C10 Chapter 9

Kahit na nagkagulo at nagkasunog pa ay itinuloy pa rin nila ang competition.May nag reklamo kasi na masasayang lamang ang effort nila kung hindi tatapusin ito.Tutal naka perform naman silang lahat,marapat lamang na ipaalam na ng mga hurado kung sino ang nanalo.Hindi alintana ng mga tao ang kaba at takot mulansa sunog na nangyari kanina.Sinimulan na nila ang awarding program.Isa-isang tinawag ang nga maswerteng kalahok na nanalo sa patimpalak ng pagsasayaw.

As expected, champion ang duo nila Demitri at Chaie.Sobrang saya nilang dalawa nang tanggapin nila ang medalya at trophy galing sa judges and sponsors ng event.Niyakap pa bigla ni Chaie si Demitri pero agad din namang kumalas sa yakap na ito si Demitri.

I don't know why pero parang naiilang pa rin siyang kasama si Chaie.As I know,hindi naman ganyan ang personality niya like super friendly naman siya sa iba.Pero pagdating kay Chaie,parang may something talaga.Siguro naiilang siya dahil may gusto siya kay Chaie.Sino ba namang hindi ma a attract sa maganda,matangkad at magaling sumayaw na babae?Siguradong tinamaan na siya kay Chaie.

At wala akong pakialam kung ganun man ang mangyari.I mean Demitri and I are just friends.Nothin special,right?Who am I to judge who would his love? Desisyon naman niya yan at labas na ako diyan.Pero somehow,I was hoping na hindi.Sana hindi niya gusto si Chaie.

I hope it would be me.

But that won't happened haha silly me!I'm just a nobody.There's nothing special with me except the fact that I don't feel any emotions or pain.

Nag focus nako muli sa programa.May iba ring nakakuha sa first,second at third place pero hindi na ako nag aksaya na alamin kung sino sila.

Well,good job for them.It's really a huge privilege to dance and win this event.

"Yash,may sasabihin ako." wika ni Dexter sa kalagitnaan ng awarding program.

"What?" I raised a bow at him.

"Pwede mauna nalang akong umuwi?May emergency kasi office eh."

Yeah,young entrepreneur things.

"Sure,I don't mind."

"Babalikan nalang kita dito mamaya ha.Parang matatagal pa matatapos yan.Just text or call me,Yash."

I just give him a nodded and he immediately go to the exit door.While me,I'm stuck here seeing people receiving their plaques and awards.Well,they deserve it naman.They did a wonderful performance kanina.

"As your dance instructor,I noticed that a lot of you improve their dancing skills.I'm thankful that you learn something from me.It not easy to teach but my heart and passion is into dancing and I want to share my knowledge to this young dancers of our generation.Who knows,one of you will be an international and successful dancer someday.Wish you all the best guys and thank you for joining my dance workshop.Hope too see you next summer!Keep on grooving dancers!" Ate K said as she give his closing remarks.She's even emotional when she said those words.Perphaps,she really love dancing and teaching that much.

Nagsimula nang magsiuwian ang karamihan sa mga tao dito.May ilang pang natira para kumuha ng mga litrato nila.May isang tao nag attempt sa akin na magpa picture but I refuse to do so.It's a little bit awkward for me.

I just look at them,taking pictures of each other.Some of them took formal poses and other give a wacky pose.They are very happy.I wonder how they keep that mood.Camera flashes are everywhere.Each corner of the dance studio is filled with laughter,smiles and tears of the dancer who hopefully succeed this dance workshop.

Sana katulad din nila ako na normal.

I wonder how it feels to have friends.Gusto kong subukan pero natatakot akong sumubok ulit.Everytime na may nag ta try na makipagkaibigan sa akin,I become anxious like what if maulit yung dati?The last time I try being friendly,I got betrayed and abused.It was so traumatic.Ayokong maulit muli ang pangyayari iyon na halos lumuhod na ako at nagmakaawa sa isang tao upang patawarin ako.Friendship are cool at first but in the end it is a lie that people always believe into.

"Yashlyn,right?" napalingon ako ng marinig ang boses ng dance instructor namin na si Ate K.

"Yes?"

"Hindi ka sumali sa competition diba?Why hija?I thought you would join,that's what your mom told me." wika niya sa akin.

"She's a liar since birth.Don't believe her." she seemed surprised with my answer. "And also,wala akong partner mag perform kaya hindi ako sumali." I looked at her directly.

"But you have your escort here kanina.I saw him.He's good looking like you."

"His not my escort.His just a nobody,okay?"

"Right,tama nga ang mama mo haha!I need more patience when I'm talking to you haha!" she laughing politely.She looks like an idiot for me.

"By the way,can I ask you a favor?Since di ka sumali sa contest pwede bang tulungan mo nalang yung mga ibang staff na mag linis dito?" pakiusap niya sa akin.

"So you want me to the cleaner of your own mess?Pass." I rolled my eyes at her

"Please Yashlyn, kulang kasi yung mga staff namin ngayon.Yung iba kasi absent kaya kailangan namin ng ibang tao na willing tumulong.Promise,I won't tell your mom na hindi ka sumali sa contest."

That's actually a good thing.Pag nalaman ni mom na hindi ako sumali,she will surely punish me.She might cut off again the supply of my daily allowance.I badly need money for my college journey.Hindi naman siguro masamang tumulong mag linis.

"Alright,just mark your words."

"Thank you,Yashlyn."

I start sweeping the floor.May iba namang nag tanggal ng mga dekorasyon at inayos ang mga chairs and tables.Lahat nag tulungan para maging malinis ulit ang venue.

I wonder bakit hindi nalang sila kumuha ng cleaner or housekeeper para dito?Ang laki ng ginastos nila sa event pero wala silang na hire na taga linis dito?Gosh baka kinurakot na nila ang pera binigay ng mga sponsors.Dapat hindi kaming mga mananayaw ang maglinis dito.Kanina pa kami pagod dahil sa event.

Ang dami kong reklamo pero wala naman akong lakas ng loob na sabihin ito sa management.I was thinking that baka mapahiya nako.I don't know but lately I was anxious and careful about my actions.The word 'consequence' had install in my mind.Para bang nagkaroon na ako ng paki sa mga bagay at taong nakapaligid sa akin.Hindi naman ako ganito dati.

Now,I was worried about my reputation and the feelings of other people.I've been considerate of what they felt.Napapansin ko,ang daming nagbago sakin this past few weeks.Dahil ba ito sa pagsama ko kay Demitri?Baka nahawa na ako sa kabaliwan niya.

Manhid lang akong tao pero ayokong makakita ng kalat sa paligid ko.Nakakairitang tignan pag may nag kalat na basura kahit saan.I feel like I failed as a human and I already got the behavior of an animal.Mahalagang maging malinis palagi.

Habang nag lilinis ako, a guy suddenly pulled my wrist kaya nabitawan ko ang hinahawakan kong walis tambo.I try to resist but his force is much stronger than me.Dahan-dahan akong tumingin sa kanya at mukhang alam ko na kung sino ang taong ito.

"What do you want?" Naiinis kong wika kay Demitri.

Nandito kami ngayon sa kabilang side ng dance studio.May mga equipments din dito pero hindi kaanong ginagamit.Napansin ko kasi na medyo maalikabok ang paligid,mukhang matagal nang walang nag pe perform dito.Hindi rin nag suggest si Ate K na mag perform kami dito for some reasons.

"Sorry,gusto sana kitang maging partner kaso si Chaie kasi..." he shrugged.

"It's okay,wala akong pake." I looked at him directly.

"Pero ako meron." ani niya at hinawakan muli ang aking kamay sabay patong nito sa kanyang balikat.

"Let's dance,my queen." he smiled at me.

"A-Are you out of your mind! I-I won't!" wika ko sabay layo sa kanya.Medyo nauutal din ako at pakiramdam kong umiinit ang mga pisngi.

Bakit ba ako kakabahan?Si walang silbing Demitri lang naman to,tsk!

"Sige na, please kahit ngayon lang.Please grant my favor." pangungumbinsi niya.

Hindi ko alam pero para bang kusa nalang sumang ayon ang katawan ko sa gusto niya.Hindi nako nanlaban pa at ibinalik niya ulit ang pwesto namin kanina.Nakahawak ang kaliwang kamay ko sa kanyang balikat habang ang kanan nama'y naka angkla sa kanyang kanang kamay.Ang kaliwang kamay ni Demitri ay nasa beywang ko ngayon and it somehow give me some annoying butterflies.

Nagkatitigan kami ng matagal.Para bang nalulunod ako sa mga tingin niya.Napaka ganda ng kanyang mga mata at nais ko pang masilayan ito ng matagal.Para itong nangungusap.Inaakit ako ng kanyang mga tingin.Hindi ko mapigilang tumitig din sa kanya.

I don't know what this feeling but I hope it won't end.

Para akong naging normal ulit.Parang nawala ang pagiging manhid ko sa mundo.

He lock our hands and start playing the music.We sway and groove towards it's rhythm.Kaming dalawang ang nasa loob ng pasilyong ito ngayon and it's gives me a romantic vibe.Malumanay ang galaw naming dalawa.Sabay sa tugtog na talagang nakakahalina.

Ganito pala ang feeling na kasayaw siya.It's unusual for me to have this kind of feeling.Ang gaan sa pakiramdam na makasayaw si Demitri.I wasn't hesitant with him hindi tulad sa ibang tao.Kahit na saglit na panahon lang kami nagkakilala para bang nakuha niya agad ang loob ko.Siguro naninibago lang ako dahil may tao ulit na sumubok na paamuhin ang isang manhid na tulad ko.

He keep on staring at me like I'm a precious object.I somehow feel embarass.Alam kong sa mga oras na ito ay tila nag kulay rosas na ang aking mga pisngi.Sigurado akong napansin niya yun dahil sa kakatitig niya saking mukha.But whatever it is,I don't mind.Bahala na kung makita niya akong mamula dito basta ayoko munang itigil ang sandaling ito.

How I wish I could freeze the time.I want to spent more time with him.

Maya-maya pa ay isinandal niya ako sa dibdib niya at niyakap ng mahigpit.I feel comfort in his chest.His warm embrace give me solace.Were still dancing but hugging at the same time.

Yes,I also wrap my arms around him.I hug him like his a huge teddy bear.Ang sarap niya kayakap parang nawala ang anumang iniisip ko sa sandaling ito.I don't mind if someone might see us here.What's important to me is that I got a chance to dance with someone whom I value the most.

"Wag mo kong iwan." he whispered to my ears.His voice was also comforting.It was too gentle yet manly.

"O-Okay." I responded.

I hug him tighter.For the first time,I feel like I'm a human again.Nagkaroon ulit ako ng nararamdam.Panay ang ngiti ko habang sumasayaw kami ngayon.

I can't believe I was able to experience this.I thought I wouldn't feel any romance in my life.Akala ko mananatili nalang akong ganun,isang manhid at walang paki na babae.

Demitri really change my life and I'm glad that I meet him.Marami siyang binago sa ugali at pakikitungo ko sa ibang tao.Sa kanya ko na realize na dapat i enjoy ko lang ang buhay ko.I shouldn't let my personality ruin my mood.Alam kong kaya kong magbago pero mas pinatunayan niya sakin na kaya niyang baguhin ako.

Demitri slowly gaze his eyes upon me and gently caress my chin.He was looking at my face carefully.His stare towards my lips.He look at it for a while then he bite his lips and give me a sweet smile.

"Can I?" he asked me.

I don't know what to say.I just close my eyes giving him a permission to kiss me.He feel his face slowly leveled at mine.He caress my chin again and next thing I knew was his lips already kiss mine.His lips was so soft and I can't believe I taste it for the first time.

It was a gentle and soft kiss that I won't forget.

I slowly opened my eyes and I saw him hugging me again.I feel like my heart was palpitating.The beat was so fast than the music.

What is this feeling?

Why do I feel this?

Is this what they called,

Love?