TOTGA (Candy Stories #4) (Published under Bliss Books)

Chapter 06 part 2: Bedazzled

***

We would have loved to stay outside the ballroom. The calm of the garden and each other's company were more preferable than the party. Pero nakita kami ng ilang professors at niyaya kami pabalik. It was time for the dance and I wouldn't want to miss it.

Sa dance floor kami dumiretso ni Ivan. Kaswal niyang inilapat ang mga kamay niya sa baywang ko. Kaswal naman akong kumapit sa balikat niya. We started slow dancing to Ed Sheeran's How Would You Feel?

"Are you any good at this?" tanong kong tumingkayad sa tainga niya para marinig niya 'ko.

"Sa sayaw?" he whispered back on my ears.

"Yep."

An almost smile formed on his lips. "I'll try my best na hindi ka matapakan."

"Same," magaang sabi ko.

We couldn't say anything after. Must be the wine and the music and the way we're closely holding each other. Masyado kaming magkalapit. Magkadikit, even. Naghahalo na ang amoy ng pabango at ang init ng katawan namin.

Dancing lights played on Ivan's face while his eyes were on me. At seryoso pa rin ang mukha niya, kahit na maamo.

I wondered what he was thinking about while holding me. I wondered how I could stand being so close to him and still survive. Or how I could be held by him and still breathe.

Marahan akong huminga bago ngumiti sa kanya. Then I closed my eyes and shamelessly leaned on his chest. Mas bumagal ang paggalaw niya.

"Pagod ka na agad?" tanong niya.

I was listening to his heartbeat. Papabilis 'yon. Papalakas.

Parehas ng sa'kin.

"Medyo. Mataas ang heels ko. At naparami na yata 'yong wine ko kanina." But those are lies. Hindi ako madaling mapagod sa mga ganitong okasyon. Mataas din ang tolerance ko sa alcohol.

"Gusto mo nang umupo?" tanong niya.

No. What I wanted is to stay like this for a little while. Kahit shameless at questionable.

"Gusto mo na ba?" balik ko.

"Baka lang pagod ka na."

But I wasn't at all tired. "Baka naman magsasayaw ka lang ng iba, Potchi?"

"Hindi."

Nangiti ako. There's this painful happiness beating inside my chest—a strange but fascinating feeling.

"How long does a feeling last?"

Gaano katagal nga kayang nagtatagal ang mga ganitong pakiramdam? All these new and strangely fascinating feelings that were keeping my heart dancing?

I guess time will tell me the answers.

We slow danced to a few more songs before going back to our table.

Lumalim pa ang gabi.

***

"Hi, Pfifer. Puwede ka bang isayaw?"

Mula sa pagkakasandal ko sa mobile bar ay nilingon ko ang nagtanong sa'kin. Dalawang lalaki iyon na pamilyar ang mukha pero hindi ko pa tanda ang pangalan. Mga kaklase ko sa isang subject na ina-advance ko.

"Hello," bati ko rin. "Thank you for asking but sorry. I'm just here getting wine."

They looked like they still have something to say but I already turned towards the bar. Pagkatapos, may dumikit sa'kin. Nabalingan ko si Ivan.