The Death of Athyeia (COMPLETED)

Kabanata XXX: The One I Know

Athyeia's PoV

Time flew fast for the first part of the event, iyong pagbati sa lahat ng dumalo, iyong mga speeches and etcetera.

I am feeling a bit weird though, kanina pa kasing lingon ng lingon saakin ang mga tao. Mapababae, mapalalaki.

Napainom tuloy ako ng alcohol, isang baso lang naman. Kasi kailangan ko talagang alisin yung pagiging sobrang tense ko.

I feel like a piece of beef being grilled.

Sina mama at papa naman ay sanay na sanay na, they are away from me, nakikipagusap probably sa mga prospect clients or business associates.

As for Li-Em, iyon at napapalibutan siya ng iba pang batang babae. Seems like napakadali lamang sa kaniya makisama.

Kung bakit ba kasi wala si Laura! Pero hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Umuwi kasi muna ito doon sa bahay ampunan na panandalian sa kaniyang kumupkop noon, I heard kasi na namatay na daw iyong babae.

Si Verona naman, kanina pang nakasunod kay Tita Veronica na nakikipagusap at bumabati din sa ibang pamilya.

Levi is flocked upon by weird chickens, I mean ladies. Kulay puti kasi ang mga gown nila kaya medyo nagmukhang manok hehe.

Hindi naman ako makalapit dahil tila malulunod na ito kung may dumadag pa.

I heaved out a sigh.

"Toast to La Vida Eterna's one-hudred forty-third anniversary!" The king, King Nero Azturias strongly marked.

Everyone raised their glasses for a toast.

"Toast to King Nero Azturias!" Bigla namang segunda ng isang boses, which I realized noong tiningnan ko ay si Tita Veronica pala. Everyone toasted for his highness.

"Now everyone, do enjoy a pleasant dance." The instrumentalists played on cue.

It was a classic waltz music, ang sayaw na inaral ko with Levi. But now that I see other ladies getting asked, narealize ko na hindi na pala ako dapat nagaral pang magsayaw.

Why should I? Wala namang nakakakilala saakin dito kaya malamang ay walang magaaya saakin.

Which is a good thing.

I looked at V, iyon siya at babae ang mga lumalapit upang makasayaw siya.

I wonder who will he choose?

Hindi sa selos ako pero I just kind of want to know what kind of lady will get his attention.

I felt a soft touch on my bare shoulder.

Napalingon ako saaking likuran.

I almost dropped the wine glass I was holding when I saw how many man were standing behind me.

What the hell?

"How about a dance milady?" Asked one. Marahan pa nitong inabot ang aking kamay upang halikan.

I pulled it immediately though.

"Forgive me but I refuse, I'm afraid I'm not that good." Sabi ko. I used this type of wordings so that it wouldn't be so offensive.

"That's fine. I'm sure you can learn with me." Sabi naman ng isa pa na hinigit din ang isa ko pang kamay.

"I know for one that these men does not measure to your standards, please dance with me." Said a third one na pumagitna sa dalawang lalaking umaabot saaking kamay.

And another one, and another one, and another one.

Ahhh!!!! Hindi ba sila mauubos?!

I can feel my world swirling. Hindi ako makahinga sa kanila.

"Please s—" Before I continue what I was about to say, I was caught off guard by a gentle pulling motion.

"She's not!!! y-yours...." sigaw ng isang lalaki na biglang naging isang bulong.

Slowly, the guys that I was entangled with dissolved away like sugar blocks on coffee.

I breathed.

I should thank my savior.

Marahan akong lumingon papalikod. "Thank... y-you." I was surprised to see Levi standing behind me, still wearing his ever so stoic facade. "Asan ang mga nakapaligid sa'yo?" I questioned as I looked behind him.

Hindi ko naman iyon succesfully nagawa dahil hinarangan niya ang line of sight ko. I looked at his face and it turns out he was crossing his eyebrows. "What?" I questioned him.

"You." He stated.

"Me?" Sabi ko at ipinatong ang kamay ko saaking dibdib. "Why me?" Tama ba ang hinala ko? May mali ba talaga akong ginawa??

Kaya ba nakatingin ang lahat ng mga tao?!

I was too lost in my own world when Levi spoked. "Why were you so far away?" Tila naiinis niyang sabi.

"Ba't parang kasalanan ko?" I questioned. Aba at gusto niya pa ako sumiksik doon? "Kasalanan 'yun nung other girlfriends mo 'no. Ang dami nila." Natatawa kong sabi sa kaniya.

"They are not my friends." Parang batang pinapaamin sa nagawang kasalanan na sambit niya.

"Still, I don't have any space beside you. Go on Levi, enjoy the night." Sabi ko dito. He might already be wasting alot of time by being with me.

"No." Mariin niyang sabi. "My place is beside you."

"Ano?" Nalilito kong sagot. What is he saying? Anong mapapala niya sa pakikihalubilo sa isang katulad ko??

Doesn't people of this time value connections more than friendships?

"We practiced didn't we?"

"Practiced what?"

"The dance." He said and reached for my hand. Kinuha niya ang wine glass sa isa kong kamay at ipinatong iyon sa tray ng isang waiter na dumaan.

Hindi ko naman mapigilang mapangiti.

That's right. The Levi I knew of is not the same as the others.

And that maybe the reason why I can't help myself when I'm with him.