ZIGGY IS BACK

(ZIG'S POV)

"Ma'am, thank you for approving my vacation leave." I smile at her with a slight bow to show respect (before I go out of the HRD office. I grin from ear to ear, looking at the piece of paper in my hand excitedly. It's a confirmation for a leave of absence, and I'm so glad that they granted me this request even though It's not been long since I started my work as bellboy of this hotel-resort.

I go straight home after my '10 pm to 6 am' shift. I still need to prepare my pack for a few days of vacation to my favorite place and see my favorite person again. I pack two pairs of changing clothes and my costume. One of my most important reasons to apply for this vacation leave is the festival and to once again fulfill another promise. Cloe and I promised always to do the finale dance. We have already practiced the steps for years now and will always dance for the finale. We both are familiar with most all the ballroom dances since we're in middle age, and I'm sure, even though we haven't rehearsed, we can always go well.

I check my bag before going out. I made sure that I did not forget the little red box, a little surprise for Cloe. I've been hiding this after I bought it with my first salary. Hopefully, this apology gift is enough, for she's probably pretty mad after not contacting her. I'm also hoping that she will understand and accept my reasons. I open the box unveiling a thin silver chain necklace with a silver letter pendant of ZC inside a heart. It's not that expensive and maybe even has lesser value than my previous gift on special occasions. But this is the first gift that I'm so proud of; it's from my own sweat and not from my allowance that dad sent for me.

*****

Before I embark, I drop by the nearby delicacy store to buy some 'Kalamay sa bagul". Our place's known delicacy made of grind sticky rice reduced with coconut milk and powdered molasses to become a sticky, jelly-like dessert, put inside a coconut shell. It's Cloe's mom's favorite.

I shake my head as I beam unreasonably while sitting in the terminal. The boat will go offshore by three in the afternoon. I still have an hour or two to wait. I am just too excited to arrive this early. I smile again, picturing how Cloe would react to see me. I always love to surprise her. The way she looks with such an expression is invigorating.

It's finally time, the crew is now in his place to collect the ticket, and slowly, passengers are starting to line up.

*****

I arrive at my old folk home just before dinner. My aunt is surprised to see me, but she with my little cousins are happily giving their welcoming hug to me as always, every time I'm back.

"I know where you're about to go now, but Ziggy, I won't allow this time for you not to join us for supper. You can go to Cloe's after eating, okay?" She surely knows me well. Every time I arrive from Bohol, I'm always too excited and go straight to Cloe's after putting the bag in my room, so now I can't blame her for stopping me this time.

Over dinner, my aunt asks a lot about my mom, my dad, about our present situation, especially with the dilemma our family is facing right now.

I offer to do the dishes after supper; my aunt can take an early rest. It's fine since I still have almost an hour before the festival program starts. I dressed up and went straight to the village hall for the event. On my halfway there, I remember the red box, my surprise for Cloe. I go my way back with haste, knowing that the program has surely started by this time.

I check inside my bag, but it's not there; I crawl to the adjacent floor to find it, maybe it falls, when I take out my cloth. It takes me a while to find it, but glad that I finally did. I open the box again to check if what's inside is still safe and in place. I smile with satisfaction and relief as I see it's fine. After ascertaining, I rushed through the venue because it took me too much time to look for the box and possibly be late. If I can reach them before the finale, I can still pursue Cloe to present. Since I know, she will not do it without me.

I reached the village hall with the tone of 'Michael Buble's Sway' overpowering the audience's clamor. On the stage, the spotlight is focusing on the two figures moving gracefully, dancing with the perfect cadence of the music. My knees weaken with the sight of Cloe. She looks perfect with her neatly tied hair in a bun. Her face is expressive with her every move and is seductive; the way she wiggles her hips is deliberately enhanced with the glittery tassel backless dress that swings together with her every movement. The man, her partner, who is he? I've never seen him before. He doesn't look bad himself, but he doesn't move like a dance instructor either. I hate how lecherous he looks at her. But it's my fault, and why I haven't perceived that she definitely will find a way for the program's success, she is always responsible and committed. Of course, she would find another partner since she's not expecting me here.

My head suddenly feels heavy to almost numb, as it seems that my blood flow rises after I watched their dance presentation end with a ... dance dip and a kiss. Did he kiss her?

I am fixed to the spot long enough that I know I need to compose myself. I can't control the pace of my heartbeat, I can feel my fist clenching, and I need to open my mouth and gasp for air. Why did he kiss her? Why did he kiss her?

I need to go out from there to gain stability. I found myself in a shady part behind the gym and lay my back in the wall, for it seems my knees weaken, and I'm losing my strength. A two figure appears not far from me. They didn't notice me since it's dim and indistinct. It's Cloe and that man, her dance partner. They laugh while holding each other's hands.

"Woohoo, we made it; thank you so much, Bree. I couldn't do it without you. You're such a savior." With a shrill, Cloe is hopping happily like a kid and finally jumps to hug him.

"Of course, there's nothing else I wouldn't do for the only sunshine of my life." He raises Cloe's hand and guides her to an underarm turn and pulls her, her body pressed on his, and he kisses her again.

I can hear my gritting teeth and feel a little pain in my palm as I'm gripping hard to that red box with Cloe's necklace inside it. Yes, my palm feels pain, but it can't overwhelm the pain inside this stupid chest. Everything seems to turn dark from my view. I can feel my blood rises, burning my face.

That I unwittingly advanced to them and shouted Cloe's name, they abruptly released each other after they discerned me. But before another second came, I already swayed my clenching fist straight to his face.