I’m still massaging my throat and regaining the feeling in my legs when we position ourselves around the table. We all take our seats and I pull a chair for Pa, making an excuse to others that it’s for my bag. The program soon kicks off, and my mind starts thinking about everything that could go wrong again.
The buffet runs out of rice, Sister Marissa keeps interrupting the prom host to remind us to make room for the Holy Spirit, and the Swifties Who Crochet club does a surprise a cappella performance. It’s like a hurricane of things happening all around me.
In the midst of it all, I keep an eye on Pa. Every other second, my head swings in his direction, checking to make sure he’s still there.
My hand instinctively goes to my wrist, then I remember that I left my hair tie at home since it didn’t match my dress. While I’m mentally cursing myself for prioritizing fashion over my sanity, I hear Seph ask, “Sure ka okay ka lang?”
I nod and smile through my anxiety.
I’m convinced he buys it when we both focus back on whatever’s happening onstage. But then he stands up from the table. “Hey, wanna go outside for a minute?”
A minute? Does he not realize how many things can go wrong in a minute?!
“It’ll be quick,” he adds while my insides are still swirling with nerves. “Just wanted to show you something.”
My gaze drifts to Pa again. His eyes smile at me when he insists that he’ll be fine. “You’ve been staring at me the whole night, Superstar,” he teases. “Go have some fun with your date.”
Achi is still standing with Ma by the chaperone cornerwhen I check. I already followed up with the band twice and they promised they would play my song request. Everyone else seems to be relatively calm and not acting like their lives are at the brink of falling apart. I guess we have some time left before they give out those prom awards…
While I’m in the middle of telling Kayla to message me right away if anything comes up, Seph keeps telling me that we will be back before I know it. He leads me outside the gym and I finally relent and follow him to the covered courts by the senior high building—the same place where we assemble every morning.
I’m checking my phone to see if Achi and Kayla left any messages when Seph tells me to look up.
“Come on, Ilagan, there’s a better view up here.”
I sigh. “What’s so interesting about these covered courts—” Then I see Seph standing in front of me, his hands reaching out with the red corsage he bought for tonight. Back at the condo, I told Seph I wasn’t into all the corsage, prom rite-of-passage stuff. The real truth? I was too self-conscious to do it in case Ma or Auntie Baby saw, and for them to see if I might actually enjoy it.
He unravels the corsage’s ribbon and I reluctantly hold out my wrist for him.
“You learned this from your other crushes?” I ask, ignoring how my whole body hums when I feel his fingers graze my skin.
The corner of his mouth curves at the joke and he ties the ribbon around my hand. “There,” he says when he’s done. “More ties to keep you safe.”
Thank god none of my family members are here. I’d be mortified if they saw how getting this red corsage made me smile.
I shake my head when Seph smooths out his tie, all proud of himself in his suit.
“Prom nominations freaked you out, huh?”
“The thought of dancing with you did,” I tease.
“Grabe.” He puts a hand to his chest. “I was an excellent dance lead forHigh School Musical 3. Direk Myka called me a natural.”
“When did you do the third one?”
“The summer after you left.”
I’m about to ask more questions when Seph puts his finger on his lips. He then motions for me to listen to the music coming from the gym. It’s the song Troy and Gabriella dance to on their school roof in the third movie.
His face lights up when it registers. “They’re playing the catching lightning song!”
“It’s called ‘Can I Have This Dance,’” I say, laughing.
With no shame whatsoever, Seph bows and proceeds to offer me his hand. “Can I have this dance, Gabriella?”
I just stare at his hand. “That’s disgusting.”
My disgust doesn’t faze him. He goes on to recite the lyrics of the song in the middle of the covered courts. “Take my hand, take a breath.” He does an exaggerated inhale and I scan the area in case anyone’s around and assumes that I’m with the guy who looks like he’s doing some bizarre spoken word poetry.
