Meo Animus: The Mover: Episode IV

The heart: a machine of wonder and awe. For centuries it was shrouded in mystery by the unknown. Primitive men attempted to fill that obscurity with superstitions—some still endure up to this day. It has been widely associated with love—with passion. But what it really is—is an organic engine that keeps us alive. Each pulse it creates makes one stronger. And each accidental or deliberate attempt to corrupt it makes one weaker. It has already started beating since long before a person is born. It does not stop, it does not rest—it just continues to beat on until the last moment of life.

Amidst the void, there was a sound so familiar—it was his heart. It was all he heard and felt in the darkness. He remembered his childhood days, the days when he would borrow his mother’s stethoscope and listen to the rhythmic beating of his own heart. In a blinking instant, that scene of his memory paused and then suddenly he was a bit older. He was watching videos of the beating heart. He observed every detailed movement in each throb and every pause in-between. He read books and virtually knew everything that needed to be known about the heart. He remembered that it was the very reason why he wanted to practice medicine.

Slowly, the world came back, as if the darkness gradually dissolved and revealed the light. He cautiously opened his eyes and found himself still in his defensive posture. He lowered his arms and saw the vehicle just inches away from him. He was baffled—he was certain that it would hit him, but it didn’t. The driver was wide-eyed while holding the steering wheel. He turned his head to the sidewalk and saw Ava supported by her friends wearing a stunned look as her eyes gazed right at his.

He gathered himself and ran away from all the attention. He didn’t bother to wait for Henry anymore. He went on rushing to his house which was roughly over a quarter of a kilometer away. Confused and left in disbelief, he wondered how it could have happened. Impossible, he thought. It was what he wished for, but it did not leave him jumping in joy, but instead, it left him with more unanswered questions than ever before.

The next day, everybody has already heard about Ian’s heroics, but he didn’t go to school. Ava felt disappointed because she was planning on thanking him for what he had done. And besides that, she wanted to tell him something—something that he never would have expected.

Again, the next day, Ian still didn’t show up. Ava grew more concerned about him. She was worried that he might still be traumatized by the whole experience. She felt that she had to talk to him, to help him clear his head.

Before their classes started, Ava approached Henry. He was busy writing something when he noticed her. He moved his head and saw her face.

“Hey, Henry!” she greeted. He felt surprised, it was very rare for Ava to just come up to him and say hello.

“Hey!” he said grinning.

“You and Ian are close friends right?” she asked.

“Pretty much, yeah.” he said. As much as he wanted to look at parts of her other than her face, he just couldn’t. It seemed like she was emanating an aura that disabled his dirty mind. “Why’d you ask?” he continued.

“I was wondering if you could take me to his house you see. I just wanted to thank him for what he’s done.”

“Sure, but he’s been a bit over the edge lately and I don’t think talking to him would be a good idea.” he warned.

She smiled and reassured him “Don’t worry; I’ll do my best not to make things worse.”

“Alright.” he then continued to go about his business.

Ian grew desperate. He literally had his eyes just inches from the computer’s monitor trying to find a solution for his problem. But he didn’t actually know what the problem was; he just knew that something was wrong. But what?—he asked himself. He then realized that nothing was actually wrong, he just felt as if there was.

He was not sure, but part of him told himself that he was the one who stopped the vehicle, saving his life. But he refused to accept the idea; it was just too—fantastic.

The doorbell rang twice. He halted his search for answers and checked to see who it was. He peeked at the window and saw Henry waving goodbye to Ava and left her at the gates.

He was surprised, he never saw this coming. To actually see Ava waiting outside of the house was not something that he could imagine happening, not even in his dreams. But he realized that he was too tired to be too shocked. He had been in front of the computer for hours already and hasn’t slept for two nights.

He assumed that she was just there to thank him and would be on her way after that. So he thought that it would just take a minute. He asked the maid to open the gates and let her in.

Finally they arrived at the door. When the maid opened it, Ava saw Ian standing inside. He looked eager; he looked as if he still had something to do. And it was exactly what he felt. Ava’s beauty didn’t distract him this time; he didn’t even notice that her hair was fixed in a bun. He just wanted to sit back in front of the computer and continue what he was doing.

“Hi.” she said hesitantly.

“Hey.” he responded hastily.

Ava took a few steps forward inside and paused. The maid moved towards Ian and said, “I’ll just be upstairs cleaning your mother and father’s room, okay?”

“Okay.” he answered.

After the maid left there was an atmosphere of awkward solitude inside the house. For the first time, Ava was the one who seemed shy.

“Listen,” she broke the silence, “I just wanted to thank y--”

“Don’t mention it.” he broke her off before she could finish expressing her gratitude.

“How’ve you been doing?” she asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” she questioned with a worried voice, “You haven’t been to school for two days.”

He turned away, heading for the computer and said, “I’ve been busy.”

She followed him, “Maybe I can help.”

He sat down in front of the computer and rejected her offer, “I don’t think so. But thanks anyway.” then typed something on the keyboard.

“But I can.” she said with a smirk.

“Really?” he said with a sarcastic voice, “What makes you think you can help me?” he turned his head to her.