THE BLOODLINE SERIES. 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝐼𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑜

Kabanata 6

"Step forward with your left foot...Move to your right..Close your left foot to your right foot...Step back with your right foot..."

The loud voice of the choreographer was all I could hear inside this sort of a function hall. They were already practicing without the music. Ipinapakita nito sa amin kung papano ang steps. I heard there are some who couldn't come yet for the practice. I was even surprised that Levi was also included in the cotillion. I heard it's their kissing cousin's celebration.

"Move back and to your left..Close your right foot to your left foot....."

Levi left me for a while to talk to her partner and I thought I would feel better about it. Iyon nga lang ay mas lalo lang akong naiilang. Lorenzo is just in the other side of the corner still talking to some people. Umismid ako sa nakita. Hindi pa ako nito nilalapitan.

May biglang nag seserve ng merienda. Isang baso nang tubig lang ang tinanggap ko dahil hindi naman ako nagugutom. Ininom ko iyon.

"Are you okay?" his voice made me turned my face fast to see him. "I'm sorry for making you wait." Lorenzo's smell was fresh.

"Ayos lang." sagot ko matapos uminom. Making sure he won't notice that I was actually not fine.

"Levi told me your legs are not fine. What happened?"

Nalaglag ang panga ko. What the hell? Why would he mention it?

"You better not lie." Umupo ito sa isang monoblock chair sa tabi ko, nakatuko ang dalawang siko nito sa kanyang hita habang pinagsiklop ang kanyang mga kamay at mataman akong tinitignan. "So what happened?"

Wala akong nagawa kundi ikwento rito ang pagkahulog ko sa pangangabayo. Hindi naman bali ang paa ko at kaya ko na naman maglakad, hindi nga lang iyong normal na lakad talaga. Pero gaya ng inaasahan ay hindi rin ito pumayag at mukhang dismayado pa.

"There still few days left.. you can practice right before the ball." seryosong seryoso ang mukha nito.

"Bakit di mo na lang lubos lubusin. Maghanap ka nalang rin ng ibang kapartner mo sa ball!"

Naiinis ako dahil ano pang saysay ng pagpunta ko rito kung ganitong naka upo lang naman ako sa isang tabi.

Nakuha pa nitong magpigil ng ngiti sa harap ko habang nilalaro ng dalawang daliri nito ang kanyang pisngi.

"Ayokong maghanap ng ibang ka date sa ball. Siguro'y kapareha sa sayaw ay pwede pa." I saw a smirked on his face.

"And besides I can't let you dance now given your situation." Parang uminit bigla ang pisngi ko. I don't know what am I feeling exactly. Pero agad rin iyong napawi."They're expecting you to be there anyway." he said. I guess he was referring to his parents? Tsa! Parang napipilitan pa sya kung ganoon?. "So just let it totally heal for now."

Napabuntong hininga ako sa harap nito. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko.

"Kung ganon ay uuwi nalang ako." tumayo ako't kinuha ang pouch ko sa gilid. Saka ako hilaw na ngumiti sa kanya.

"Can you walk?"

"Tss. Tingin mo nilipad ko mula sa labas papunta rito?" Hindi ko na napigilang magtaray pero sinusubukan ko paring hindi ito pagtaasan ng boses.