Romans & histoires Permission To Dance

At alam ko ang mga galawan niya. "Sorry but I am not allowed to dance with anyone other than my boyfriend." "You have a boyfriend?" He looks shocked. "Yes." "Is he here?" I shook my head. "Uh, nope." "Ayon naman pala. Wala naman siya dito kaya hindi niya rin malalaman." He grinned. "Not a chance. Actually, even if he allows me to dance with anyone, I don't really want to dance with you. Excuse me." Mabilis akong naglakad papasok sa loob para makawala sa kanya.

“Chloe, the music is perfect and the moment is tempting. May I have the honor to have this dance with you?” Oh… a dance! I like that!

"The music is inviting Lev. Pwede ba tayong sumayaw?" Levin darted his eyes on the dancefloor and then to her. A smile rose on his lips. "I don't dance my darling, but I can make an exemption for you. After all, I promise that I am all yours tonight." Tumayo ito saka inilahad ang palad sa kanya. Hilaw siyang ngumiti pagkunwa'y tinanggap ang ini-aabot nitong palad. "Guys excuse us." Sabi pa nito saka iginiya siya papunta sa gitna.

Hindi ko pa rin mapaniwalaang nasa harap ko siya ngayon. Ang lapit lang namin sa isat-isa pero hindi ko siya mayakap, gusto ko siyang hagkan pero wala akong karapatan. Kasal sila ng kapatid ko. Wala na kong karapatan pa para ipadama ang aking pagmamahal sa kanya. "May I have this dance?"

"Teka lang, I somehow think you must be a relative of Luke Watson—um, my boss..." He laughed. "No names. No personal details, raw di ba? Those are the rules, are they not? Now, would you care to dance? Or perhaps a walk in the east garden would be more to your liking?" Claire eyed the dozen or so couples moving slowly to the music on the temporary dance floor that had been set up in front of the small orchestra, tempted by the idea of being taken in his arms—more than tempted. Pero, willing nga ba siyang makipagsabayan sa mga sumasayaw dun? Pareho pa namang kaliwa ang mga paa niya? But with this man? Keanu? Willing ba siyang magpakahibang kahit ilang oras lang?

Hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanya ang mga matang sumusukat, mga bulungan na pilit inaalam kung totoo ba ang relasyon nila ni Levi o bahagi lang ng isang mas malaking palabas. Bigla siyang napatigil nang lumapit si Levi sa kanya at iniabot ang kamay. “Sumayaw tayo,” yaya ng binata. Napakunot ang noo niya. “Levi…” “Don’t say no,” sabat nito. “You already gave me permission to dance with Michelle. Now, it's your turn.” Walang nagawa si Vionne kundi tanggapin ang kamay nito. Tumayo siya, tahimik, at hinayaan si Levi na akayin siya papunta sa dance floor.

Habang masayang nagkukuwentuhan ang mga naroon, si Leander naman ay tumayo sa kaniyang kinauupuan at inilahad ang kaniyang kamay sa akin nang biglaan. “Let’s dance?” Kumunot ang noo ko. “Ha? Paano tayo sasayaw, eh wala namang tugtog?” He smiled. “Let’s dance and listen to the rhythm of the sea waves.” I don’t dance. Pero hindi ko siya tinanggihan. Medyo nakakahiya, pero ayos lang. It’s a vacation. We’re doing it because we can. And in my mind, I thought that I should do it because I only have limited time to spend with him. Lilipas ang mga oras, ang mga araw. Mabilis lang maubos ang oras. Kaya dapat ay sulitin na.

Napailing nalang ako sa kaguluhan nila. As the last dance began, the room was filled with a soft, warm glow from the twinkling lights. Zen and Andrei were the first on the dance floor, moving gracefully to the slow melody that played in the background. Their elegance and the intimate moment they shared made the scene even more magical.

“Ano pa nga ba? Mag-aaral.” “Tatanungin ko muna si sir, ma’am—” “Bakit mo siya tatanungin? Kailangan ko ba ng pahintulot niya?” nalilitong tanong ko sa kaniya. “Sa kaniya po kasi lahat ng baril, ma’am.” Shit! Bakit ko ba nakalimutan? “Dagger?” “Sa kaniya rin po.” Fuck! Gusto ko lang namang ibuhos ang galit ko ngayon, pero bakit kailangan ko pa ng permission ni Darius para gamitin ko ang mga ganoon?

he said. “Because I’m nervous,” I admitted. “Why?” “Because I shouldn’t feel this happy,” I said before I could stop myself. He tilted his head. “Shouldn’t?” I shrugged. “After everything… parang bawal.” He didn’t argue. Instead, he said, “Maybe happiness doesn’t ask permission.” That hit something. “Relax,” Sevi murmured, noticing how my shoulders were still stiff despite the slow rhythm. His thumb brushed lightly against my side, barely there, but enough to make me aware of every inch of space between us. “Hindi ka naman huhusgahan ng dance floor.”