COURTING MISS PERFECT

5 –JEALOUS

"Good evening everyone. To my dearest students, ex-students, parents, faculty members, sponsors and board of directors thank you for coming here tonight as we celebrate the 10th founding anniversary of EXONHS." Charisma cheerfully greeted, she paused as we started to clapped our hands. "It’s not an easy journey, maraming pagsubok, maraming problema at maraming pasaway na students." nagtawanan naman ang mga nakikinig. "But hindi tayo nagpatinag, nanatili tayong matatag at ipinagpatuloy po natin ang ating layuning mabigyan ng de-kalidad na edukasyon ang ating mga mag-aaral. Kaya po, in behalf of my parents.. I want to say thank you. Thank you so much! At sana po after 40 years muli tayong magkikita-kita to celebrate our Golden Anniversary! Let's all hope na buhay pa tayo nun!" she giggled. "So, what are we waiting for.. let's start the party!"

The live band started playing,The Throwback Band, na pinangungunahan ni Villanueva.

Kaagad namang hinila ni Blake si Trisxh sa dance floor.

"How’s my speech?" Charisma asked me habang inaalalayan ko siya pababa sa stage. 

Katulad ng halos lahat ng kababaihang dumalo, she's wearing a dress and killer heels.

"Pwede na.." I answered.

"Thanks ha, napaka-supportive mo talagang kapatid!" sarcastic na turan nito. "Anyways, you can go to your friends na. I'm gonna talk to some important people." 

I nodded at hinayaan na siyang lumapit sa kabilang table.Naglakad naman ako papunta sa table na kinaroroonan ko kanina.

"Go blueberry! I love you!" nagwawalang sigaw ni Fiona na kinawayan naman ng kumakantang si Villanueva.

Napailing na lang ako sa kalandian nila at ininom ang juice na nasa harap ko.

"Easy lang xander.. hindi nakakalasing 'yan!" sita sa'kin ni Karl at tinapik pa ang balikat ko. "Bakit nga pala wala 'yung ibang batchmates natin?"

I ignored him, I'm not in a mood para isipin pa ang ibang tao. Wala naman silang alam sa nararamdaman ko.

"Don’t worry dude, magkakamoment din kayo ni Airish!" 

I sighed at tinitigan siya ng masama, natatawa namang itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay.Tsk. Mabuti na lang at ibinaling na niya sa iba ang atensyon. 

"Hoy bebe ko, sayaw na nga lang tayo." pangungulit nito kay Angela, pero inirapan lang siya nito at ipinagpatuloy ang pagsabay sa kanta ng banda. "Sungit talaga ng bebe ko.." he mumbled saka tumayo at niyaya ang limang weirdong sumayaw.

Hindi naman siya nabigo at maya-maya nga'y nagwala na ang lima. 

Nagsimula ng gumiling-giling si Mely.

Paulit-ulit namang tumatambling si Chelle.

Samantalang gumugulong si Crisel.

Nag-split si Celai.

At nangisay-ngisay si Gem.

-_________-

At dahil sa panonood ko sa kanila, nahagip ng paningin ko si Rish. Nasanay akong makita siyang naka-jeans at T-shirt lang with rubber shoes pa.. kaya talagang nakakapanibagong makita siyang nakadress at heels.

And I can't help it but be amazed by her beauty.

She's really beautiful.

At mas maganda siya kung walang Adrian na nakabuntot sa kanya! Kanina pa kasi sila magkasama.. na nakakainis na! 

Adrian's parents were having a conversation with Don Henry.Tapos pinatawag silang dalawa kanina at hanggang ngayon they're still together! 

I know Adrian is a good guy, he's my friend. Kaya nga mas natatakot ako.

What if sa kanya mainlove si Rish?

Mas matalino sa'kin si Adrian, and I heard sinisimulan na rin siyang i-train ni Tito on how to handle their business at nagkataon pang malapit ang family niya kay Don Henry. And looking at them right now as they're sharing a table.. they look like a big happy family. 

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily.

Don't think too much Xander, everything's gonna be alright. 

But I was wrong.. dahil pagmulat ko ng mga mata I saw them again.

"X-Xand.. wag mo na lang tingnan kung nasasaktan ka na. Adrian is a good guy, alam niyang you're courting Airish. It's just a friendly dance." saad ni Precious na pilit ibinabaling sa ibang direksyon ang mukha ko.

I smiled bitterly at patuloy na pinanonood ang dalawang masayang nagsasayaw.

Why she's laughing like that? Ganun ba siya kasayang maisayaw ni Adrian? 

Ni minsan hindi ko pa siya nakitang tumawa ng ganyan sa'kin.

Sa simula pa lang ba, si Adrian na ang gusto niya? But why she said yes to me?!

"Xand.." muling turan ni Precious at hinawakan na ang kamay ko.

I tried to smile at tinapik-tapik lang ang kamay niya.I know concern lang siya, after all she's my bestfriend. She knows me very well.

I sighed to calm myself.

Saka ako tumayo at nagdesisyong lumabas na lang.

--

Hinihingal akong napaupo at sinimulang tanggalin ang dalawang butones ng suot kong long sleeves. I'm here at the gym, thinking that playing basketball may calmed my nerves. Halos 30 minutes ko ding walang tigil na sinubukang i-shoot ang bola.

Napalingon lang ako sa likod ko ng marinig kong may nagdi-dribble ng bola.

"R-Rish.." I uttered. 

She's holding her heels in her left hand while dribbling the ball using her right hand. She ignored me at tumayo sa three-point area saka walang pag-aalinlangan na binato ang bola.

Pumasok ito.

Pero nanatili siyang walang imik at seryoso lang na sinusundan ng tingin ang bolang binato niya.

"Why?" mahina niyang turan na ikinakunot ng noo ko. "Why you're here.. you must enjoy the party."

"I just want to be alone. How about you, why you're here?" I asked her back.

She just shrugged.

I stared at her.

"D-do you like him?"

"Who?"

"A-Adrian. Do you like Adrian?" 

Tumayo na ako at matamang nakipagtitigan sa kanya.

"What about Adrian? What's with him?" 

Napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha ko, out of frustration. I can't believe na darating sa point na magagawa kong pagselosan ang isa sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Don’t tell me Adrian’s right?" saad niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko. "You’re jealous? Pinagseselosan mo siya?" amused na turan nito.

Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin at humarap sa basketball ring.

"Today’s Sunday. I'm expecting this day to be great. No school works, no business reports. I just want you to spend this day with me. I'm gonna be you're escort until the end of the party, I’m the one who will make you laugh and I will be your first dance.." I closed my eyes to suppress the pain that's keep on bothering me. "I didn't imagine that someone will came into the picture."

Nanatili siyang tahimik.

"I’m sorry for feeling this way, I know I don't have the right ---" 

Natigilan ako sa pagsasalita ng bigla siyang sumulpot sa harapan ko, offering her right hand. Maayos na ring nakasuot ang heels niya.

"I can't change the fact that Adrian was my first dance. I laughed because he told me you're jealous. I find it funny, I’m sorry. And from the start I considered you as my escort.." she paused and urged me to accept her hand. "If you don't mind, can you be my last dance?"