12th Chapter: The Dance
693 Words
NAKASIMANGOT si Umi habang pinapanood magsayaw sina Ate Genna at Kuya Melvin, Kuya Primo at Ate Charly, pati na rin sina Ate Melou at Kuya Sley. Inasahan pa naman niyang si Pete ang makaka-date niya ngayong gabi, iyon naman pala, si Alaude ang type.
"Umi."
Napapiksi siya nang magsalita si Alaude sa kanyang tabi. Nakalapit na pala ang lalaki nang hindi niya namamalayan. Nang makabawi ay napatango na lang siya. "O, Alaude."
Tumikhim ito. "Well, Umi, I didn't know that Pete was... you know. That bastard Melvin didn't tell me, and just laughed when I confronted him. Kaya ko lang naman siya kinausap ay dahil ibini-build-up kita sa kanya. Hindi ko siya... inagaw sa 'yo."
She laughed softly. "Hindi naman ako galit. Nag-iinarte lang ako."
"Don't lose hope, Umi. Marami pa namang iba rito sa party." Nagpalinga-linga sa paligid si Alaude at may kung sinong itinuro. "How about that guy?"
Tiningnan niya ang itinuro ni Alaude. Malakas ang boses ng lalaki kaya narinig niya kung gaano ipagmalaki ng lalaki ang mga pag-aaring mamahaling kotse. Umiling siya. "Ayoko sa lalaking mas mayaman pa kay Bill Gates," she said sarcastically.
"'Yong isang 'yon..." Hindi na naituloy ni Alaude ang sinasabi nang mapansing ang lalaking ituturo sana ay nakatingin na sa kanila, partikular na sa kanya. Tumayo si Alaude sa harap niya. "Baka mapaaway ako nang wala sa oras."
Umi felt like her cheeks were burning up. The last guy was looking at her hungrily, the reason why Alaude became protective of her. Natuwa na naman ang kanyang puso sa ipinakitang concern ng lalaki. "Alaude, let's dance," yaya niya.
Kumunot ang noo ng lalaki. "I don't know how to dance."
Ngumiti lang siya at sa kabila ng pagtutol ay hinila niya ito sa dance floor. "Tuturuan kita, so don't worry, Alaude."
Alaude staggered as Umi meandered her way past the other dancing couples to the center of the dance floor. Nabunggo pa siya ng lalaki nang pumihit siya. Natawa lang siya, saka inilagay ang kamay ni Alaude sa kanyang baywang, habang ang isa naman ay hawak niya nang mahigpit. As the music started, she tried to lead him in the dance but he just kept on dancing as if he had two left feet. He was stiff as he moved the arm which held her when she spin away from him. He forgot to let go of her hand so she crashed into him when he did not grab her as she returned.
Binitiwan niya ang lalaki at pinandilatan ng mga mata. "Follow me, Alaude."
"No. I'm going home." Tinangka nitong mag-walkout pero hinila lang niya pabalik.
She twirled around Alaude and grabbed his shoulders as he tried moving with her again. But he stumbled backwards slightly and bumped into Ate Charly and Kuya Primo, na tinapunan sila ng masamang tingin. Natawa lang siya, saka binelatan ang dalawa.
Then, Umi looked into Alaude's eyes. Ngumiti siya at tumango para i-encourage na magpatuloy sila. He sighed, but smiled, too. The tempo of the music sped up and at that moment, mas confident na ang kilos ni Alaude. And dang, he was a fast learner. He danced as if he had done it all his life.
They twirled along the dance floor, and he spun her back and forth, his hand touching her back every time she returned to him. After what seemed like mere seconds, she grabbed his shoulder at the last spin and the lights went out.
Nagulat na lang si Umi nang parang umulan ng maliliit at nagkikislapang bituin sa paligid. Oh, they were laser lights, like the one used in planetariums. Narinig niyang nagbungisngisan ang mga babae na na-cute-an din sa kakaibang special effects. Para kasi silang napunta sa universe. Maybe that was a part of the dance program.
Natigilan siya nang maramdaman ang mainit na hininga ni Alaude sa kanyang mukha. Nag-angat siya ng tingin. Ganoon ba talaga kalapit ang mga mukha nila sa isa't isa kanina? She could not see his face clearly, but she could see the mysterious glint in his eyes. "Alaude?" she whispered.
He sighed, his hot breath fanning her face. Then, he kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you for teaching me how to dance, Umi."
That chaste kiss on the cheek almost gave her a heart attack.
- Writer
