Daunting Blue (BBS #1)

Kabanata 9

9 : Sorsogon

The lights were dimmed around the place, tanging si Mr. Vadebco lang doon sa stage ang maliwanag dahil sa spotlights.

But why do I feel like I was the one getting the crowd's attention?

Napangiti ako ng mapait. So much for keeping a low-profile, Aura.

Muli kong tinapunan ng tingin ang binata. Pumihit naman s'ya paharap sa direksyon ko, bahagyang nakangisi.

Kumibot ang kilay ko. Grabe. Ang yabang talaga!

He even crossed his legs! Iritado akong umusog palayo para hindi masagi ng tuhod n'ya.

Mas pag-iinitan kami ng mga tao rito kapag nakita nilang halos magkadikit na kami. Baka magka-issue pa.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Mr. del Fierro. And I don't know what you're talking about." sabi ko saka hilaw na ngumiti.

He slightly tilted his head, staring at me with amused eyes. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pag-igting ng kan'yang panga.

Tumikhim ako saka pasimpleng nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I almost stopped breathing when you turned to look at me. That's how beautiful you are right now." narinig kong sabi ng binata.

Tiny sparks of unfamiliar sensation tickled my spine, down to my toes. I bit my lower lip. My heart also started to beat loudly.

"T-Thank you."

Hindi ko alam kung nagsasabi ba s'ya ng totoo o nambobola lang.

Kumurap ako saka ibinaling ang paningin sa nagsasalita sa unahan. Pero parang wala akong naririnig dahil masyado akong tensyunado.

My heart was pounding so hard and I feel funny in my stomach. Parang kinikiliti.

He said, I look beautiful. Sinupil ko ang ngiti saka kinurot ang daliri.

Of course, I also didn't fail to notice his appearance. Sino ba namang hindi? Halos lahat nga ng mga mata rito nakatutok sakan'ya.

He looked gorgeous, as always. Pero syempre hindi ko iyon sasabihin. Baka mas lalo lang s'yang magyabang d'yan.

His hair was styled in a simple brushed-back, achieving a classical look. It highlighted his fine brows and striking blue eyes. It also made him looked more masculine. And a tinged more dangerous.

Iyong normal n'ya kasing hairstyle merong butterfly bangs. Medyo natatakpan noon ang mga kilay n'ya. At mas mukha s'yang mabait tingnan.

He's wearing a blueish black three-piece suit that molded perfectly his well-toned body. I also noted that his cufflinks and lapel pins were silver with small dots of precious stones in it.

"You look flustered when I came. Nasurpresa ba kita?" his lips quirking at the side, amused.

Pasimple kong kinuyom ang mga kamay.

"That was because I didn't know you'll be coming." At lalo na dito pa s'ya pumwesto sa table kung nasaan ako!

I didn't dare face at him. Nakatalikod ako kaya hindi ko nakikita ang ekspresyon n'ya.

I heard a soft chuckle from him. Kumibot ang gilid ng labi ko. He sounded annoying but his laugh made me blush. Parang biglang kiniliti ang tiyan ko.

I got startled when there was a sudden bouts of applause from the crowd. Iginala ko ang paningin sa mga tao sa venue habang nakikipalakpak.

Tumikhim ako saka pilit na ngumiti. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari. Makikisabay nalang ako.

The grinning old man stepped down from the platform after his long speech. Pagkababa ng matanda, nagsipatayan din iyong mga ilaw sa stage pati mga spotlights.