THE WEDDING DRESS

17. Promenade

JS Prom

St. Francis Academy

February 14, 2000

"Hello." A rather irritated voice greets me on the other line.

Napabuntong hininga ako. "Where are you?"

"In my room. Why?" Mukhang walang idea sa pinaguusapan namin 'tong kausap ko. Tsk. >__<

"What?! Don't tell me nakalimutan mo?!" Galit na ako.

"What is it?"

Napanganga nalang ako. How can he forgot?

Tonight is our prom and Heins is supposed to be my escort. I did everything for him to be my escort. Pinaglaban ko sa school na payagan ang outsider. Pinaliwanag ko pa sa administrasyon na statistically imposibleng lahat ay may makapareha dahil hindi naman equal ang boys and girls. Syempre mas marami ang girls tapos ang dami pang bading. Paano naman yung mga mauubusan? Girl to girl nalang ganun?

Buti nalang may utak naman pala sila kahit papano. Pumayag. The next thing is, ang pilitin si Heins na maging escort ko which is super.. very.. extremely difficult face-thickening task. Nagmakaawa ako sa kanya. Sinabi ko nalang na naubusan na ako ng lalaki dahil choosy ako. Hindi sya naniwala. Nilaet-lait nya ako kesyo wala daw matinong lalaki ang isasayaw ako, wala daw magtatangka and he even gave me some advice.

Advice #1

"Go find some farsighted boys, their vision is better for distant objects only. Maganda ka naman sa malayo."

Tinitigan ko lang sya. Nagtitimpi. =____=

Advice #2

"Use your connections and suggest a masquerade theme so hindi mo na poproblemahin ang malapitan if you can't find a farsighted guy."

>_______,< Sasabog na talaga ako.

Sincere na sincere pa talaga yung pagkakasabi nya nun na para bang isang payo mula sa isang eksperto. I swear kung may access lang ako sa tinidor nung time na yon tiniridor ko na naman sya o kahit anong weapon basta mapatay ko sya nang matapos na ang kabaliwan ko. Syempre drama ko lang yan life without Heins is not living at all. Chos!

"Abrakadabra what is it?" Heins interrupts my reverie.

"Valentine's Day ngayon." Malamig kong sagot.

I hear a short laugh on the oher line. "Well, Happy Valentine then."

"Prom namin ngayon!"

"Oh. You don't have an escort?" Nagtanong pa sya.

"You promised me!"

"Did I?"

Silence. Tears run down my pretty face. Oh my make up!

Maingat kong pinahid ang mga luha sa aking pisngi. Ansaket. But then, like the desperate I am, I say instead. "You still can go. Hihintayin kita.."

I bite my lower lip hoping the pain from it can cover the pain in my heart. Wala talaga akong halaga sa kanya..

"Where's the farsighted guys?" I roll my eyes, the Abba way. He still has the face to ridicule me?

"You said you'll come.." I say, ignoring his teasing.

"I can't. I'm sorry, I thought I made it clear to you that I won't be your escort."

I really hate his being so straighforward and direct. It hurts, really. Buti nalang makapal ang balat ko. "May amnesia ka ba? Kasasabi mo lang nung isang araw February 12 Sabado alas cuatro y media ng hapon sa harap ng rebolto ni Rizal sa basketball court sa may plaza! Ano naalala mo na?"