Sway Along The Waves (Bellariva Series #1)

Chapter 30

"Let's all welcome with a loud round of applause all the candidates for our Ms. Queen of the Night and Mr. King of the Night!"

Malakas na hiyawan ang sumunod pagkatapos ng announcement na iyon. The crowd is too loud. I couldn't even hear my own thoughts.

I proceed forward with my other fellow candidates. Nanginginig pa ang labi ko sa malawak nitong pagkakangiti. Dahan-dahan at buong ingat ang bawat hakbang ko sa pagrampa. Sa isip ko, hinihiling kong sana'y matapos na ito.

Isang beses lang naman ang pinagawa sa aming pagrampa. Pagkatapos no'n ay pinababa na kami. I let out a big sigh of relief after surviving that. Sinalubong ako ni Chino sa baba ng stage. Nakahawak siya sa kamay ko bilang alalay hanggang sa makabalik kami sa kanina naming lamesa. Sari-saring komento ang natanggap ko mula sa mga kaklase at kaibigan. Ganoon din sa adviser kong kinongrats ako kahit wala pa namang announcement ng panalo.

The party continued smoothly. Hindi ako nagpa-unlak ng sayaw sa iba maliban kay Chino at Torren. Pinanonood ako ni Emman sa buong oras ng party. Wala si Reniel, kaya ako ang pinagkakaabalahan niyang bigyan ng atensyon. Kalagitnaan ng party ay puro K-pop songs na ang pinatutugtog ng DJ. It causes the crowd to go wild. I have Chino and Linsey with me the whole time of the party, singing along with the songs and yelling their foreign lyrics, even though we don't even understand what they mean.

We took lots of pictures together. Chino insists on me doing solo poses, which I oblige. Marami siyang kuha sa akin. Madalas ay mga candid shots. Kung hindi lang nagkaroon ng announcement para sa awarding of Ms. Queen and Mr. King of the Night, baka hindi na kami natapos doon.

Bumalik ako sa stage kasama ang iba pang mga candidates. We are lined up straight with our partners. I keep my composure even though I know I won't get any awards.

"Let's first announce the best gown tonight-but, oh, it seems like the judges have read each other's minds, huh?"

Ngumisi ang host nang lingunin ako nito. Sakto pang nakatingin ako sa kanya. I immediately looked away from her. Inilipat ko ang paningin ko sa baba ng stage. Agaw atensyon doon ang pagchi-cheer sa akin ni Chino. He's screaming my name out loud with a banner in his hands where my name in a beautiful calligraphy was written. Instead of feeling embarrassed, I find him funny because of it.

Kasama ni Chino sa lamesa sina Emman, Torren at Ramiel. I saw Torren mouthing congrats many times. When he saw me looking at him, he gave me a thumbs up. I just smiled at him in return.

"I will simultaneously announce the best gown, Ms. Face of the Night, as well as the Ms. Queen of the Night since only one candidate won all these awards," the host said.

An intense background drumbeat played. Nasundan iyon ng malakas na kabog ng dibdib ko nang tawagin ng host ang pangalan ko. It was then followed again by the loud claps from the audience. The host called my name twice, as I was still in shock from what was happening around me.

Dumako ang paningin ko sa baba ng stage. I saw my brother smirking while clapping with his friends. Lumapit sa akin ang isang escort para alalayan ako sa paghakbang papunta sa harap. Ngiting-ngiti ako nang tanggapin ang bouquet ng roses mula sa isang judge matapos nitong isuot sa akin ang tatlong sash ng mga awards. Our SSG President was the one who wore me the crown.

Nakahawak ang isang kamay ko sa aking dibdib; nalulula pa rin sa naging pagkapanalo. The flashes from cameras didn't stop after that. Ilang picture taking ang nangyari kasama ang mga school faculties, ang nanalong Mr. King of the Night, Mr. Face of the Night at iba pang mga candidates.

After I got off the stage, I was greeted by a series of congratulations from my acquaintances and friends. Hindi ko sila magawang balingan isa-isa para pasalamatan lahat. I was asked to have a dance with the Mr. King of the night. I don't have any reasons to decline it though, since it's really required as we are the stars of tonight's party.

"We don't have to finish the song if you're not comfortable dancing with me," Keeno told me. He's the winner of Mr. King of the Night and is from 12-STEM. I know his name since he's a close friend of my crush. "I'm Keeno Henson, by the way. Vienna? Can I call you by your first name?"

Tumigil kami sa paglalakad nang marating na namin ang gitna ng dance floor. Kaming dalawa lang ang naroon. I smiled shyly when I faced him.

"Sure, Keeno." I nodded at him.

Maingat na naglapat ang palad niya sa magkabilang baywang ko. Ganoon din ang mga braso ko sa balikat niya. A sweet OPM song continues to play.

"Dapat rock song na lang," natatawang biro niya.

Nailing na lang ako, natatawa rin. Kagaya ng sinabi niya, hindi namin pinatapos ang kanta. He insists on taking me back to my table, so I agreed. Emman met me halfway and took me back to the dance floor again. Kaming dalawa naman ang sunod na nagsayaw. I keep teasing him because I was the only girl he danced with tonight. Buti pa ang isang 'to, kahit hindi nakaharap si Reniel ay nananatiling loyal.

Pagkatapos ng kapatid ko, niyaya rin akong sumayaw ni Ramiel. Sakto pang napalitan nga ng rock song ang kanta nang kami na ang sumasayaw. Mas naaliw tuloy ako sa kanya. Ramiel is just naturally funny. I admire how he managed to get along with Emman despite his cold attitude.

Mag-ha-hating gabi na nang matapos ang prom. Kasabay namin ni Chino na lumabas ng hall ang kapatid ko kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. In my mind, I was recalling everything that happened tonight. Indeed, I enjoyed it. Mas na-enjoy ko ito kumpara noong nakaraang taon.

"Mauna ka nang umuwi. Ida-daan ko pa pa-uwi si Torren at Ramiel," bilin sa akin ni Emman nang makalapit na kami sa sasakyan kung saan nagghihintay sa akin si Gregoire.

Sumipol si Ramiel. "Para mo naman kaming chix, pre," tatawa-tawang sabi niya.

Emman glared at him, not bothering to respond. Matapos akong halikan sa noo ay nauna na siyang pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan. Agad sumunod sa kanya si Ramiel. Naiwan si Torren na titig pa sa akin.

"Good night, Vienna. Mag-ingat kayo sa pag-uwi," he smiled heartily at me.

I smiled back at him. "Yeah, kayo din."

Naramdaman ko ang mahinang pagkurot ni Chino sa tagiliran ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Nang lingunin ko siya, nang-iintriga na ang tingin niya.

"Naapakan ko na buhok mo. Hays, Vienna Bellariva nga naman," humalakhak siya ng malakas. Mabuti na lang ay nakapasok na si Torren sa loob ng sasakyan. "Nanliligaw ba siya sayo?"

"Hindi, 'no! Tumigil ka nga!" Tanggi ko.

Hindi siya naging kumbinsido sa naging sagot ko sa kanya. Gayunpaman, hindi ko na hinayaang makaulit pa siya ng tanong. Pinanood namin ang papaalis na sasakyan ng kapatid ko. Sakto naman doon ang pagdating ni Linsey. She asked me earlier if she could go home with me because no one is available to pick her up. It's fine with me since her house is just near Chino's subdivision.

"Vienna, sorry, ngayon lang. Nagpaalam pa ako sa mga kaibigan ko," paumanhin niya.

"It's okay. Tara na ba?" I asked.

Napalingon ako sa likod niya nang mapansing may kasama pa pala siya. My eyes widened after getting a closer view of the man she's with. Yael Winston... It was Yael Winston Le Roux! Diretso ang titig sa akin ng madilim na pares ng kanyang mga mata. His stare made me freeze where I was standing. It made me shiver too.

"Vienna, si Yael nga pala. May ibabalik raw siyang gamit sayo," si Linsey na hindi ko man lang magawang tapunan ng tingin.

Hindi ko siya nakita kanina. Akala ko ay hindi siya pumunta. He's wearing a black turtleneck covered by a pink blazer. Umaabot sa kilay niya ang kanyang bangs. Kaunti na lang ay matatakpan na no'n ang mga mata niya. I was shamelessly checking him out for a minute or two before my thoughts went back to reality because of his deep, bedroom-like voice.

"Is this yours?" he asked as he handed me a single pair of earrings.

Agad kong kinapa ang tainga ko. Napatakip ako sa bibig nang ma-realized na akin nga iyon. Nanginginig ang kamay ko nang kunin ko mula sa kanya ang earrings. I can't look directly into his eyes. He's intimidating. His presence is too much. My lips couldn't even form a word to thank him. Si Chino pa ang gumawa no'n para sa akin.

"Salamat, pre. Sa'n mo nahanap?" Pang-uusisa niya.

"Somewhere," Yael answered shortly.

Walang ano-ano'y tinalikuran niya na kami matapos no'n. Mabilis ang naging pagsisisi ko. Hindi ko man lang siya pinansin! Tuloy ay mas naging maugong ang pang-aasar sa akin ni Chino. Pa-uwi ay puro iyon na ang bukambibig niya. Pati tuloy si Linsey, nalaman na crush ko iyon!

I couldn't deny it though. Masyado raw halata ang pagb-blush ko kanina.

"Wala ka pala, e! Crush mo lang sa salita. Tiklop ka kapag harapan na," aniya.

Masama ang loob ko nang makauwi na sa mansion. I didn't expect that Nanay Isidora was still awake when I went home. Hinatidan niya ako ng gatas sa kwarto ko. She asked me about what happened at the prom and if I had enjoyed myself there. Her questions excite me to tell her everything about what happened tonight, even that last-minute scenario that disappoints me.

Nanay Isidora really reminds me of Mama. Ganitong-ganito si Mama sa akin. Sobra ko iyong nami-miss.

The next day, I decided to visit Mama in the cemetery. Hindi na ako magiging abala pa sa mga school work since graduation practice na lang kami next week. I was wondering if Kier regretted that he allowed me to quit homeschooling and go back to studying in face-to-face classes. Iyon kasi ang naging isang dahilan kung bakit naisip kong mag-aral sa ibang bansa.

Bumuntong-hininga ako pagka-upo ko sa tuyong bermuda kung saan ang puntod ni Mama. Pinalitan ko ng bago ang mga bulaklak na nadatnan kong naroon. Hindi pa naman iyon mukhang nalanta. Siguro ay dala ng naunang bumisita.

'Di kalayuan sa pwesto ko ay natatanaw ko si Gregoire na matamang pinapanood ako. Tila siya hindi kumukurap, takot na mawala niya ako sa sakop ng paningin niya.

Ibinalik ko ang atensyon sa pagsi-sindi ng kandila. Mahangin kaya namamatay lang din iyon. Nang mapagod sa ginagawa ay tumigil ako. I sighed again as I reached Mama's tombstone.

"I miss you so much. I hope you're doing okay up there," I whispered in the air. "Bakit pakiramdam ko, makikita pa rin kita? Bakit naghihintay pa rin ako sayo, Ma?"

Nanubig ang mga mata ko sa dalawang tanong na iyon. My chest is no longer as heavy as before, yet it still hurts. It hurts me so much.

Every day, I am writing a letter for her. Even though I know, there's not even a single chance that she can read it. Totoo nga ang sabi nila. There's no healing after losing a parent. May mga panahong hindi ko namamalayan na okay ako, pero nandoon pa rin ang kakulangan.

I just wished for those who still has their parents with them: while you still have the chance, please show them the love they deserve to have. We may not all have the same views in life, especially because of different family situations, but I hope you still have the kind of heart that expresses kindness and love for your parents and for your family.

May mga panahong binubulag tayo ng galit dahil sa mga bagay na kinaiinggit natin sa mga bagay na meron ang iba na hindi nila kayang ibigay sa atin. Ang totoo niyan, ang mga magulang, ginagawa nila ang lahat para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang mga anak. For them to have better lives. The fact that you're living today, having three meals a day, going home safe, dressing up well and breathing free is already enough to consider yourself as someone who's blessed.

Please love your parents. Tell them you love them. Don't be shy about giving them a kiss or a hug. While you're still lucky enough to do it, please do. These are the things I had no chance to do for my mother before she passed away. Hanggang sulat na lang ako. Sulat na hindi niya naman mababasa kahit kailan.

There's this feeling that she's still here. I always feel like I am still able to talk to her in time. The reason why I always wait. It hurts to wait for someone who's not coming back anymore. The hope is high, so I can't stop.

Masyadong emosyonal ang pagdalaw ko kay Mama. Ilang oras din akong nanatili roon, pinapatahan ang sariling umiyak. After that, I also passed by the graves of my real parents. Hindi na ako masyadong nagtagal pa roon dahil ayokong gabihin kami sa daan.

When I went home, I was surprised to see Kier waiting for me in my study room. Takot pa ako noong una lalo pa't ilang araw niya na rin akong hindi kinikibo. I only felt relief when he finally told me his real motif.

"Let's discuss about your transferring schools abroad," he said.