"Wait, Heidi! I can't run anymore."
Why can't I reach her? I'm a boy, but she's always faster than me. Always ahead of me. It's really embarrassing. Not losing to her, no, that I've already made peace with. It's shameful to realize that I still can't get faster no matter what.
"Hurry up, Aldo!"
I'm running with everything I have, but I still cannot reach you. Why do I have to face this crisis at my 10 years?
"Ah!" Yes, just what I needed, to fall down and share with the floor how miserable little me is. The gap between you and me grows even wider and wider, and you do not stop to look back. I can only see your leaving back. This cold floor is what I deserve for being so useless. So slow.
And, I'm tired. Tired of always being behind, of never catching up.
"Aldo!" Grandma… is that you? "Aldo!" No, Grandma, I'm just resting, I love you, but I have a lot of things to do in this world. "Aldo!"
"Ouch! Why did you slap me?!" I glare at Heidi while rubbing my smarting cheek. Really, this savage girl.
"You were talking nonsense; talking to your grandma and all. Here." She extends an ice cream, and I take it.
"It's my favorite." I mumble, staring at the package with wondrous surprise, and smile easily stretches my face.
"Yours is the hardest to get. When I saw you fall, I thought you wouldn't make it, so I had to fight with all the other kids to get it." I look at her amazed, and my heart skips a beat. Several beats. It wildly beats in my chest.
This savage girl did it for me? I want to remain cool, I really want to, but it's impossible when it comes to her.
The reason is simple: I like her.
Yes, at my 10 years, this beautiful heart of mine and all beautiful me is in love with the girl in front of me.
I never understood why in the dramas my mom watches men fall in love with the ugliest girl.
Like, seriously, they are surrounded by beautiful women, even the sister and mother are beautiful and stylish. Why not end up with one of those gorgeous admirers? But no! They have to go and choose the ugly one just because she has nice feelings and is not a spoiled and rich woman like the others. What is wrong with being rich and spoiled? I really did not understand.
But now I get it.
When I look at Heidi, her uncombed hair, her freckles and her nonexistent sense of fashion, at all those little imperfections, I realize that is what makes her beautiful and special. She's also simple minded, dense and clumsy. She has ice cream all over her face again. I cannot help but chuckle at the scene. Even that makes her cute.
I take out a handkerchief and rub it against her cheeks. She simply smiles in gratitude, completely unaware of my feelings.
I used to wonder why we even are friends.
But then, I remember our moms really get along, and seeing that Heidi and I were the same age, they paired us up.
I really envied my older brother and sister who were already in high school; my mom did not want to influence them anymore. So, she unleashed all her attention on me.
I really hated being paired with her at the beginning.
Heidi's mother is so classy and beautiful, just like any fashion designer is, her father is cool in all the senses, too; even his hair never gets messy. I bet even messy hair looks awesome on him! Then, how did they end up with a daughter like her? What's even weirder is that they don't seem to care and just let her be all wild and savage.
Despite my reluctance, I was always taken to play in her house, or she was left in mine.
With time, we became friends. Even with her awful appearance, I discovered she was a really nice girl. Totally different from the other girls. (See, even I can be like those male leads in dramas!) Everybody loves her simplicity and her sunny smile. Her only nice feature if you ask me.
She gets specially along with the boys in the class because of her boisterous personality (yes, we're in the same class as we are the same age; I'm older for just 10 days!). She doesn't mind falling down and getting all dirty when playing with them. At first, I did not care that she ran around like a monkey with the other boys. I pretended not to care.
But, whenever I saw one of the boys pat her head and how she smiled back, I couldn't help but frown and feel extremely angry. It was then that I noticed I didn't want to share her with anybody, she is mine and mine alone.
She is my savage! Her eyes should only look at me! I mean, who does not want to look at me when I'm this beautiful?
Yes, her, it's just her that doesn't look at me. At all! Everybody gushes at my beauty. Everybody! But she's the only one who stupidly ignores how gorgeous I am! Ah, what can I do with these feelings of mine?
We finish our ice cream, and then head back home. Mine is the first on the street, while hers is at the very back. As soon as she waves goodbye, she runs again.
Really, how can she have that much energy?
"I'm back." I tell my mom, who I hear is in the kitchen preparing dinner. "Here's the money." I give her back the bill she gave me to buy the ice cream.
"Oh, you didn't buy your ice cream, dear?"
"Heidi bought it for me."
"Aldo, as a boy, you shouldn't let her buy you things, it's you who should buy her things." She meaningfully smiles.
I know what you're thinking Mom: you want me to be a couple with Heidi. Well, your plan is halfway working, just wait for that block-headed girl to know what being in love means and everything will work out just fine.
"I'll do it next time." I nod at her. She pats my head and tells me to go watch TV. Minutes later, she puts a plate of fruits in front of me to enjoy while I watch my favorite cartoon show.
All of a sudden, my mom speaks up. "By the way, did you know that Heidi's family is moving out? Her mother told me." I try my best not to choke with a piece of apple.
"What, why?" I feel as if she just threw a bomb at me.
She's moving out? Then, what's going to happen with my mom's plan? What's going to happen with me buying her things? What's going to happen with me?! I like someone for the first time and she's moving out?! Rejected at such a young age?!
No, no, no and no!
"Her parents got a new job in F country, that's why." F country?! That's really far! I'm not going to accept it! You hear me, Heidi?! You can't leave! "Well, they are- wait! Aldo!"
No, mom, I cannot wait! What's there to wait? For her to leave without hearing my confession?! I run to her house with everything I got. It's just down this street, but why does it feel so long?
When I finally reach the door, I try to regain my breath first. It would be bad if she sees me panting like a deflating balloon. Only when I recover some semblance of control – and comb my hair! – I ring the doorbell. I wait for someone to open the door, yet begin to get nervous when I hear the incoming footsteps behind the door.
"Aldo, why are you here?" I glance at the inside of the house and see a lot of boxes in the hallway. So, it's true.
"Good evening, Mrs. Ricci, I want to talk with Heidi, please." I fidget, my palms are sweating and my heart feels like it wants to burst out of my chest.
"Wait a minute, my husband's preparing her. I'll go get her. Come in." She says and gestures at me to get in the house. I step inside but do not dare to cross the entry hall. I ran all the way here, but I am not as ready as I thought I was…
…Wait, did she say prepare her? What for?
I look up when I hear Heidi's soft footsteps coming closer. Just when I open my mouth to interrogate her for her betrayal, the words choke back into my throat. The moment my eyes take into her appearance, my heart thunders in my chest and my face heats up, obviously blushing intensely.
Is that her? Is that my little savage? That cannot be, she must have a twin! I look behind her, but no one comes from inside the house, so I look back at the girl.
This beautiful girl in front of me cannot be Heidi!
Why's she wearing a cute dress and her hair is beautifully combed? Wait, is that lipstick?! Lipstick is a sin! Is this some kind of trick, scheme, evil plan for me to never fall for any other girl? If it is that, then I promise I won't.
"Is something wrong, Aldo?" No! Don't call my name with that pretty mouth shining with glossy lipstick! It's just too much for my little heart!
"I, I… Why are you dressed like that?" I wheeze. I mentally facepalm. This isn't why I'm here! Get a hold of yourself, Aldo!
"My parents like to experiment and try their new designs on me." She shrugs. She even playfully twirls, but scowls down at the dress. "I don't like it. Dresses are so awkward. I'd never wear a dress if I had a choice." And please never do it! If you do, you would go to jail for killing me with your stunning beauty! "So, what did you want to talk with me?" She looks at me with a puzzled expression.
"Ah… um… Oh, yes! The thing is... My, my mom told me you were moving out, and I came to know if it's true." Of course, it's true, Aldo! Can you not see the boxes around you?! Have you gone dumb just from seeing her?!
"Oh, yes, I wanted to tell you this entire week, but always forgot to do so." She sheepishly laughs. You silly! You've been planning to leave for an entire week and you never told me?! Hah, I'm tired. I can't anymore…
"Then, when are you moving?" I calmly ask, trying not to snap at her since I am at her house. It would be rude to the in-laws. And, I have a good reputation among elders. It is not good to start yelling now.
"Tomorrow at noon."