LWTS 2: Married to the Stars

Unchained

Lorie's POV

"Don't worry. Hindi kayo nakakaistorbo. Upo kayo." sabi ni Chester sa kanila pero sinuklian lang sya ng matalim na titig ni Justine.

"Sino sya?" tanong ni Chelsea na may pagka-malditang tone.

"Ah. Si Lizzy. From the special section." pakilala ni Justine.

"Hello. Justin told me things about all of you." sabi nya.

"Really? Good things o bad things?" taray ni Jhes kaya medyo napatikom yug babae.

"Don't mind her. Please feel free to sit down." to the rescueng sabi ni Dax. Tsk! Sakto sa harapan pa namin sila umupo. Bwisit.

"Dahan-dahan sa paghigpit ng hawak. Baka mabali braso ko." bulong ni Chester kaya napatingin ako sa kamay kong nakahawak sa braso nya.

"Dami-dami kasing uupuan sa harap ko pa." bulong ko pabalik kaya natawa si Chester.

"Tinatawa mo?" tanong ni Jhes sa kanya.

"Wala si Lorie kasi may binulong na joke. Ang corny kaya natawa ako." palusot nya kaya kinurot ko sya sa braso. "Aray! Hahahahha." tawa nya.

The program started pero hindi namin masyado iniintindi.

"Bakit parang bigla ata kayong naging close?" tanong ni Justine na mukhang wala sa mood.

"Ha? Close naman kami ni Lorie dati pa." sagot ni Chester.

"Hindi lang halata dahil laging nakabuntot sayo noon si Lorie." sagot naman ni Chelsea.

Napatahimik tuloy ako.

"Oops! Sorry. Arki. Samahan mo ko, kuha tayo ng drinks." takas nilang dalawa kaya nagsi-sunuran yung iba.

Ang naiwan lang ay kami ni Chester, si Drei at Nat, pati si Justine at Lizzy.

"Gusto mong maiinom?" tanong ni Chester sa akin.

"Ha? Hindi na. Kukuhanan na daw tayo ni Dax." sagot ko. "Wag mo kong iwanan dito sasabunutan kita." biglang bulong ko ng makaupo sya.

"Kamusta ka?" casual na tanong ni Chester kay Justine.

"Ayos lang. Naging busy this past few days." sagot ni Justine na mukhang bored kausap si Chester which never happened before. Parang may ibang tension sa kanila.

Hindi kaya nagseselos si Justine sa amin?

Tsk! Ano ka ba Lorie. Stop dreaming.

"Ohh. Oo nga eh. Hindi mo tuloy napapansin yung sa paligid mo." sagot naman ni Chester.

"Uhmm." biglang singit ni Lizzy.

"Ohh. Sorry. Wag kang mahiya. Ganito talaga kami mag-usap. Its a normal thing." palusot ni Chester kaya kumalma ng unti si Lizzy.

"Are you two starting to go out?" tanong ni Chester kay Lizzy.

"What is it to you?" balik ni Justine.

"Wala. Gusto ko lang malaman kung anong pinagkaka-abalahan mo these days. Para namang di tayo magkaibigan." tatawa-tawang sabi ni Chester.

"Kapag sinabi kong Oo?" seryosong sabi ni Justine.

So they're going out? Lizzy and him? Ni hindi man lang nya sinabi sa akin. Heh! Tangina. Ang sakit ha? Harap-harapan. Para namang hindi nya alam yung feelings ko para sa kanya.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom." paalam ko.

I grabbed my purse on top of the table and was about to leave when Chester grabbed my hand stopping me from leaving.

"Omigosh! Is that a couple bracelet?!" gulat na sabi ni Lizzy ng makita yung bracelet namin ni Chester.

"Oh!" gulat na sabi ni Drei at Nat na nasa gilid ni Justine.

"What's the commotion?" biglang dating ng iba kaya bumalik ako sa pagkaka-upo.

"Ohy! Ano yan?" nakangiting turo ni Jhes sa wrist ko at wrist ni Chester ng iabot jya yung inumin namin.

"Lah! Seryoso?" tanong ni Calvin kay Chester.

"Napaka-tsismoso nyo talaga. Ssh!" nguso ni Chester sa kanila kaya natawa yung mga babae.

"It's a gift from Chester." sabi ko.

"Bakit pati sya meron? Wushuuu!" nguso ni Arki.

"Couple bracelet. Masama?" sagot ni Chester sa kanya.

We were all shocked when Justine suddenly stood up and left the table.

"Justine!" Lizzy called out pero he never looked back.

"Excuse lang. Sundan ko lang sya." sabi ni Lizzy and ran after him.

"Seloso." rinig kong bulong ni Dax.

"Teka nga? Bakit ba kayo may bracelet pareho?" usisa ni Melody na kanina eh nanahimik lang.

"Regalo nga. Kulit nyo." sagot ko.

"Bakit dalawa kayo meron?" sunod ni Natalie.

"Luh! Bawal? O sige na tatanggalin na." sabi ni Chester na aktong tatanggalin yung bracelet pero hindi naman tinanggal.

"Oy Chester. Anong balak mo?" seryosong tanong sa kanya ni Dax.

"Wala." nakangiting sagot nya lang. It leaves them clueless pero wala naman talaga. Chester's just being his usual self the only thing that's new is that he is protecting me,m and saving me.

The program continued at nasa part na kami na pwedeng sumayaw sa dance floor. Magpe-play sila ng slow music tapos bahala na kayo. Parang prom. And we needed to dance with our partners kasi titignan na ng judges kung sino ang magiging Mr and Ms. Symphony Academy.

Most of the students eh nagsasayaw na sa dance floor at kami na lang ni Chester ang natitira.

"Di ba tayo sasayaw?" tanong ko kay Chester.

"Ayoko ng kanta." sagot lang nya kaya napanguso ako.

Medyo inaantok na ako kaya pinatong ko yung ulo ko sa braso nya.

"Papatong saglit." sabi ko na hindi nya sinagot. Meaning okay. Hahahhhah.

Lumipas ang ilang kanta eh hindi nya pa din ako niyaya. Bwisit tong kapartner ko. Ang tamad na choosy pa. Wala na talaga akong pag-asa na maging Ms. Symphony. Though hindi ko naman talaga gusto, I was just excited kasi akala ko si Justine makakapartner ko.

"Wait lang Lorie. CR lang ako. Dito ka lang ha?" paalam nya kaya tumango ako.

I looked around the venue. Hoping na makikita ko si Justine. And I did saw him. Dancing with Lizzy with a smile on his face.

Lucky her. I've always dreamt of being in that position. I've always imagined myself being slow danced by Justine. Pero mukhang hanggang imagination na lang talaga yun.

I was watching them dancing the whole time when he suddenly saw me. We looked at each other so I smiled, a fake one and then--

"I'm letting you go." I mouthed as a tear fell from my eye.

Happy Birthday to me. Yay! Not- I died.

I looked down at my hands as tears dropped on it. What a waste. Sayang effort ni Mom sa make-up mo Lorie. Be strong. Be strong.

I wiped my face with my handkerchief and fixed my make-up.

"Our next song was requested by Mr. Chester Park as a special dance with her lovely partner, Ms. Lorraine Jung. Here it is."

I was astounded when the spotlight suddenly lighted on me and Chester was in front of me.

"Can I have this dance?" he asked as he offers his hand.

----

Yo! Lizzy and Justine on the media board. 😊