Paper Planes

Kabanata 38

112618: Happy birthday, CRY! ❤😍😘

KABANATA 38

"Ladies and gentlemen, please move and make some room for the royal couple's first dance."

At the emcee's request, the crowd immediately moved to the sides and cleared the front floor. The proclaimed Yuleball King smiled at me as he held my hand and brought us to its center. He gracefully bowed down as I curtsied before him.

"Are you feeling well, my Princess?" He asked right after, playful, his smile sweeter than ever.

"Mo yamete yo, Himamura-san," angal ko sa natatawang kaibigan.

"Shikatanai yo. When you're looking like this, I can't help but call you one. And will you please call me by the name you used to call me already? Pakiramdam ko may hadlang sa pagitan natin sa tuwing tinatawag mo ako nang ganoon. That we are just strangers to one another. You call the Yazaki twins by their first names... Bakit ako hindi?" Pang-aakusa nito, bakas ang tampo sa boses.

Sasagot na sana ako nang muling magsalita ang emcee.

"As this year's Yuleball King and Queen, the couple will be serenated by the infamous vocalist of the Dragon's band..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig lalo na't kahit hindi pa man binabanggit ang pangalan nito'y hindi na magkandaugaga ang mga estudyante.

"Our very own... Reign 'King' de Jesus!"

Napuno ang hall ng sigawan at hiyawan ng mga estudyante. Most of the girls were already going gaga over it while the boys whistled and howled.

"Hi, everyone, my name's Reign."

Kahit na alam kong siya nga ang kasalukuyang may hawak ng mikropono, hindi ko pa ring maiwasang lumingon sa gawi niya. There he was, with those emerald green eyes of his, smiling brightly at the crowd as he briefly waved his hand to them. The room dimmed once again as the melody softened. Nagtama ang aming paningin. Puna ko ang sandaling pagkawala ng kinang sa mga mata nito at ang pagdaan ng isang emosyong sigurado akong bakas din sa aking mga bughaw.

"Arianne?"

"Huh?" Wala sa sarili kong tugon bago ibinalik sa kaharap ang paningin.

Sandaling sinundan ni Himamura-san ang aking nilingon at nang muli akong hinarap, may lungkot nang nakalakip sa dating matamis na ngiti nito.

"Would you be happier if it was him standing here before you?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa narinig at hindi kaagad nakasagot. Nang nagsimula ang pagkanta, muli naman akong napalingon ngunit agad ding napaharap nang marahang hinigit ni Himamura-san para simulan ang aming sayaw.

"You're wrong, Himamura, I mean, S-sean. I was just surprised to know that he was performing tonight. Wala kasi akong narinig tungkol dito," pagtatama ko sa gitna ng aming waltz.

For a while, Himamura-san was quiet and just maintained his eye contact with me. Parang sinusuri pa niya kung may katotohanan ba ang paliwanag ko. Nagpatuloy lang ang pagsayaw namin habang pilit kong isinasantabi ang isiping pag-aari ng taong iyon ang napakalamyos na boses na bumabalot sa buong bulwagan.

"If you knew that he was coming, would you..." He cut his words mid-sentence and then shook his head.

"Ano iyon?" Tanong ko.

"It's nothing. Ang importante, kasayaw ko ngayon ang pinakamagandang babae sa buong mundo," anito, nagbabalik ang kanyang ngiti.