Huling update para sa TLISA!
Dedicated to Coach M. Thanks sa idea, naka-lagpas ako sa unang round ng Incognito! Papalitan ko 'yung name mo sa taas kapag nakita ko na kung ano'ng WP account mo. lol
Ang track natin para sa chapter na ito ay Huling Sayaw by Kamikazee feat. Kyla (acoustic version). Enjoy! :)
***Vince's POV***
The day of the exams finally ended at naka-hinga na ng maluwag ang lahat. Unang exam pa lang 'to, may isa pa for Finals in February. That group study that we did actually worked. Feeling ko maganda magiging scores ko this exams. Excited na ako makita ang results, pero mas excited ako sa isang bagay.
"Baka naman pagbalik ko, hindi na ako ang hearthrob ng Monte Carlo?" I looked at Red as he wore his blue t shirt. He really changed a lot. Hindi ko nga namalayan, hindi ko napansin kung kailan nagsimula ang pagbabago niya dahil madalas na si Dawn ang kasama ko. Kahit magkasama kami ng kwarto, we rarely had long talks.
"Well, sorry na lang kung mangyari 'yun, pare." See? Sabi nga ni Joyce, ito daw ang finished product niya-- Red version 2.0. Hanggang ngayon nag-a-adjust pa rin ako sa pagbabago niya. Pero thankful ako kay Joyce, she was able to see the other side of Red at nailabas niya ito. People liked the glasses-free, more confident Red than the boring, monotonous one.
"I think Joyce injecting too much on you." We both laughed and he took a few steps towards me.
"Enjoy your stay there, bro."
"Of course. I'll try to bring you something." I picked up my bag and headed outside the room.
"As promised, the students who participated in The Monte Carlo Games will have an overnight stay in Crowne Pacific Hotel. Now, get on the school bus and enjoy the stay!" Principal Abad bid us goodbye before we all got on the school bus. Panget man pakinggan pero matagal ko nang inaantay itong overnight stay na 'to sa Crowne Pacific Hotel.
Sumakay na kami lahat sa bus at umupo ako sa tabi ni Dawn. Kanina pa siya malungkot, simula nang sunduin ko siya sa Dorm Gates. Tinanong ko siya kung ano'ng problema, hindi naman siya sumagot. Hinayaan ko na lang muna, hindi ko ugali ang pilitin siyang mag-salita tungkol sa isang bagay. Inaantay ko lang kung kailan siya komportable na magsabi sa akin, ganun tumatakbo ang relasyon namin.
"Everything okay?" I asked her again. I reached for her hand and held it tightly as she continued to stare outside the window. Again, no response. I wanted to talk with Joyce about her kaso busy siya kausap ang mga Sophomore Tributes. I wouldn't dare talk with Khione, delikado.
"Alright! Now that everyone's settled, I have a few things to say before we go." Si Miss Corpuz ang nagsalita. She was standing on the aisle beside the driver and was holding small wrapped goods, parang mga regalo. "First, let's all have a few minutes of silence and let's offer a prayer for the fallen tributes." We all stood up and bowed our heads as Miss Corpuz lead the prayer.
"Hindi ba parang unfair 'to?" Dawn whispered after the prayer. Miss Corpuz gave out the packages to us one by one. I looked at Dawn and held her hand again.
"Unfair ang alin?"
"Magsasaya tayo kahit alam natin na may mga hindi tayo makakasama. What's the point of all of these?" She exhaled heavily and looked out the window again.
"Dawn, look at me." I held her chin and turned her face to me. "We already grieved for them. Hindi naman natin sila makakalimutan by doing this. This is a celebration of life, kasi buhay pa tayo. I'm sure, they are looking down at us and guiding us. Kaya ka ba balisa kanina pa?" I asked her in a soft tone. Nag-aalala na ako. Hindi siya pwedeng malungkot ng dahil lang ulit dito.
"I... I'm sorry. I just... I just felt guilty."
"I understand that, Dawn. Pero kailangan nating mag-move on. We're still alive and have to continue living. Iyon din sigurado ang gugustuhin nila para sa ating lahat, don't you think? C'mon, cheer up!" I pinched her cheek and finally she was able to smile.
"I'm sorry, Vince. Sorry kung nag-alala ka--"
"Stop saying sorry, please." I hugged her and planted a kiss on her head.
The travel took two hours and we've finally arrived at the hotel. Sa labas pa lang, napatitig na kaming lahat. The Hotel was more or less twenty five storeys tall and it was standing in the middle of the city. It's a casino and hotel at may iba pang mga reacreational areas dito gaya ng bowling center, swimming pools at karaoke rooms. My mom brought me here when I was younger, bago ako pumasok sa Monte Carlo. She had a business meeting that time at walang magbabantay sa akin, so I stayed in the arcade the entire time. Sobrang nag-enjoy ako noon at ngayon, I'd get to spend some time here with my schoolmates and of course, Dawn.
"Ang ganda!" Dawn exclaimed.
"Wait until you see the insides. Sobrang dami ng pwedeng gawin dito, kulang ang overnight para sa ating lahat."
"You've been here?"
"Years ago." I carried her bag and we all walked inside the hotel.
The interior changed after a few years. Dati peach ang kulay ng pader, pero ngayon puti na lahat. It made the place classy with that color with a touch of gold added to it. There were statues displayed now, when before there were only the hanged paintings. The personnel's uniform also changed, they're wearing maroon and white now-- mas sophisticated na ang datingan nila ngayon kumpara sa noon na black and white lang. And finally, they placed an audio system with a good playlist in it! I almost died of boredom before with the repetitive flute solos that they had.
"Alright, kids!" Miss Corpuz called our attention. "I will be giving you your room assignments. We have four rooms and each room will have four occupants." She handed each of us a small card with a number written on it. Ito siguro ang room assignments namin. "Those are your room assignments. Magkakatabi lang naman 'yan, so madali lang natin makikita ang isa't isa."
"This way, please." The attendant escorted us to the elevators. She pressed the number five and we were all quiet during the elevator ride. Excited na ako libutin ang lugar na ito kasama si Dawn! "Please follow me." The attendant said once the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor.
"Okay, these are rooms 520-525." Nagpasalamat sa kanya si Miss Corpuz at isa-isa na kaming tumapat sa mga kwarto namin.
"I'll give the key cards to one of your roommates, so please take care of it." Ibinigay ni Miss Corpuz ang mga key cards sa apat na kasama namin at pumasok na kami sa kanya kanya naming mga kwarto. "By the way, kids, meet me at the Lobby at exactly ten."
"You're allowed to roam around the hotel. Just make sure that you go to the areas that are not restricted and keep your cellphones open, para matawagan ko kayo anytime. Ito ang mga Crowne Money niyo-- you can use it to purchase souvenirs and play in the arcade." She distributed the Crowne Money to us. Crowne Money ang tawag sa pera ng hotel na ito. Magpapa-palit ka ng totoong pera to have Crowne Money kasi iyon lang ang tinatanggap nila for recreation purposes.
"Three thousand Crowne Money! Ang dami nito!" Commented one of the tributes. Malaki nga ang amount na ito para sa isang araw lang.
"Pwede niyo din gamitin 'yan sa mga restaurants dito. Lahat ng mode of payment tinatanggap naman sa mga restaurants. Pwede din gamitin 'yan sa spa at sa gym." Pagpapaliwanag ni Miss Corpuz. "You can go now go. Enjoy the day and meet me here later at lunch. Sabay-sabay tayo kakain, okay?"
"Where do you want to go first?" Agad kong tanong kay Dawn.
"Hey!" Tapik sa kanya ni Khione. "Mag-vi-videoke kami, sama kayo! Lahat sasama, oh!" Hinatak na niya agad si Dawn at wala na kaming nagawa kundi sumama. Okay din naman ang videoke.
"Oi, oi! Si Kuya Vince naman!" Pag-aabot ni Joyce ng microphone sa akin. I was really enjoying watching them sing their hearts out kahit wala sa tono. "Ano ba'ng theme song niyo ni Ate Dawn?"
"Oo nga, kantahan mo naman si Dawn!"
"Ayiiieee!" The teasing game started again.
"I don't sing, thank you." I pushed the microphone away pero makulit talaga si Joyce.
"Ang daya, oh! Hindi mo yata mahal si Ate Dawn, eh! Isang kanta lang naman, Kuya Vince!"
"Walang KJ dito, Vince, game na!"
"Vin-cent! Vin-cent! Vin-cent!" All of them chanted including Dawn. I was happy to see na hindi na siya malungkot kagaya kanina. Okay, sige. Ayoko makitang malungkot na naman siya.
"Okay, sige. Pero sasabihin ko na sa inyo na hindi ako biniyayaan ng magandang boses, ha?" I laughed and they all cheered and clapped as I chose a song from the song book. I chose Lego House and entered its number on the machine.
""Yan ba theme song niyo?" One asked.
"No. Actually, wala kamin theme song. This is the song that I dedicate to her." I hit the PLAY button and the song started to play.
Later that night, the hotel held a party for us in their rooftop. Sobrang ganda ng pagkaka-ayos nila sa lugar. From lights and sounds to the ambience and the service of their personnel. Ginastusan talaga ng Monte Carlo 'to. I would take Dawn here again after graduation. Halos wala din kaming time alone dahil lagi kaming hinahatak ng grupo na sumama sa mga trip nila. Naglaro kami sa arcade pagkatapos naming mag-videoke, nag-foodtrip kami nung lunch tapos nanood kami ng movie sa mini-cinema nila sa seventh floor. Sobrang dami na ng pictures na nakunan namin sa lahat ng activities na ginawa namin. Sigurado ang dami ng post ng mga ito sa Instagram at Facebook.
"Ang ganda!" Dawn held the railing and looked up to the sky. Oo nga pala, hilig niya tumingin sa langit at titigan ang mga bituin. Ang sabi niya, nakakalimutan daw niya ang mga problema at nare-relaks siya kapag ginagawa niya 'yun. I walked towards her direction and wrapped my arm around her waist.
"Maganda ka din." She was wearing a pink haltered dress with a flower clip on her hair. Ang lakas maka-summer ng outfit niya. I bought her the dress nang mapadaan kami sa mga shops kanina.
"Maka-maganda ka dyan!" She spatted my arm lightly. "Nga pala, salamat sa dress."
"Maliit na bagay!" I joked and piched her cheek.
"Aray, ah!" She pinched both my cheeks in return. We were facing each other while and I held her waist with both my hands.
"Araaaay!" Umarte akong nasasaktan at agad siyang inatake ng halik sa labi.
"Uy, lovers! Ang dami ng langgam, maghiwalay naman muna kayo!" Agad kaming nag-hiwalay nang marinig namin ang boses ni Khione. "The food's being served, sobrang sarap nung tarts nila!" She grabbed Dawn's arm and pulled her away. Grabe talaga siya!
"Get your plates, everyone. Kumuha na lang kayo dito sa table." Pag-aya ni Miss Corpuz. Lumapit na ako sa buffet table at kumuha ng plato. Nakita ko si Dawn at Khione sa kabilang table na busy sa kaka-tikim ng mga tarts at puffs. I fell in line at tinignan ang mga nakahain sa lamesa. Mukhang masarap nga lahat. Kumuha muna ako ng spaghetti at ilang piraso ng nachos. Kumuha din ako ng isang pirasong manok at lumapit sa table kung nasaan sila Dawn.
"Puro 'yan na lang ba kakainin niyo?" They stopped eating and looked at me.
"Uy, chicken! Gusto ko niyan!"
"Ikukuha na kita, Dawn. 'Yun lang ba gusto mo?"
"Saka spaghetti na rin, please. Uupo na ako doon." She pointed at a vacant table and put down the tart that she was holding. Lumakad na siya papunta sa table at nakita kong sumunod sa akin si Khione.
"You're lucky." She whispered while we picked up plates.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're very lucky to have her."
"I am. And I already know that."
"Don't make her cry, Vince."
"Of course. Why will I do that?" Nairita ako sa sinabi niya.
"Wala lang. I just want to hear you promise that. She's a good friend, a good person."
"Kung wala kang maayos na sasabihin, 'wag mo na akong kausapin. 'Wag mo na akong kausapin kahit kailan. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan 'yung ginawa mo nung Ms. Monte Carlo, Khione."
"I already explained to Dawn." Sinabi niya 'yun habang kumukuha ng pesto at toasted bread. Mabagal ang usad ng pila dahil sa dami ng pwedeng pagpilian. Sana makarating na ako agad sa chicken para makaalis na ako dito.
"You lied to her! We both know what really happened, Khione! Why'd you have to say that I kissed you back, for Heaven's sake! Gusto mo ba kaming sirain?!" Hindi ko na ma-kontrol ang galit ko.
"Hey. Everything okay, Vince?" I heard Dawn's voice from behind me and she held my arm with her hands.
"Yeah. Tara na." I shot Khione daggers before we left for our table.
"Okay ka lang ba?" There was concern in her voice.
"Oo, okay lang ako. Sorry, Dawn."
"May problema na naman ba kayo ni Khione?"
"'Wag mo na isipin 'yun, please. Kumain na lang tayo." She reached for my hand and gently rubbed it. She always did this to calm me down.
"'Wag na mainit ang ulo, papanget ka niyan." She gave me a sweet smile and I couldn't help but to return it. I turned my hand para mahawakan ko ang sa kanya. Sobrang swerte ko nga sa kanya.
"I love you, Dawn. Thank you for being with me."
"I love you, too, Vince. I should be the one who's thanking you. Nandito lang ako lagi para sa 'yo, okay? 'Wag na sisimangot."
"Oo naman. I'll always be here for you, too. Sige, kain na tayo."
After dinner, we watched a video from Principal Abad congratulating us and a lot of stuff. Hindi na ako nakinig masyado kasi pinag-pa-planuhan ko kung paano ko ibibigay ang regalo ko kay Dawn. Earlier I bought a necklace in one of the shops on the second floor. Simple lang siya na may diamond-studded heart-shaped pendant. I think it would be the best gift for her. Hindi ko kasi siya nabigyan ng maganda-gandang regalo noong monthsary namin.
"Have a good sleep, everyone!" I heard Miss Corpuz said and she left the place. The others followed at narinig kong nagpa-plano silang manood ulit ng movie. I looked for Dawn at nakita kong nakatingin na naman siya sa mga bituin. I approached her and stood beside her.
"Hindi ka ba sasama sa kanila?"
"Medyo pagod na kasi ako, baka makatulog lang ako sa gitna ng palabas." The cold wind blew at nilipad ang ilang hibla ng buhok niya. She removed some stray hair but I immediately held her hand and placed it on the railing. Inayos ko ang buhok niya sa isang side at agad kong kinuha ang kwintas sa bulsa ko. Perfect timing. Thanks, wind!
"Bago pa matapos ang gabi, I want to give you something."
"Ano na naman ba 'yan?"
"Stay put ka lang dyan." I placed the necklace on her at nagulat siya nang hawakan niya ang pendant nito.
"Vince--"
"Don't. Don't say anything. Kahit ano, basta para sa'yo, hindi ako manghihinayang." I hugged her from the back and planted a kiss on her hand.
"Thank you, Vince. Wala man lang ako para sa 'yo. I bought things for Rachel, Joyce, Wendy and Khione earlier. Ang sama ko, nakalimutan kita." She pouted and looked down on her feet.
"Ayan ka na naman. Okay lang ako, no. I know how important your friends are--"
"Pero importante ka din! Sorry talaga..."
"Sige, gusto mong bumawi?" I turned her to face me.
"Oo naman. Pero 'wag mahirap, ha!" She chuckled and I walked away from her to go to the sound system. I pressed PLAY and a random acoustic song played. I went back to her and offered her my hand.
"Dance with me, My Love."
---END OF CHAPTER 11.15.14