TINA
An acoustic band was setup at the middle as the dinner was cleared from the tables. My dress tightened, especially at the center and I felt sleepy. Finally, the travel and the other activities I engaged myself into for the day has finally accounted for. I was feeling exhausted. I wanted to sleep.
But the night wasn’t over. Or so what the host said on the microphone.
“what a pleasant evening to all. I hope everyone’s having a blast! Hold on to that… as we aren’t over. We’ve invited someone to serenade you tonight. Welcome and have a great time at our report.”
It was a short speech, followed by a half-hearted applause from the audience. I bet I wasn’t the only one who wants to get this over with. And it is justified anyway. It’s late now. Maybe past 10 pm if I have a wrist watch to check.
“..and now we dance?” – EJ commented. Same as me, he’s also not a fan of dancing
“or we can just stay here and judge people who have the same left feet.” – I suggested
EJ shrugged. Sir Jiego was texting someone with his phone, preoccupied. I doubt he heard anything about the announcement.
And then slow music played… A man with a white bucket hat and Hawaiian shirt that’s unbuttoned appeared on the stage. He looked familiar… and it took me almost to minute to recognize him as Jared Antonio, one of the newest local artists of the country. So explained the people cheering and taking their phones out.
Flashes of camera here and there, and yet the artist still hasn’t started with the song. The instrumentals, coupled with a few more guitars and a keyboard behind him felt like a long introduction to an anticipated novel. However, I have to admit, it sounded pleasant to the ears.
The words then slipped in. Perfect.
“dance with me?”
It was a sound of a woman’s voice. Peculiar. I turned to look at who’s brave enough to initiate the offer to a dance and who was the lucky man.
“no, thank you.”
“kind of a bad omen to reject a girl who offers, you know?”
“sorry, ma’am but I have two left feet. I’ll only embarrass myself… or worse, you.”
I frowned. The man was Sir Jiego. I don’t get why he’s rejecting the woman. She looked cute.
“I can teach you. come on.”
He cleared his throat and then glanced at me. ME.
I looked away, because suddenly the woman looked at me too. My heart was doing that thing again. It’s beating twice as normal. It’s beating too loud that I hear it drumming in my ears. What am I nervous for? Why is this even happening?
“oh… I see. Sorry I asked.”
…and then the woman left.
“wait, what happened?” – I asked, watching the woman’s retreating back. Sir Jiego only shrugged.
One by one, the people sitting down got bored and hit the dance floor with their dates. Even EJ found a girl to have a good time with. Kind of a disappointment that he didn’t keep his word of staying on his seat but who am I to impose such? It’s actually good that he’s having a good time.
I looked around and almost everyone was slow dancing in the middle of all. Even the elderly couple who replaced us on our table was also having a good on the dance floor, even when their actions do not match the tempo of the song.
“do you… do you want to dance?”
I was busy watching the people when a hand was offered in my front of mine. I didn’t need to look up to see whom the hand belongs to. We’re the only people left on the audience. And I was right. Sir Jiego was towering over me, his hand stretched out to offer me a dance. My supposed-to-be first dance of the evening.
“sir, I thought you don’t want to…”
“just feels right to ask you.”
I gulped. There’s really something about him and his words that makes my heart flutter… when I know it shouldn’t be.
I nodded. It came as an instant as I didn’t really think about it well. When our palms touched, he gently pulled me up and we both stepped in the middle of everyone. The song was beautiful… and romantic. Funny how this one night has given me more romantic stuff than my entire years of existence. A little bit of them, but it was all at once.
I couldn’t meet his eyes as he placed his hands on my waist. Lightly, I placed mine on his shoulders. Our feet moved from left to right, and then right to left. Constant. Like the flow of the melody in the air.
However, it’s weird that none of us are talking. I knew I couldn’t escape it so I spared him a glance. Again, only to catch him looking at me. intently. Like he was reading my soul through the color of my eyes. he sighed… and then his lips parted… looking at mine.
Why. Is. This. Happening?
“thank you for accompanying me this weekend, Tina. It’s better than being here alone.”
Alone? I thought he said he already asked Nora before he asked me. He kind of said that last time.
“I’m just doing my job sir. “
I said in a low voice. My throat felt coarse and dry. It didn’t feel like this ten seconds ago.
“is that really all?”
The music was loud that I asked him what he said for the second time. He repeated and I… well, what do I say? honestly I don’t know what he’s expecting me to say. No idea, I only cleared my throat.
“Okay, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or something.”
“There’s no need to be sorry for, sir.” – I said.
“it’s just that…” – he started and then refused to go on with the rest of the sentence. He gulped, and I watched the ball on his throat moved down and right back up.
Clearly, there was something he wants to say to me. I just don’t know what’s holding him back.
I raised an eyebrow, something Sir Jiego noticed and cleared his throat. Beside us, few of the people has gone back to their seats. EJ, though, was having an ear-to-ear conversation with the hot babe he asked for a dance.
“do you have something to say, sir?”
I knew there is… and the song was about to end. With it, my energy for the whole day. I can feel myself drained, just wanted to have a rest. Sir Jiego opened his lips, eyes staring at me intently. His glare lowered… from my eyes, down to my cheeks and then rested on my lips. It stayed there for a while… and then he shook his head.
“none. I bet you’re tired. Let me walk you back to the room.”
He said, letting go of me. He walked towards the table to get my clutch and came back to hand it to me. Seconds passed and the song ended. The same time Sir Jiego and I were exiting the hall. Him walking ahead of me and I, at least three steps behind him, wondering on what could have been said.