Snow's POV
Lumalim pa lalo ang gabi at mas sumigla naman ang lahat. Naging normal naman ang pakikitungo namin sa mga bagong estudyante. Masayahin si Hera at tila marami itong mga tanong tungkol sa Academy na sinasagot naman nina Luna.
Marami na ang nagsayawan pero kami nandito lang sa lamesa namin. Masyado pang crowded sa sayawan at ayaw naman namin makipagsiksikan doon. Marunong naman akong sumayaw kahit papaano.
Di kalaunan mukhang nagsawa na sa kakasayaw ang mga tao kaya unti-unti ng nagsi-upuan ang mga ito at konti na lang ang mga natitira. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila natitiis ang sakit ng paa nila sa taas ng mga takong nilang suot.
"Sayaw tayo." Yaya ni Hera sa amin. Aayaw na sana ako dahil sa paa ko pero bigla naman tumayo si Hera at lumapit sa akin. "Snow, pwede bang si Prince Yuan muna ang kapartner ko? Ayoko na si Clad yung kapartner ko, nakakasawa na." Parang batang nakalabing saad nito sa akin.
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o mayayamot. Natatawa ako dahil sa pagkachildish niya pero nayayamot naman ako dahil sa dirami-daming pwedeng yayain, si Yuan pa talaga. Gusto kong ipagdamot siya, pero wala naman akong karapatan para gawin iyon.
"Sure. I think he won't mind." Saad ko naman at ibinaling ang tingin kay Yuan. "Right, Prince?" Diniinan ko pa talaga yung prince para hindi ito makatanggi. Iniisip ko na lang din na scapegoat ito dahil muntikan na akong macorner nito kanina. Baka naman pag nagsolo na naman kami ay macorner na naman ako nito.
"Yeah. I won't." Saad nito but his face hardened. I know he doesn't like the idea pero hindi man lang tumangi gaya ng nakasanayan ko. Kaya, gusto kong mapasimangot dahil sa inakto nito.
"Then, I will have Snow." Saad naman ni Clad at napatingin naman ako rito. He was eyeing Yuan like asking permission or what. I don't know, hindi ko alam kung paano mag-isip ang mga lalaki at mga ganitong tinginan nila.
Bigla na lang tumayo si Yuan ng walang paalam at naglakad. Agad naman na umagapay si Hera dito. Anyare dun? Nang lumingon naman ako ay sinalubong ang tingin ko ng isang kamay.
"May I have this dance, milady?" Tanong sa akin ni Clad. He's smiling and somehow, I am drawn to his smile.
Nagdadalawang isip akong tanggapin ang kanyang kamay. Pakiramdam ko, paghinawakan ko ito ay mahuhulog ako sa isang hukay na mahihirapan na akong makabangon. I was eyeing his hand pero di nagtagal ay tinangap ko na rin yun.
The moment our hands touched, seems like the air went still and I can feel the tingling sensation due to the current reverberating from our skin's touching. I cannot explain why am I feeling this towards him. I can tell that I am attracted to him, but I know this is far different from what I feel with Yuan. There is a huge difference.
Tumayo na ako. All eyes were directed to us. A woman in blue and a guy in black, while Yuan is in white and Hera is in light pink. Nagmumukha kaming kontrabida ni Clad dahil sa kulay ng suot namin, habang si Yuan at Hera naman ang bida sa palabas na ito. But this is not a freaking movie, this is real life.
Nagulat na lang ako ng bigla akong hinapit ni Clad kaya napahawak ako sa dibdib nito. His bare chest feels so sensitive under my palm. I can feel my cheek flushed dahil sa skin ship na nangyayari. Pero pilit na ini-ignora na lang iyon, kahit hirap ako.
Inilipat ko ang kamay ko sa kanyang balikat, kung saan may damit doon. Kaya kahit papaano ay naging komportable ako.
"I wan't to know more about you Snow, so tell me about yourself." Saad ni Clad sa akin.
Pakiramdam ko parang sumabak ako sa isang job interview dahil sa naging tanong niya. Usong uso kasi yang tell me about yourself sa mga job interview lalong lalo na sa mga bagohan. Wondering why I know about it? My dad runs a company so I know, minsan na rin akong sumama sa mga job interview ni papa kaya nakita ko kung paanong may na-mental block dahil sa tanong at may iba pang sumagot na are you sure that is the question?
"Wow, that is quite a hard question, since there is nothing to be told about myself. My life is boring." Sagot ko rito and I even let out a laugh.
Clad smiled and God, does he know how beautiful his smile is? Pakiramdam ko wala itong alam dahil mahilig itong ngumiti at kung literal lang na nakakamatay ang ngiti niya, bumulagta na ako kanina pa.
"Then tell me about your boring life, I will decide if its boring." Tanong ulit nito.
Makulit din ito, pero siya ang nanghingi kaya lagot sa akin ito pagnagreklamo ito.
"Okay, I don't know where to start. So, I will start with my family then. I am an only child. My mom died giving birth to me. So my dad remarried with a widower that has two children from her previous husband. My dad only did that for me, to have a mother figure since I no longer have a mom. But I can say it was his greatest mistake to remarried." Kuwento ko at medyo nagpause ako dahil masyadong madrama ang kinukwento ko.
"My stepmother was abusive and I was turned into a servant in our own house since my dad was always away for our business. I was forced to clean the house at such a young age despite we have lots of maids in our house. But, I did not complained. My mentality was too engrossed with fairytales, that I was thinking I am some sort of cinderella and one day my prince will come and save me." Natatawa pang saad ko. "I know it is lame but, I am a kid at that time and too much disney movies is not good."
"But the good thing about it. Even my stepmother was mean to me, she still sent me to school, along with my stepsisters, but I was bullied because of my face. Lots of people hated me, so I ended up doing home schooling to avoid bullies. My dad paid high end teachers and I studied things that never taughed from my previous school. My stepmother was agains't it but she can't do anything about it. It was my father's decision."
"Then I grown up and I learned to defend myself and to see my rights in our house. And since then, my stepmom stopped bothering me until now. And my life in the academy is the only thing I can say it was fun." Kuwento ko rito. Medyo mahaba-haba din yun, pinilit kasi ako nitong si Clad. Napakwento tuloy ako.
"Based on what I heard, nothing even a single thing is boring. You are what you are now because of your past. You can never be what you are right now, without your past." Nakangiting saad ni Clad.
Gusto ko naman umiyak. He is so nice, why can't Yuan be like him? I can't imagine If this is Yuan right now, he might just tell me I don't give a damn with your life. Sa lahat ng tao, sa kanya ko pa talaga maririnig ito.
"Thank you, you are the first person who said that to me. It was comforting somehow." Nakangiting saad ko rito.
"You're welcome, beautiful." Bulong nito.
Shit. Kinilig ako! His beautiful face is gazing down before me. His beautiful eyes that I always admire is now very close and I can even see my reflection. His eyes is indeed beautiful, it seems like there is a life inside it.
"Did you know, you have beautiful eyes?" Tanong ko rito and I even look closer to his eyes. It was like a magnet drawing me close and if there is reason why I am drawn to him, it is because of his eyes.
"You never changed." Bulong nito.
"Huh?" I snapped from my reverie. Anong sabi niya? Hindi ko masyadong napansin dahil masyadong tutok ako sa mga mata niya.
"Nothing." Nakangiting saad niya and seems like a flash of sadness in his eyes and gone in a second.
"Excuse me. But can I take my date now?" Biglang saad naman ni Yuan sa aking likuran na naging dahilan para magising ako sa katotohanan.
"Thank you." Saad ni Clad at tsaka tahimik itong umalis and I am watching his back walking away and vanishing from the crowd.
Agad naman akong hinapit ni Yuan na hindi ko namalayan kaya heto naulit na naman! Aksidenteng nailagay ko ang aking kamay sa dibdib nito. Shit, second round! Parang napaso akong napalis ang kamay ko at inilagay sa may telang balikat nito. And freaking shit, his hands are confidently touching my bare back na ako ngayon ay parang pananayuan na ng balahibo!
Pero may karapatan ba akong magreklamo? Kung ganito naman ka gwapo ang hahawak sa akin ay okay na. Yuan was saying nothing but I can feel him drawing me closer to him and he is almost embracing me and my chest is already touching his chest. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na ihilig ang ulo ko sa kanyang dibdib.
I can hear his erratic heartbeat seems like a drum pounding and his heavy breathing. I love his warmth, his size and built like I was perfectly fitted into his arms. This moment is perfect and I can't no longer ask more than this.
"Don't go near him." Bulong sa akin ni Yuan.
"Huh? Who?" Naitanong ko naman. I can feel his breathing on top of my head.
"Clandestine." Maikling saad nito.
I am doing a mental note as well dahil tuwing napapalapit ako kay Clad, something is weird happening to me. And I am scared with that feeling. I am scared that it will turn into more complicated. I already have too much complications in life. Ayaw ko ng dagdagan pa iyon.
"I will, then don't go near her as well." Saad ko. Nagulat naman ako sa nabitawan kong salita, pero huli na para bawiin yun. Narinig na niya at hindi naman bobo si Yuan para hindi maintindihan ang ibig sabihin ko.
"They is nothing compare to you." Malambing na saad nito and his hand travel upwards and feeling the smoothness of my back.
Halos masambit ko naman ang lahat ng diyos dahil sa aktong iyon. I am not used to this intimacy, but I don't feel bad about it, because it's him.
"Snow, I wan't to—"
"Snow?" Biglang tawag sa akin ng isang pamilyar na boses.
Agad na hinanap ng aking paningin ang pinagmulan ng boses at lumayo ako kay Yuan. And I found the girl in red with curly hair. It's my stepsister, Ria.
"Ria." Usal ko at hindi ko nagawang ngumiti. I did not saw this coming at hindi ko rin inasahan na pupunta siya rito. Pero bakit hindi ko man lang naisip na posibleng pupunta nga siya rito. Isa itong kasiyahan ng palasyo at hindi ito palalampasin ng katulad niya.
"Oh my gosh, I never thought, I'll saw you here flirting." Di makapaniwalang saad ni Ria. Halatang nang-uuyam ito.
"She is not flirting." Malamig na saad ni Yuan dahil sa naging komento ni Ria.
Mukhang nanlamig naman si Ria ng makilala niya kung sino ang kasayaw ko.
"I'm sorry Prince Yuan. I thought—"
"You—"
"Please, stop. She is my sister." Saad ko. Nagulat naman si Yuan pero hindi na nagkomento pa. "I'll talk to her." Paalam ko dito at iniwan ko na si Yuan sa dance floor at kinaladlad si Ria palabas.
Umabot kami sa labas at agad na sinalubong ang aking mga mata sa magagandang ilaw ng hardin.
"Bitawan mo ako! Ano ba!" Piksi naman ni Ria at hinawakan niya ang kanyang pulsohan na tila nasaktan pa dahil sa pagkakahawak ko.
"Snow? What the hell is your doing with my sister?!" Habol naman ni Dia na ngayon ay parang toro na handang lumabanz
Naningkit naman ang mga mata ko. "Then why don't you ask your perfect sister? Hindi ba talaga mawala-wala yang ugali mo? Eskandalosa kahit saan? Sayang lang ang pera ng papa ko sa pagpapa-aral sa inyo wala naman kayong natututonan." Gigil na saad ko sa mga ito.
"How dare you! Sino ang mas eskandalosa sa atin? Ikaw itong nangaladkad!" Asik naman sa akin ni Ria at napatingin ito sa pulsohan na akala mo ay may sugat iyon, kahit wala naman.
"Then what? Let you embarrass yourself in front of the prince? I just save your ass. Isang pagkakamali mo doon, buhay mo ang magiging kapalit, Ria." Asik ko dito. Wala talagang utak ang babaeng ito dahil hindi niya iniisip kung ano ang magiging resulta ng mga ginagawa niya.
Ria smirked. "Bilib din ako sayo. How did you manage to flirt with the prince? Did you already had sex with him?"
Nasampal ko kaagad si Ria. Hindi ko alam kung saan saan niya natututunan ang mga salitang yun.
"Wag kang magtapon ng kung anong ideya na wal naman katotohanan, Ria. Wag mo akong igaya sa sarili mo. Kaya umalis na kayo, bago pa magdilim ang paningin ko." Banta ko sa mga ito.
Natakot naman si Dia. Matatakutin kasi itong si Dia hindi tulad nitong si Ria na malakas ang loob at makapal ang mukha.
"Sa palagay mo pumunta ako rito para makiparty?" Nakangising saad nito sa akin. "I went here to send you the news." Saad ulit nito na sadyang binitin pa. "Mom accidentally heard father on his study room. And you know what she heard? That you are adopted."
Parang biglang humina ang pagproseso ng aking utak at hindi ko kaagad maintidihan ang mga sinabi ni Ria. "What?"
Ngumisi pa ito lalo. "Okay para maintindihan mo. Ampon ka lang ni Papa. And that is my surprise for you. Like it? Come one Dia, let's leave this place. Tapos na tayo sa pakay natin." Paglilinaw nito at walang pasabing umalis na nga ang dalawa.
I was left in the garden with a messed up thoughts and the only thing inside my mind right is I am adopted. It feels like my heart is breaking and my world is about to fall. My feelings is in chaos and I cannot stop the building fury inside my heart.