If There Is An Us

12

He took off his coat and placed it on my back then lumuhod siya sa harap ko.

Tiningnan ko siya sa mata. I can't speak.

Take me away from here, please.

"I know." He said as he reached out for my feet and removed my stilletos.

Tinulungan nya kong tumayo with his hands on my shoulders. Napansin kong napatingin samin ang mga tao.

"She's okay. Just a little sprain." He said at bumalik na ang mga tao sa pagsasayaw.

He looked at me. "Can you walk?"

Tumango ako at sinubukang maglakad. Thankfully kaya ko pa naman.

He guided me palabas ng venue at pinaupo ako.

He checked my foot again. "Tell me if it hurts."

I twitched when he pressed my right ankle.

"Masakit?" Tumango ako.

"Your muscles here are swollen so it'll need rest. I'll massage it to reduce the pain."

"It's okay. Kaya ko pa naman." I said as I hid my foot.

"Let me, please." He looked at me in the eyes at wala na akong nagawa.

I looked up to the sky. Stars are shining brightly.

Tiningnan ko si Zein na nakaluhod sa harap ko. His left knee is on the ground while his right is supporting my foot na minamasahe niya.

I twitched kapag nakakaramdam ako ng sakit but he's gently massaging my foot.

He looked at me and I immediately looked down.

"Bakit hindi ka nagtatanong?" I said.

He smiled and said, "It's okay. I know."

"There, done. Feel any pain?"

Ginalaw ko ang paa ko. "Konti nalang."

"Buti naman. I relaxed the swollen muscle so make to rest it okay?" Tumango ako.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"How am I supposed to get over that jackass." I said and I heard him laugh.

"All this pain is making you different you know." I looked at him. Yeah, I guess so to.

"I was head over heels for him. Too childish of me to love him for too long. He's been in my mind for a year now and everything he does just made me fall for him even more. Without him knowing, I fell really hard and now that he's found himself someone he likes, it's just hard for me to accept it." I looked up the stars.

"Almost everyone around me knows I'm in love with him. He probably knows too that's why he sounds so apologetic when talking to me and it makes me even more furious at myself. I figured when he knew he'll at least give me a chance but all I got was simple treatment and it got me thinking I was special. So damn foolish of me."

We just sat there. Silently looking up the stars in the night sky. This feels good. Looking up the stars.

"Hey A, you okay?" Dyla said as she approached us. She smiled at Zein beside me.

"Oo naman. Natisod lang." I said.

Inabot niya sakin ang isang paperbag. The one she's carrying when we left the house.

"I knew you wouldn't last with that so I brought this." A flat shoes. I smiled.

"I'm really thankful to have you guys." I said habang sinusuot ko and flast shoes na dala ni DJ.

"Don't say it like that, it's not like you're dying." Zein said and we laughed all together.

We came back at the ball with me wearing the flat shoes, Zein guiding me and Dyla in front of us.

They were hesitant to go back at the ball in my condition but I said we can't let this amazing night pass by so they agreed to go back.

"You go have fun. I'm fine here. I'll be guilty kung hindi niyo to susulitin." DJ rolled her eyes and proceeded to the dance floor. I'm happy that she's having fun.

"And you?" I said.

"Me?" I raise an eyebrow at what he said.

"Have fun!" I said while I punched his shoulders.

"I am having fun here." Really? Having fun while sitting is my thing but I doubt it's the same for this man.

"Meet other people you know. Go on. I'll be really guilty kung hindi ka makikipagkilala sa iba." Tinulak ko siya patayo. With his expression I know na napipilitan lang siya but he has to meet other people!

Kung dito siya mag aaral. He can't survive in here alone. He needs friends. It's not like I can be with him all the time knowing na kami palang ni DJ and close niya.

Nilapitan siya ng mga babae and I'm like really laughing at his expression right now. This is such a good show. How embarrassed is he towards those girls but in the end he end up having pep talks with them then guys came to meet him too. Now that's the essence of this ball. To get to know each other.

I looked around to see if I know someone. It makes me happy seeing all this people having fun.

I browsed at my phone to play some games. But someone interrupted me.

"This is not the time for games you know." My English professor is in front of me with his boyish smile. Oh one of the cutest prof here in the university. I want to savor his smile but I  need to wake up from my dilly dally. I faced him with a smile.

"I'm good sir. I accidentally tripped so my feet's not in the mood to stand up." I said. He gets an 'o' reaction and told me to at least try.

"I'm really good here sir. Thank you." I said and he eventually left. I browsed again at my phone when a group of ladies came rushing towards me.

"Now, now. What did Prof Diethan told you?" A cute girl in a red duchess  gown asked me.

"Come on, girl what did that hot prof tell you? Are you one of his students?"

"Err, yes. He's my teacher in one of my major subjects. And he just told me to have fun." I said minding of my words.

"Oh, kung ako ang sinabihan niya I will really have fun with him in a different way." She said as he caressed her neck.

I almost laughed but I contained myself. Well, hindi na normal na may nagkakagusto kay Prof Diethan. He's a young hot bachelor and a really handsome professor. Girls are lining up to be in his class.

"Yun lang?" She asked me again raising her eyebrow.

I am not a warfreak woman so I smiled at her.

"Yes. Yun lang. Nakilala niya ata ako coz i'm one of his students and its just a teacher student conversation really."

"Okay, good to know coz he is mine." She smiled. I smiled back.

"Yes." He's all yours. Girls here are owning him and it's the least of my concern.

The girls left me and I put my phone back at my purse afraid na may manggugulo na naman while I browsed it.

I looked around the dancing university students at the center. I could be there dancing all my might but I'd rather sit and observe them have fun.