Destiny's Dance

Chapter 6

Chanylle woke up in the morning with the feeling of being uncomfortable. She feels something different between her thighs. It's aching and swelling.

Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga habang sapo ang masakit niyang ulo. Ilang sandali pa ay natigilan ang dalaga. She's in the unfamiliar room. It has dim lights in there. As she can remember nasa hotel bar siya ng agoda. She tried to make her life miserable during that time.

Pakiramdam niya kasi, iyon lang ang tanging paraan upang maibsan ang bigat na dala dala niya sa dibdib. Sometimes, nakakaramdam siya ng guilt. It was as if hindi siya mabuting anak para sa kanyang mga magulang, lalo na at nag-iisang anak lamang siya. Kahit pa hindi maganda ang pagtrato ng mga ito, para sa kanya, ay magulang pa rin niya ang mga ito. May utang na loob pa rin siya sa mga ito dahil nagawa parin siyang bihisan, pakainin at pag-aralin.

After a few moments, she heard the sound of water dripping, likely coming from the bathroom. She pondered, realizing she wasn't alone in the room. Anxious, she planned getting off the bed. Despite the dimness, she knew the clothes she wore weren't hers. She quickly searched for the light switch, if she's not mistaken, ang sout niya ngayon ay isang malaking T-shirt na kulay army green. Nagmistulang dress iyon sa kanya dahil lumagpas iyon sa kanyang tuhod.

Dumapo ang paningin niya sa ibabaw ng kama, where she noticed a bloodstain. Kinabahan siya at pilit na inaalala kung ano nga ba ang nangyari sa kanya kagabi. Her heartbeat runs fast, there's a thing playing in her mind, a thing that she doesn't want to be real. She must plan on how to leave the room without encountering anyone inside. She dreaded the possibility of being with someone dangerous who might harm her.

With careful movements, she successfully exited the room, only to realize she was just in front of her own room. Nanghihina siyang napaupo sa couch.

"What happened to you, Chanylle?" she asked herself. She wanted to cry. If that's the case, was R. Drebb the one she was with last night? She knew they had checked in at neighboring rooms. At magkatapat lang ang napagcheck-inan nila. Her mind was in chaos. She struggled to recall how she ended up there but she still couldn't remember. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Marahil ay pinagsamantalahan siya nito.

Wearing the oversized T-shirt, she headed to the bathroom and swiftly removed her clothes. Unintentionally, she sniffed the fabric. It smelled of perfume—the same scent she had caught in a hotel bar with stranger man R. Drebb, a few nights ago. Deciding to freshen up, she opted for a quick shower to clear her mind.

Hinayaan niyang lumagaslas ang tubig sa kanyang katawan.

Nakaramdam ulit siya ng sakit mula sa pagitan ng mga hita niya. Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiwi sa sakit. Mabilis niyang tinapos ang paliligo dahil pakiramdam niya ay lalagnatin siya.

After thoroughly drying her hair and turning off the air conditioner, she decided to climb onto the bed after getting dressed. She covered herself with a blanket because she felt coldness that she couldn't understand. Despite her body feeling extremely warm, she felt strangely cold.

In her room, Chanylle sat alone, her thoughts drowning in regret. The echoes of laughter alone and drinking hard liquor to sleep straightly, yesterday lingered in her mind, a haunting reminder of the choices she couldn't undo.

The weight of guilt pressed on her shoulders as she replayed the time before on how it happened that led to her losing something she had held sacred – her virginity.

Reminiscing what had happened Chanylle found herself crying. She cried louder, She realized that it couldn't be undone anymore.

She questioned her worth and internalized the stigma attached to losing one's virginity. The guilt manifested as a heavy burden, as if she had betrayed her own principles.

After Drebb took a shower, he quickly dressed up. He decided to sneak a peek at the beautiful lady he was with last night.

He couldn't help but to smile, recalling what happened. It's strange, but he feels happy knowing he was the first man who had her precious pearl.

Naaalala pa niya kagabi. Pagkatapos niyang tanggalin ang sout ng dalaga na high heeled shoes ay kinumutan niya ito.

Naglatag pa nga siya ng sapin sa sahig dahil doon na lamang siya matutulog. Ayaw niya kasing istorbohin ang dalaga at isa pa baka kung ano ang isipin ng dalaga kapag nagising itong magkatabi sila.

Pero hindi akalain ng binata na bago pa man siya tuluyang nakababa sa kama ay mabilis siyang hinila ng dalaga habang nakapikit ang mga mata nito. At doon na nga nag-umpisa ang lahat ng pangyayaring hindi sinasadya.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ang binata at dahan-dahang humakbang patungo sa kung saan mahimbing natutulog na dalaga.

Pero nagtaka siya dahil bukas lahat ng ilaw. At nagulat pa siya dahil wala na sa ibabaw ng kama ang dalaga.

Drebb sighed once again and sat down slowly on the bed. He gently stroked the blanket they used last night and discreetly smelled it. The fragrance of the young lady clung closely to the blanket, as if he were right beside her.

Kalaunan ay naipilig na lamang ng binata ang kanyang ulo. Kung ano-ano na lamang ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya.

Dahil sa nangyari ngayon ay hindi niya mapigilang makaramdam ng guilt. He is guilty ang isiping nagkasala siya sa nobyang si Caroline. Kahit ganun pa man ang kinahinatnan ng relasyon nila, hindi nangangahulugan na hindi niya na ito mahal.

He can't stop reminiscing about their beautiful past.

It was a crisp evening in Paris, and the Eiffel Tower sparkled with a thousand lights. Caroline, his girlfriend, stood by his side, her laughter harmonizing with the melody of a street musician's guitar. They were young and carefree, lost in the enchantment of the City of Love.

As they strolled along the Seine, the Eiffel Tower loomed overhead, casting a romantic glow on their intertwined fingers. The city's heartbeat synchronized with theirs, creating a symphony of their dreams and whispered promises.

They had shared dreams under the Parisian sky, dreams that seemed as tangible as the Eiffel Tower itself. Caroline's laughter, like wind chimes in the gentle breeze, had been the soundtrack to their love story.

The Eiffel Tower, once a symbol of their love, now stood as a silent witness to Roger's introspection. The city lights shimmered around him, casting a nostalgic glow on the contours of his face.

Memories of stolen kisses beneath the Eiffel Tower and whispered promises in the shadow of its iron lattice enveloped him like a warm embrace.

Ilang sandali pa ang kanyang pagbabalik-tanaw ay ginaluntang ng tunog ng kanyang celphone. His mother was calling.

“Drebb! Your dad is in the hospital! Please go home.”

Umiiyak na tinig ng ina ang sumalubong sa pandinig ni Drebb.

He stared blankly and couldn't help but feel anxious. Without bothering to ask why his father was rushed to the hospital, he stood up and packed his things. At that moment, Drebb broke the promise he made to himself – sometimes, he also needs to choose himself. It's a different story now, as his father's life is at stake. Despite disagreeing with what his father did to him, for now, he needs to prioritize his father.

As he was driving, he couldn't help himself from reminiscing about his father being good to him.

His father, a stoic figure with weathered hands that spoke volumes of hard work, had a goodness that resonated in every aspect of his life. Roger recalled the evenings when they sat side by side, sharing stories that spanned generations. The flickering glow of the old lamp illuminated the lines on his father's face, each telling a tale of resilience and wisdom.