Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 12

The soundtrack was blasting throughout the stadium, and students and professors dolled up in their finest gowns and suits to celebrate the day. Some were also swaying with their partners in the middle of the dance floor.

And here I am, huddled in one of the corners, feeling so melancholy as I watch this one guy dance with the girl in the gown I picked for her. Ang bigat sa loob.

"Are you okay?"

Bumaling ang mga mata ko kay Keith na kanina pa pala nasa tabi ko. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and his hair was groomed as if he had consumed the entire world's supply of hair wax. Pero sobrang gwapo niya. Obvious naman. Maraming babae nga ang gusto siyang makasayaw pero tumatanggi siya para samahan ako dito sa table namin.

"Of course. Sorry. Pagod lang talaga ang mga paa ko. You can dance naman with other girls," sabi ko sa kanya, sinusubukan na 'wag ibalik ang atensyon kay Trip at Amber.

He immediately shook his head. "Dito lang ako. Samahan kita."

I simply smiled because I knew I wouldn't be able to persuade him to change his mind. I'd been here for hours and it seemed like I'd been wasting my time.

"Sobrang simangot mo d'yan." He chuckled. "You've been crowned prom queen. You should smile and celebrate the fact that you are one. Last year na kaya natin sa Junior High."

Right. Ako ang prom queen ngayong taon at dapat sana ay sumasayaw ako ngayon kasama ng karamihan. Pero nakaupo lang ako ngayon habang umiinom ng juice.

I know I'm being hypocritical, yet my gaze returned to them. Trip was grinning while speaking with Amber, They were having a good time dancing and listening to music. Sobrang ganda ni Amber sa suot niya, idagdag pa ang malaki niyang ngiti habang nakikinig kay Trip.

Simula noong pumayag akong maging partner ni Keith sa prom, hindi na naging normal ang pakikitungo namin ni Trip sa isa't isa. Or maybe I was the one who stopped treating him the same way. I was disturbed by the thought that Trip would ask me first if Keith didn't. At sobrang guilty ko. Hindi ko dapat iniisip ang mga ganito.

"Let's dance."

Nagulat si Keith sa sinabi ko. I had been treating him unfairly throughout our friendship. I've agreed to be his partner in order to enhance our bond, kaya bakit ako nakaupo lang dito? I can't allow Trip to take over my thoughts and ruin this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Sigurado ka ba? Kung naguguilty ka lang dahil nak—"

I stood up and extended my hand in front of him, which caused him to halt in his speech. Nakalahad na ang kamay ko ngayon, naghihintay na abutin niya.

"Let's dance," ulit ko sa sinabi ko kanina.

He took a glance around, and I did the same. Almost everyone was looking at us, perhaps shocked to see me ask for a dance after such a lengthy period of sitting. Nahuli ng mga mata ko na tumigil si Trip at Amber sa pagsayaw, nakatingin na sa amin ngayon.

I swallowed and turned aside, concentrating on Keith, who was suddenly staring at me, his eyes shimmering with feelings I couldn't place. Napangiti ako nang tinanggap niya ang kamay ko bago tumayo.

Pumunta kami sa gitna. Hindi ko pinahalata ang gulat ko nang umalis si Trip at Amber sa dance floor, bumalik sa sarili nilang mesa.

"Are you sure about this?"

Pinatong ko ang kamay ko sa balikat ni Keith. "Why not?"

"Ang ganda mo."

I smirked and rolled my eyes at him. I could see the torment in his eyes as I flinched when he placed his hand on my waist. Aalisin na sana niya pero agad ko ding ibinalik.