Meet Me In Clark High (Reistre Series #1)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Leech

It feels like a dream that I don’t want to wake up. I want to stay like this forever. After they sang happy birthday, nagsimula na ring i-serve ang appetizers habang may palaro ang host sa stage. The whole place filled with our laughters.

“Let’s give them a round of applause!” anunsyo ng host kaya naman nagsipalakpakan at tilian ang iba. 

Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon, pero base sa nakikita ko ay may gagawin sila. Sina Kuya, Jace, Kent, Sam at Archie ay sunod-sunod na pumanhik sa stage.

Nag-form sila ng linya roon, alternate. Si Sam na naka-forward, si Archie naka-backward, ganoon din si Kuya at Kent sa kabila at sa gitna si Jace. Lahat sila ay nakatalikod sa amin.

Tutok na tutok ako sa gagawin nila at namangha nang biglang tumugtog ang kantang Dynamite ng BTS iyon din ang hudyat para kumilos na si Jace.

“Ah, shit! Ang hottie mo, Jace!” sigaw ni Trisha na nasa gilid ko lang.

Natawa ako pagkatapos ay namula nang magsimula siyang sumayaw. Gosh, this is my first time seeing him dance this great!

I was watching in awe while they’re dancing effortless yet utterly amazing. Wala na iyong coat na suot nila kaya naman silang lahat ay naka-white sleeves na, at sinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi sila nakaka-attract panoorin. And while intently giving my full attention to Jace, I was falling harder! Sabay-sabay sila at dahil sa ganda ng tugtog ay mas lalong nakakamanghang panoorin.

“Takte, hirap no’ng sayaw buti na lang nadala sa hitsura,” komento agad ni Archie nang makababa sila sa stage.

Napailing ako ngunit malawak na napangiti. Shit lang, they can pass as a dance troupe!

After the compliments they’ve received after that intermission, we’re down to another one. I was sitting while staring at the stage. Mama made another speech that was when they flashed something in the huge monitor in front.

My smile grew wider as I felt my cheeks become red, embarassed. There, my photos when I was young.

“I still can’t believe she’s no longer a kid anymore...” emosyonal na sabi ni Mama, nakatingin pa rin sa monitor habang i-ni-slide show.

My lips parted, nangunot rin ang aking noo. Picture ko na nakapink na dress along with a cute boy wearing a cute tuxedo. But who could this be? Wait he looks familiar...

“It’s Jace.” Para bang nasagot ang aking iniisip nang nagsalita si Papa sa tabi ko.

“But how, Papa?” tanong ko.

“When you were a kid, you guys used to play in the playground as per your mom. He’s your childhood friend I must say, he’s years ahead of you, your mother told me he used to be your knight in shining armor sometimes. That photo taken when you joined at the children’s party held by the pre-school, he was a guest... that’s why you had a picture with him, I like Jace because he took care of you the days I wasn’t here beside you.”

Kinuha ni Papa ang aking kamay at marahang pinisil iyon. Ngumiti siya bago nagpatuloy. Sabi niya pa, si Jace ay naroon lang dahil kay Sam, kapatid niya iyon at iisa lang ang school na pinupuntahan namin kaya nagkakilala kami.

Does it mean... bata pa lang kami ay magkakilala na pala talaga kami?

“She grew kind and humble woman and I couldn’t thank God enough for that. She’s my angel,” pagpatuloy ni Mama.

We clapped our hands after, Papa stood up to speak in front. “Happy birthday to my dearest daughter...” Napangiti ako kay Papa nang napansing sa akin nakadirekta ang kaniyang tingin.