She's Beautiful

*Nathan's POV*

It felt so weird to see her laughing.

Ito ba talaga yung babaeng nakita kong umiiyak kahapon?

They were practicing the dance presentation for the ball. Ayaw ko sanang pumunta but I was too curious.

I was starting to get curious about her.

Mukhang nahihirapan siya sa steps.

I'm sure Charm knows how.

Ituturo niya naman diba?

But she didn't.

She kept throwing glances at me.

I pretended not to notice and observed the others pero nung narinig kong kay Ry niya balak magpatulong, my feet brought me there.

What am I doing??

Lalayo pa sana ako but I caught Charm's eyes.

Ugh.

FINE!

"I'll help."

Lumingon narin siya sa'kin.

"Sure ka, Nathan?"

You were looking at me earlier.

Ngayong nandito na ko, tsaka ka pa magtatanong?

"Basic step lang ba?"

"Yep. Unless gusto mo dagdagan ng iba..?"

I nodded.

I had one hand extended to her pero hindi siya nakaharap sa'kin.

"Ehem."

Finally, tumingin din siya.

"Si-sigurado ka ba..?"

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Kasi.. si Ivy.."

I'm already in big trouble dahil sa ginagawa ko.

"Hindi ko rin alam pero.." I said. "I've never been this sure in my life.."

I started to get curious simula nung pumunta ako sa inyo.

And now I couldn't stop that curiousity any longer.

Nakatitig lang siya sa'kin.

She doesn't look like she's going to move kaya ako na mismo yung humawak sa kamay niya.

She's beautiful. My mind thought.

Holding her close allowed me to see her face more clearly.

Nangyari na kaya 'to dati?

I was so sure this was the first time na sobrang lapit niya sa'kin.

Pero bakit ganito?

It felt so familiar that I was starting to doubt the things that I know.

Nakalimutan lang ba talaga kita, Theia?

I didn't realize that the song already ended until I heard them clapping.

Binitawan ko siya agad and took a step back.

***

"Babe naman."

We were already in the restaurant. Ni hindi niya ko pinayagan na sunduin siya kanina mula sa bahay nila.

"Magsisimula na yung party pero hindi mo parin ako pinapansin."

"You know why."

"Dahil ba sa kanina?"

Nung tumango siya, hindi ko napigilang tumawa.

This is new.

Ivy was never jealous of anyone.

"Sayaw lang yun, babe." I said. "Tinulungan ko lang siya. Tutal ako naman yung partner niya diba?"

Sumimangot siya sa'kin.

"I didn't threw a fit nung nalaman kong kapartner mo si Ry." I pointed out. "Did you hear me say anything about it?"

"No.."

"See?"

"Ibang usapan naman yun."

"Panong iba?" Tanong ko. "He even said you were together when I woke up. Buti nga hindi niya na yun pinagpipilitan ngayon."

Nagtataka parin ako kung bakit wala na siyang sinasabi ngayong bumalik na ko.

"Can't you change partners?"

"You know that's not possible." Sagot ko. "Kasi kung oo, you should've done that in the first place."

"Hindi naman siguro diba..?"

"Hindi ano?"

"Anong sinabi nila Tita?"

"She asked me to give her a chance.."

"And? Anong desisyon mo?"

I couldn't look at her.

I know she'd realize soon. Kailangan ko rin sabihin sa kanya.

"I've decided to try."

"How about me, Nathan? Paano ako?"

I looked at her.

Ganun ba yung iniisip niya?

"Babe.."

"No, it's okay. I'm just overreacting."

"You know that she means nothing, right?"

Hanggang ngayon naman diba?

"If that's true, you wouldn't even think about trying..."

"Please don't misinterpret this, babe." I held both of her hands. "Ginagawa ko lang yung napag-usapan namin ni Mama. Aside from that, at least I get to see you. Napagkasunduan namin yun."

"And then?"

"That's it." Sabi ko. "Hindi naman nila mapipilit yung puso ko diba?"

She didn't answer.

Natatakot ba talaga siya?

"I chose you, babe. Trust me on this. Please?"

Naguguluhan lang naman ako kaya gusto kong maalala pero hindi ibig sabihin nun, iiwanan ko na siya.

"I trust you."

"Yun naman pala--"

"MAY TAO BA DYAN??! HELP US!! PLEASEE!!!"

"Isn't that--?"

I know that voice.

"Nathan!"

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari.

I just found myself running towards the place where I heard the scream.

"Bessy, p-please.."

"Charm?"

She looked at me. Crying.

"N-nathan, please.." She pleaded. "Help me.."

Theia was lying unconscious.

"Anong nangyari sa kanya??"

"Hindi k-ko alam.." Sagot niya. "Pagdating ko, ganito na s-siya.."

I knelt on her side. "Theia??? Theia, wake up!"

She opened her eyes but she wasn't responding.

"Theia, can you hear me??" I asked. "Dadalhin ka namin sa ospital, okay??"

"Mio.."

Anong sinabi niya?

Mio?

"Theia.." Charm shook her.

Nawalan siya ulit ng malay.

If I don't move, baka may mangyari pang masama sa kanya so I carefully lifted her up.

Palakad na ko nung may pumigil sa'kin.

"Babe--"

Ayaw kong ring umalis, pero yung babaeng buhat ko..

"Text me when you get home." I said. "I'm sorry hindi muna kita mahahatid ngayon."

"Don't leave me.."

"I'm sorry.."

I know she'll understand.

Maiintindihan niya rin kung bakit hindi ko siya pinili nung mga oras na yun.

***

Ivy's face.

I couldn't forget it.

"Nathan?"

Napatitig ako sa kanya.

"You can go."

"Was I too late?"

Hindi pa kasi lumalabas si Theia simula kanina.

"No." Sagot niya. "She's going to be fine, Nathan."

"Then I'll wait for her."

Kanina pa tumitibok ng mabilis yung puso ko habang papunta kami dito.

"But the party.." She said. "Para sa inyo yun. Hindi naman pwedeng wala ka.."

"That's fine."

"Nag-aalala ka ba sa kanya?"

Ano nga bang tawag dito?

She extended one hand towards me.

"Give me your phone."

"Bakit?"

"Basta."

I just stared at her. "Dali."

Sumunod nalang rin ako sa kanya.

"Ibibigay din naman pala."

She typed something tsaka binalik sa'kin.

"Number ko yan." Sabi niya. "Dahil mukhang nag-aalala ka, I'll text you when she wakes up."

I took the phone away and stood up.

"I'm not."

"Talagaa?"

I ignored her. "Aalis na ko."

"Akala ko ba you'll wait?"

"Sabi mo--"

"Yup."

"Then why--?"

Charm laughed.

"Hinuhuli lang kita."

Ang kulit talaga niya.

"You can go." She said. "Ikaw na bahala gumawa ng excuse para sa'min ha?"

I nodded and started to walk away.

"Thank you for helping her, Nathan.."

Siguro nga nag-aalala ako.

I wanted to make sure she's okay before leaving and seeing Charm laugh like that, mukhang okay na nga si Theia.

***

"Nathan?"

Tita looked up when I entered her office.

Hindi ko alam kung anong itsura ko but she looked alarmed and went to me.

"Please sit." Sabi niya. "Ikukuha kita ng tubig."

She placed the water on the table.

"What's wrong?" Tanong niya. "May masakit ba sa'yo?"

"Wala po.."

"Then why are you here?"

"Si Theia."

"Theia? What happened??"

"I don't know.." Sagot ko. "Pagdating ko po, wala na siyang malay and I brought her here."

"Okay na ba siya?"

I shook my head.

"She's going to be okay, Nathan."

That's the same thing Charm told me pero bakit hindi parin ako mapakali?

"Akala ko kung anong nangyari sa'yo." Sabi niya. "I've been trying to reach you pero hindi ka sumasagot sa mga tawag ko."

"Sorry po, Tita.."

"I understand that you're confused, Nathan." She said. "But we can't clear that confusion until you undergo theraphy."

I know..

"Tita, why did you ask me to take off the ring?"

She took a deep breath. "Kasi nung araw na sinabi ko sa kanilang may amnesia ka, I saw the exact same ring on her finger.."

So, it's true.

"You saw it didn't you?"

I slowly nodded.

"And Ivy wasn't wearing one?"

Hindi ko na kailangan sumagot.

She already knew the answer.

"Ayaw ko din siya pagdudahan." Sabi niya. "But if your family and friends were insisting that you forgot her, isn't it time para makinig ka sa kanila?"

"..."

I stood up.

If I don't leave now, baka mapa-oo ako sa kanya.

"I need to go, Tita."

"Sigurado ka ba?" Tanong niya. "I can help you if you let me."

I wasn't.

"Oo, nakakatakot malaman yung totoo." She muttered. "Pero hanggang kailan mo paniniwalaan yung posibleng kasinungalingan lang naman?"

"I'll think about it, Tita."

******