Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 11

11
Suspicious

Natalia:
Wala ba kayong motif?

Niko:
None. Feel free to wear the color you want.

I didn't type a reply anymore. Itinago ko na rin ang aking cellphone sa bag at hinarap si Caitlyn. She's busy fiddling on her phone as well. Kanina pa siya naghahanap ng gown na pwede kong suotin sa dadaluhan na pagtitipon. Of course, she had a first-hand experience in a ball at Brent and according to her, it was no joke.

"Can we just get a simple -"

"No," agaran niyang pagputol at itinaas pa ang kamay upang patigilin ako.

Napabuntong hininga ako at nilingon ang buong silid. We're casually hanging out at the guys' hideout in the university. Lucifer and Octavian are quite busy working on their plates. Bahagyang nakakunot-noo pa si Lucifer habang si Octavian ay ngingisi-ngising hinahawi ang kamay ni Lucifer na nakahawak sa lapis.

Napairap ako sa kaniyang kalokohan at saktong nagtama ang aming tingin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at agad naman siyang umupo nang maayos at sumaludo pa.

"What's that?" ani ni Dominic at nagnakaw ng tingin sa ginagawa ng pinsan. "Gowns...?"

"Oo nga! 'Wag kang makulit."

"Para saan 'yan?"

"Para kay Natalia."

Nilingon ako ni Dominic na mukhang may duda pa sa sagot ni Caitlyn. I had no choice but to nod. Namilog naman ang kaniyang mata at 'di kalaunan ay nag-taka rin.

"For what are you gonna wear a gown?"

"I have to attend a ball..." sagot ko.

"A ball?"

"Brent," tipid kong sagot dahil hindi ko rin makayanan ang ideya. Niko should be thankful that he's a close family friend because if not I won't find myself saying 'yes' to it.

"Someone invited you as his date?" Dominic asked, bewildered, "Damn, who's that guy?"

Inismiran ko siya at umiling. Nagulat naman kaming lahat nang tumikhim si Octavian mula sa kaniyang kinauupuan.

"Date?" tanong niya at tumingin sa akin. I couldn't decipher that expression - he looks innocent and just utterly curious.

Prente akong tumango. "A friend asked me to a ball."

Saglit na umuwang ang kaniyang labi na para bang may sasabihin pa pero agad din niya itong tinikom. He looked hesitating. Saglit na tango at ngiti lamang ang nakuha kong sagot mula sa kaniya. Narinig ko ang tawa ni Dominic sa gilid ngunit hindi ko na ito nilingon.

Sometimes I think they have this secret codes to converse. Sa tingin at senyas lamang, mukhang alam na nila ang gustong iparating ng isa't isa.

"I finally saw it!"

Halos lahat kami ay binalingan si Caitlyn. She looked at me with her satisfied eyes and shoved her phone in front of my face. It was a twinkling black long-sleeve gown with a deep v-cut in the chest part. It's a gown made to perfectly hug a woman's body shape.

"That's too -"

"Perfect," she cut me off, "Yes, I know, dear..."

Wala na rin akong nagawa kundi sumang-ayon sa kaniya. She didn't want me to wear something simple. Because she knew how luxurious balls in Brent are. The gown's designer was already contacted and thank God she would be available from 4 PM onwards, just in time for our classes dismissal. Nagdesisyon din na sumama ang apat na lalaki at gumala sa mall kung na saan ang boutique ng designer.