04

A week have passed, ganon parin. Crowd was wild,and these past days I’ve been so uncomfortable of my surroundings. Pero still, I kept my positive view, baka akalain nila na ang maldita ko. A week have passed na rin ng nagsimula na kaming mag date ni Grey, minsan nga sabay kaming mag lunch and mag dinner outside.

Tonight is Nate’s party. Hindi daw makakapunta si Grey because he has something to do, his parents left her tasks. So I had to go alone, but I know my friends would be there. 

I’m just wearing my simple white spaghetti strap dress that fits my body well, I also put light make up on my face so I won’t look pale and wore my black heels. Afterwards, I drove myself to Nate’s Residence, sa bahay lang kasi nila gaganapin yung party.

Nate is our childhood friend ni Safiela, we we’re living in a same village with them. So when we we're still kids ay kung lalabas kami ni Saf, lagi namin siyang nakikita sa playground kaya naman we invited him to play with us, then our friendship started.

Friendly rin naman si Nate kaso sa sobrang friendly naging babaero. Hays.

Pagkarating ko dun ay ang ingay na, buti nalang sila Nate ay nasa labas kasama ang friends ko. Agad silang napalingon sa gawi ko.

“Oh, Bonnie is here.” ah by the way, all my friends call me Bonnie. Gusto nila sila ang tumawag ng Bonnie sakin. Especially for them lang daw.

Lumapit ako at nakipag beso beso sa kanila. Wala pa pala si Pia, only the four of us. Siguro talagang pinaghahandaan niya to.

Hanna was wearing a simple dress also, it’s color green. While Saf was wearing a dress which fits her perfectly, it’s color blue. Nate is just wearing a tuxedo which made him more manly. Ang gwapo niya talaga tignan, no wonder why Pia was so crazy about him.

Speaking of Pia, someone just made our heads turned. It was Pia, wearing lovely red dress, her hair was curl a bit and she’s also wearing black heels pero iba ang design. She was stunning! Even Nate stared and admired her looks.

Nate was busy kaya umuna siya sami, tinudyo naman namin si Pia about it.

“Naks, kaya naman pala ang tagal mo sismars.” sabi ni Hanna, sinamaan lang siya ng tingin ni Pia.

Nang pumasok na kami, ang daming guest. Pero buti nalang, Nate reserved a table for us at talagang doon sa malapit sa stage talaga. Mahal na mahal talaga kami ni besty.

I was looking around, but someone caught my attention. I didn't know Nate knows him.

He was wearing a black tuxedo and white inner shirt parterned with black tie with a soccer pin sa gilid. Yes ganon kalinaw ang mata ko. But why soccer? Does he loves to play soccer? Hmm. His black hair we’re well fixed as usual. His face was really fresh, kahit na malayo siya kitang kita ko parin ang detalye ng mukha niya. He was talking to his friend when he suddenly smiled which made me unconsciously smile too.

“Hanggang dito ba naman sis, hindi makatakas si Ethan sa paningin mo?” eto nanaman si Hanna. Nilingon ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin.

“I’m not looking at him kaya.” I denied. She look at me na parang naniniwala talaga siya.

The party was formally started by his mom with an introduction about his son. His son now turns 20. Nate was invited to join the stage, he was really handsome in his tuxedo. There we’re flashing cameras everywhere, also.

Ilang sandali lang ay nag start ng kumain and some music we’re played by the band. We we’re eating a cupcake when the MC announce something about dance. Some boys we’re infront with Nate, and Ethan was one of them. Nate suddenly pick random girls from the crowd.

Nagtilian ang mga girls ng pinili sila. Saf was picked by random guy. I don’t know who is he but he is handsome too. Hmm undenieably handsome though there is something ‘bout him. I just don’t know. Then Hanna was also picked by a random guy. Gosh, gwapo din at malaki ang katawan. Kami nalang ni Pia ang naiwan sa table.

“Isayaw nalang kita sis.” sabi ko kay Pia ng makita na nakatingin siya kay Nate na may sinasayaw na iba.

“Che!” She hissed. But after that we laughed. Mga sira lang, pero napahinto kami ng may maglahad ng kamay sakin. It was Nate.

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya at nagpaalam kay Pia. Nang nasa gitna na kami ay nagsimula na kaming magsayaw.

“Si Pia sana ang sinayaw mo.” Tudyo ko, sinamaan niya ako ng tingin napatawa lang ako. Akala niya siguro tatahimik ako.

“If only—

“Yeah later isasayaw ko siya. I don’t wanna let her feel she’s outcast.” he cut me off, napangisi naman ako.

"But before we dance, dahil ayaw naman kitang iwan mag isa don I’m letting someone that will handle you.” he said with an evil smile at bigla akong hinila papalapit sa pwesto ni Ethan na kakatapos lang isayaw yung isang babae.

“Hey dude! Here, she’s my bestfriend. Please handle her with care.” sabi niya sabay wink, siniko ko siya pero tumawa lang. saka siya lumayo.

I awkwardly looked at Ethan who was looking at me with no emotion at his face. He suddenly held my hand and place it on his shoulders and he wrapped his arms around my waist.

 I suddenly felt something, and the feeling was good. Actually it was great being between his arms and it's so comforting. I was just looking at his chest coz I was still kind of shy to look at him in the eyes.

“Ethan.” he suddenly said his name with his cold voice. I realize he was introducing himself to me.

“A-Anastacia.” I stuttered when I said my name. Napapikit ako ng mariin dahil sa kahihiyan na nagawa ko, gosh Anastacia! Stuttering in front of Ethan? Really?

Nararamdaman ko ang hininga niya sa may batok ko, even his breath is cold. Unti-unti kong tinaas ang ulo ko to see his face. This is the first time I saw his face na ganito kalapit. Nagtama ang mga mata namin. His dark brown eyes met mine, and there was something about his stare that I couldn't explain.

Natapos na ang kanta pero ganon parin ang posisyon namin, people are going back to their sits. I was about to turn ng malapit ako mabangga, mabuti nalang hinapit niya ako ulit. Causing me to land on his chest.

“Mag ingat ka.” yun lang ang sinabi niya at tinalikuran ako. Bumalik na ako sa table namin na nakatulala parin.

“Kumustang puso mo sis?” Hanna does her thing again, teasing me.

“Nakakahinga pa ba ikaw?” porket sinayaw ng crush, nang asar na. Hampasin ko kaya siya ng heels ko, tsk.

Pero grabe I can’t really believe na nakasayaw ko si Ethan. The feeling was good, I don’t know why basta ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam. There was something about him. He was like, basta parang may something talaga.

Kinabukasan, I had hangover dahil uminom kami kagabi. Pero hindi naman ganoon karami, actually we still manage to got up early. Pero pag ako lang nag isa sa condo for sure ma le-late talaga ako, Buti nalang the girls decided to sleepover. Pia woke us all up, siya kasi talaga ang maagang nagigising sa aming apat.

When we arrive at school, juniors and some seniors we’re still going wild whenever I pass by them. Hay kalian kaya to matitigil!? Im sick of it already.

It was our P.E day so we had to change our clothes. We re playing badminton, sabi ng teacher sa amin. The fight was girls versus boys. All of us we’re enjoying the game. And noong kami ng dalawa ni Saf ang naglaro versus our two boys classmates, Andrey and Prince. The fight was getting hotter and hotter. Palaban kasi sila and of course kami rin ni Saf.

The game was out of hand. Andrey suddenly jumped and smash the shuttlecock and it went straight to my head na naging dahilan ng pagkahilo ko. Ganoon ka lakas ang tira niya, gosh. I almost fell on the ground because of dizziness thank God someone caught me. Safiela.

Pero nabigatan ata si Saf when she almost out balanced herself buti nalang natulungan agad kami ni Ethan. He carried me all the way to the clinic. I heard him asked for ice pack. He came back with the pack on his hand.

 He was emotionless when he slighty tapped the ice on my forehead. Hindi lang siya nagsalita while looking at my head, habang ako nakatingin lang sa mukha niya.

“What are you feeling?” tanong niya at kinuha na ang ice pack at tinabi bago lumingon muli sakin.

“I’m—

“Anastacia?!” I was cut by Grey, he immediately went towards me at dahil don napatabi si Ethan. Kinapa kapa ni Grey ang noo ko and checked it.

“I’m okay Grey…” I assured him that I am really okay, I gave him a smile. Napabuntong hininga siya at nilingon si Ethan na nakatayo na sa likod niya, maybe he’s ready to leave. I looked at him but our eyes didn’t met.

“Oh, Ethan.” Bati ni Grey, I didn’t know they knew each other.

“hmm.” tanging yun ang sagot ni Ethan. Tumango si Ethan and he looked at me before he turned his back but before that I called him.

“Um Ethan…” He looked at me and gave me a questioning look.

“Thank you… for bringing me here…is there something I can do for you? Pambawi lang…” I said. Nakatingin lang siya sakin. I don’t know but I can feel that he wants to say something but instead of telling me he shook his head.

“No need.” he answered before he left the clinic.

I can feel that he wants to say something coz his lips are moving but then he chose not to, or maybe he’s shy to tell me. I’m just gonna talk to him later, I just wanna make it up for him.

“Anastacia.”

I can’t stop thinking about it, the interactions between us makes me somehow comfortable. I can still feel a little awkwardness pero hindi na gaya noon. It just his presence is so relaxing.

“Anastacia.”

The day that we danced , this day that he carried me and brought me here, I didn’t imagine all of those will happen. It just brought me a good feeling. It’s like we we’re meant to do that, parang naka tadhana na na gawin niya iyon sakin.

“Hey Anastacia.’ I was cut by Grey’s voice, he sounds worried. I smiled awkwardly.

“Ow sorry, what is it?” I asked him. He looked at me with questioning look pero napailing lang din.

“The nurse told me you can know go. Let me guide you to your classroom.” he said at una ng lumabas sakin.

The nurse told me that if my head would still hurt, I must consult a doctor about it. I got out from the clinic at hinatid ako ni Grey sa room namin. Same as usual the crowd went crazy seeing us both, walking together.