Paper Planes

Kabanata 37

111918: Happy birthday to the person who stayed by my side during the darkest days of my life! I will be forever grateful. I love you, Bang! :* :* :*

KABANATA 37

Ilang segundo rin kaming nagtitigan. Parehong nagtatanong ang mga mata. Parehong nagtataka.

Anong ginagawa mo rito? Hindi ba't sabi mo wala kang panahon sa mga hindi importanteng okasyon tulad nito? Bakit siya ang kasama mo? Bakit hindi... Hindi ko tinapos ang huling naisip at nag-iwas na lamang ng tingin. Tinatanong pa ba ang mga bagay na nakikita naman ang sagot?

"Arianne."

I turned and saw Himamura-san. Sandali siyang nilingon ang aking mga kasama.

"Pwede ko bang mahiram sandali si Arianne?" Pagpapaalam nito sa kanila pagkatapos niyang bahagyang yumuko bilang pagkilala.

Nagtinginan ang magkambal pero si Miyu ang sumagot para sa kanila.

"You don't have to ask for our permission, Himamura-san. She's your date after all," she said in a louder voice, sinadyang gawi lalo na't dumaraan sa puwesto namin sina Desiree.

I saw Ren's back stiffened at what my bestfriend declared. Pero hindi siya huminto at nagpatuloy lamang sa paglalakad sa tabi ng kanyang date, ni hindi man lang lumingon sa aming gawi kahit saglit.

I bit my lip as my chest constricted in pain as I watched him greeted Desiree's squealing friends. He only disappeared from my sight when Himamura-san stepped in front of me, blocking my view of him.

"Shall we?" He asked, a sad smile drawn on his face.

Tanga ka talaga, Ayana! Himamura-san made his way to go to your house and asked your parents to be his partner tonight. But here you are, hurting over someone who theatrically lied to you! Umayos ka nga! I mentally reprimanded myself as I forced a genuine smile. Tinanggap ko ang nakaabang na kamay nito at agad na lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha.

He guided me through the thickening crowd, consciously avoiding Desiree's mix. Huminto lang kami nang marating ang puwesto ng mga nag-uusap na matatanda.
Their company turned to us the moment we reached their place. My nervousness came full force when I recognized most of them as members of the School Board.

"Gentlemen, may I introduce, Lady Ayana," pakilala nito sa akin.

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagdaan ng lamig sa aking sistema as I tried my best to curtsy despite my shaking nerves.

Sandaling dumako ang paningin nila sa akin bago nakangising ibinalik sa aking kasama.

"So this is the reason why you said no when I asked you to be Ms. Sy's date," sabi ni Dir. Takasakura na natatawa pa.

Nobu Takayama was a man in his late fourties who was known in the whole University not only as the Chairman of the Academe Department, but also, with his reputation in Japanese literature and non-conventional approach to Mathematics and Physics.

"Well, seeing how beautiful his date is, I would have also said no if I was on Himamura-iinchou's shoes," Dir. Nunotani gamely said. Like Dir. Takasakura, Shinichi Nunotani was also in his late fourties and a member of the board.

"Please, Sirs, it's just Shun tonight," Himamura-san reminded as he turned to smile at me.

"Oh, right! No titles and statuses this evening. How lovely!" Dir. Hiraku Nakao, who's a younger member of the board, noted.