REIVEN'S POV**
West just looked at me before shaking her head.
"Uuwi na ba or tuloy mo palalaro mo?"
Saglit pa ako nag isip before finally smiling.
"Uwi na, I'm getting lazy."
"You're always lazy."
Marahan ko nalang hinampas balikat ni West, and then walked back to my car together.
The day wasn't that bad but not entirely good either. Still, I got to meet someone new, that's one thing na good about this day.
I was looking forward to more good things.
"Ah, Rei? Can you drive me to Central Plaza?"
"Why? boutique?"
"May emergency with Art."
On the other hand, ramdam ko rin naman talaga na pangit araw na to.
I just nodded and decided to stay quiet and just drive nalang.
Pangit talaga pangunahan mga plano ni Lord.
"Will you be home toni-?"
"Yes, Reiven," she cut me off.
Somehow, that made me feel at ease.
After driving West to her destination, it was just me nalang.
I suddenly remembered na may new batch na ipapasok sa studio namin, so I decided to just go there.
Di pa naman ako needed since wala pa practice, I still went ahead since wala naman ako gagawin.
Pagkarating ko, they were already starting. Nagulat pa nga since nakita na dumating ako.
They didn't question it, tho.
I was quietly watching the new members practice nang biglang may isang dumating.
So I thought ako lang tardy rito. It looks like someone beat me to it.
"Im sorry po!"
"Hays, buti naman dumating ka pa iha," coach Rom, one of the dance coaches here, said.
She then removed her cap and mask before smiling sweetly kay coach.
Then it hit me.
It was the girl earlier.
I forgot the name, dang it.
Kanina ko pa sya tinititigan, trying to remember her name nang bigla akong kalabitin ng katabi ko.
It was Vien. Sya kasi assigned na mag guide sa new trainees.
"Grabe makatitig ah, new target?"
"What? No! I met her kasi kanina, I can't remember the name."
"Ayan ba?" Vien asked, then pointed to the girl who's quietly sitting in the corner.
Kakatapos lang nila gawin yung isang choreo, and they're on a break currently.
Tumango nalang ako, my eyes still on her.
"That's Via. She actually goes to the same college sa kapatid ko."
Di pa sya lumilingon dito banda sa pwesto ko, so probably she still doesn't know na I work here.
That's when I also recalled kaya familiar mukha nya.
I saw her one time nung pinuntahan namin ni Vien kapatid nya sa university.
"She's quiet."
"Yup, pero mabait naman yan."
"You know her?"
"Oo naman, ako nga pumilit sakanya na sumali rito eh, mahiyain kasi," she explained, making me nod my head.
Sa sampal nya kasi kanina, I didn't expect na mahiyain sya.
"Ay! oo nga pala, ano ginagawa mo rito? Bukas ka pa ah?"
Vien asked. Bukas pa kasi talaga dapat schedule ko since may assigned naman samin per day, minsan naman tatawagin nalang kami.
"It's rare to see our best dancer here kahit di nya schedule," biro ni Vien bago ako hinampas sa balikat.
Wala naman talaga ako balak sumulpot dito, kaso baka mabadtrip lang ako sa bahay.
First, di ko na nga masyado na enjoy yung kidzoona dahil dun sa bata, tapos ngayon sumulpot yung unggoy nyang boyfriend.
I can't help but be frustrated. She promised na magkasama kami buong araw, yet she left me again.
"Ah, mamaya na ang chika! back to practice na!" Vien said bago sya bumalik papunta sa mga trainees.
I was left alone again, and I was just sitting peacefully when I overheard a conversation.
Di naman sana ako interesado kaso narinig ko pangalan nya.
Saglit pa ako lumingon sa paligid to find saan galing yun, then I finally spotted where it came from.
Kinakausap sya ni coach Rom.
"Iha, I don't want you to take this hard way ,pero we don't really tolerate tardiness here. First day mo palang nalate ka na agad?" I heard coach Rom.
"Im sorry po. May emergency lang po kanina sa pinsan ko," tugon naman nya.
I can't help but be guilty since ako talaga reason nun.
"Lagi na nga late yung isang choreographer namin dito madadagdagan pa. Hays."
Bigla naman nangunot noo ko.
He didn't say any name pero somehow alam kong ako tinutukoy nya dun.
Pero kahit gaano pa ako ma-late, they can't fire me. Basically, lumago lang naman itong studio dahil sakin.
It'll be their loss, not mine.
Tuloy tuloy yung sermon kay Via, kaya di ko na napigilan lumabas since naguilty na rin ako kasi ako talaga may kasalanan nun.
"I'll just train her personally. No need to stress about it," I said.
Halatang nagulat pa silang dalawa sa biglang pag sulpot ko.
"Oh, Rei. What are you doing here? bukas ka pa ah?"
"Bored. I'll handle her nalang tutal sabi mo nga, lagi naman ako late, quits kami," I said with a smile.
Napahilamos naman sa mukha si coach.
Halatang di na rin nakaangal.
He then just said, "Do whatever you want."then left, leaving Via and I.
"You're a choreographer?" she asked.
Napatingin naman ako sakanya, I smiled before nodding.
"Small world, right?"
"Indeed.."
"I didn't expect to meet you here again, Via," I said, making her tilt her head and laughing awkwardly.
We chatted for a little while. I found out she actually was into dancing during her earlier years, she just never pursued them.
Dahilan na mahiyain din daw talaga sya and priority nya talaga studies nya.
Now she got a chance, she took it na raw since bibihira lang talaga mga offers like this.
"It was a good thing na pumayag ako kay ate Vien," she said while she's fidgeting with her fingers.
Napansin ko rin na mostly nakayuko sya pag kausap ako, kay coach Rom di naman sya ganun.
"Pangit ba ako?" I asked.
Bigla naman ito napatingin.
"What?! no, no, no!"
"Then why won't you look at me pag kausap kita?"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"I might die," she said then turned her head away again.
Napakamot naman ako sa batok, she answered me just to make me more confused.
"Why would you die?"
"Di ako makahinga, masyado ka maganda," she said.
It took me a little while to process what she said. When I realized, natawa naman ako.
I get lots of compliments with my looks. Somehow, sakanya palang yung compliment na nagustuhan ko.
"You're pretty yourself too," I said.
"Hala sya!" tugon naman nito, making me laugh even more.
Somehow, nakalimutan ko na yung tampo ko kay West while talking with Via.
It just feels like I forget my problems kahit papano when around this girl.
"I know di pa tayo ganun katagal magkakilala. We set off our foot in a bad start, but would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" I asked her.
Gusto ko pa sya makilala, and this is my chance na rin since wala naman si West sa bahay and wala rin ako gagawin.
I just hope she's not busy.
"Yes agad, mga biyaya ay di tinatanggihan," she said with a smile.
Sinuklian ko naman sya ng ngiti.
While West is busy with her boyfriend, I found someone I can have some fun time with.
I just know na Via's different from the girls I've taken home.
Naintriga ako sakanya by her personality, not by lust or any other intentions.
Is this the sign for me to stop obssesing with my best friend?