Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 30 - Up and Down

CHAPTER 30

"Shit!"

Sandra cursed as she raced towards her 8:00 am class. 7:30 na siyang nakagising and Trenton already left for work.

Tinamaan na ng lintik, bakit kay Prof Weltermann pa ako male-late!

That particular teacher of hers gives a zero mark whether his/her student is absent or late.

Before she left the house, she saw a note on the table:

'Eat before you retreat.'

Katabi ng note na iyon ay lunchbox na nakalagay sa isang brown bag.

Anong nakain nun at biglang naging good samaritan?

Naisip niya ang kanilang mga pinag-usapan the night before and felt that was it.

She packed up her breakfast and drove to school, arriving at 8:20 am. She is lucky that her Physiology professor is late for class.

"Swerte mo at wala pa si Weltergay. Ano ba yan, para kang dinaanan ng bagyo. Mag-ayos ka nga." At inabot ni Serenity ang kanyang mirror. "Pinuyat ka ba ni Trenton kagabi?" Pangangasar nito.

"Sira. Napasarap lang talaga ang tulog ko." Habang sinusuklay ang kanyang buhok. "Where's Wesley?" While her eyes are searching the room.

"Absent daw siya. You know that cocksucker."

Maya-maya ay nag-ring ang cellphone ni Sandra. When she looked at her screen, it was a call coming from Trenton.

"Yes?"

"Sweep, anong oras matatapos ang klase mo?" Tanong nito.

"Mga 5 o'clock. Bakit?"

Now what.

"Magkita tayo sa bahay. I'll pick you up there at 7." He said on the other line.

Sandra arched her brows. "Ha? Anong meron?"

"Dinner at Brahven's. Wear something fancy. See you." And immediately hung up.

Dinner? His birthday is on January 8, hers is on February 9.

What's so special that she's missing?

Aaaaah. Baka bumabawi.

"Hubby?" Tanong ng kanyang kaibigan. "Mukhang problemado ka. Love quarrel?"

"No." Sagot niya dito. "Dinner daw mamayang gabi."

"Aaaaw he's so sweet!" Kilig nitong tili. "Where?"

"Brahven's."

"Ang galante! So what're you going to wear?" Excited nitong tanong sabay palakpak.

Nagkamot naman ng ulo si Sandra. "Hindi ko alam, siguro sleeveless and skirt."

"Ano? Ire-remind lang kita, hindi party ang pupuntahan mo. Date. D-A-T-E. Date." She reprimanded. "What time daw?"

"Seven o'clock."

"Kita tayo mamayang 5:30. Don't tell me susugod ka sa Brahven's nang naka-jumpsuit?" Tawa nito.

"Actually, I was thinking of that too."

"Tigilan mo nga ako. I'll see you later."

She rolled her eyes and giving Serenity back the mirror. "Fine. Kita nalang tayo sa parking lot mamaya." At mamaya'y dumating na si Professor Weltermann at ni-lock ang pintuan para hindi na makapasok ang mga iba pang nahuling estudyante.

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"Is this really a dress?!"

Tumawa naman si Serenity sa kabilang linya. "Kaya nga hindi ko muna pinabukas sayo hanggang makarating ka sa bahay eh. Like it?"

"Absolutely not! I look like a desperate sex junkie!" She seethed, turning around and looking at herself in the mirror.

It was a body hugging dress. The sleeve is a black, lacy see-through fabric, covering her arms to the wrist. The front part of the dress is covered with lace and was carefully embedded. The satin fabric flowed sveltely down her toes. It was a beautiful dress, pero ang pinoproblema ni Sandra ay ang see-through back nito.

"Oh come on Marion, you're almost graduating from college. Stand straight, chin up and shake that ass!" Pagchi-cheer ni Serenity.

Maya-maya ay narinig niya ang pagdating ni Trenton. She tried to take the dress off when he knocked at her door.

"Sige na Reese, bye-bye na for now." She exhaled heavily.

"Kwentuhan mo ako ah! Love lots!" She encouragingly mused and hung up.

Maya-maya ay biglang kumatok si Trenton sa kanyang pintuan. "Tapos ka na ba Sweep? Could you fix my tie?" He said against the door.

"Hindi pa-" She was cut short nang pumasok na nga ito sa kanyang kwarto. Hindi naman ito umimik. He just stared at her from head to toe, seemingly amused.

"My God." He uttered, his lips partly opened.

Namula naman ang mga pisngi ni Sandra. "Isa ka pa. Get out of my room and I'll change-"

"Please don't." He objected. "You look so tempting in black." Grinning sardonically.

"Oh come on Trent, save that shit talk." Inis nitong inaway ang binata.

He motioned for the door and gave her a glance. "Let's go, we're going to be late." At ngumiting-aso naman ito, "Unless you want to stay and-"

"Save it Trent." And shoved him towards the door.

Sa dalawang taon nilang pagsasama ay nakita na niya ang iba't ibang faces and phases ni Trenton. He's always sweet, playful and a big bully. Kapag nalulungkot si Sandra ay hindi naman nabibigo ang binata na patawanin o inisin siya para lang matanggal ang kanyang lungkot, but there are these times that he will just lay down on his bed or get busy with his officework or be preoccupied at something. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, he becomes so serious that even Sandra can't get through him. He has this enigmatic stance that makes him unpredictable, but the good thing is that he's always open for a small talk to release the slight tension.

Katulad ng nangyari kagabi.

Sa kotse ay hindi pa rin tumitigil si Trenton sa kanyang stolen glances. Alam naman ito ni Sandra at kahit natatawa ay pinipigilan naman niya ito. "Stop it, seriously."

"What?" Giving her a playful, puzzled expression.

"You're totally annoying, alam mo ba yun?" She muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I can't help it. You look... Ravishing." He smiled sincerely.

"Could you save that overrated statement of yours? Really." Slouching her back.

Tumawa naman ito. "Yan ang problema sayo, you keep on judging me for the things I usually do. I can be an annoying asshole, but I'm not a liar." He said with a serious tone.

She didn't answer and just stealthily glanced at him.

Now I feel guilty.

"We're here." He suddenly said which ended her transitory state.