Since Then, Till Now

19

Chapter 09

"Wow, am I in heaven? Bakit may anghel dito?"

I rolled my eyes at Gab while smiling. He covered his mouth dramatically like he was shocked kaya hinampas ko siya. Inilibot ko ulit ang mata ko dahil wala na ang katinginan ko kanina. I can't see him.

"Tara, sayaw tayo!" Hinila ako ni Gab sa dance floor bago pa ako makaangal.

Hinawakan niya ang dalawang kamay ko para isayaw. It was a party music. Wala akong energy magsayaw pero nang makita kong lapitan ni Ashley ang taong kanina ko pa hinahanap, napahataw ako.

"Ayan!" Gab was nodding at me while dancing, "Bibigay din pala!" he was shouting because of the loud music.

I danced like I don't care. Naiinis ako at hanggang ngayon nakikita ko pa rin silang magkasama. Naiinis ako dahil sa sarili kong kagagawan. But for now, I'm going to enjoy myself. This should be memorable.

"Damn, girl! Lasing ka ba?" Favy is now here too, "Alam ko juice lang ininom natin, ah!"

Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at inikot ang sarili ko. Pinapalakpakan naman ni Gab ang bawat galaw ko sa gilid. Nag sayaw kami ni Favy hanggang sa mapagod kami. Natatawa kaming bumalik sa table namin. Para kaming lasing!

I almost flinched when someone grabbed my arm. I turned around and saw Latch with his serious face. Ano ba 'yan masaya na ako, e!

"What do you want?" masungit na tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Lana..." he called.

Hindi na ako nag-abala pa hintayin ang sunod na sasabihin niya at hinatak si Gab sa dancefloor. Gusto kong hindi muna sila intindihin ni Ashley ngayon. Ayaw ko muna siya kausapin dahil hindi ko rin naman ang sasabihin. I don't want to worry so much. I just want to have fun, kahit ngayon lang.

Nang makarating kami sa dancefloor ni Gab ay biglang bumagal ang music. I sighed in annoyance while Gab, on the other hand, grinned as he put my hands on his shoulders while his other arms were holding my waist. He swayed me with the music. He stared at me with so much adoration and I stared at him back. While we were dancing, I couldn't help but look for a familiar feeling.

Funny how calm it it when I was looking at Gab's eyes. It was like a normal dance. It didn't felt nerve-wrecking, unlike...

"Lana..." Naputol ang pag-iisip ko. "Ang ganda mo," Gab whispered as his eyes roamed around my face.

Patuloy kong hinanap ang pamilyar na pakiramdam pero kahit pantayan ko ang mga mata ni Gab at kahit na nakapokus ako sa kaniya ay hindi ko iyon mahanap.
Why does it feel normal when it comes to Gab but not with Latch? Ganito ba kalala ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya?

"Hey," he called my attention. I wasn't even aware that I was spacing out. "Are you okay?" his voice was filled with concern.

"Uh, bathroom lang ako." I smiled before I walked to the bathroom.

I can't handle the guilt I'm feeling for Gab. I was dancing with him but I was thinking about someone else. It occured to me how selfish and how cruel I was being. I tried to calm myself down, but when I saw the necklace I'm wearing, my heart started beating fast. Tinanggal ko iyon.

"Bakit ikaw pa?" I whispered to myself as I stared at the necklace he gave me.

After I put it inside my bag, I decided to head back. I already made a decision. I'm not going to fall for this feelings of mine. It's a trap to ruin our friendship and I am not up for that.

"Sweet niyo naman," aniko nang makita si Primo na nakahawak sa beywang ni Favy.

Tahimik ko silang pinanood habang tumutugtog pa rin ang slow music. Nang matapos iyon ay ang banda naman ang sumunod kaya tumayo kami para makikanta sa gitna. I was busy singing my heart out when I saw Latch at the side table, helping Ashley with her heels.