Midnights with Pierce Psyche Esquivel

Chapter 33

I was awakened when I heard a blast of energetic music. Tuluyan akong nagmulat ng mata at nang bumaling ako sa tabi ko ay wala na si Luca.

Napatingin ako sa pintuan at nakitang bukas ito ng kaunti kaya rinig ko ang patugtug na nagmumula marahil sa sala.

Tuluyan akong napatyo at pasuray-suray na lumabas ng silid. I opened my eyes properly and saw Ate Percy and Lucas having a zumba session on the sala.

“Ay, Ma’am good morning po!” Ate Percy stopped dancing while I motioned her to continue her exercise.

“Luto na po pang umagahan, Ma’am.” She added more while dancing.

Tumango ako at napangiti ng makitang sumasabay si Luca sa pinapanood nilang zumba instructor.

Nagpunta ako sa kusina at nagmumug. I could see them from here but I suddenly spit the water in my mouth when I heard a very familiar voice from the speakers.

Hindi nila ako napansin pareho at patuloy silang sumasayaw sa tugtog. Dali-dali akong nagpunas ng kamay at bumalik sa sala para matingnan ang pinapanood nila ng maramdaman ko ang panlalamig ko sa buong katawan ng makompirma kung sino ang sinsundan nila pareho.

At the lowest part of the screen, there I saw a very familiar name with the title of the song.

“Tara Ma’am sabay ka na sa amin. Hit na hit ang bagong kanta ni Pierce sa mga nagzuzumba.” Ate Percy encouraged me.

Unti-unti akong napailing habang nakatutok pa rin ang mata ko sa bandang gilid ng screen. I looked at Luca and fixed my expression, he was still dancing at the beat, oblivious of what I just discovered.

I swallowed hard and went back to the kitchen hesitantly. I stood in front of the sink and looked at Luca. Hindi naman niya siguro malalaman…it’s just a song anyway and Pierce wasn’t even on the screen.

Tama. Wala naman dapat akong ikabahala. It's just a song and nothing else.

I washed my face with cold water but stopped midway again with soap still in my face and hands when I heard Ate Percy scream.

“Baby, siya yung kumanta oh! Pierce pangalan niya tingnan mo ang galing sumayaw!”

Hindi pa ako nakakapag hugas ng mukha at nagmamadali muli akong bumalik sa sala. My hands are full of soap too and I don’t even care if I make a mess on the floor.

And when I saw the screen of the T.V this time, I let out a gasp and looked at Luca immediately who is now looking at Pierce intently on the screen with his lips parted, looking so amazed at what he is seeing.

“Gwapo niya Ma’am no? Crush ko po iyan pati na rin ng dalaga ko sa probinsya.” Ate Percy giggled.

Muling kong binalik ang tingin sa screen.

Pierce was having a dance practice in a studio on the same song that they were dancing a few minutes ago.

I cleared my throat as my eyes fixed on it, when I felt Luca tugging my pyjamas.

“Mama, I wanna learn how to dance just like him.” Sabay turo nito sa screen.

“H-ha?” I absentmindedly asked.

“I wanna learn how to dance just like him, Ma! What's his name again?”

Kaagad akong napapikit ng mariin ng mapagtanto ang sinabi niya.

“Baby, Pierce pangalan, Pierce Psyche. Magaling rin yang kumanta.” Mag pagmamalaki sa boses ni Ate Percy na mas lalong nagpasakit ng ulo ko.

“Hmmm…let me wash myself first.” Iwas ko sa usapan at bumalik kaagad sa lababo na blangko ang isipan.