Chapter 5

"Perfect! You look so gorgeous, Shara. Ang galing ko talaga mag-makeup."

I look at my reflection in the mirror after she finished putting something on my face. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang sarili kong mukha. Anong klaseng orasyon ba ang ginawa niya at nagkaganito ang itsura ko?!

"Jusme! Ako pa ba 'to?! My goodness Maureen, what did you do to me?" Hinawakan ko ang buong mukha ko pero pinalo niya ako dahil baka matanggal daw ang makeup ko. 

Like duh. Ang kapal kaya nang pagkakalagay niya. I even told her to apply a light makeup but she didn't listen to me. Bruha talaga! 

"Ayaw mo no'n?! Guys will approach you and will ask you to be their partner? Ganda mo kaya," sambit niya at inayos ang kulot kong buhok. 

I don't know what's with her and she even changed the style of my hair. According to her, it suits me well since I'm wearing a makeup and a gown. Bagay daw naman sa'kin kase maganda raw ako at babagay kahit anong istilo ng buhok ko. 

"I don't like attentions, Mau. At saka nakakahiya kaya kung nasa akin ang atensyon nila. The section A will probably kill me because I got everyone's attention," I rolled my eyes, still looking at my outfit today. 

I'm not really sure about this. Ugh.

Umupo muna ako sa gilid para panoorin siyang mag-ayos ng sarili niya. She's wearing a beige V-neck gown that reveals her sama ng loob. Char. May boobs din naman siya, maliit nga lang. Her blond hair is tied on a bun that made her more elegant. She really knows how to dress up herself like a real model. Lalo na siguro kung tapos na siyang maglagay ng makeup. Matatalbugan niya talaga ang lahat ng babae sa Bannister Academy.

I looked at the clock in the wall of her room and it's already past 8:00 in the morning. Students were probably in the school right now. Maraming pagkain do'n eh, sana pwedeng magbalot ng isang plastic para kina Mama at Papa. Joke. 

"Gosh! Tara na, baka mahuli pa tayo. Wait... use my white sling bag para bumagay sa suot mo. Dali na!" Hinatak niya ang kamay ko kaya muntik na akong matapilok. 

"Aray ha! Kung makahila ka para namang baka ako. And just to tell you, I don't need that one. May bag naman ako oh, tingnan mo." Pinakita ko pa sa kanya ang Jansport kong bag na binili ko sa divisoria. I barely use it because it's just for special occasions. 

She rolled her eyes on me, looking so irritated."Seriously?! Hindi naman tayo papasok sa eskwela, Shara. We're going to attend a very special event so might as well use this. Kaloka neto!"

"Wait lang, Mau. Can you help me na maglakad papunta sa car mo? I couldn't walk properly because of my long gown and this heels that I don't know how to use." Pilit kong maglakad bitbit ang mamahaling sling bag niya habang nakahawak ang isang kamay sa laylayan ng gown ko para makalakad ako nang maayos. 

"Shocks! Dapat kang matuto sa mga ganyan, bess. Just walk normal and chill, trust me. You can do it, aja!" 

"How could I? Ngayon nga lang ako nakapagsuot ng ganito eh. I might fall in the ground in the hallway and students will laugh at me. It's embarrassing." Nagpapadyak padyak pa ako nang mahina dahil baka matumba ako. 

Could someone please tell me why did I agree on this situation?!

I was just playing with my fingers while taking a glance outside. Mau was driving the car while I'm sitting beside her, nervous. Masisisi niyo ba ako kung ganito ang nararamdaman ko ngayon?! Ever since the first year, I haven't tried wearing this kind if outfit, never in my whole life. Kapag kase mga ganitong event na, hindi ako nagpa-participate masyado. Like, I just attend for my grades but I never did join their activities. Ang suot ko naman ay mga simple lang, jeans, white t-shirt, at saka sapatos. Wala naman kase akong hilig sa mga arte arte na 'yan kaya hindi na ako nag-abala pa.

Si Maureen naman, bestfriend ko siya simula elementary. Lahat nang baho namin sa isa't isa alam namin, pati nga mga problema sa buhay. She convinced me thrice to wear something adorable so that people would like me. But me, being myself, doesn't matter what people says. Ngayon lang ako napasubok sa ganito dahil napapayag niya ako. Her reason is that it's already our last year as a highschool student so we better enjoy it. Nag-eenjoy naman ako eh kahit hindi ako magsuot ng ganito. 

"We're here, Shara my bessy. Prepare yourself, we're going to the auditorium first to sign in," sambit niya at lumabas agad kaya napalabas na rin ako. 

There were a few students here in the parking lot, kakarating lang din siguro. We caught their attention and whispered something to each other. Bumaba tuloy ang self-esteem ko sa pag-iisip na baka panget ang itsura ko. 

"'Wag nalang kaya ako tumuloy, bess. Ikaw nalang tutal maganda ka naman at may confidence pa. I don't think if I could stand being like this in front of many students," mahina kong sagot sa kanya na ikinakunot ng noo niya. 

"What are you talking about?! Walang aatras, sayang ang efforts ko sa'yo ah. Let's go, akong bahala sa'yo." Hinila niya na ako nang dahan dahan kaya wala akong nagawa at sumunod na lang. 

I focused on the way, didn't bother to take a look at them. Bakit ba kase kailangan pang sa auditorium mag-sign in eh pwede namang sa gate na lang. Nakakaasar! 

Mas lalo pang umurong ang katawan ko ng makita ang napakaraming estudyante sa labas ng auditorium. If they were here, maybe the auditorium was already full. Gad! I couldn't stand here any longer. Ayoko pa naman sa itsura ko ngayon, wah! 

When we walked inside, they were staring on us as what I've expected. Hindi rin naman ako feeler kaya baka si Mau talaga ang tinitingnan nila. Right. She's so beautiful and sexy so they might stare at her. Asa namang sa'kin eh kahit nga ako walang tiwala sa sarili ko. 

"Ikaw na bess. Just write your name and section then your thumb mark." Tinapik niya ang balikat ko at gumilid muna dahil may mga nakasunod pa sa'kin. 

"You're so gorgeous today, Shara. Never expected that you'll wear a gown today."

Akmang aalis ako pagkatapos kong maglagay ng thumb mark nang biglang magsalita ang lalaking nasa harap ko. My eyes widened when I saw Racer in front of me. He's wearing a white polo and a gray blazer on top of it. I didn't noticed him earlier because I never raised my head to take a glance on the students around me. Nakakahiya nga! 

"H-Ha? T-Thank you," I gave him a light smike before walking towards Mau and grabbed her hand, walking away. 

"Wait nga lang, may hinahanap pa ako. We need to be in our section so that President Jelo could sign our attendance. May name calling sa section natin bess."

Instead of answering her, I just kept quiet because I saw some students looking at my outfit. Feeling ko pinandidirian ako ng mga estudyante rito. Seems like I don't belong to them. Pero mas mabuti na rin siguro 'to kaysa natuloy ang pagsuot ko ng jeans at shirt. Baka hindi pa ako nakapasok ng gate, pagtawanan na nila ako. 

"Uy, si Maureen nandito na. Look oh, sino 'yang kasama niya?"

Kung hindi lang siguro maraming tao dito, baka kanina ko pa kinaltukan si Fiona. Is she acting that she doesn't know me?! 

"Ay shet! Ang ganda niya naman, para siyang model," dagdag naman ni Roses. 

I just rolled my eyes on them."Gaga kayo! Shocking effect lang ganern?! Af if naman ang ganda talaga ng itsura ko eh pinagbubulungan nga ako ng mga estudyante."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nila at nagmamadaling lumapit sa'kin. They kept on asking me if it's really me. Nagulat daw sila dahil ang ganda ganda ko ngayon kaya grabe kung makatitig ang lahat sa'kin. I let out a sigh after knowing that my posture wasn't bad after all. Hindi naman sa nagdadalawang isip ako sa kakayahan ni Mau sa ginawa niya sa'kin. What I'm thinking earlier is that it might not suits me better. 

They stopped torturing me when the Trio just arrived in the entrance of the auditorium. As usual, students were screaming because the heartthrobs arrived. Naka-serious reaction lang si Caseth tapos si Ziro naman ay ngumitingiti lang habang si Hades at todo kaway sa mga estudyante na nadadaanan nila. Parehas talaga sila ng suot dahil nga isang grupo sila. 

Seems like they were in the highest position because everytime they stepped on the carpet, everyone would step aside. Pati rin 'yong mga bagong dating lang ay tumabi para paunahin silang mag-sign in sa logbook. Sakto namang dumating ang principal, teachers, at 'yong taga-section A na magho-host sa stage. 

After the opening of the event, the teachers gave a little announcement kung ano ang mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin. Nang in-anounce na kakain na ay agad nagsitayuan ang lahat pumunta sa gitna ng ground dahil nando'n ang party. Our whole section occupied the whole long table since every section ay naatasan na magsalo sa isahang table. 

I was about to eat my food when I felt someone who's staring at me. Binaba ko ang kutsara ko at nag-angat ng tingin. There, I saw Caseth in the other table next to us, looking intently at me. My brows furrowed and looked at my back, baka sakaling may tao sa likod ko. May mga babae pa lang tumitili sa kanya kaya baka sila ang tinitingnan niya. I just shrugged my shoulders and eat my food because I'm really while listening to the announcements earlier. 

"Uy, binago na naman pala 'yong rules, 'no?" biglang sambit ni Lorie at binigyan ako ng desserts. 

"Oo nga. Sana lang ako talaga ang mabunot ni Ziro dahil best dream ever talaga kapag nangyari 'yon," singit naman ni Mau na kakarating lang, bringing some muffins on her plate. Patay gutom talaga, hmp. 

"Ikaw ba Shara? Who do you think in the section A will get your name? Ang gu-gwapo pa naman ng mga nando'n." Umupo si Roses sa kabilang side ko at naglapag ng isang platong lechon paksiw. 

Jesus! Mauubos niya ba ang lahat ng 'yan?! 

I shook my head and continued eating."Ewan, bahala na kung sino. Besides, I won't bother to dance with him whoever he is. Umattend lang talaga ako para sa grades, wala naman akong planong makipagsayaw. I don't even know how."

"Gagahan lang?! Sayang ang makeup mo ghorl. Ako nga kapag may fafa na nag-aya sa'kin, syempre gora si ako," malanding saad naman ni Kyla habang pakembot kembot pa na naglakad patungo sa upuan niya. 

"Eh hind---"

"So now, we're going to start the dancing contest. May premyo ang mananalo ng King and Queen of the Night kaya ano pang hinihintay niyo? Boys, pick your partner in the box," biglang nagsalita ang host kaya naghiyawan ang lahat. I didn't even finished my words. 

While me? I almost die in nervous. Sino namang alien ang mapupunta sa'kin?! Diyos ko naman! 

"Alright! Girls, scatter in the middle of the ground and wait for someone to ask you for a dance," dagdag pa ng host kaya wala akong nagawa kundi makisama nalang. 

I was separated on my friends and I don't know where are they. I saw some of them were already dancing with their chosen girl. Nakaka-out of place tuloy dahil nag-iisa lang akong nakatayo dito sa gitna. Haist. I just hope that no one picked my name or else I'm doomed. Hindi nga kase talaga ako marunong magsayaw eh!

"Seems like you're going to be my partner tonight."

I froze after hearing his voice. A-Ano daw? I slowly turned around, nervously. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako.

"W-What did you just say? Namali lang naman siguro ako ng dinig 'di ba?" I asked him, feeling so uneasy. 

He smirked and let me saw the paper he was holding."You don't misheard it, panget. Akalain mo 'yon, ako ang nakabunot sa pangalan mo."

I looked at Caseth, still processing those words coming from him. Hinablot ko pa nga sa kanya ang papel para tingnang mabuti ang pangalan pero nabigo ako. No matter how I reread it, nothing changed. It's me, his partner. 

"Susmaryosep!" bulong ko na lang. 

"By the way, you look so stunning tonight. Can we have a dance?" He held his hand in front of me and I don't know what to say. 

This is just a dream right?!