#LGS1Party #LGS1chapter7 #LaGrilla1

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IT was Saturday, the night before Greggy and Mara’s wedding day. Alinsunod sa isa sa mga tradisyon sa Batangas na may gaganaping ganitong salo-salo kinagabihan bago ang mismong araw ng kasal. Sa gabing ito magaganap ang wedding dance at hindi sa mismong wedding reception na ginaganap pagkatapos ng seremonyas ng kasal.

Hindi ka-close ni Imee o ng kaniyang pamilya ang sinuman sa mga ikakasal o ang alinman sa mga kapamilya ng mga ito, ngunit dahil lahat sila ay magkakatrabaho o naninirahan sa village ng mga trabahador ng Hacienda Hermano, kasama siya at ang mga magulang niya sa mga imbitado sa salo-salo. Parte ng tradisyon din ang pag-imbita ng mga ikakasal sa mga taga-ibang sitio.

Alas-sais pa lang ng gabi ay nasa malaking kubo sa dulo ng hacienda na ang mga bisita. The place served as a pavilion, ngunit kadalasan ay ‘malaking kubo’ ang tawag dito ng mga residente dahil gawa sa cadjan o hinabing dahon ng niyog ang bubong at mga dingding nito. Mukha tuloy itong isang malaking kubo kung titingnan mula sa labas. Makinis, sementado, at kulay abo naman ang patag nitong sahig sa loob.

Nakabitin sa ilang panig ng kisame ang mga dilaw na bombilya ng ilaw. Their yellow glow made the place look warm and friendly. Habang hindi pa nagsisimula ang event ay may tumutugtog na masiglang background music para pagaanin ang mood ng mga bisita.

Sumalubong kay Imee at sa kaniyang mga magulang ang magandang pagkakagayak sa loob ng pavilion. Nagkalat ang table arrangements kung saan kasya ang halos walong tao sa bawat pabilog na mesa na may puting table cloth. Pink ribbons were twisted and folded to form into pretty roses that decorated the place, the tables, and the seats.

The guests looked impeccable in their casual attires—mostly in their T-shirts and jeans—and makeups on fleek. Imee chose to wear a pair of rusty orange doll shoes, skinny jeans, and a round neck pink T-shirt that almost kissed the waistline of her jeans. Her white cloth headband held her pixie cut hair in place and clearly showed her face with a hint of subtle makeup.

Nakakawit ang kamay niya sa inang si Minerva. Nakaputing headband din ang kaniyang ina ngunit gawa sa plastik. Maayos na nakaladlad ang namumuti nitong buhok. Nakasuot ito ng bulaklaking bestida na green na pinarisan ng puting sandals na may manipis na straps. Katabi nito ang asawang si Mang Baste na medyo maluwag ang denim jeans na suot. Naka-rubber shoes ito na kulay itim at T-shirt na puti na may stripes na pula.

Wala namang RSVP o pangalan sa mga mesa kaya ang mga bisita na ang bahala kung saan uupo. Iginiya ni Imee ang mga magulang sa isa sa mga bilugang mesa malapit sa sentro ng pavilion, katapat ng dance floor.

Nang makapuwesto na ay unti-unting nadagdagan ang mga tao sa loob ng pavilion. Habang tahimik na nakaupo si Imee sa tabi ng ina ay abala ang mga magulang niya sa pakikipagdaldalan sa mga kahati nila sa mesa.

Hanggang sa dumating na nga ang mga magulang ng bride na si Mara. Iniisa-isa kasi ng mga ito ang mga mesa para kumustahin ang bawat bisita. Habang nakikipagkumustahan ang mga ito sa kanila ay napukaw ang atensiyon nila ng paglapit ni Leo.

“O, Nardo! Aba’y ang akala namin, hindi ka makapupunta?” ani tatay ni Mara na semi-formal ang pormahan sa puti nitong polo at jeans.

Leo just smiled at them. “E, may nagbago sa schedule ko, kaya libre ako ngayong weekend.”

“Masaya kami na nakarating ka!”

“Nakow, masaya talaga sila, Nardo,” pabirong tudyo ni Mang Baste rito, “kasi inaasahan na ng mga ’yan na ikaw ang may pinakamalaking iaabot na sabog mamaya!”

“At sabit,” natatawang dagdag ng isa sa mga matatandang kasama nila sa mesa.

Ang ‘sabog’ ay tungkol sa tradisyon sa kasalang Batangeño kung saan nag-aabot ng pera sa ikakasal ang mga ninong at ninang kapalit ng kakanin. Kadalasan ay nagpapataasan ng bigay ang mga ito. Ang ‘sabit’ naman ay pagsasabit ng mga bisita ng pera sa ikakasal habang sumasayaw.

Napakamot sa likod ng ulo nito si Leo habang tila ninenerbiyos na natatawa. “Hindi naman po ako makapag-aabot sa sabog. Ayoko naman kasing sapawan ang mga ninong at ninang.”

Natawa ang lahat at tinukso ang ilang ninong at ninang na nakaupo rin sa mesa nila.

“O, akala ninyo ligtas na kayo, ha?”

“Ano’ng akala? E, dapat naman talaga, huwag sapawan ang mga ninong at ninang!”

“Kahit subukan pa akong sapawan ni Nardo, hindi niya ako masasapawan! Aba, may ekstra pa akong mga baboy sa bukid! Aabot din iyon ng tatlong libo pandagdag sa dala kong sampung libo rine! Sapat na ’yon para sa sabog at sabit mamaya!”

When Imee looked away from the elders, she caught Leo staring at her. He gave her a nod and and an open-mouthed smile.

Imee shyly and slowly trailed her gaze all over him, taking in his breathtaking demi-god presence—the wet-look yellow blond hair combed in a sexy, messy, mid-part hairstyle; his white button-down shirt with gold intricate printed patterns on it; his tight beige pants that wrapped his strong legs; and a dark brown, silver-buckled belt that hugged his narrow hips. Nahaharangan ng mesa ang paanan ng lalaki kaya hindi niya napansin ang brown leather shoes nito. She knew that he really made an effort to look good than usual, because he put on a silver chain around his neck and two gold band rings shone on the point finger of his right hand. His wristwatch remained a staple, shiny and silver on his right wrist.

He looked so good she was having a hard time to look away. Even if she resist, there was this magnetic pull that kept her eyes coming back for more of this eye-candy.

“May usapan ba kayo ng Leo na ’yan na magkikita rine?” bulong sa kaniya ni Aling Minerva habang binibigyan ng nagdududang tingin si Leo.

Leo seemed unaware of her mother looking at him, because his eyes were still on her and his smile was still for her—warm and wide . . . Tila unti-unti na tuloy siyang natutunaw!

Mangingiti na sana siya nang mapukaw ng boses ng nanay niya. “Imeng!”

Gulat na napalingon siya rito. “Inay!”

“Ano?”

“A-Ano?”

“May—”

Naalala niya na ang tanong nito  “Wala, ’Nay!” pabulong niyang sagot dito. “Hindi mo ba narinig kanina? Ang akala raw nila, hindi makararating si Leo. Ibig sabihin, imbitado talaga siya rine.”

Pinaningkitan pa siya nito ng mga mata bago biglang nagbago ang facial expression. Minerva was back to her friendly, socializing mode. Nakisali na ito sa kumustahang nagaganap sa mesa.

Lingid sa kaniyang mga magulang ang pasimpleng pag-upo ni Leo sa silya katabi niya. Imee wouldn’t notice it too if not for his signature scent. Gulat na napalingon tuloy siya rito at dumoble pa ang gulat niya nang makita na nakapatong ang isang braso nito sa ibabaw ng sandalan ng upuan niya. Ang kabila naman nitong braso ay nakatukod sa mesa. He faced her direction, so the moment she turned to him, their gazes instantly met and locked.

“Hi,” he smirked like a lightning that shot her chest and jolted her heart awake in just a flash.

Like a thunder at the heels of the lightning, her heart followed, thumping against her chest as she replied. “Hi.”

Imee could not even smile. Natatakot siya na baka ilantad ng kaniyang ngiti kung gaano siya ka-excited dahil sa epekto ng binata sa kaniya.

Leo asked something which made her focus on his lips.

‘Diyos ko, hindi!’ Napayuko agad siya. ‘Bakit tumingin ako sa mga labi niya? Natakam tuloy ako—” She paused from her thoughts when she realized that her eyes were already staring at his chest.

Leo slightly slouched, allowing the collar of his button-down shirt to fall forward and expose a bit of his hard chest.

Imee swallowed. ‘Mali! Huwag kang titingin sa dibdib niya—’ She lowered her eyes and found herself looking at his crotch this time. Lalo siyang napalunok dahil sa sikip ng pantalon nito. ‘Hindiii!!!’

Gulat siyang napasinghap nang pisilin nang marahan ni Leo ang kaniyang baba. He pulled her chin up so that their eyes would meet again. When he got her attention, he immediately let go of her chin before anyone would notice.

“Bakit hindi ka makasagot?” lapit nito ng mukha sa kaniya.

Dahil magkalapit na ang mga mukha nila, mas malinaw na niyang naririnig ang boses nito.

“Sagot? A-Ano ga ang tanong mo?” nalilito niyang saad.

He gave her an understanding smile. “See? Nabablangko ka kapag ninenerbiyos. Paano na lang mamaya kapag sumayaw ka na?”

Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata. “Hoy, baka may makarinig sa ’yo.”

“I’m just saying. Don’t be nervous, hm? But if ever you feel nervous in the middle of your dance . . .” He showed her his open palm “. . . you can take my hand.”

Napatitig siya sa palad nito. “Bakit naman?”

“Para hindi ka kabahan. I can pretend to be a dance partner then, para hindi bigyan ng malisya ng mga tao rine ang paghawak mo sa kamay ko.”

“Sira ka!” natatawang palo niya sa palad nito. “Mas lalong mabibigyan ng malisya ’yon ’no, kapag nagsayaw tayong dalawa!”

His gaze never left her face as he smiled. “Well, my offer is still up.”

Imee shrugged and smiled back. “Kaya ko ’to. Hindi ako nenerbiyosin mamaya.”

When Imee slapped his hand for the last time, Leo stared at it for a while before he closed it into a fist.

***

AT the back of his mind, Leo found Imee’s T-shirt and jeans look very simple compared to his charmer style, but this night brought out this couquettish vibe from her. Her face looked soft yet her body language was tempting. Her smile was warm and friendly, yet her eyes pulled him in like a black hole of intense seduction, especially when he caught them slowly trail down from his eyes, down to his chest, and lastly on his lap.

How she hotly ran her eyes down his body made him high and alert. As if he was painfully waiting for her to finish checking him out so that she could start touching him already and take his aches away.

When he realized how he thirst to be touched, he quickly regained his self-control. Tinaboy niya ang paghahangad na haplusin ng dalaga sa pamamagitan ng paghawak sa baba nito para iangat ang tingin nito sa mga mata niya.

When he realized that he was holding her chin and their eyes were gazing at each other’s, his instinct to pull her closer for a kiss began to kick in. Tila napapasong binitiwan niya tuloy ang baba ng dalaga.

To his relief—and frustration too—Imee did not give any meaning to his actions and to their conversation. Tinanggihan nito ang alok niyang hawakan siya sa kamay kapag ninerbiyos sa pagsayaw nito mamaya. She began talking to other guests in the party too, particularly to those who sat on the same table as theirs.

The evening rolled on, and once the planned program for the party started, Leo began to forget about his worries for a while. Katulad ng mga bisita rito ay na-enjoy niya ang pakikinig sa mga speech ng mga ikakasal at ng mga magulang nila. Nagbigay rin ng payo tungkol sa pag-aasawa ang mga ninong at ninang. There had been parlor games followed by a live band playing instrumentals while they eat their dinner.

After dinner, the formal program was wrapped up, leaving the guests with nothing else to do but enjoy the party and dance the rest of the night away. The drinks’ section of the food buffet was left open though, for those who wanted to quench their thirsts with alcholic or non-alcoholic drinks.

Nang simulan na ang dance party ay nilingon agad ni Leo ang katabi na si Imee. Laking-gulat niya nang walang-paalam itong tumayo at umalis sa upuan nito. His eyes followed her, but he never figured out where she went because the other guests already approached him.

Leo chatted with different people, from those in his age up to the elders. Nakakumustahan din niya si Mang Baste at ilang saglit lang ay puro mga lalaki na silang nakaupo sa mesa na ito at bumabaha na ang alak dito.

Nasa kalagitnaan na sila ng masarap na pagkukuwentuhan nang mahagip ng paningin ni Leo si Imee.

He saw her walking by, giggling with her group of friends. He may be drunk and the colorful party lights may rotate around the room way too fast, but it would be impossible to miss that beautiful face. It would even be impossible for him to not recognize it.

‘When is she going to dance? Nakalimutan niya na ba ang usapan namin? Did she get cold feet, so she’s trying to avoid dancing now?’ Palagpas na sa mesa nila si Imee at ang mga kasama nito kaya nagmamadaling tumayo si Leo. When he swung to the left, that was when he realized that he already drunk way too much.

“Oy, Nardo! Okay ka lang?” ani Mang Baste sa kaniya.

He managed a smile. “Okay lang po!” Umatras siya para itulak ang upuan palayo sa kaniya.

“O, e, saan ka naman pupunta?” tanong ng isa pa nilang kasamang lalaki.

Tinanaw niya uli si Imee na medyo nakalayo-layo na sa mesa nila.

“Magpapahinga na. Lasing na ’ko, e,” paalam niya sa mga ito.

“Naku, Nardo! Kung lasing ka na, huwag ka nang umalis at masamang magmaneho nang lasing!” wika ng isa pang lalaki na sinang-ayunan ng sari-saring boses mula sa mesa na ito.

Napakamot siya ng likuran ng ulo. “E, hindi naman ako puwedeng magtagal dito—” unti-unti na siyang lumalayo sa mesa, “—kasi paiinumin n’yo ’ko nang paiinumin dito, e!”

“Ay, pinalambot ka na nga yata ng siyudad, bata!” tawa ni Mang Baste. “Ang bata mo pa, suko ka na agad sa ’min sa barikan?” Inuman.

Sinundan ang itinuran ng matanda ng mga pabirong kantiyawan at pangungulit ng iba pa nilang kainuman para lang manatili siya sa mesa.

Leo stole a glance at Imee again and when he couldn’t find her, he suddenly felt his panic rising to his check.

“Bye po,” nagmamadaling paalam niya. Sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi niya na nilingon ang mga kainuman habang susuray-suray na lumakad palayo.

Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas bago nakalakad uli nang tuwid si Leo. All he had to do was slow down his steps in order to walk steadily. And the only reason why his steps slowed down was because of the dancing crowd that blocked his way.

Iritableng nag-angat siya ng tingin at sumilip sa pagitan ng mga nakaharang na tao para hanapin si Imee. Once he found her, hinawi niya agad ang isang lalaki na humarang sa kaniya. Gulat na sumubasob ito sa katabing lalaki at galit na napatingin sa kaniya na nilagpasan lang ito.

He brushed shoulders and bumped with the rest of the guests until he finally got close to where Imee was.

Imee was on one corner of the dance floor, encircled by her friends that alternately faced one friend after another while grooving to the upbeat music. His eyes locked on her as he watched her raise one fist while swinging her hips.

He blinked to see her face clearly, to see that open-mouthed smile on her lips as she danced. Napalunok siya dahil kuhang-kuha ng babae ang tamang tiyempo sa pagsayaw. Her short pixie hair even seemed to dance along with her.

The moment her hands lowered and rubbed from her waists up to her breasts, he felt stiff all over his body. With her lips parted to a sigh, he realized that she was feeling herself and it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen!

Mabilis ding ninakaw ang kaniyang kaligayahan nang may lalaking humablot sa baywang ni Imee para hapitin ang dalaga palapit dito. Imee pushed him away slightly with her hands that blocked her breasts away from his chest. That sight should relieve him, but he felt an excurciating pain in the head when Imee only did that so she could free her hands, lift them up, and hook her wrists on the man’s nape.

Imee and the old, unfamiliar man swung their hips as they took a slow turn while dancing with each other. They seemed to be talking, but the pounding music was making it hard to hear them.

Hindi na matandaan ni Leo kung paano siya nakapasok sa pagitan ng mga nakabakod na kaibigan ni Imee. All he knew was that he got close to her, pushed away the man’s face with his palm to break them up, then pulled Imee by the wrist. Nagmamadaling hinabol sila ng ilan sa mga kaibigan ng dalaga para pigilan.

“Nardo?”

“Saan mo dadalhin si Imeng?!”

“Sandali lang! Hoy!”

“Imeng!”

Leo walked like a bulldozer, he never backed down no matter how many guests he would shove onto. Dere-deretso lang siyang naglakad at natauhan lang nang marinig niya ang boses ni Imee.

“Leo, bitiwan mo ’ko!” anito sa nakikiusap na boses.

When he stopped walking, he slightly swung backward. He thought he was going to fall but he caught himself and managed to remain standing straight.

“Didn’t I tell you, that if you got nervous, you’ll take my hand?”

Sa palagay niya ay hindi siya narinig ni Imee. Bukod sa hindi ito nakasagot sa tanong niya ay naabutan na sila ng mga kaibigan ni Imee na sinabayan ang pagsasalita niya.

“Hoy, Nardo! Saan mo dadalhin ang kaibigan namin?”

“Bakit mo naman tinulak sa mukha si Lolo Ipe?”

‘Lolo ’yong kasayaw ni Imee?’

“Imeng, ano na’ng nangyari?”

Leo closed his eyes irritably. ‘Bakit ba ang ingay-ingay rito?’

He was about to face them to explain his side, but everything suddenly went black.

***
AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi, readers!

Did you miss me? HAHAHA! I missed you all too! ♥️

This new and improved version of my 2016 story ‘La Grilla Series 1: Come Here’ will be updated every week! Kitakits!

With Love,
ANAxoxo 🐎

***
COME HERE
La Grilla Series #1
Copyright Registered: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama
First publish on Wattpad: December 2016

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