Desire of the Heart

02

I am dancing with a stranger.

I didn't know how he made me agree to him. Hinayaan ko lang na hilain niya ako palabas.. naramdaman ko nalang ang pagtama ng tubig sa balat ko at ang pag-lamig ng hangin. I laughed with him while we danced in the rain. We didn't care if people saw us and gave us looks, para kami'ng mga bubuwit na nagsasaya sa ulan.

We kept dancing as if the sounds of cars were music that the world was playing for us. The city lights seemed so dim, but it was okay. He picked me up and spun me around. I stared at his eyes and it reminded me of the sun. How bright and shiny it looked under the moonlight. I let out a laugh. A genuine one this time.

Lumapit siya sa 'kin at pinatong niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. I let him. "Please don't let this moment stop. Let me dance with you and pretend like the world doesn't exist.." he whispered in my ear. I felt warmth and security as he held me in his arms.

I smiled as I let myself hold on to him. "We won't," I whispered back.

I silently prayed the rain wouldn't stop and just pour harder until we can no longer stand on our feets. It was like we had the world to ourselves. We were each other's sweetest music. We created our own little world where we danced freely with the rain's rhythm. The moon had witnessed how we held each other every passing minute. I felt like I had found my way back after being lost.. for the longest time.

Two long hours had passed na hinayaan lang namin ang mga sarili namin na sumayaw hanggang sa tumila na ang ulan. Basang-basa at nilalamig kami'ng bumalik, tawa pa rin kami nang tawa. Hindi kami pumasok sa loob dahil baka marumihan pa ang tiles, mayroon nama'ng mga bench rito sa labas kaya do'n kami nagpatuyo at nagpahinga.

"I haven't felt like that in years," I giggled, eyeing the sight in front of us. People on the sidewalks.. how the moon shined brightly as it gave light to the city.

I glanced at him when he didn't speak. His hair was still soaked, even his clothes. "Thank you," I uttered in a low voice. Naramdaman ko ang titig niya sa 'kin.

"For what?" he asked. Nakapatong ang dalawang braso n'ya sa tuhod niya habang nakatitig sa akin. It took me a few seconds to reply because of the way he looked at me was taking all my breath away.

I gushed. "For tonight. I had so much fun dancing... with you," I said in a formal tone of voice.

He ran his slim fingers in his wet hair to lay it back. "We have to push our worries away even for a moment somehow, right? And I found a person I could do that with." his eyes locked with mine.

I could feel something wierd in my stomach. Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng pisngi ko nang magdikit ang kamay namin na nakapatong sa bench. Agad akong umiwas nang tingin bago pa n'ya makita ang itsura ko.

"Yeah.." I nervously said. "'Nong nagsasayaw nga tayo ay pakiramdam ko nagawa ko na 'yon dati, eh." mahina akong natawa. "Dance in the rain. It wasn't a clear image for me. Naisip ko na baka I did that when I was young, and maybe Daddy was dancing with me." pag-amin ko. Kanina ko pa 'yon iniisip simula 'nung tumila ang ulan.

He looked away. "I actually hated the rain before, but..." he hesistated.

Nakita ko sa mukha niya na ayaw niya pa 'yong sabihin sa 'kin, I couldn't force him to open up to me. I'm probably just a stranger to him like he was to me. I didn't think it would be possible.

Two strangers dancing in the rain.

"It's okay, Dos. You don't have to tell me." I gave him a slight smile.

I looked at my wrist watch, it was already 10:25pm. Mabuti nalang at waterproof 'yong relo 'ko dahil baka hindi ko na ito magamit nung dalawang oras itong nakababad sa ulan. Malapit na rin matuyo ang damit ko, at nang sulyapan ko ang damit ni Dos ay bumabalik na ang orihinal na kulay ng damit n'ya.