Gusto Kita, Legit

Legit, Twenty Six

narration. May 2, 2021 | 3:45 PM

Avianna

EVERYTHING was set already. The cotillion. The 18 roses. The 18 candles. The debutant. Lahat handa na. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit parang ako pa ang mas kinakabahan.

Siguro it's because of the fact that I was given the task to be the emcee. Well, one of the emcees. Pero kahit na may kasama ako kinakabahan pa rin ako. I am not used to this. How should I even do it di'ba?

"Hoy 'te. Ayos ka lang? Kabadong-kabado ka ah." Aisha suddenly appeared behind me. Huminga naman ako nang malalim.

"You know I'm not used to doing this. Anong gagawin ko?" Kunot-noong tanong ko naman dito.

She tapped my shoulder. "You'll do well, ate. Ikaw pa."

"Hays, ewan. Do I even look good?" tanong ko ulit. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba na nararamdaman ko.

"You look gorgeous, duh. Mamaya macrushback ka na niyan," she said and laughed while I roll my eyes at her.

"Whatever, Aisha."

She just chuckled once more. Before leaving me here, she offered a hug which I gladly accepted. I need lots of it right now. Hugs calms me down, yeknow.

After that, she went on to entertain the other guests. Or shall I say, Alaric and the lugaw squad? She's too close to them, that's all I can say.

"ARE you okay?" Napalingon ako noong marinig ang boses na 'yon. Nyx.

Isang kinakabahang ngiti lang ang ibinigay ko sa kaniya. Natawa naman siya roon.

"You're not okay," he said and laughed once more.

"I am not talaga. Paano ba ako magiging okay eh isa ako sa mga napiling maging emcee? Hindi naman ako sanay sa gano'n," tugon ko na hindi pa rin maipinta ang mukha.

"Ngumiti ka naman. Mas kakalma ka kapag nakangiti ka."

Hindi ako sumunod sa sinabi niya. Mas lalo nga lang akong napasimangot. Hindi ko kayang ngumiti ngayon ano.

"Avia, you need to learn to not let the pressure eat you up. Be calm under it," he said while smiling.

"Nakangiti ka kasi hindi naman ikaw ang sasalang do'n."

"You can do it, Avia. I believe in you. In your skills. Magaling ka kayang makitungo sa tao."

"And that's why I ain't close sa iba mong friends? They tried talking to me before but I didn't became their friend pa rin naman."

Muli ay isang tawa na naman ang pinakawalan nito. "It's okay. Hindi naman iyon ang basehan para masabing you have good communication or social skills. I still believe in you. You can pull this off. I promise."

"And if I don't?"

"You will because I know that you will give your best for this. Tiwala lang. Lilipas na lang din naman 'to. Hindi mo na lang mapapansin ang oras. Siguradong maeenjoy mo rin 'to and if you make mistakes, at least maitatama mo if ever mabigyan ka ulit ng pagkakataon na ganito next time."

This time, a genuine smile crept to my face. I smiled at him and he did the same. His words helped me a lot again. I don't know if it's because of the reason that I like him or because he's just that, a really nice man.

"Thank you, Nyx," turan ko sa kaniya na hindi pa rin inaalis ang ngiti sa labi ko.

"No prob. You got this, Avia." Itinuro pa ako nito saka kumindat habang nakangiti.

"Okay. Pasok na tayo sa loob, I guess? I need to be ready for later," sambit ko at huminga ulit nang malalim.

"Sure. Just enjoy, okay?"

"I will. Ikaw din."

Tumango lang siya. Nag-apir pa kaming dalawa at tuluyan na rin namang pumasok sa loob to prepare for the start of the event and for everything else.