When The Night Sky Becomes Lively

XVII

Especially a beautiful girl was dancing with me, beneath the lights of the chandeliers. Clad in a white dress, she's emphasizing the pureness inside her. I could imagine the praises and compliments showering her. Looking up close, thoughts of self-deprecation always haunted me. Am I really suitable to be her escort?

Ang tanong na iyon ang umiikot sa utak ko na parang sirang plaka. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay hindi ako karapat-dapat para sa pwestong 'to. Yet she approached me for this request.

But this feeling, it's a bit...refreshing. The last time I danced waltz was back on JHS. And I took the female role since there's a buncha guys in our class.

Apparently, ang kanta na laging nasa isip ko kapag sasayaw ako ng waltz ay kasalukuyan kong naririnig at sinasabayan. Ngunit ang babaeng inisip kong isasayaw ko kasabay ng tugtog na ito ay hindi siya. But...just this once...I wish that bastard is fine doing her studies.

****

"So lahat ng gustong maging ka-partner ay babae, pwede na kayong pumili." A gay-like voice echoed in our practice grounds. It was our leader.

"Pumili na kayo nang magiging kapares niyo!" The girl with a sassy voice repeated.

33 boys, 27 girls. That's the number of students by sex. As expected, lahat ng may lakas ng loob na makipares sa babae ay unti-unting napupuno. If I were gonna give myself a chance, I would like to be paired with her. The girl I've been adoring until now. The reason why I keep chasing the ranks.

Nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng 3rd quarter at bilang project namin sa PE ay magsasayaw kami ng waltz. Everyone's ecstatic since everyone wanted a prom-like vibe. Coats, dress, gowns. Idagdag pa ang waltz na sasayawin namin ay halos makukumpleto na.

Buong Grade 9 ay magkakaroon ng paligsahan ng waltz. Hindi nakapagtataka kung may makakasabay kaming taga-ibang section.

"Wanna partner up with a girl?" my partner from the previous dance asked. He's taller and larger than me. He had a bit dark brown complexion that you could almost mistook him as an African.

"Sa totoo lang, gusto kong maka-partner siya. Kaso mukhang malabo eh," I replied.

"You mean, our P.R.O? Pwede naman kaso mukhang mahihirapan kang maging kapares siya."

I'm aware. In our class, there were two major cliques-or that's my interpretation. Ang sitting arrangement namin ay nahahati sa five column, two seats setup. At limang row. I sat at the leftmost part, near the doors. There's the Boys Group, sila ang mga pasaway sa amin. Nasa second column ang tambayan nila. Ang clique naman ng choreographer-slash-producer namin ay sinakop ang window seats. I'll probably call it "Kikay group". The rest are "neutrals".

Mahirap makalapit sa grupo nila. I could interact with them, but asking a girl to be my partner would be the talk later.

"How about you? Not gonna try?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Pakiramdam ko ay wala akong magiging ka-partner dyan. Mukhang tayo na naman ulit." He smiled, then briefly chuckled. I could feel his dismay and lack of confidence.

I just made a toothy grin and try to brighten the mood. "C'mon! Huwag naman tayong masyadong malungkot! Tayo na naman ang magkapares kaya siguradong kabisado na natin ang dynamics. Pakiusap, huwag mo akong patalsikin"

He shrugged. "Well, it's you and I again. Thank you for taking the female role." At least I managed to lighten his mood.

"Ugh! Oo na! Alam kong pandak ako! Huwag mo ng ipangalandakan sa'king 5'6 ka." I grumbled. He gave me a sympathetic look. With a hint of holding his laughter. Hindi naman pandak ang 5'3 para sa isang fourteen-year-old, tama?