Faking Delays

58. There

Kristeena Abegaile

  

"PINAKITA KO lang ang shell collection ko upstairs. Anyway, are guys enjoying the party?" Medyo pasigaw niyang tanong dahil malakas ang music. We nodded.

"Yeah, it's great," ani MJ. "By the way, big bro, Ross is here."

Bumati si Ross kay Harris. "Magandang gabi, Sir."

He nodded. "Ericka," inalis niya ang pagkakakapit nito sa braso niya. "Could you excuse me for a minute? I just need to talk to my employee."

"Oh, of course! Sige na, go!" At umalis na ang dalawa. "I'm just gonna go get a drink for us, be right back."

Umupo na kami. Pagkaupo ay tinanong ko si MJ. "Ilang taon na si Ross?"

"He's 27 years old. Why?"

"Uh... okay..." Wow, so 8 years ang agwat ng edad nilang dalawa. "Oo nga pala, akala ko ba siya ang magbabantay ng bahay?"

"Kuya send him here. I don't know why and he's not telling me. Mag uusap kami mamaya."

Tumango-tango ako. I wonder how old Harris is. Mukhang mas bata naman siya kung ikukumpara kay Ross. At hindi rin-- Argh, no! Stop. Stop thinking about him.

"Baka malunod ka na niyan ah," I heard Atom said beside me. "Ang lalim ng iniisip mo e."

"Ayan ka na naman with your observation skills. May iniisip agad? Hindi ba pwedeng natulala lang?"

"Psh, natulala my ass." I just rolled my eyes at him. Maya-maya pa ay biglang nag dim ang light. Ang modern beat ng music ay unti-unting napalitan ng slow tempo.

Then some people started dancing the slow dance in the beat of Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

"Oh my god," MJ whined. "Oh how I wish Ross is here!"

"Perfect! Tara, Kristeena, let's dance," aya ni Atom. Tumayo siya at nilahad ang kamay ko. Natawa naman ako.

"Seriously? Gan'to ang suot natin ta's magso slow dance tayo?"

Ngumiti siya. "Why not?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Atom."

"Come on! Ngayon ka pa ba magiging KJ? Look, everyone's dancing and they don't mind what they're wearing. Tara na."

"Sorry, I don't do slow dances..."

He stared at me as if he's studying my special expression. Argh, 'yan na naman siya. "Is this your first time?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "H-Hindi noh!" Tngna 'yan, paano niya ba nalalaman ang mga bagay bagay??

"Come on, I won't judge." He smirked. "I'll guide you. Madali lang naman e." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at itinayo ako. "Just look at me."

So I did. "That's my girl."

Dinala niya ako sa gitna ng dance floor. He then put my hand in his shoulder. The other one in his hand. "I'm going to touch you, okay. Don't flinch." At naramdaman ko ang mainit niyang palad sa bewang ko. I did my best not to flinch.

Humakbang siya pabalik at umabante ako. Umabante siya at humakbang ako pabalik. "This is so weird..." I muttered as I stare at our feets.

"Don't look down." Inangat niya ang baba ko para mapantayan ako ng tingin. "Always look your partner in the eyes. That way, you two communicate."

"Wow. So you're a dance instructor now?" Natawa rin siya sa sinabi ko. "So what's the next step, Mister Instructor?"

Nabigla ako nang bigla niya akong hinapit papalit sa katawan niya. "You keep your body close," he whispered in a very seductive way. I almost cringe but I know that he's just faking it.

I was supposed to hit him, playfully, nang may biglang humila sa akin papalayo. "That's enough..." he growled. "Too much. It's too much," he keep saying.

Narinig ko ang tawag sa akin ni Atom pero hindi na ako nakalingon nang hilahin ako palabas at palayo ni Harris.

"Ano ba! Let go of me!" sigaw ko. "Saan mo na naman ba ako dadalhin?" Sa ere tapos iiwan ako uli doon?

I wanted to add that, but I kept my mouth close.

Tumigil siya pero nakatalikod siya sa akin and he's so far away. "You weren't supposed to just pull me away like that. Atom and I were dancing, hindi mo ba nakita?"

He laughed. A very sarcastic laugh. "Pasalamat ka nga't hinila lang kita palayo at wala na akong ibang ginawa." Humarap siya at seryoso ang mga mata niya. "I almost punch that kid until he couldn't open his eyes and look at you like that, Kristeena."

Strong, Kristeena. 'Wag mo hayaang maapektuhan ka niya. "And I should thank you? Wow ha! Wala namang ginagawa sa'yo 'yung tao!"

"Oo sa akin wala, pero sa'yo meron!" he angrily said. Tinignan ko siya, clueless of what he's trying to conclude.

"I thought I could take it, Kristeena! I thought I could see you smile and laugh the way you did with him but I can't!" Sinabunutan niya ang buhok at yumuko. "Argh, it's too much. You're too... you're too precious for him..."

Napalunok ako. "Ano bang sinasabi mo ha? Ano bang punto mo?"

Inangat niya ang tingin and said something in a very unfamiliar language. I couldn't understand.

"Je suis jaloux... très jaloux," he said in all seriousness.

"Pwede ba... kung makikipag usap ka sa akin, either tagalog lang o english. Alam mo naman—"

"I'm jealous, Kristeena," he said in a low tone. Biglang nanikip ang dibdib ko. "And I hate feeling like this. You better make this stop or I swear someone's going to the hospital tonight..."

He's jealous? Pero bakit? Akala ko ba... akala ko ba ayaw niya sa akin! Then he'd go crazy and say things like that?!

Ano bang ginagawa niya sa akin?! Ginugulo niya ang isip ko! Argh!

Ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko at tinignan siya. "Pwede ba tumigil ka na. Tigilan mo na ako! My feelings' not your toy for you to play with it! Kung ayaw mo sa akin, panindigan mo! Kasi ayoko nang maramdamang special ako pero hindi naman pala."

Tinalikuran ko siya bago niya pa makitang lumuha ako. "I love you!" Napatigil ako sa paghakbang. Pagharap ko ay nakita ko siyang sinasabunutan ang sarili. "There, I said it. I love you, Kristeena. Please, don't go and return to that motherfucking kid. I swear, I'm gonna lose it."

Lumapit ako sa kan'ya. "You... you love me?"

"I should've said it the first time you confessed but... argh," bigla siyang lumapit at niyakap ako. After what feels like eternity, I hugged him back. Huminga siya ng malalim at mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa akin. "You're a risk worth fighting for."

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Author's Note:

If you haven't added this story yet, please, with cherries on top, do! Support me po please, nawawalan na ako ng tiwala sa sarili ko HAHAHA-- no, I'm actually serious.

Am I doing just fine? O am I doing not so good? *sighs* tell me what you think!

Have a good night, though!

Keep reading, readers! Stay cool y'all!

Love,
RM