It's been six years when Kirby moved to Las Vegas. As Dylan and I grew up together, we dreamed together and we supported each other when we both discovered what we loved to do. We were just like brothers and sisters. Sometimes, we hated each other, but most of the time we laughed together. Well, that's friendship.
"Ang swerte mo talaga dahil close kayo ni Storm." Napasulyap ako kay Elaica nang magsalita siya habang nakatitig siya sa cellphone niya na nakaplay ang video ni Dylan na kumakanta habang tumutugtog ng piano. She was using an earphone together with Kumi dahil nasa library kami ngayon kaya bawal ang mag-ingay.
"Ano bang nagustuhan niyo kay Dylan?" tanong ko sa kanila habang nagpapatuloy sa pagsusulat ng lecture namin sa Araling Panlipunan.
"Ang gwapo kaya niya, tapos ang talented pa." Impit na tumili siya. "Nakaka-inlove ang boses niya."
"Yah!" pagsang-ayon ni Kumi.
"He's very suplado naman," nakangusong sabi ni Lilyneth. "Pagraduate na tayo ng highschool but he's still not noticing me."
I curled my lips. "Mabait naman si Dylan," depensa ko.
"Oo nga! Nginitian niya kaya ako last time during ng group activity namin," kinikilig na sabi ni Elaica.
"Talaga?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Kumi.
"Oo. Ang cute niya." Humarap sa akin si Elaica. "Demi, pwede bang pilitin mo siya na isayaw niya ako sa JS Prom natin? Promise, ililibre kita kapag napapayag mo siya," nangungusap na sabi niya nang may malawak na ngiti sa mga labi niya.
"Uh, try ko."
"Ako rin," sunod na sabi ni Kumi kasabay ng pagtaas ng kamay niya. She became more looked like Japanese when she smiled from ear to ear because of her chinky eyes. She was half Japanese.
"Me too!" paghabol naman ni Lilyneth.
I heaved a sigh before I said, "Okay."
Nang marinig naming magring ang bell, sabay-sabay kaming nagligpit ng mga gamit namin na nakakalat sa table bago nagsitayuan at lumabas ng library. Tuloy-tuloy na sana akong maglalakad nang biglang may humarang sa akin kaya napahinto ako. Hindi na ako nagtaka nang malaman kong si Dylan iyon.
"I've been looking for you," he told me.
Naramdaman ko ang pagkalabit sa akin ng mga kasama ko pero hindi ko iyon pinansin.
"I just finished my lecture," tugon ko.
"Okay." He took a glance on the girls behind me. "May kasama ka pala. I'll just tell you my agenda later," aniya bago tumalikod at nauna na sa amin. I was sure that his destination was our classroom also. We had the same section; we were classmates.
"Oh my gosh!"
"Waah! Ang pogi talaga!"
Sabay-sabay na bulungan nila nang makaalis na si Dylan. Napailing nalang ako sa kanila. Kung pwede ko lang tanggalin ang mukha ni Dylan, baka ginawa ko na. Wala atang araw na hindi ko narinig sa mga classmates ko ang salitang "Ang gwapo ni Storm!"
Hay! Nakakasawa! Araw-araw naman nilang nakikita si Dylan eh. Hindi na sila nasanay.
***
"Everybody, listen!" Mrs. Panganiban, our adviser, said when she entered our room, so our attention shifted to her. "I will announce every individual's partner in your upcoming JS Prom Night tomorrow, so listen carefully because I will not repeat myself again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" we all replied.
"All right . . ." Everybody was listening carefully to her announcement, waiting for their name to be said by Mrs. Panganiban. "Jennifer Delos Reyes and Jacob Paras . . . Ellise David and Elijah Peralta . . . Kumi Fujimori and Prince Charls Montemayor . . . "
"I don't know what's the basis of Mrs. Panganiban in picking partners. Pero sana ako ang partner ni Storm," dinig kong bulungan sa likuran ko.
"Maybe by height?"
"Maybe . . ."
"Demi Frances and Storm Dylan Hunt." Napatigil ang ilan nang marinig namin iyon.
Wow! I was Dylan's partner. What a coincidence! A smiled formed on my lips in gladness. Naibaling ko ang tingin ko kay Dylan na ngayon ay nakatingin din sa akin. I showed him a thumbs-up. He just wore a half smile.
Mrs. Panganiban announced more names and then some reminders regarding the Prom Night before she finally dismissed the class. Only few were complaining about their partners while some girls were dismayed by not having their crushes, especially Storm Dylan, as their partner.
Dylan and I left the room together and waited for their family driver to come. Nakikisabay lang ako sa kanya sa pag-uwi at maging sa pagpasok dahil may tagahatid-sundo siya.
"I'm so glad that you are my partner. Our girl classmates are annoying," he said.
"But you know what, you should be nice to them. They love you so much. Don't you know that?"
Natahimik siya. Kasabay din niyon ang pagdating ng isang itim na kotse, which was his service. We both hopped in the car.
"Mang Jimmy, pakidaan po sa mall," Dylan said to his driver.
"Why?" kunot noong tanong ko sa kanya.
"We're gonna buy clothes for the Prom Night. Do you have a gown already?"
I shook my head and smiled at him, "Why? Bibilhan mo ba ako?" I joked.
"Yes." He smirked at me.
"Woah! Are you serious?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko. Ba't ba ang hilig manlibre ng lalaking 'to? Ang mahal kaya ng gown. Sabagay, barya lang naman sa mga Hunt 'yon. I was so lucky to have a giver best friend like him.
He didn't answer, so it was a "yes."
Nang makarating kami sa mall, dumiretso kami sa isang boutique ng mga tuxedo para pumili at bumili muna ng para sa kanya. Mas malapit kasi ang boutique na 'yon kaysa sa mga gown kaya ako na rin ang nag-insist na mauna siya.
"Dylan, here! Bagay 'to sa 'yo" sabi ko sa kanya nang makita ko ang isang pulang tuxedo na parang pangprinsepe ang disenyo.
"Yes, ma'am. Maganda po 'yan para kay Sir," the sales lady agreed with me.
Lumapit naman si Dylan sa akin at tinitigan ang tuxedo na sinasabi ko. Kinuha ko iyon. "Try mo!" sabi ko sa kanya at tinulak siya papunta sa fitting room.
"Alright. I know. You don't need to push me," masungit na sabi niya, sabay kuha sa akin ang tuxedo at pumasok sa fitting room. Sungit talaga.
"Ma'am, pwede pong mag-artista yung kasama niyo," chika sa akin ng sales lady. Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.
"I think so. He's very talented. But ate, he covers songs po. Check niyo yung YouTube channel niya."
"Gano'n ba? Sige." She smiled. "Boyfriend mo ba siya?" Nagulat ako sa tanong niya kaya mabilis na tumanggi ako.
"Naku! Hindi po. Magkaibigan lang po kami." I chuckled awkwardly. That felt uncomfortable.
Dylan came out when he was done wearing the tuxedo. My jaw dropped in amusement when I saw how the tuxedo suit on him.
"Wow!" I said in a low volume of voice, like a whisper. "That's so cool, Dylan! You look like a prince!" I exclaimed. "Bagay po sa kanya, 'di ba, ate?" sabi ko pa sa sales lady.
"Opo," ngiting-ngiti na sagot nito.
Dylan looked down on what he was wearing and then looked back at me again, "I think so." The corner of his lips slightly moved upward.
"I'm sure you'll get the title 'The King of the Night.' "
Hindi siya kumibo. Muli lang siyang pumasok sa fitting room para hubarin ang tuxedo. Paglabas niya, dumiretso kami sa counter para bayaran ang tuxedo. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso kami sa boutique ng mga gowns. Kung kanina ako ang pumili ng para sa kanya, ngayon naman siya ang pumili ng para sa akin. He chose the red gown that looked sophisticated and beautiful. I loved Dylan's taste, because he paired it to the color and design of his tuxedo.
Dylan didn't react when I finally wore the gown to try it. "What?" tanong ko sa kanya dahil nakatitig lang siya sa akin.
"It's fine," sagot niya kalaunan.
"Sure?"
"Yes. That looks wonderful on you. Bayaran mo na sa counter. We need to go home now."
"Okay." Pumasok ako sa fitting room at nagpalit.
***
Wala akong naabutan na tao sa bahay nang makauwi ako dahil nasa hopital si Auntie Rona kasama si Auntie Jessie, my mom and Auntie Rona's youngest sister.
I changed my clothes in my room before I lay down on my bed. I was about to sleep when I heard my cellphone rang. I reached the bed table with my hand and took the cellphone.
Auntie Jessie Calling . . .
"Hello, Auntie."
"Demi, baka hindi pa kami makakauwi ng Auntie mo. Ikaw na muna ang bahala diyan ha? May mga pagkain naman sa refrigerator."
Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako. "Okay po. Pakisabi po kay Auntie Rona, magpagaling siya."
"Sige. Pasensya ka na, hija. JS Prom niyo pa naman bukas. May isusuot ka na ba?"
"Opo. Dylan bought me one."
"Alright then. Take care!"
The call ended so I dropped the phone on the bed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. You'll be okay, Auntie Rona, I thought.
When tomorrow came, I went to Hunt residence to visit Dylan. I told him that my Aunties couldn't go home so no one would give me a makeover for the Prom Night, and he told me that her mother would do that for me. I went home again. It was around five in the afternoon when I took a bath and then moved to Dylan's house for my makeover wearing my gown already. Tita Thalia started to put some makeups on my face and then she fixed my hair, rolling it to make a bun on the top of my head. I didn't know that Tita Thalia could do this. I could see my reflection in the mirror. I looked so beautiful like a princess in a movie.
"Hinihintay ka na ni Dylan sa living room," Tita Thalia told me. I nodded my head and thanked her.
She opened the door of her room for me and helped me to come down the stairs. There I saw Dylan who turned his head to us when he heard that we were coming. He stood up when he saw me. Napako ang tingin niya sa akin, habang ako naman ay pinagmasdan ang ayos niya. He really looked so handsome in that tuxedo, while his slick back hair made him look so manly. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin hanggang sa marating ako sa harapan niya.
"Ang pogi natin ah!" biro ko sa kanya at hinampas siya sa dibdib.
"Thanks," he said. "I thought you were a different person, not until you spoke." He sounded kidding so I let out a delicious chuckle.
"You two should go home early," Tito Travis told us.
"Come on, Dad. It's a JS Prom. Expect us to go home tomorrow early in the morning," Dylan replied.
"Alright. Just take care of this beautiful young lady." He was about to pat my head when Tita Thalia blocked him.
"You can't do that. Magugulo ang hairstyle na ginawa ko sa kanya," Tita Thalia said raising her brow.
"Oh, sorry, darling."
"Let me take a picture of you first before you go," ani Tita Thalia at kinuhanan kami ng litrato ni Dylan.
Tita Thalia kissed me and Dylan before we went out of the house. Their family driver was waiting for us outside. He opened the door for us. Dylan held my hand to help me to get in the car, in the backseat, and then he followed.
"Uhm, Dylan, may I ask a favor?" I told him.
"What is it?"
"Can you dance with my friends?"
"Why would I?" He cocked his brow.
"Because they love you."
"I'll think about it."
I pouted my lips. Sayang naman yung ililibre sa akin nina Kumi, I thought. 'Di bale, pipilitin ko siya mamaya.
Nang makarating kami sa venue ng JS Prom namin, sumalubong sa amin ang napakagandang ayos ng lugar. There was a red carpet there. Therefore, Dylan held my hand and so that we could start walking there together because the emcee finally announced our names. A photographer interrupted us and took a picture of us. After that, we proceeded again. The eyes of the junior students and our fellow senior students, who were also in their amazing transformation tonight, were focused on ours. Some of them started to murmur while some were just admiring us. I kept my lips smiling until we reached our table.
"Demi! You look so beautiful!" Kumi praised me in a loud voice because the sound system was so loud. We were in a one table together with Prince Charls, her partner. One table contained two partners.
"You too!" I said with a smile. She was in a royal blue long gown.
I also smiled back at Prince Charls when he smiled at me. He also looked handsome in his grey tuxedo that he partnered with a black and white checkered scarf. Actually, he was also a campus heart-throb. Well, he was cute.
I turned my attention to Dylan who was just silent on his seat, not until a male friend of him approached him. "Hey, Storm! Your outfit looks so cool!" the guy told him.
"Yeah."
"Don't you want to move in our table? Mrs. Panganiban won't mind."
Dylan looked at me before he responded to the guy, "No, thanks. I'm with my girl." I was surprised to the term he used. Girl? I thought.
"Oh, I see. Just see you around." The guy left.
"When did I become your girl?" I nagged him.
He let out a chuckle and then smirked. "I mean girl . . . best friend." He pinched my cheek, but I shoved his hand and glared at him. He might ruin my makeup.
The organizer let us eat first before the program started. I was just eating while the program was going.
"Gosh, I'm full already. Sumikip tuloy ang gown ko," natatawang sabi ko kay Dylan na pinapanood lang ako habang kumakain kanina pa. Napailing lang siya sa akin.
Napahinto kami nang biglang dumilim ang paligid at bumagal ang neon lights. The music turned into a love song. Some other partners stood up and started to dance slowly on the dance floor. Nailipat ko ang tingin ko kay Dylan nang ilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin. Napatitig ako doon.
"Tell me if you don't want to dance. Don't make me wait," yamot na sabi niya kaya napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. Padabog na kinuha ko tuloy ang kamay niya bago ako tumayo. Ngunit hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pigil na ngiti na nag-anyo sa labi niya.
He took me to the dance floor and then he placed his hands on the both sides of my waist, while I just placed my hands on his shoulders. I bit my lip when I felt the awkward atmosphere between us while we were dancing. It was the first time that we danced together, so it was a new experience with him. He was my first dance.
"Uhm, don't you have a plan to dance with our girl classmates?" I lifted up my eyes to him as I asked him. There I saw him staring at me. I could see his handsome face very well.
Bahagya lang siyang ngumisi at umiling. Napakunot-noo naman ako kasi kanina pa kami sumasayaw dito, samantalang yung ibang lalaki dito naisayaw na ang ilang mga babae.
"How about your crush? Don't you want to dance with her? But wait, do you have a crush?"
He just shook his head.
"Seriously?"
He didn't respond. He was just staring at me without any emotion, so I couldn't read his mind. "Do you have?" biglang tanong niya pabalik sa akin. Natahimik naman ako.
Do I have? tanong ko sa sarili ko. Well, I found the guy on the other section cute but I didn't think he was my crush. May naging crush naman ako noon pero lumipat ito ng ibang school kaya di ko na ito crush.
"I don't have," sagot ko kalaunan.
"Good." He smiled at me a little bit. "Some guys are staring at you at this moment." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.
"Where?" Luminga-linga ako sa paligid pero mabilis na pinigilan niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paghawak sa mukha ko at muling hinarap ang tingin ko sa kanya.
"Don't mind them," sabi niya at muling binalik sa baywang ko ang mga kamay niya. We continued dancing slowly.
I pouted my lips. "You're being unfair to them. Why don't you let them dance with me?"
"Tss! You want to dance with those assh*les?" There was seriousness in his voice. Grabe talaga 'tong si Dylan kung maka-assh*le, samantalang hindi naman niya kilala 'yung mga 'yon.
"Ngayon lang naman 'to. At saka 'di ba I have a favor na isayaw mo yung mga friends ko?" Para ilibre nila ako, hihi!
Umismid siya. "I don't want."
"Please?"
"Ayaw ko."
"Please?" Nagpuppy-eyes pa ako.
"No quiero," aniya sa Spanish. He had a Spanish blood on his mother side. That was why he had a little bit Spanish look. While on his father side, he had an American blood. Kaya siguro ganito ang naging resulta hitsura niya. Ang dami niyang lahi.
I just wore a sad face and took my eyes off him. I heard him sigh and then talk, "Fine." Mabilis na naibalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil doon. "I will dance with your friends but promise me one thing."
"What is it?" Nakangiting sabi ko.
"Don't allow any guy to dance with you."
"Okay!" masayang pagpayag ko. "So, isasayaw mo na sila?" excited na sabi ko.
"Yeah."
Binitiwan niya ako at hinawakan ang kamay ko para alalayan akong bumalik sa table namin. Umupo ako doon habang siya naman ay pumunta sa table kung nasaan si Elaica at Lilyneth, hanggang sa narinig ko na lang ang malakas na tilian doon. Napangiti ako ng malawak at masayang pinanood ang mga kaibigan ko na kilig na kilig kay Dylan.
It's really nice to be your best friend, Dylan, I thought.