replies. "I think he's resting now."

"Ah. Sige po."

"Is that a 'yes', Miss Montero?" She questions, "I know it was my fault, I already knew that he's sick, but I insisted him to go to school, because I actually thought that it is just a simple fever."

"I see." I nod while pursing my lips.

"Hindi ko naman maalagaan dahil busy ako. Hindi ko rin mauutusan ang mga kaibigan niya, mukhang wala silang alam sa pag-aalaga. At hindi ko rin mauutusan ang nurse rito, dahil patay na patay siya kay Ancy, baka i-rape siya." Mahabang dahilan niya.

"Uh . . . Okay po." I accept her request.

And 'yung nurse rito? Hindi bagay. Child abuse.

"All right. Let's go, Natsumi." She declares, leading me to Ancy's room. "Thank you, Miss Montero, yeah? And I apologize, I caused you trouble."

"It is fine, Ma'am." I answer her, grinning. "Marami na ring naitulong si Chance sa 'kin."

She chuckles, "Heto na ang room niya," sakto, tumigil kami sa harapan ng pinto. "Ikaw na lang ang bahalang kumatok, okay?"

"Ah? Wai—Eh?"

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot when she leaves me dumbfounded. That's all? Fine.~

I've decided to take care of him to repay his . . . kindness? No way. He haven't done any kindness to me.

Right. He was not there when the Clown Company pushed you to the pool.

He did not fight all the thugs even though he was tired at that time.

He didn't came to save you when you fell in the hole full of creepiness.

In short, he was not there at all.

"Gah. Damn you, conscience." A small vein pops on my head. My thoughts are freaking me.

I inhale deeply, then I knock on the door.

I knock how many times, but no one is opening. Is he asleep?

Argh. Ancy, wake up for a sec!

Minutes later when the door opened. He is standing inside. His skin is pale as paper, his breathings are harsh and groggy, even his body is staggering.

"Uh . . . A-Ancy . . ." I trail, composing a sentence. "Pinapunta ako ng—"

I could not finish my words when his head fell down on my shoulders. He surprises me with his unconsciousness, but I immediately catch his heavy body.

"Ancy, okay ka lang?" I ask incredulously.

But I am also an idiot. Asking a sick man if he is fine, is the most stupid question of all.

He doesn't answer, but to groan heavily.

Just plain stupid, Miracle.

"Hang on, Ancy." I breathe out. I put an arm around Ancy's waist, then encircles a hand from Chance's arm around my shoulders.

I support his weight to my body and start walking, guiding him to walk.

I take him inside his bedroom while assisting him. And I carefully lay him on bed as I touch his forehead.

And heck, his body temperature is hotter than hell.

I head to the bathroom and gladly, he have a medicine kit. I open the kit, thankfully, all the items are complete.

I return where he seems and sit at the corner of the bed. "Open your mouth, Ancy. I'll measure your temperature." I order in low voice. He obliges, slightly parting his lips open.

I put thermometer beneath his tongue.

I wait for a minute and then the thermometer beeps. It shows that he has the temperature of 39.8 degrees.

Like what the hell? Where did he get his illness?

"Did you eat your breakfast?" I ask him with a moue expression. He only weakly shakes his head. He can't drink medicines if his stomach is empty.

I decide to cook a food for him that he can eat easily. I go to his kitchen and gladly, he has some stocks. I remove my glasses and put them aside, I'm not used wearing eyeglasses while cooking. It will be bothersome, anyway.

As I walk to his kitchen, his room leaves me in awe, because his room is so huge, it can be an apartment for five persons.

Oh, well. Let's cook porridge for the sick man. Once I finished cooking, I bring him a bowl of porridge to his room. I sit down at the edge of his bed and place the bowl at the side table.

I touch his forehead. I sigh. Why so hot, Ancy?

Wait, what?

What I mean, he's hot because he have a fever!

Tshh. I clear my mind and I just brush his hair with my fingertips. Expectedly, his hair is incredibly and surprisingly soft.

I caress his face down to his chin with my thumb. I'm just staring at him.

Unexpectedly, my stomach starts to swirl around and around. My heart rate starts to pound a hundred miles per minute.

Wah! What am I doing? I'm not a perverted girl. I mean it. I am not. It only happens that I'm attracted with him, especially he is sleeping so peacefully and defenselessly.

I sigh.

"Chance. . ." I call softly, continue stroking his hair, "Ancy ugly."

"Nghh." He groans.

"Can you please sit, Ancy? I cooked porridge for you."

Surprisingly, he grabs my left arm and pulls me atop of him. My face sticks in his left cheek and I'm almost kissing his face! My body crashes flat to his! My right hand coincidentally places on his chest for a support.

My heart is accelerating again. Damn. I can't move!

I shake all the thoughts away and focus myself to the real business.

"Chance . . ." I speak, removing his grasps on mine.

"No . . . Don't leave me . . . Please!" He whimpers and hugs me even tighter. I can feel his fear from being so lost.

I bit my lower lip. I don't know what kind of nightmares he have, but I want warm his soul until he soothes.

How ironic. I'm trying to warm his soul when my own soul is cold.

I lean to his face. "I'll stay. " I whisper and dare to kiss his cheek. "Sleep well, Ancy."

Then I slowly place my head under his chin. This is so ugly, embarrassing scene. I hate it.

He seems so cold and strong. An eight years old boy like him had already experienced a dark past.

I felt sleepiness. After a moment, I drifted to sleep full of guilt. As if I can save him, when I can't even save myself. What a lie.

∽ ♕ ∽

I feel so comfortable. A warm touch is gently stroking my hair.

I softly moan. I moved my head upward and clutch it tighter. I love its warmth. So comfortable.

Hugging this thing makes me feel . . . Uh . . . I don't know . . . It makes me feel so loved and cared.

A warm touch is still brushing my hair. How I wish this won't stop.

There is a loud heartbeat and a hand tucking my loose end hair behind my ear. It also caresses my cheek with its soft knuckles.

I inhale and scent a familiar scent.

A manly scent.

Its smell is so addicting. I can't stop sniffing its fragrance.

But, wait.

A thing with a hand and heartbeats?

I abruptly open my eyes. What the . . . fudge?

Don't tell me . . . Th-That, this is Chance? No way!

Oh, my gosh!

I'm really a stupid one!

Someone, please bury me now!

I'm screwed. Dang it.

↭ ♡ ↭

author's self thought: have u read the older version? lol, i know it's ugly.