Chapter 6

"Hi, Amor! Burp!" I awkwardly smiled at him.

"H-hello." I awkwardly smiled.

Lalapit pa sana sya sa table namin pero may ibang mga lalaki na dumating, mga kaibigan nya siguro, kasi hinila na sya ng mga ito pabalik sa table nila. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nasa kabilang dulo yung table nila." Sabi ni ate Riana, sinusundan ng tingin sila Ian.

"You think?" Sarcastic na tanong ni Ryza sa ate nya, tinarayan lang naman sya neto.

I sighed. Great! Imbis na mag enjoy ako ngayong gabi kasama mga pinsan at kaibigan namin, kailangan kong i-entertain si Ian na lasing na agad?

"I have a great idea! Amor why don't you tell him na Beks is your Boyfriend?" Masayang suggestion ni ate Cath. Agad akong napa tingin kay Beks nang sabihin yun ni ate Cath. Beks shuddered in disgust as he thought about it.

"Grabe ka ah!" I said slapping his arms, offended at his reaction.

"Sorry naman te, pero hindi ko ma-imagine no!" Depensa nya pero sinamaan ko lang sya ng tingin.

"I can pretend to be your Boyfriend." Singit ni Joseph. Lahat tuloy kami ay napa tingin sakanya.

"My man!" Tuwang tuwa na sabi ni Karl bago nakipag fist bump kay Joseph. Sinamaan ko naman sya ng tingin pero tinawanan nya lang naman ako.

Pinsan ko ba talaga to?

Mga 10 to 15 mins ang lumipas at nag start na din ang sayawan. There's about 300 people here, age ranging from 16 to 25. Puro mga pang party ang pinapatugtog nila kaya madaming nasa gitna ng court na sumasayaw kasama ang mga kaibigan nila. Pero alam ko after that it'll alternate to slow songs para sa mga mag partner, and that's the time guys can ask any girl for a chance to dance.

Hindi muna kami tumayo mula sa table namin dahil mas gusto nila na naka inom na sila bago mag let loose sa dance floor. I guess mas ok na wala kang hiya kung mag sasayawan kayo sa harap ng madaming tao.

"Are you planning to get drunk?" Tanong ni Joseph, snatching my plastic cup that's half full.

"Medyo?" Sagot ko pero parang naging patanong yung pag kakasabi ko. I took my drink back from him. I think I'm already starting to get a little tipsy.

"Babe!" Sigaw ni Karl kaya napa tingin kami sa direksyon kung saan sya kumakaway.

" "Babe?" Karl you should know better! Iww sa call sign nyong laspag na laspag na!" Pang aasar ni ate Lou bago inumin ang shot nya ng isang lagukan lang. She cringes at the taste and maybe at Karl and his girlfriend's call sign.

"Papunta na sya, behave okay?" Sabi ni Karl, giving all of us a warning look. We all just gave him the side eyes.

"Hi Baby!" The girl squealed running towards our cousin and jumping in his arms.

Nag tinginan kaming mga babae bago sabay sabay na ininom ang mga shot namin. We all agreed through our eyes that we don't already like her.

"I missed you so much!" Sabi ni Karl, kissing the girl sloppily... RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!

I nudge Rem's arms asking him to stop our cousin from embarrassing themselves. Inapakan naman ng malakas ni Rem ang paa ni Karl kaya agad na napa hiwalay si Karl sa Girlfriend nya at masamang tinignan si Rem.

"Care to introduce your girlfriend first before eating her face off?" Ate Lou asked, irritated.

"Ayy, sorry! Hehe." He bashfully scratches the back of his neck. "Guys, si Alliah. Alliah mga pinsan ko nga pala. Si Rem, Amor, si Joseph kilala mo naman yang bestfriend ko, Si Beks at Ate Cath kaibigan namin ni ate Lou, si Ate Riana, at si Ryza." Pag papakilala ni Karl samin.

"Hello po!" Nahihiyang tumango sya samin. Binati din namin sya at umupo na silang dalawa ni Karl.

After a few more shots I'm now officially tipsy, like halfway through to being drunk. Sumakto naman na biglang silang nag pa tugtog ng budots kaya agad kong hinila sila Ryza papunta sa gitna ng court kung saan ang sayawan, sumunod naman ang iba samin.

We formed a big circle and danced one by one in the middle. Madaming na din ang pumapaikot samin para maki join or maki nood lang para mag enjoy. Sobrang sakit ng tyan ko nang si Karl na ang sunod na sumayaw at tinry nyang mag twerk pero sobrang tigas ng katawan nya kaya tawa kami ng tawa.

Nagulat naman ako nang hilahin ako bigla ni Joseph papunta sa gitna at tinulak nya pabalik sa bilog si Karl. He stared right through my eyes, like nothing and no one else matters. He held my hand and we started spinning. I was so surprised but after getting over it I started screaming in delight. This moment will surely be a core memory!

Sa sobrang hilo ko dahil sa pag ikot namin at sa alak, nang tumigil kami hindi namin na realize na nag bago na pala ang music and it's now playing a soft and slow song. Its a song for couples to dance to.

Nang tumingin ako sa paligid namin, na pansin ko na puro couples nalang ang na sayaw at ang iba ay nag si upuan na, even my cousins and friends.

Pag harap ko kay Joseph ay naka lahad na ang kamay nya sa harap ko, Asking me if I would like to dance. I let out a shakey breath before turning my head towards our table.

Lahat naman sila, maliban kay Karl at sa Girlfriend nya na nasayaw na, ay nag thumbs up sakin, urging me to accept it. I looked at Rem and he's not looking at our direction. My heart clenched a little, I guess he doesn't even care.

Binalik ko nalang ang tingin ko kay Joseph and gladly took his hands in mine. He smiled brightly and puts his hands in my waist so I put my hands in his shoulders.

We swayed with the song, and I couldn't help but be more dizzy by doing so. I leaned my head against his firm chest, hearing his heart beat faster made me smile.

"Sorry, I'm getting more and more dizzy." I whispered. He chuckles lightly.

"Lasing ka na ba?" Tanong nya.

"Hindi pa! Grabe ka naman. Inikot ikot mo ko e!" Reklamo ko, pouting a little.

Napa tingin ako kay Karl at sa girlfriend nya na nasayaw na sa tabi namin. He also has his hands in his girlfriend's waist but what he's motioning with his hands is what made me glare at him. In his right hand, the ends of his pointer and thumbs are touching, making a circle. While the pointer finger in his left hand is going through the circle in his right hand.

I raised my middle finger at him in annoyance. Masayang tumango tango sya giving us a thumbs up, raising his eyebrows up and down.

"Fuck off!" I mouthed at him. Pinsan ko ba talaga to? Baka si Karl talaga yung hindi namin ka dugo?

"I know you will!" He mouthed back laughing. I looked at him, exasperated.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko, like I'm surrendering, letting go of Joseph and walking out. Nag lakad ako pabalik sa table namin, Joseph following behind.

"Amor!" He shouted through the loud music.

"Nag bibiro lang si Karl, Amor!" Sabi nya, pulling my wrist so I'm looking at him, at para huminto ako sa pag lalakad.

"I know, you think I don't know my own cousin?" I snapped back. He flinched, he probably thinks I'm angry at him. I sighed and took a deep breath to calm my self down.

"I know he's only joking. Pero alam nyo namang hindi pa ako ready para sa bagong relasyon diba? So I'm not really finding it funny that he said that- or did that- motioned it? I don't know!" I said sighing. I smiled letting him know I'm not that mad. He smiled back and nodded, understanding me.

Nag pa tuloy na kami sa pag lalakad pabalik sa table namin pero biglang dumating si Ian at akmang susuntukin si Joseph pero buti ay agad syang na pansin ni ate Riana kaya bago pa sya maka lapit samin ay inawat agad sya ni Ate Riana.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa!" She looked at Ian with wide eyes. "Hindi ako nanto-tolerate ng mga pala away ha!" She angrily slapped Ian's hands that was threatening to punch Joseph.

"Etong gago kasi na to e! Kapal ng mukha ayain sa unang sayaw si Amor! Ako yung partner nya diba!?" Galit na sigaw nya.

"Hindi lang naman yun yung beses na pwede mo syang isayaw e!" Inis na sabi ni ate Lou na lumapit na din samin. Pati yung ibang tropa na lalaki ni Ian ay lumapit na din samin, I guess ready to beat up Joseph.

"Alam mo namang tradition na ang partner and unang isasayaw e!" Galit na sabi nya kay ate Lou.

I feel the atmosphere begins to tense up but my head's still busy spinning kaya ayoko na sila bigyan pa ng pansin. Dumeretso lang ako sa paglalakad sa pagitan ni Ian at Ate Riana para dumeretso sa table namin. They both looked at me bewildered.

"Let them fight Ate, lets see if I talk to them afterwards." I said sitting in my seat and drinking my drink. I looked at my plastic cup weirdly, someone definitely tampered with it.

Inis naman na umupo sa tabi ko si Ian, which is yung seat ni Joseph. Some of his friends took some chairs and sat beside and behind Ian. I rolled my eyes thinking about how immature these boys are. Si Joseph naman ay tumabi kila Ate Riana at Ate Lou, on the opposite side.

Rem gently pulled my chair to his. Mag ka dikit na mag ka dikit na ang mga upuan namin and so are we. I slightly gasped when my cold hands touched his when he pulled me. I looked up at him, he was already looking at me. We stared at each others eyes for what seems like forever, but I know it was like a minute or two. The loud music was so hazy and it sounded so far away. It felt like the world was spinning so slow and like it was just the two of us in it.

We looked away when ate Lou stood up and headed towards the stalls where the sell drinks and snacks.

Ate Lou bought more alcohol kasi may mga bago na kaming kasama sa table and as she said "I'm not handling them sober". Ian and his friends also took the bottle of alcohol they were drinking and joined us.

Ang masama lang ay dala-dalawa ang inaabot saking shot, isa galing sa mga kaibigan ni Ian at isa galing kila ate Lou. I'm a heavy drinker but even this is too much, idagdag mo pa yung inumin ko kanina na halatang may halo na something!

Sakto naman bago ako tuluyang malasing, one of the slow songs begins to play.

Biglang tumayo si Ian, holding his hands out to me. I accepted and grabbed it before I became wasted dahil baka hindi ko na sya isayaw dahil sa inis ko. He guided us to the middle of the court and we just started dancing.

"Amor?" Tawag nya sakin nang napansin nyang di ko sya kinakausap, partly because I know I'm almost drunk and the majority is inis talaga ako sakanya. Idagdag mo pa yung ibang lalaki sa buhay ko na sinasagad talaga ang pasensya ko.

"Pwede ka matanong?"

"Sure." I said, nodding.

"Hindi mo ba ko gusto?" Tanong nya. I looked at him with a "Seriously?" look.

"Una sa lahat, gaano na ba tayo katagal mag kakilala?" I asked.

"Uhmm..." Is the only thing he could say before I asked again.

"Pangalawa, ano bang alam ko about sayo? Hindi pa tayo nakakapag usap ng matagal para mag kakilala ng maigi. Pangatlo, tingin mo ba gusto kong makipag kilala sa lalaki na ang solution na laging naiisip ay ang makipag away? Na mang lamang? Kung nag suntukan kayo ni Joseph at tumulong mga kaibigan mo, tingin mo mamamangha ako? For your information, nag mumukha ka lang duwag dahil kailangan mo pa ng kasama. Hindi mo ba kaya mag isa si Joseph? Pang apat, para kang obsess na stalker, hindi ako natutuwa, natatakot ako. Pang lima, hindi ka nakikinig sa sasabihin ko, nakikinig ka lang sa gusto mong marinig which is yung mga sinasabi ni Ate Riana. Pang anim, sinigawan mo pinsan ko kanina lang!" Dere-derestong sabi ko. He was so stunned to even answer me but I didn't care. I guess I am drunk now, I can't stop myself from rambling.

"Tsaka kahit mag away kayo ng kahit sinong lalaki dito, hindi ka mag kakachance sakin. Alam mo bakit? Dahil may bf ako- well, ex na ata kasi niloko nya ko pero di pa kami nag uusap kaya I'm in a very difficult and confusing position. Yan ang reason kung bat kahit sino sainyo, walang chance sakin!" I said before letting my hands drop from his shoulders.

"Alam mo, cute ka naman e. Mali ka lang ng approach. If you didn't rush me and tried to get to know me, I think you would've had that chance. But, now that I think about it, I already like someone else." I said and stormed off, not letting him speak.

"Bilis ah? I thought he won't let you go until the song changes." Sabi ni ate Riana. Nilapitan ko sya at kinuha ang baso nya.

"Don't you dare try to meddle with my love life again." Sabi ko, looking straight to her eyes. I drank her drink and gave her cup back to her. She was stunned for a few moments but then she laughed.

"You're a Mora indeed." She said shrugging. She poured herself a drink and took it in one gulped. Smiling sweetly at me. Umupo nalang naman ulit ako sa upuan ko at napansin ko na nag alisan na yung mga kaibigan ni Ian, I guess babalik na sila sa table nila.

"Ughhh..." I groaned as I feel my head throb. "I need some fresh air." I whispered to my self. Pero akala siguro ng katabi ko sya yung kausap ko kasi agad syang tumayo.

"Tara." Rem said ready to help me up. Hindi naman na ako nag reklamo dahil grabe na ang hilo ko and I'm blaming that one shot I drank, I'm guessing someone drugged it or something.

"San kayo?" Tanong ni Ate Lou.

"Freshhh airrr..." I said, dragging the end of the words. She laughed.

"Yeah you need it." Sabi ni Ryza. They all laughed and I didn't know why kaya hinila ko nalang si Rem paalis dun.

Nilagyan ng stamp si Rem sa wrist nya bago kami palabasin. Pag ka labas namin dumeretso agad ako papunta sa dagat.

"Dahan dahan lang! Bat nag mamadali ka?" Nag tatakhang tinignan ko sya ng marinig ko yun.

"Rem, you do know how tall you are and that you have longs legs?" Tanong ko.

"I guess? Player nga ko ng basketball e." Sabi nya.

"See? I don't get why you can't catch up to me, a 5'1 woman with short legs, I'm even wearing heels for goodness sake!" I shouted.

"Shh! Ang ingay mo naman pag na lasing..." He said, sighing and scratching his head.

"I'm not drunk!" Inis na bulong ko sakanya.

"Sige, sabi mo e." He said shrugging, smirking at me. If I kiss that damn mouth of yours- nevermind.

We walked until we reached our destination, I sat down in the sand pulling my knees up to my chest. I closed my eyes and just listened to the sound of the soft crashing waves. I felt something warm being put in my back so I opened my eyes and saw Rem putting his Cardigan on me.

"Kanina ka pa nilalamig e." Sabi nya bago ako tabihan sa pag kakaupo ko sa buhangin. I couldn't help but smiled at him.

"Why can't guys be more thoughtful, like you?" Tanong ko, shifting a little para mas maging malapit ako sakanya. He's so warm, just being beside him makes me so comfortable from the warmth.

"Cause they're not me, so they don't really need to be like me. I'm already me. Tsaka sayo lang naman ako ganto..." He shyly looks away which made me smile even more.

"Rem... I,"