Beauty Beyond Compare

Chapter Eleven:

After we finished eating, Zhairo's band performed. Nabuo raw ito kasama ang mga kaibigan niya sa school. Sila palagi ang nag pe-perform tuwing may mga event sa school katulad na lang ng Foundation Day or Teachers Day

"Wooh! Aasawahin!" sabay kaming apat na napalingon kay Gavin nang isigaw niya iyon.

"Huy," pagsaway ko. Napatingin din kasi sa kanya ang mga teacher sa hindi kalayuang table.

"What? Crush ko 'yan eh!" natatawang sagot niya. Akala ko ba ayaw niya na kay Zhairo?

"The song we'll be performing now is the favorite song of the most special girl in my life, I mean, in our section," there was loud cheering from the crowd.

"Lugi! Hindi ako babae!" sigaw muli ni Gavin kaya nagtawanan ang mga taong nakarinig.

The surroundings fell silent as Zhairo's band started playing. I froze when I heard that they were playing "Balisong" by Rivermaya.

"Aba! Para sa'yo yata iyan, Bell?" Gavin raised an eyebrow. I immediately felt embarrassed when I noticed my classmates looking at me. Napatingin ako kay Moore na tahimik lang sa upuan niya at nakayuko habang nilalaro ang mga daliri niya.

"Tara sayaw tayo sa gitna!" I looked back at Gavin, who was pulling a male classmate. Others were already pulling partners to dance in the center. There were only a few of us left at the table now.

I tried to calm my racing heart while watching people dance in the middle with their partners. Memories of the first time Moore and I danced behind his house to the same song flooded back.

That's when I realized I had feelings for my best friend. I liked Moore.

Mula sa mga taong sumasayaw ay lumipat ang mata ko sa kamay na nakalahad sa harapan ko. Dahan-dahan akong tumingala para tingnan kung sino ito, pero lahat ng kaba ko sa dibdib ay nawala nang makita ko si Zhairo na nakangiti habang kumakanta sa mic na hawak niya.

Akala ko si…

"Pwede ba kitang isayaw?" he warmly asked. There was cheering all around, but my gaze was fixed on Moore, who was ignoring us.

"W-what, Zhairo—" I was cut off as he gently made me stand up and led me to the center. He placed my hands on his shoulders before wrapping his arm around my waist. Puno nang kaba ang puso ko habang pasimpleng tinitingnan si Moore. Nakakapagtaka na hindi man lang siya tumitingin sa amin at nakatutok lang siya sa daliri niya.

"Ngumiti ka naman, may problema ba, Bell?" Zhairo asked with concern. My eyes were still on Moore. What was his problem? Why wasn't he looking at me? "Bell?"

I quickly faced Zhairo, but we were both taken aback as our faces were unexpectedly close to each other. This caused a wave of screams from the crowd, especially from my classmates.

"S-sorry! Hindi ko alam na haharap ka," namula ang pisngi niya lalo na ang mga tenga niya nang sabihin iyon. Hirap din siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Z-zhai, mauuna na ako. Sorry," I quickly let go of him and walked back to our table, but I froze when I saw that Moore wasn't there. Gavin seemed to understand my expression and pointed towards the exit where I saw Moore leaving.

I held the edge of my gown and lifted it to run after Moore. Saan siya pupunta? Uuwi na ba siya? Pero hindi pa tapos ang event.

"Moore! Teka! Sandali, Moore—" I stopped running when I tripped. I wanted to cry from the pain; I stumbled, especially since I was wearing heels. When I lifted my body, I felt the pain in my palms where the stones had dug in. Ang malas!

"Shit!" I was startled when he kneeled down and supported me to stand up. "Anong nangyari sa'yo? Bakit ka kasi sumusunod!" galit na aniya habang itinataas ang gown ko at saka naman pinagpagan ang tuhod ko.

"K-kasi aalis ka. Bakit ka ba aalis? Saan ka pupunta?" I was on the verge of tears, not just from the pain of my wounds but also from our situation. I knew Moore; I knew he had a problem, a problem with me. He was mad at me. "Galit ka ba sa'kin?”