"So basically those are all the steps that you need for the first part of the dance." Panuto ni Sir pagkatapos niyang ituro ang mga steps na kailangan naming gawin. "You must add atleast four of your own choreography to it for the second round, okay? I'll leave you guys to practice. By Monday next week, you will perform your dances in your practicum, understood?"

The class responded in unison, watching as the teacher gave final instructions and left the gymnasium. Si Shane na ang nagsupervise sa practice, at sa pagplay ng music bumalik na sa positions ang mga studyante.

I took in a breath and met Gabriel's hand. Contrary to his cold expression, his hands were very warm, very much like a man's. Once again, he placed the back of his hand on my upper back, a gesture I came to really appreciate.

Mukang nahalata niya yata yung reactions ko no'ng pinapanood namin ang demonstrations ni sir. Laking pasalamat ko at he decided to opt for that act. I don't know about other women, pero ang-awkward talaga sa feeling ang ganon! Hay, ngayon ko lang nahalata, but he's quite the gentleman.

Hindi nga lang maalis sa isip ko yung nakita ko kanina. Saglit lang man, it was as though it was imprinted in my mind. How many times had I seen him actually smile? Para sa isang tulad niya, it was a rare sight - and it somehow made me feel... flustered.

"Ay sorry!" Sambit ko, my gaze lowered as I noticed the mistake in footwork I committed.

Tumango lang siya at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-sayaw kasabay sa iba naming kaklase. Nakaka-hiya namang ka-partner ito. Ilang beses lang ba naming prinactice ang mga steps eh parang master na niya?

I took in a breath and focused on the dance, shaking my head as I did so. Kasi naman Grace eh, kung ano ano ini-isip mo! I anchored my gaze on his blue clothed chest. Wow, first time kong nakita na hindi bukas butones nito ah. In an instant the memory of the dream I had that night flashed in my mind. He wore the same shade of blue.

I felt my mind begin to be clouded with questions. What could that dream mean? Maka-ilang beses ko na ring sinubukang sabihin sa sarili ko na bunga lang yun ng sarili kong utak - pero bakit hanggang ngayon iba pa rin ang epekto sa'kin pag naaalala ko yun?

Inangat ko ang tingin at sandali siyang sinulyapan. Oh dear, goodness. He truly is the epitome of an attractive man. His eyes shaped almond bore the color of raven, his straight nose a striking feature, and his slightly tanned yet fare skin made him stand out among the men in the class - heck, maybe among the entire school for that matter. I bit my lip in uncertainty.

Natigilan ako nang bigla niyang ibaba ang tingin, meeting my gaze as he did so. I felt my heart jump, and I lowered my head in haste.

Naku, Lord. Anu ba naman to! With all my strength I tried to calm the war of emotions within.

Oh Jesus. I know full-well Your word. I can't be yoked with an unbeliever. So Lord please, please deal with my heart.

Nanatiling naka-baba ang tingin ko habang sumasayaw kami, feeling my heart's beat with every movement we made. Naku naman, anglapit niya kasi eh! I can readily catch his scent, a fragrance of a product I can't pinpoint. And with each passing moment I felt the need to pray, in tongues especially everytime he draws extremely near.

Lord! If you could make the sun still for Joshua, would you speed it this time for me? Para akong matutunaw sa bawat sandaling lumipas na ganito.

With all strength and will I kept my gaze downward, watching how his feet moved whilst I wait for the bell, and as though my thoughts had foreshadowed it, the bell's ring resounded in the gym.

Yes!!!

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at umatras, stretching his arms as he did so. I released a breath of relief. Agad ko namang tinanaw si Rhoe. Nagpapractice parin ito kasama ang partner niya. Wow, mukang plano yata ng mga itong maperfect ang practicum ah.

Inilibot ko ang tingin sa mga buong gymnasium, about 60% of the students were still practicing. Ah, kung sabagay nga naman, wala naman na kaming next subject, kahit hanggang 5pm pa sila magpractice okay lang yun.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Gabriel, but to my dismay he was no longer beside me. Palakad na siya sa bleachers kasama sila Shane at iba pa naming mga kaklase.

With a shrug I made my way to the bleachers as well, catching up with him as I took my bag.

"Okay na ba tayo sa steps? Mukang master mo naman na yata, kahit 'wag na tayo mag second practice?" Suhestiyon ko at sinabayan siyang maglakad palabas ng gym.

"Magdadagdag pa tayo ng own choreo hindi ba?"

"Tsk!" Napabuntong hininga ako, "Oo nga pala. Eh anong plano?" My lips curved to a pout. I had hoped this practice wouldn't be repeated, but it looked like there's no choice.

"Pwede sa sabado," Alok niya, "Do'n tayo sa Burnham Park."

Lumingon ako mula sa exit at kinawayan si Rhoe, nagpapractice palang sila kaya alam kong mamaya pa uuwi ang mga ito. Ngumiti naman siya at kumaway rin. Pagkatapos ay ibinalik ulit ang atensiyon sa partner niya.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Gabriel at pinag-isipan ang alok niya. Tumango ako. "Okay, sige. Punta tayo ng morning ha, para makapag-laba ako ng hapon."

He nodded to my word and we continued to walk. Wala pang masyadong studyante sa school grounds dahil wala pang 4PM. Mas maaga kasi kaming nadidismiss na senior high kapag MWF, kaya halos lahat ng Junior High nasa mga classroom pa nila.

Hindi nagtagal nang makarating na rin kami sa gate, and immediately my nose caught the aroma of something that had the power to rouse my hungry belly to life. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at sininghot ang amoy nito - burger. Agad akong dumukot sa bulsa, at agad din namang nadismaya nang makita ang ten pesos na baryang galing dito.

Huhu, sayang. Aabot thirty pesos ang isang burger, ano namang mabibili ko dito? Baka ang ending kikyam lang din ang kainin ko.

Ini-angat ko ang paningin at nabigla nang makita ang nag-oobserbang mata ni Gabriel. I can almost trace out that smile again, but this time it that of amusement.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang pagkulo na galing sa tiyan ko. I pursed my lip, feeling the heat in my cheeks as I heard a whimsical laugh escape his mouth.

"Sandali lang," Linagpasan niya ako at tinungo ang stall na nagbebenta ng burgers. I stood there confused.

"Ha?"

Lumingon siya, "D'yan ka lang. Mahirap na baka kainin ka pa ng mga dragon d'yan sa tiyan mo."

I shut my eyes in embarrassment. Yes, and there goes your dignity, Grace.

I watched as he bought a burger from the across the street, giving the payment to the seller as soon as he got it. Agad siyang bumalik at ibinigay sa'kin ang pagkain.

"S-salamat," Sambit ko, "Dibale babayaran ko 'to bukas."

"May sinabi ba akong pinapabayad ko 'yan?" Nagsimula siyang naglakad at agad naman akong sumunod.

"Hala, siyempre babayaran ko! Nakaka-hiya naman. Thirty pesos din 'to ah,"

Umiling siya at lumingon sakin, "Hindi na,"

Ilang sandali rin akong natahimik, hindi sigurado kung paano sasagot. Instinctively my lips curved to a smile. How kind of him. Lumunok ako at dali-daling binuksan ang plastic na bumalot sa burger. The mere smell of it made me salivate.

Grabe, para ka namang 'di kumain no'ng lunch Grace! Immediately, I took the first bite, licking my lips as I savored its taste. My goodness, this is why I love burgers so much.

I shifted my gaze upwards, wonder taking over my head as I watched him. "Eh ikaw, bakit di ka bumili ng sa'yo?"

"Sige lang," Sambit niya, "Hindi pa naman ako gutom."

"Ah," Tumango nalang ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"Nga pala," Inangat ko ang paningin nang marinig siyang magsalita. "Bakit tumanggi kang sumali sa singing competition kanina?"

Nangunot ang noo ko, "Pa'no mo alam? Wala ka pa naman sa gym no'n 'diba?"

"Oo," Kumpirmasyon niya, "Nasabi sa'kin ni Shane kanina pagkatapos ng practice natin."

"Ah, ganon ba," I took in a breath, "Ano eh, hindi kasi kaya ng conviction ko."

"Ha?" Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa'kin, "What do you mean?"

"Nakalaan lang sa Panginoon ang boses ko."

He looked at me with wondering eyes, for sure confused of what my words meant. He shifted his gaze forward.

"Pero," He paused, "Won't singing more openly give you more opportunities? You said to me before that your family is struggling financially. Maraming mga sikat na singers ngayon ang nabigyan ng magandang buhay ang mga pamilya nila dahil sa pag-kanta,"

Tumango ako habang pinapakinggan siya. "Oo tama ka. Pero hindi parin eh."

He cleared his throat. "Why?"

I took in a breath and thought, arranging in my mind the words. "Totoo naman eh. Maybe by singing I can have more opportunities, but no fame, no amount of money will ever be able to satisfy." Silence reigned in our midst, and with this I resumed to speak.

"Maaaring mabigyan ko nga ng magandang buhay ang pamilya ko, but what would it do to their spirit? I would sing to entertain - to please men, but in no way will it please God. The giver of this voice."

I saw him nodding as I spoke, gaze lowered as he seemed to think.

"As for my family, God will take care of us. I-" I swallowed, "I trust Him."

"Funny how God seems to take care of others and neglect others like they're trash,"

Bahagya akong natigilan sa nasabi niya, I looked up at him.

"Gabriel," He shifted his gaze toward me.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa'yo kaya ganyan ang pananaw mo. I don't know your pain, or the past you had to endure. But listen," I gazed at him intently; "God doesn't neglect and treat people like trash. Evil, suffering, and the likes of it are not the result of God's neglect, but a result of man's fall. Sigurado ako, narinig mo na ang kuwentong ito, hindi ba?"

"Yes, yes." He sighed, "The good ol' story of Adam, Eve, and the serpent."

"Ayon. Right at that!" I confirmed, "Alam kong sasabihin mo nanaman na hindi totoo ang kwentong 'yon, but I will say this anyway. That is the reason why we experience all these wickedness. That is the reason why Jesus had to come down, become a mere man, die and rise again, so He can bring us Salvation."

He only gazed down as I spoke, utter silence filling our midst.

"Gabriel, painful and tragic things happen for a purpose. To some, it happens so that they can grow. To some, it happens so that they will be strengthened. And to some," I gazed afar as I arranged the words in my mind, "These things happen so that they will learn to draw near to God."