8 Chapter 8: Midnight Ball
"Ano ba besty! Umayos ka nga, hindi ko malagyan ng maayos yang mata mo!" sermon niya sa akin habang minemake-pan ako.
"Bakit pa kasi kailangan ng make up ha? Sinabi na kasing ayaw ko eh." pagrereklamo ko sakanya.
"Eh sa pandagdag nga sa beauty ang make-up, anong gusto mo, titigil ka sa pagrereklamo o sasa_" I cut her off. "Yeah yeah yeah, I know wag mo na ko bantaan. Bilisan mo na lang at nangangalay na ko." I said, ayaw ko naman talaga eh kaso mapilit siya.
Paano niya ako napapayag? Well ganito kasi yun. Naglalunch ako kanina sa cafeteria nang bigla niya akong inistorbo at hinila papunta dito sa kwarto niya.
"Ano bang problema mo? Kita mong kumakain ako tapos bigla mo na lang ako hihilain papunta dito." inis na sabi ko sakanya.
"Anong oras na aber, mag-aayos pa tayo." nakapameywang niyang sabi.
"1:30 pa lang ah, mamayang 7 pa yung Ball." tinuro ko ang wall clock sa may kwarto niya para ipakita kung anong oras pa lang.
"Syempre kailangan maaga tayo, magmemake-up pa noh_don't tell me hindi ka marunong magmake-up." hindi makapaniwala niyang sabi.
"Marunong lang akong maglagay ng lipstick pero kapag buong mukha_hindi na." I murmured.
"Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh, oh sige ako na mag aayos sayo."
"No need, ayaw ko magmake-up." tumayo na ko at lalabas na sana nang pigilan ako ni Mandy at pinaupo sa harap ng vanity.
"Magpapamake-up ka o sasabihin ko sa lahat ng lalaking gusto kang isayaw na pumapayag kana sa hiling nila. Tignan lang natin kung hindi sumakit yang paa mo kakasayaw mamaya sa ball." pagbabanta niya kaya wala na kong nagawa kundi ang pumayag at mag palit ng robe.
Mahirap talagang humindi kay Mandy, she's such a spoiled brat.
Mahigit isang oras ang nakalipas nang matapos niya akong ayusan.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I have this Bohemian waves half updo hairstyle, soft blue smokey eye makeup look, and peach lipstick on my lips na bagay sa porcelain skin ko.
"Wow." that's all I can say for now, ngayon lang naman ako namake-upan eh bukod sa nude beige lipstick na nilalagay ko sa labi ko.
"Sabi ko na nga ba besty eh, lalo kang gumanda oh. Baka mamaya pag agawan ka na ng mga boys sa Ball." pang aasar niya sakin.
"Nah, stop teasing me Mandy."
"Siya nga pala besty, I'm just wondering bakit lagi mong tinatakpan ng nude beige lipstick yang red lips mo?" she asked. "Siguro ayaw mong may maakit na lalaki diyan sa labi mo." pang aasar niya sakin, I glared at her but she just laugh.
Kinuha ko na yung gown sa mannequin at pumuntang banyo para magbihis.
Paglabas ko ay nakatulalang Mandy ang bumungad sakin.
"What?" I asked.
"Sinasabi ko sayo besty, talagang pagkakaguluhan ka ng mga lalaki mamaya. Did you know that you looked like a goddess? Ngayon pa lang, sinungaling na yung taong magsasabi sayo na pangit ka." she said and looked at me from head to toe.
"Nah, your just over reacting Mandy. I'm not that pretty." I said and sat at the bed. "Mag ayos kana rin, baka abutin ka pa ng hating gabi bago ka matapos."
"Oo na_eto naman ayaw ng pinupuri." she sat in front of the vanity and started putting make-up on her face.
Naghanap muna ako ng maililibang sa sarili ko habang nag aayos pa siya.
Pagkalipas ng dalawa't kalahating oras ay natapos na siyang ayusan ang mukha at buhok niya. Pareho kami ng ayos except for the green color of her eyeshadow and red lipstick.
Pumasok na rin siya sa banyo para magbihis at agad ring lumabas ng maisuot na niya ang gown niya. Lalo siyang gumanda sa ayos niya ngayon, well talagang maganda ang fashion sense niya.
"6 na pala, halika na besty 6:30 ang call time nila dun." sabi niya at kinuha ang pouch niya sa side table at nauna ng lumabas, kinuha ko na rin ang sa akin at sumunod na sakanya.
Habang naglalakad kami sa hallway ay nakasalubong namin si Mam Jezel kaya pinauna ko na si Mandy sa Grand Hall.
"Good evening mam." I greeted her.
"That gown suits you very well, you look gorgeous iha." she commended.
"Thank you mam, you also look gorgeous and stunning in that silver dress."
"It's so nice of you, Josephine. Siya nga pala, I'd like you to sing later at the ball, and I want you to sing that song that I heard in the music room."she said and bid goodbye.
Kakanta ako mamaya? Pero pang duet yung pinapakanta ni Mam ah. Haist! Bahala na nga mamaya. Kaya mo yan Sephine, fighting!
Naglakad na ko papuntang Grand Hall dahil baka kanina pa ako hinihintay ni Mandy.
Dumiretso na ko sa hagdan pababa sa Grand Hall, nakatingin ang halos lahat ng tao sa akin habang pababa ako ng hagdan, some of them stop talking; some even paused on drinking their wines. Nagmukha tuloy akong center of attention.
Inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid at hinanap kung nasaan banda si Mandy, sobrang dami ng tao dito dahil required na umattend sa ball ang lahat. Nakita ko si Mandy sa isang gilid habang may iniinom na red wine kaya agad akong naglakad patungo sakanya pero bago ko pa siya nalapitan ay may kamay na humawak sa braso ko, nilingon ko kung sino yun, isang lalaki na may medium tapered brown eyes, thick eyebrows, long and narrow nose, red lips, sharp jawline and a jet black hair.
Wait, medium tapered brown eyes and jet black hair. Isang tao lang ang pumasok sa isip ko.
"Tober? May problema ba?" I asked, well sino pa ba? Edi itong si kuneho, nakasuot siya ng itim na tuxedo and a black tie with a white polo underneath.
"Nothing, let's go?" kinuha niya ang kamay ko at inilagay sa braso niya.
"Hindi na kailangang gawin yan." I said at nauna nang naglakad kaso hinila nanaman niya ko.
"Just cling to my arms, Mandy will get mad if she saw us not together." he said and we walked towards where Mandy is. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw how confident Tober walks in straight body with an aura that signifies authority. Sinalubong kami ni Mandy ng may malaking ngiti sakanyang labi nang makita niya kaming magkasama.
"You look good together." she said and clapped her hands out of joy.
"No were not." I said and looked at Tober if he will say something but he remained silent.
"Oh shut up_here drink this wine." Mandy said and gave me the wine.
"Sorry I don't drink." I said and put the wine at the table.
"Oh come on besty it's just a wine." she insist.
"Don't force her Mandy." Tober said in a monotonous voice.
"Sorry." she said and look down, she really looks guilty.
"It's ok." nginitian ko siya para hindi na siya maguilty and she smiled back at me.
"Hey beautiful." sabi ni Mardy na kararating lang at inakbayan ako. Tinignan ko siya ng masama pero tumawa lang siya.
"Hey don't touch her man." hinila siya ni Layne at inilayo sa akin saka siya lumapit. "You really look gorgeous Josephine, uhh you're such a goddess!" he said and I blushed.
Marami pa silang kinumento tungkol sakin at sa suot ko. Hanggang sa nagsalita na ang host, hudyat na magsisimula na ang ball, umupo na kami sa kanya-kanya naming upuan at nakinig.
Binati niya kaming lahat at nagkwento ng konti tungkol sa history ng Winterhold, hanggang sa mag start na ang sayaw. Nagsitayuan na ang mga teachers at mga studyante kasama ang mga partners nila.
"May I dance with you?" I looked at the guy who asked me and it's Tober, he smiled and extended his left hand. I looked at his hand and then looked at him again.
"Ahmm." I'm hesitating if I should accept his proposition or not, but in the end I still accepted it. "Yeah sure." I reach his hand and let him escort me to the dance floor. I can feel people staring at us.
The day we met,
I put my hands around his shoulder and he put his hands on my waist_we started dancing in a rhythm of a slow, and calm music.
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart
Beats fast
Colors and promises
Eto ang unang beses na nakipagsayawan ako, kahit noong mga nakaraang birthday ko hindi ako nakipag sayawan kaya ang ibig sabihin lang ay si Tober ang first dance ko.
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
I looked at him in the eyes, I still hate this guy because of what he did to the guy at the library and also because of his moodiness.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
He pulled me closer to him still looking at me in the eyes. I can feel the warm of his breath on my forehead_mas matangkad siya kaysa sakin, siguro hanggang balikat niya lang ako.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
"You look gorgeous Miracle." he murmured and lean towards me.
"Oh shut up." I said. "Huwag mo kong binobola." I really sound irritated.
"But you really are." he said and a genuine smile escaped from his lips. "You just have to smile_your smile is really precious, I wish I could see that everyday." he said while looking at me seriously in the eyes, I avoided his gaze and didn't reply_this is so awkward.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Wala ng nagsalita sa aming dalawa.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
I'll love you for a thousand more
Ohh
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Natapos na ang sayaw pero wala paring nagsasalita saming dalawa hanggang sa bumalik na kami sa table namin.
"How is it?" Mandy asked excitedly, hindi ko na siya sinagot at umupo na lang.
"Hey, something's wrong?" she asked, you can see the worry in her face.
"Y-yes, it's just that_my feet hurts." dahilan ko, pero totoo talagang sumasakit ang paa ko.
"Masakit ang paa mo? Gusto mo hilutin ko?" pag-singit ni Mardy sa usapan namin.
"Baliw ka ba? Kita mong lalaki ka tapos hihilutin mo paa ni Josephine, respect bro respect." sermon sakanya ni Layne.
"Easy man, I'm just kidding." Mardy surrendered. "Josephine, sayaw tayo mamaya ah."
"Manahimik ka nga, nakakairita ka!" Mandy scolded him, ang kulit talaga nitong magkambal.
Pinabayaan ko na lang sila at tinuon ang atensyon ko sa mga nagsasayawan. Kitang kita ko sa gitna ng dancefloor ang lalaking may brown na buhok at kasing tangkad ni Mardy.
What the, Richard?!
Agad akong tumayo at aalis na sana nang hawakan ako ni Mandy.
"Besty, what's wrong?" she asked.
"A-ah, I need to go." kailangan kong makaalis agad. Hindi naman sa OA ako dahil sayaw lang naman, pero kasi_ah basta!
"What's wrong?" Layne asked. "Yeah, what's wrong?" Mardy repeated Layne's question. I looked at Tober and he too looked puzzled.
"He's here." pilit kong tinatangal ang kamay ni Mandy sa braso ko.
"Who's here Josephine?" Mandy asked irritated.
"Richard." I murmured.
"Who's Ri_" hindi na natapos ni Mardy ang sasabihin dahil sa lalaking nasa harapan namin ngayon. "And who are you?" he asked when he came back to his senses.
"Hi, I'm Richard Ross, and the two of you must be Mardy and Mandy_the Delion twins. Layne Gother and Tober Ortiz right?" he gladly said. "Ghaad, it's a pleasure to meet all of you face to face." he really looks happy.
"So what are you doing here?" Layne asked.
"Oh sorry, I came here for Josephine because I asked her for a dance yesterday and she said yes." he said and extended his hand. "Shall we?" I looked at my friends before reaching his hand. They looked confused on what's happening.
We went to the dancefloor and started to dance.
"This is really the best night of my life." he said happily. "You know what Josephine, I really like you since the day I saw you in the window of your castle_"
"What did you say?"
"_I mean since the day that I saw you in this castle. This school is a castle right?" he said and laughed awkwardly.
That's weird.
"You know what, I admire those who designed this Grand Hall, this looks fantastic." he said, changing the topic. "They said that Phoenix House designed this, wait_you're from a Phoenix House right?" he asked.
"Yes." I answered.
"You're good at designing huh, can you design my room too? Just kidding" he said jokingly and I glared at him but he just laughed.
"What is your house?" I asked, hindi ko kasi siya nakikita sa Phoenix house kaya baka nasa ibang house siya.
"Hippogriff, cool right?" he said and I just shrugged.
"Josephine, I really like you_" he began to sound serious. "_and I want us to be friends, can I be your friend?." he asked seriously.
"Why do you want us to be friends?" I asked.
"I want us to have a closure and there is something in you that made me feel this way. I want to protect you, I want to make you happy." he confessed, I don't know what to say that's why I chose not to respond.
I never thought about this to happen, I didn't talked until the dance end.
He escorted me back to where my friends are.
"Thank you for the dance Josephine_" he said thankfully. "_and about the friend thing. Do you accept it?_I mean is it ok to be friends with you?" he asked, kitang kita ko ang kaba sa mukha niya.
"There's nothing wrong about being friends with you, so yes_we're friends now." I smiled at him and he smiled back.
Nagpaalam na siya sa amin at umalis. Saktong pagkaalis niya ay sabay sabay na tumingin sakin ang mga kasama ko.
"What?" I asked.
"Anong pinag usapan niyo?"
"Wag mo sabihing may gusto ka na sakanya."
"May ginawa ba siya?"
Sunod sunod na tanong nila sa akin pwera na lang kay Tober.
"Hindi niyo ba narinig yung pinag usapan namin kanina?" I asked, katabi ko naman sila kanina, bakit kailangan pa nila magtanong.
"Syempre narinig namin. Magkakatabi kaya tayo." Mardy answered.
"Narinig niyo naman pala, edi alam niyo na ang sagot sa tanong niyo." pabalang kong sagot.
"Ang harsh mo talaga besty, nagtatanong lang eh." Mandy said then pout.
"By the way, bakit nakaupo lang kayo dito? Sumayaw din kaya kayo lalo kana Mandy, sayang lang yang ganda mo at suot mo." pag-iiba ko sa usapan.
"Kaya nga, alam mo bang kanina pa maraming nag aalok sakanya na sumayaw kaso tinatanggihan niya lahat." sumbong ni Mardy.
Mandy looked away avoiding our gazes.
I pulled Mandy and Layne to the dancefloor.
"Besty what are you doing?" She asked, kitang kita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha nilang dalawa.
"Kanina pa kayo nakaupo doon." I said. "Layne isayaw mo si Mandy."
"What?" sabay na tanong nila sakin.
"No way! Hindi ako makikipagsayaw sa mokong na yan." reklamo ni Mandy.
"Me either, I won't dance with a blunt noisy monster!" reklamo naman ni Layne.
"Hey I'm not a blunt noisy monster!" sabi niya at sinimulang paghahampasin si Layne sa dibdib kaya pumagitna na ako sakanilang dalawa.
"Ititigil niyo yan o hihilain ko kayo palabas?" pagbabanta ko sakanila.
"Oo na, oo na. Takot ko na lang na manigas sa labas no." sagot ni Layne at hinila si Mandy papunta sa gitna ng dancefloor.
Bumalik na ko sa table namin at nakita si Tober na nakaupo lang doon mag-isa.
"Hey, where's Mardy?" I asked, he pointed out where Mardy is to answer my question and there I saw him dancing with someone.
"Oookay." umupo na ko at pinanood ang mga nag sasayawan.
Napatingin kaming lahat sa stage nang magsalita si Mam Jezel. "Before we continue the party let's all give an applause first for the performers for tonight, Ms. Josephine Beaufort and Mr. Tober Ortiz." All of them clapped. I looked at Tober but he just walked straight to the stage, sumunod na ko sakanya dahil baka magalit si Mam Jezel.
Some students also went up the stage and gave us the instruments. Guitar ang kay Tober at piano naman ang sakin, kaya pala nakita ko kanina na may mga studyante ang nagkukumpulan sa gilid. Dahil pala dito sa piano, ang bigat pa naman nito buti nabuhat nila hanggang dito.
"I hope you will like this song." Tober said and started strumming his guitar, nagumpisa na rin akong patugtugin ang piano.
Hey Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel
Love your imperfections every angle Tomorrow comes and goes before you know
So I just had to let you know
A shiver run down my spine the moment I heard his voice.
The way that Gucci look on you, amazin' But nothin' can compare to when you're naked
Now a Backwood and some Henny got you faded
You're sayin' you're the one for me, I need to face it
This is the first time I heard his voice, I didn't know that he has this kind of voice. Siguro eto yung gustong sabihin noon ni Mandy pero hindi niya nasabi kasi pinigilan siya ni Tober.
Started when we were younger
Swear to God that I loved her
Sorry that your mum found out
Guess that we just really had the thunder
Ain't nobody else that I'd be under Beautiful, beautiful life right now Beautiful, beautiful night right now
No, no, no
Bigla siyang humarap sakin at tinignan ako diretso sa aking mga mata. I can see that he's really serious and sincere in singing this song.
Hey Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel
Love your imperfections every angle Tomorrow comes and goes before you know
So I just had to let you know..
Tinignan ko rin siya diretso sa kanyang mga mata bago nagsimulang kumanta.
Oh my God where did the time go?
I wish the hours would go slow, how is it 6 am?
Your touch is hindsight
Beautiful, beautiful sight right now Beautiful, beautiful life right now
Got the angels singin' ooou aaah right now like Oooou, aaaaah.
I closed my eyes and feel every single lyrics of this song. Pakiramdam ko kaming dalawa lang ang nandito sa Grand Hall.
And this is why we got to touch
Sometimes words are not enough
Painted in your golden kiss
Honey drippin' from your lips
I thank God and my lucky stars
darlin', don't you know what you are?
Yeah baby you are
He hold my hand at sumabay na siya sakin sa pagkanta.
Hey (hey baby) Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel (oh)
Love your imperfections every angle Tomorrow comes and goes before you know
Sobrang lapit na namin sa isa't-isa habang kumakanta. Hindi ko alam pero parang nahihypnotize ako sa boses niya.
So I just had to let you know
The way that Gucci look on you amazin' But nothing can compare to when you're naked
Tomorrow comes and goes before you know
So I just had to let you know
I just had to let you know
Swear to God you're beautiful (yeah)
Tapos na kaming kumanta pero nakatingin parin kami sa isa't-isa. Natauhan lang kami ng isa-isang pumalakpak ang mga tao sa paligid namin.
"Hindi ko alam na ang ganda pala ng boses nilang dalawa."
"Parang may spark sakanila habang kumakanta."
"Bagay sila."
"Nainlove na ko sa boses nila."
"Sila ba?"
Narinig kong sunod sunod na sabi ng mga tao sa paligid.
"Thank you for that wonderful performance, I didn't know that you two have that beautiful voice." the host said, ngumiti na lang kami at bumalik na sa table namin.
Hindi parin maalis ang tingin nila samin kaya nag uumpisa na kong mailang.
"Wow, we're impressed." kumento ni Mardy habang pumapalakpak.
"You know what you looked good together." Mandy said.
"No we're not." I defended.
"Oo kaya, diba Layne?" sabi niya at siniko si Layne.
"Y-yeah." wala sa sariling sabi ni Layne.
"Hey is there something wrong?" I asked, ang weird ngayon ni Layne. Mukhang wala siya sa sarili niya.
"Nothing." He answered and looked away.
"Hoy Mandy anong ginawa mo kay Layne? Baka naman sinaktan mo siya o kaya pinagbantaan mo yung buhay niya" paninisi ni Mardy sa kakambal niya.
"Huwag mo nga kong sinisisi!" galit na sabi nito sakanya. "Wala naman akong ginawang masama eh." she murmured.
Madaling araw na nang matapos ang Ball, nagsibalikan na kami sa kanya kanya naming room. Nakatulog rin ako kaagad dahil sa sobrang pagod.
