When I Chase (When #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Grant was frowning when we decided to go to the party as is. Tinatamad na kasi silang umakyat para magbihis kaya naka-bikini top at shorts lang kami. Rio and Maia was wearing unbottoned flannels while Noelle and I were wearing cover-ups.

"Why are you frowning?" I asked him as we walked behind my friends.

"You're barely wearing anything." tahimik na sagot niya. Sa tono niya ay parang nagpipigil pa siya na may sabihing iba. 

Napanguso ako. "Sila Noelle rin naman? And I think the other girls in the party scene will be wearing something similar."

Hindi niya ako sinagot at huminga na lang ng malalim. Napasimangot ako dahil doon. Pakiramdam ko ay napaglitan niya ako kahit hindi naman. Great. I suddenly don't feel like partying anymore.

I felt someone grab my hand and fingers intertwining with mine. My head turned to Grant and I see him looking straight ahead. Wala na ang simangot sa mukha niya kagaya nung kanina. He looked more at ease. Dahil doona ay napangiti ako. Pinisil ko ang kamay niya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa dinadaanan namin.

Maraming tao. Iyon agad ang naisip ko nang makarating kami doon. The music was so loud that I can't even hear my self when I speak. Kinalingan pa nga namin sumigaw para magkarinigan.

Mag-aya sila sa bar para bumili ng drinks. Wala kaming dalang pera o card kaya inilagay na lang iyon sa bill namin. We were down on our second shot and the girls were starting to feel the effect of the alcohol.

Grant leaned down, his lips nearly brushing my ear. "Don't drink too much please."

Kahit na hindi nyia iyon sinigaw ay rinig na rinig ko pa rin. Kahit na simple lang sinabi niya ay nagawa pa rin nitong palambutin ang mga tuhod ko. Or maybe it's the alcohol starting to take effect on me too?

"Sayaw!" sigaw ni Noelle at hinila sila Maia. Maia pulled Rio and Rio ended up pulling me with them. Hindi ko na nagawang sumagot kay Grant at napasama na sa kanila.

Pumunta kami sa bandang walang gaanong tao at doon nagsimulang tumalon-talon sila kasabay ng beat ng party music. Hinawakan nila ang kamay ko kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ang sumama sa kanila na at tumalon. Para siguro kaming mga tanga.

Nang matapos ang tugtog ay napagod na rin sila at nag-aya pabalik sa bar kung saan namin iniwan ang tatlong lalaki. They were still there. Nikolai and Johan were looking around while Grant's eyes were already locked on me as he sipped his imported beer.

Sumali sila Nikolai at Johan sa beer pong kasama si Maia at Noelle. Kami nila Rio ay nanunuod lang sa tabi at nagche-cheer para sa kanilang apat. Si Grant ay nasa tabi ko lang at tahimik na nakikinuod din. I can tell that he's not into party scenes that much. He prefers to be part of the unnoticed crowd even when it's impossible for him.

Kahit na wala siyang ginagawa ay maraming babae pa rin ang nakakapansin sa kanya. He's extremely handsome and very much attractive. Halos hindi ko na nga mabilang ang babaeng nahuli kong nagdidikit ang tingin sa kanya. It makes me pout but looking at Grant and realizing that he doesn't even notice them was a relief.

On our fifth shot, everything felt funny that I kept on laughing. Pati ang mga kaibigan ko ay tumatawa din. Si Grant naman ay seryoso pa rin at pinapanuod lang kami. The DJ announced how near New Year is before playing a popular Major Lazer song blasted. Everyone cheered while we decided to dance. Hinila nila Noelle sila Johan habang ako naman ay hinila na si Grant.

My friends were making silly choreography and I struggled between laughing and dancing. Nang dumating beat drop ay inayos na nila ang sayaw. Hinatak ako nila Noelle papalapit. Ginaya ko ang pag sayaw nila. Iyong nag bo-body wave na may halong grind.

Pinakawalan nila ako nang matapos ang magandang beat. May naramdaman akong braso na pumulupot sa bewang ko kaya napatalikod ako para tingnan kung sino iyon. It was Grant, of course. 

Namumungay ang mga mata na ngumiti ako. I placed my arms on his shoulders and clung on his nape. His eyes were fixated on me and I loved it. I love the way he looks at me.

"Twenty seconds till 2016, everyone!" sigaw ng lalaking DJ sa speaker. Naghiyawan ang mga tao dahil doon. Everyone was excited for the countdown to begin while I'm very okay, just staring at him.

"11..." humina na ang music at sabay-sabay na isinigaw ng mga tao ang number.

"10..." the 10-seconds countdown started. 

"9..." I heard my friends yell along with the crowd. I wanted to join them but I was held captive by Grant's eyes. I couldn't look away. I was in a deep, deep trance but I don't mind.

The numbers passed and my eyes were still locked with him. Everything was inconsequential. Everyone was just a fading background noise and he's every lyric.

"4..." the spell got broken when the girls grabbed my arm and squealed with excitement. My eyes were apologetic when I looked at Grant who was still gravely watching me. I gave him a sheepish smile and I laughed at my friends.

"3... 2..." I bit my lip and peered up at the sky, waiting for the colors to burst and paint the dark canvas.

"1..." the crowd screamed, welcoming new year. Their voices got drowned by the whistling of the fireworks. Naputol ang hininga ko at hinintay na sumabog iyon pero bago ko pa makita ay biglang may humila sa braso ko at naramdaman ko na lang na may malambot na lumapat sa mga labi ko.

Sparks immediately traveled inside my body. My eyes widened in surprise. He is kissing me. Grant is kissing me. Unlike mine, his eyes were closed and the light of the fireworks were reflecting on his face. 

He slid his arm on my lower back and caressed my cheek. His touch disarmed me. It made me weak. He tilted his head and parted my lips with his tongue, slipping it inside my mouth. My eyes closed when his tongue stroked my own. I think I let out a moan and I was thankful that no one heard it. Not even me.

The movement of his lips were slow and thorough. It was passionate and soul piercing. Grant deepened the kiss, urging me to return it back. I did. 

I heard my wings spread behind me. It fluttered slowly, then hard. It flapped behind me until I felt myself being completely lifted off the ground. My heart was beating erratically and for the first in time in forever, I flew.