Huling Sayaw |Song Title: Short Story|

1

It's late at night but I'm still here, completely awake. I can't sleep for so many things running in my mind. Things that I shouldn't be thinking about right now. Things that should be buried six feet under and forgotten. But as the saying goes, it's really hard to forget your first love. It's hard to forget the person that made your heart beat for the first time. The person I first loved.

College is so challenging for me. It's hard but I'm doing my best. It's hard but I always look for things that can make it enjoyable. Even just that little thing that can make me happy and inspired in this challenging life.

"Ayoko na. Ititigil ko na talaga ito. This thesis is wrecking my brain. Oh, English 'yon," sabi niya. Pinatay n'ya ang laptop at nagpapadyak naparng bata. "Hindi ko na alam kung saan pa ako kukuha ng mga RRL na 'yon. Tuyong-tuyo na ang utak ko. Arrghhhhh!!!" Aya complained while messing her hair. She looks crazy at what she's doing to herself but I understand her. I can see how frustrated she was. I am, too. I'm already fucked up but as I have said, I will find that simple thing that can make me happy in this frustrating project.

"Look. Ngayon ka pa talaga mag-give up? Ang dami mo nang pagod na sinayang sa thesis na 'yan tapos igi-give up mo lang." Itinuro ko pa ang laptop niya at ilang print outs na nirerevise n'ya. Napabuntong-hininga siyang tiningnan ang mga iyon. "Look, I'll tell you this. Para may motivation and inspiration ka na tapusin iyan. Think like this. After this thesis, bakasyon na. It means that you can relax all you want. Isiping mo na lang na ang papa rating na bakasyon ay reward mo for all the difficulties and sacrifices you have done."

Napatango-tango siya sa sinabi ko. "Okay. Tama ka d'yan. I can do this. I can finish this," she said, encouraging herself. I tapped her shoulder and nodded at her, smiling.

"By the way, hindi ako makakasabay sa 'yo mamaya. May dance practice kami at hindi ko alam kung anong oras ang tapos. At may bagong member rin kami," sabi ko habang iniimis ang gamit ko.

"Really?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. "Magbabakasyon na pero nagte-training pa rin kayo? And who the hell will join a club at the end of the semester? You fvking kidding. Saan ba kayo magpe-perform?" I shrugged. She snorted and rolled her eyes at me.

"Hindi ko alam. Hahaha," I said, laughing. I really don't know when and where we will perform. I was late for the meeting last time so I didn't know and I still haven't asked my teammates.

"Crazy," she said laughing. "Sige na, Mauna na ako sa 'yo. Punta ka akong library," paalam niya.

We have different rooms because we are taking different courses. I'm taking architecture while she's taking a business ad. We're already in our 3rd year and we've been best friends for 3 years. I'm so happy to be her friend.

After class, I went to the gym because that's where we practiced. There are no people yet but the speaker we are using is already there. It's 4 o'clock and maybe they are here at five. I think some of them have a class until five o'clock. I open the speaker and connect the bluetooth in my phone. I started dancing with the music.

Dancing is one of my passions. One of the things that can wipe out my stress. One of the things that I use to remove the negative vibes. I'm part of the dance team when I'm in high school and I continue it until now I'm in college. I'm enjoying it and my parents are supporting me with it.

A's Dance Group is the name of our team. They are fun to be with and I really like to stay in this club. I gracefully move with the music. I give passion on every move I make.

Habang sumasayaw, someone joined me. I look. I look at him but his not familiar. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagsasayaw at siya rin. Sumaway kami na para bang iisa lang ang galaw namin. Para bang kaytagal na naming nagpractice ng sayaw na ito but the truth is, we only dance together at this moment. Sumayaw lang kami hanggang sa matapos ang kanta. I looked into his eyes and at that very moment I felt a strange thing inside me.

I looked at him. He's handsome and tall. He's not familiar with me. "Kendrick Martirez. 3rd year, AB PolSci," he introduced himself.

"Azra Jimenez. 3rd year, BS Architecture," I also introduced myself. At that time, I couldn't stop staring at him while my heart raced, especially when our eyes met. He is so handsome that I can't stop myself being attracted to him.

Simula noon naging magkaibigan kami. Halos palagi na kaming magkasama at minsan lumalabas kaming dalawa. Madalas kaming nagkakasama dahil halos pareho lang ang schedule namin. Masaya siyang kasama kaya palagay talaga ang loob ko sa kaniya. Mas madalas ko pa nga siyang nakakasama kaysa kay Aya.

"Anong meron sa inyo ni Kendrick? Lagi na lang kayong magkasama. Kakilala n'yo pa lang pero para bang sya pa 'yong best friend mo. Ni hindi mo nga naalala na friendsary natin last Tuesday," she said one afternoon while we were having lunch. Garalgal na ang boses n'ya at namumula na ang mga mata n'ya. I suddenly feel guilty. "Boyfriend mo na ba siya?"

"No," I denied. We're just friends.

"Pero hindi iyon ang nakikita ko. Hindi iyon ang nakikita ng lahat. Lagi kayong magkasama na akala n'yo magjowa kayo. Because of him, you forgot about me. Nakakasama lang kita kapag hindi s'ya available. I'm not a jealous type of friend but you make me feel left out since he came." She wiped out the tears that fell on her cheeks. I bite my lips. Unti-unti na nang namamasa ang mga mata. Hindi ko alam na ganito na pala ang nafe-feel n'ya. Ang bigay sa dibdib na ako nasisiyahan Kasama si Kendrick tapos ganito na pala ang kaibigan ko. Ang best friend ko.

"Whenever we meet, you always talk about him. How was your day with him. How he makes you happy. I'm not asking for your whole time because I know I'm just your friend... But when he came, I felt like I lost you. I felt like you dumped me. And it hurts like hell."

♈♈♈