White Lies and Smiles

6

Nang makarating kami sa kabilang baranggay, agad na tinitigan ng mga babae si Ethan. I held his hand and pulled him with me. Hinila ko siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa lamesa nila Ate Diana.

Ate Diana smiled and offered us the vacant seats. May pa-Little Miss Gay pa bago ang sayawan. May naglapag ng alak sa table namin at kaagad kaming inabutan ni Ate Diana ng disposable cups. 'Di tulad ni Ethan na nagsalin ng alak sa kaniyang cup, pinanood ko lang ang contestants ng pageant.

"Do you want to drink?" I had goosebumps when he whispered over my ear. "Qamari, I'm talking to you."

"H-Hindi na... Baka malasing ka, kailangan pa natin umuwi sa bahay." Ngumisi siya nang lingunin ko siya. His left arm was resting on the backrest of my chair, while the other one was holding a cup.

"I have a very high alcohol tolerance, baby. Don't worry, we'll go home safe." Tumango nalang ako sa kaniya at nag-iwas na ng tingin. Hindi ko kinakaya ang tensyon sa pagitan namin!

Dumating na rin ang ibang kaibigan ni Ate Diana. Kaya nagkaroon ng ka-inuman 'tong si Ethan. Ipinatong ko ang isang kamay sa hita ni Ethan. Wala naman makakapansin. Pabiro kong pinisil ang hita niya. Nanlilisik ang mga matang tumingin siya sa akin. Tinawanan ko nalang.

Nang matapos ang pageant, nagkaroon na ng pagkakataon ang teens to adults na sumayaw. Inaya akong sumayaw ng dati kong manliligaw. Nilingon ko si Ethan, humihingi ng permiso. Ngunit pinipilit din siya ni Ate Diana. Tumayo na ako at nagpatianod kay Jomar.

I saw Ate Diana holding Ethan's hand while dancing in front of him. I knew it! She likes Ethan. Mukhang may pinag-uusapan din sila. Inabala ko nalang ang sarili ko sa pakikipagsayaw kay Jomar. After Jomar, may mga nag-aya pa sa 'kin. Pinagbigyan ko silang lahat. Minsan lang naman 'to.

Si Cecilia na ang kasayaw ko nang tumugtog ang 'Twerk it Like Miley'. Nagkatinginan kami at mukhang pareho pa ang naisip. Mas wild si Cecilia sa akin pero pareho kaming suki sa mga ganito. Hinila niya ako patungo sa gitna. I was confident enough, just like the old times.

"And I'm spending it all. When I throw throw throw throw throw it up. Start twerkin' like Miley. Twerkin' like Miley. Start twerkin' like Miley. Twerkin' like Miley."

Cecilia chuckled when the song reached the chorus. We were twerking and almost everyone was watching and cheering for us!

"You got everybody in this club lookin' at you girl. How you move that thing from side to side. Fuck everybody in this club, 'cause I got you girl. I'mma tell you what's goin' down tonight. Girl, it's gon' rain, that's that sound. That's that shit that's got you like wow. And would you let me beat beat twelve rounds. Baby, look at that body, I just gotta say.."

"When you back back back back back it up. And you drop it down low. And you pick pick pick pick pick it up. Girl, I'm ready to blow. I'mma stack stack stack stack stack it up. And I'm spending it all. When I throw throw throw throw throw it up. Start twerkin' like Miley. Twerkin' like Miley. Start twerkin' like Miley. Twerkin' like Miley.."

Cecilia's eyes grew bigger when she looked behind me. She probably saw her ex or what. Sumayaw lang ako nang sumayaw. When I was about to twerk again, someone behind me held my waist. He pinned me on his body!

"Well, not on my watch, baby." It was Ethan! I looked at him, embarrassed of what I just did. He probably saw how I twerked earlier.

"Ethan.." I couldn't form a sentence when his eyes landed on my chest. His jaw clenched and he looked like he was not okay with what he's seeing. "M-May problema ba?" My voice almost cracked.