One Five Three

Chapter Fifteen

The program started with a prayer. The dean of college of engineering welcomed the freshmen. Nakihalubilo ako sa kapwa ko freshmen para sa candle lighting ceremony. After that, we then moved to our table magkahiwalay ang table ng freshmen at ng mga seniors. We are only 4 sa aming table, ako, si Gwen, Si KatKat at si Mikha. Some were lining up to get food and drinks. After dinner ay magstatart na ang party.

“Lamig na lamig ka, bes?”, tanong ni katkat napansin ang coat na suot ko.

“M-medyo”, maingat kong sagot

“Alam mo, sayang outfit mo”

I just shrugged. Hindi ko pinahalata ang kaba sa pagiisip na ipaalis niya ang coat ko baka makita ang markang iniwan ni Shaun. Kainis!

Ewan ko ba kung bakit bigla na lang napunta sa table namin si Shaun. Nakipagpalitan pala siya kay Gwen. Pabor naman sa dalaga pagkat makakasama ni Gwen ang boyfriend niya sa table na inalisan ng katabi ko.

it’s our turn to get food pero pinigial ako ni Shaun.

“I’ll get your food. Just stay here”

I wisphered thank you. Hindi naman iyon nakatakas kay Katrina.

“Nililigawan ka ba ni Kuya Shaun?”

“Hindi.. ko alam?”

“Eh ano yung mga gestures niya?”

“I don’t know. He never said na nanliligaw siya, bes”

“Oh..kay? Kuha muna ako bes ng food. Pagusapan natin yan next time.”

“Sige”

Napabuntonghininga ako matapos ang usapan namin. Ano nga ba talaga kami ni Shaun? More than friends but less than lovers? It made my mood change parang nawalan ako ng gana. Pagbalik ni Shaun dala niya ang pagkain naming dalawa. Steak ang main course. Kinuha niya ang sa’kin at hiniwa iyon. He’s sweet pero di ko alam kung anong dapat kong maramdaman. I finished my food ng hindi siya kinakausap. After everyone had finish their dinner, nagsimula na ang party.

“Let’s get ready to party!”, announce ng emcee.

Fun edm songs are played by the dj. Everyone seemed to enjoy the music. Niyaya ako ni Katkat sumayaw ngunit tumanggi ako kasi di ko pa kayang magsaya.

“Are you okay?”, Shaun whispered in my ear

I just raised my thumbs up to tell him I’m fine. After 5 fun songs the song transitioned into sweet slow music.

I thought Shaun would ask me on a dance kasi bakit pa siya nasa tabi ko kung di rin niya ako isasayaw? But, he didn’t. Another song was played, pero wala. On the third song, someone approached us and held his hand to me. It was Angel! I didn’t know if I should take it or not, so tiningnan ko muna si Shaun. He’s poker faced right now so I couldn’t tell. I didn’t want to waste Angel’s time so I agreed on the dance.

He placed his hands on my coat at the waist. And I put mine in his shoulders. They say that hindi mo raw makakalimutan ang first dance mo and may be I believe in that saying deep inside. I’m so disappointed right now na hindi si Shaun ang first dance ko.

“You look beautiful”

“Thank you”

“Manliligaw mo ba ‘yong katabi mo?”

“Hindi ko rin alam e”

“Kung manliligaw ba ako sa’yo ngayon, may pag asa ba ako?”

I was taken aback by what he said kaya hindi agad ako nakaimik.

“Huy. Joke lang”

I just smiled at his remark. Whew. What was that?

Niyaya ko na siya pabalik after ng chorus ng kanta. Hindi na namin iyon tinapos. Ibinalik niya na ako sa aming table. I can’t clearly see Shaun’s face because the light is too dim but he looked so serious. He didn’t even acknowledged my presence pagkabalik ko.

Lively songs ulit ang nakasalang ngayon sa dancefloor. Inaaya ulit ako ni Katkat ngunit tinanggihan ko ulit iyon.

“Palagi” by TJ Monterde started to play. Hindi na ako umaasang isayaw ni Shaun ngunit bigla siyang tumayo at inilahad ang kamay sa harap ko.

He took me at the dancefloor grabbed my hands and placed it in the back of his neck. While his hands were inside my coat hugging my back. We looked liked we are hugging in the dancefloor ngunit wala siyang pakialam. He rest his head on my shoulder, not saying anything. I could feel his warm breath in my collar bone. I was holding my breath the entire time.

“Uso huminga, Austine” sambit niya sa akin. He’s now looking at me in the eyes. He looked so handsome. Ang pungay ng kanyang mata at ang buhok niyang medyo gulo. Natapos ang kanta ngunit nasa gitna pa rin kami. Dumaloy by SUD started playing at sinayaw niya uli ako. Looking at me in the eyes the whole time. And I can’t believe he’s smiling now. It makes my heart flutter.

Sa wakas nandito ka na..

Natakot pa ako nung simula

Sa wakas

Kapiling ka na

Natakot pa ako nang mag isa

Mundo kong malabo

Kinulayan mo.

I wish this moment never end. I smiled back at him. Namg matapos ang sweet dance ay nagparty party kami with Katrina and sometimes pumupunta kami sa mga friends. Lahat ng sumunod na sweet songs ay isinayaw niya ako. Isang beses ay hiniram ako ni Luke sa kanya.

“Hi. Buti nakapunta ka.”

“Hello. Di ko rin inexpect na makaka attend ako”

“Sayang. Medyo nalate na ata ako sa’yo”

“Ha?”

“Wala ‘yon. Haha. I hope to see you around. Pwede bang makipag friends sa’yo?”

“Sure po. No problem”

Even for the last dance. Si Shaun ang naging partner ko. Hindi na ako nagkaron ng chance na makasayaw ng iba. The party ended at 11pm. Inihatid ako ni Shaun sa bahay namin.

“Isasauli ko na lang next time itong coat mo. Thank you sa paghatid.”

“No worries.”

“Uh. Pasok na ako”

“Wait”

“Ano yun? May sasabihin ka ba?”

Lumapit siya sa akin at hindi ko inexpect ang next niyang ginawa. Naramdaman ko na lang ang malambot niyang labi nakadampi sa aking labi. Saglit lamang iyon ngunit sapat na upang magdulot ng kuryente aking katawan.

“Good night” sambit niya

“G-good night”.