Above The Lines

Chapter 2

NANG MAKARATING KAMI sa gitna, he carefully placed his hands on my waist and I placed my arms in his shoulders.

Iginala ko ang mata ko at kita ko ang tingin ng mga pinsan ko at mga tropa nila sa akin na may halong panunukso so I focused my attention sa kasama ko instead.

I may look really calm swaying to the song with him but I am silently praying na sana hindi ko maapakan yung paa nya or what.

Whatever, I'll just enjoy this dance.

"Kumusta dito sa Ilaya Norte so far?" Pag o-open up nya ng topic.

Kumusta na nga ba?

"Ayos naman," maikling sabi ko.

He looked at me like he was expecting for me to elaborate. "Hmm, unti-unti na rin akong nasasanay dito. Naninibago lang siguro ako sa environment." I honestly answered.

Although from time to time, naiisip ko pa rin yung naiwan kong life sa Manila at mga kaibigan ko but being with my family here and meeting new people honestly bring another sense of comfort and fun.

"Hey, it isn't that bad here. Isipin mo na lang na nasa summer vacation ka tapos extended." The corner of my lips rose at his remark.

How I wish I could think of it just like that.

"Bakit ka nga pala umalis kaagad kanina?" tanong ko nang maalala ko yung kanina.

"Ah, yun? Sakto nag text kasi yung kaibigan ko na hinahanap ako sa tent ASAP."

"Hmm...kaya pala."

"Alam mo bang mukha kang puppy na nawawala kanina? My friend saw you na halatang nag pa-panic kanina so she asked me to help you," pag ku- kwento nya.

Grabe talaga ang pag pa panic ko kanina! Okay lang sana kung alam ko kung paano umuwi kaso hindi. I bet it will take a lot of time for me bago matandaan ang daan pauwi.

"Ganun ba? Hindi kasi familiar sa place kaya ayun, nag panic ako."

"Masasanay ka 'rin," he said and then suddently a wave of assurance flashed through me.

The song already changed pero it seems like he didn't want to end the dance yet. Naramdaman ko na nawala na ang tension nya mula sa pagkakahawak a baywang ko so I tried to relx a little bit too.

Sa sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa that I got to see what he looks like up close. He has this wide set of eyes and when he laughs, his cheekbones and gummies would appear.

"Ang cute ko 'no?" I looked at him and he was smiling at me like he was teasing me.

I didn't say anything and looked elsewhere na ikina- tawa nya lalo.

Teka, parang nawala tuloy yung tama ko ng alak.

"Huy joke lang! Baka ma- awkward ka sa'kin. Joke lang talaga!" Tawa sya ng tawa pa 'rin.

"Hindi naman," sabi ko.

"Hindi ako cute? Hala grabe naman yun, Haya." He acted like he was hurt habang ako naman ang natatawa sa kanya.

"Hindi, I mean, hindi naman ako na a-awkward. You're funny naman."

"Ay, naging clown pa nga ako," He said na ikina tawa namin parehas

"Kaya idol ko 'to si Lukas eh, speed lang!" A guy behind me kind of shouted enough for us to hear na nagpatigil ng pagtawa namin.

I tried to look back to see who it is but he suddenly shifted our position kaya sya na yung nasa side nung guy and I still can't see dahil he's kind of towering over me dahil sa tangkad nya.

Okay, that was smooth.

"Siraulo!" e said to the guy and laughed.

As if on cue, natapos ang kanta na tumutugtog so ibinaba na nya ang kamay nya sa bewang ko so I did the same. I guess that's the end of our dance.

"Tara, baka nangangawit ka na." Naglakad kami papalapit sa corner kung nasaan ang mga kasama ko. Agad akong umupo at binigyan ni Kia ng bottled water.

I glanced at Lukas again at na binabati si Kuya Jonas.

Kinalabit ako ni Kia "Ikaw ha..."

Hay, it's Kia and her pang a-asar again.

"Why?" I rolled my eyes as I look at her.

"Lukas Orion pala ha," she said.

"Lukas Orion? That's his name?"

Binuksan ko yung water bottle at uminom.

"Oo. Lukas Orion Padua ka department ni Kuya Jonas," she gestured at him and Kuya who are busily talking. "4th year Arki sa SPU."

It made me realize na I'll be in the same University as everybody else. Sabagay, St. Pio University lang naman ang mag o-ooffer ng mga ganitong course rito.

"Super friendly saka chill 'yan si Lukas. Nakakasama rin nila Kuya Jule saka ni Ate Yuli yan."

"So?"

Lukas is really easy going. He has this aura na parang ang soft nya yet playful.

"Wala lang naman, baka lang gusto mong malaman."

"Not really, but he's nice. Tinulungan nya ako kanina nung naligaw ako."

Kia looked shocked saka tumango na parang may naalala.

"Sya yun? Kaya pala parang familiar!"

"Why mga babes? Anong meron?" tanong ni Ate Yuli na kagagaling lang sa dance floor.

"Remember yung nakita natin na kasama ni Haya nung nawawala sya ate? That was Lukas pala."

"Talaga? Akala naman namin niyaya ka lang ni Lukas sumayaw." Ate reached for her beer at uminom.

"Yes ate, we met na kanina."

"Oh... Uy ano? Beer pa kayo?"

"Hindi na ako Ate. Ikaw, Haya?" si Kia at umiling lang ako.

Nasa tabi ko lang yung beer na iniinom ko kanina but I don't want to drink anymore dahil nawala na yung pagka tipsy ko. Medyo may tama na rin kasi yung mga friends ni Ate para rin may mag aalalay sa kanila. Mahirap na kung lahat kami lasing.

Si Lukas, kausap pa rin sila Kuya Jonas at kasama na si Kuya Jule ngayon. Ilang dipa lang ang pagitan namin. I wonder if may mga kasama sya dito sa baylihan? Hindi rin kasi sya amoy na ka- inom nung nag sayaw kami.

I was busy observing people dancing nang maya maya'y nagpaalam sya na may pupuntahan. Probably his friends. Kumaway lang sya sa akin and I didn't see him around after that.

Mag a-alas tres ng madaling araw nang mag aya na si Kuya Jule na umuwi. Lasing na lasing na ang mga kaibigan nila Ate kaya ihahatid na lang din daw namin yung girls. Sila Kuya Dex at Sio nagpaiwan pa.

Inaalalayan ko si Ate Amelie papuntang van nang may bumusina sa amin.

It was Lukas riding his motor bike na hawak ang helmet nya at naka black na jacket na rin. Naka hawak sya sa silinyador ng motor at naka lapag ang isang paa nya sa ground.

It's such a sight! He looked really carefree and bubbly earlier pero he's looking really cool right now!

"Jule! Uwi na kayo?" Tanong nya.

"Oo, pre! Lasing na 'tong mga 'to oh," turo nya kila Ate Roan na inaalalayan nya. Pati si Ate Yuli rin knocked out na. Kanina pa tawa ng tawa gawa ng alak na ininom nya.

"Alright. Uwi na rin ako guys! Ingat kayo ha? Jule, ingat tol," sabi nya saka lumingon sa banda ko. He nodded and I raised my hand to wave him goodbye.

"Ingat!" paalam ko.

He nodded again and started his motor's engine. Bumusina ulit sya saka tuluyan nang pina harurot ang motor palayo sa amin.