Hopelessly Devoted to You

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

"SIGE, Sissy! Ikembot mo pa!" natatawang bulong ni Rufa.

"Lambutan mo pa, Sis!" dagdag naman ni Sophie. Natatawang napailing ako sa kalokohan nila. We were invading the dance floor of Zero Degree bar at this holy hour. I felt carefree out of the sudden.

"Woah!" Marga shouted. We even bumped our hips and giggled. I didn't know I needed this kind of break until these three dragged my ass off here.

I swayed my hips sensually like I own the dancefloor. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang ganitong ginahawa sa kaloob-looban ko pagkalipas ng isang lingo.

"Igiling mo pa, Sis! Ang sarap pagmasdan ng leon na parang papatay sa galit," hagikhik ni Sophie.

Napangiwi ako. Alam kong kanina pa niya ako pinagmamasdan mula sa malayo. Kaya nagkukunwari akong hindi apektado sa mga matatalim niyang titig. Hindi na niya ako nilapitan buhat nang sinampal ko siya sa labas ng powder room. I somehow felt satisfied after giving him a high-five on the face. He deserved that after all.

Pasalamat siya at isang sampal lang ang inabot niya sa 'kin, dahil nakapagtimpi pa ako. Kung nasa ibang lugar kami'y baka umuwi siyang bugbog-sarado. I didn't tell my three friends about what happened in the powder room. Baka kasi pati si Beatrice umuwing pilay sa tatlo kong kasama. I knew how protective they were over me.

"Kanina pa nakatingin si Madrigal sa 'yo. If you just have seen his face!" natatawang bulong ni Rufa. I don't want to assume that it's because of me. Ano namang magiging dahilan niya para magalit? After all, he was the one who left without any word. Bagay silang magsama ni Beatrice, parehong makakapal ang mukha.

Nagpupuyos ang aking loob kaya hindi ko napansing nagbago na pala ang tugtog. An acoustic song played in the background. My eyes went wide when a tall and lean figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

"May I have this dance?" aniya.

Naaamoy ko ang matapang niyang pabango. He has a sharp facial feature that made him more masculine. At hindi ko alam kung nililok ba ng mahusay na iskultor ang kanyang ilong sa sobrang tangos o sadyang pinagpala lang ang kanyang lahi.

"Dance daw!" bulong ni Sophie sabay tulak sa akin. Napahawak tuloy ako sa dibdib ng lalaki. Mabilis nitong hinuli ang aking baywang para hindi ako matumba. Nang mapagtanto ko ang aming posisyon ay mabilis akong umayos ng tayo.

"I'm s—sorry!" I stuttered. He just smiled and offered his hand again.

"I would rather have a dance than a sorry, if you don't mind?"

Nginitian ko siya bago tinanggap ang kanyang kamay. He held my hand and place it on his shoulder then his hand settled on my waist.

"Thank you," aniya. Isang tango at sinserong ngiti lang ang itinugon ko. We stated dancing in the middle of the floor. Hindi ko na alam kung saang banda sina Marga dahil ang awkward namang lumingon. Marami kaming kasabay na sumasayaw sa gitna.

"Kanina ko pa kayo napapansin ng mga kaibigan mo. Seems like you're enjoying the night," aniya.

"Ahhh, yeah... You know, nagkayayaan. Minsan lang kasi magkita dahil sa trabaho," sagot ko. I didn't know but I feel comfortable with him. Maginoo at mukhang pormal.

"I'm Gavin. You are?"

I laughed at the back of my mind. Mga lalaki talaga, ang bibilis.

"Safina," maikling tugon ko. Umikot ako't muli niyang hinuli ang aking baywang. I suddenly felt unease like someone's staring at me sharply.

"Safina... Hmm, what a beautiful name. It suits you."

"T—thanks!"

"Sana walang magagalit dahil isinayaw kita," aniya. I just smiled at him without giving any hint. Not really surprised about what he just said. Boys would usually say such a thing to know whether the girl they like is already taken or still available.