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Slow Dancing

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When Amari thought she could get over her terrible crush with the Dutch blondie, along came Samael, the guy who has everything. In his case, he's in a polyamorous relationship and there's no way in heaven and hell she could see herself sticking with someone like that.

Amari continued spiraling down the toxic dating scene with random strangers, jumped headfirst into dating multiple people, until it got to a point where she felt like she lost herself in the process.

Pero patuloy pa rin siyang lumilingon, bumabalik patungo sa taong muling nagpatibok ng kanyang puso.

"It's a pity how some people don't get to spend their life with someone who set their hearts on fire, once upon a time," said Amari.

"That's an awful truth for some people," he said woefully.

"And I don't want that to happen to me."

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Chapter 1
NAGMAMADALING MAGLAKAD si Ari dahil hinihintay na siya ng katatagpuin niya. Pinuntahan niya si Iya sa tinutuluyan nitong bnb. Si Iya ay isang acquiantance mula sa Pilipinas na bumisita ngayon sa Barcelona. They only met once as kids, kung tama ang pagkakatanda niya. Ari received a text na naliligo pa ito at sasabihan nito ang host na pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Ari stood there, knocked the apartment’s door repeatedly and patiently waited. Nang makarinig ng yabag ng mga paa ay umayos siya ng tindig. Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa niyon ang isang mataas na lalaki, may malapad na ngiti, kalbo, at malaki ang pangangatawan. “Hi, good afternoon. Si Iya po?” nahihiyang tanong niya.  Niluwagan nito ang pinto. “Good afternoon. Pasok ka.” anyaya nito. Boses pa lang nito ay iba na ang radar niya. Kahit ang ngiti nito ay binigyan na agad siya ng ideya na isa nga itong babae at heart. Isinara nito ang pinto sa likuran niya at saka itinuro sa kanya ang kwartong tinutuluyan ng sadya niya. “Nandiyan si Iya. Pasok ka,” anito.  Nahihiyang binuksan niya ang pinto. “Salamat. Pasok na ho muna ako,” aniya. “Sige lang, huwag kang mahiya. Inabisuhan ako ni Iya. Dito lang muna ako sa kusina at magpe-prepare ako ng dinner,” anito sa masayahing tono. “Hello? Iya?” Isang king-size bed ang tumambad sa gitna ng kwarto at dresser sa kanan. May plantsa pa roon. Meron ding mga sticky notes sa likod ng pinto kung saan nakasulat ang mga reviews ng dating nag-stay sa kwartong ito. May mga succulent plants pa sa isang mesa. “Uy, saglit lang ha.” May um-echo na boses mula sa isang sulok ng kwarto. Nagulat siya dahil may umusling ulo roon at dahil na rin may banyo pala sa kwartong iyon. “Matatapos na ako, wait lang, ha. Ang awkward ng unang pagkikita natin. Sorry,” natatawang sabi nito. Natawa na rin siya. “Okay lang. Ako nga itong late. Sige, tapusin mo na muna ‘yan.”  “Upo ka muna,” hirit pa nito. “Sige, sige,” Naupo na nga siya.  Noong isang araw lang niya nalaman mula sa tatay niya na may darating na taga-Pilipinas na kakilala nila noong nasa Pilipinas pa sila dahil iisa sila ng simbahang pinupuntahan. Isang beses niya lang nakita at nakasama si Iya noong mga bata sila at noong nasa Pilipinas pa siya. Hindi niya akalaing ang susunod nilang pagkikita ay ngayon na lang ulit, at dito pa sa Barcelona. Ang alaala niya lang dito ay nakasama niya ito sa isang birthday party at sa iisang mesa sila nakapuwesto. That was it. But her face remained the same. It was like she just became taller. Well, Ari doesn't know that yet. Ulo pa lang naman nito ang nakita niya ng personal. But aside from that, nagpadala ang tatay niya ng litrato nito nang inimpormahan siya nito tungkol sa bisita. Ang usapan nila ng tatay niya ay ilibot at samahan si Iya, ayon na rin sa kahilingan ng mother nito.  Nakabalot ng tuwalya si Iya nang lumabas ito ng banyo. “Hi, Ari, nice to see you.” anito at nakipag-beso.  Gumanti siya ng halik sa pisngi. “Grabe, dito pa talaga ulit tayo magkikita,” aniya na hindi makapaniwala, but also, not a stranger to the fact that yes, that could happen.  “I know,” anito at kinuha ang mga damit na nakalatag sa ibabaw ng kama. “Bihis lang ako saglit.” sabi ni Iya at bumalik ng banyo. “Grabe, ‘no?” wika nito mula sa loob ng banyo. “Of all places.” She sat there smiling even though no one could see her. There was no need for any introduction or longass debate whether to meet her or not, nor hesitation to tour her around. Ari was just happy to have a fellow kababayan and a person around the same age as hers.  Habang naglalakad siya kanina papunta rito, sinusubukan niyang ilarawan sa isipan ang katangi-tanging alaala niya sa taong kasama niya ngayon. Alam niya lang na si Iya noon ay reserved, kasama niya lang sa mesa na para sa kanila, kakwentuhan niya, ang batang Iya na nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ng kausap nito.  What’s stranger to her is that she could feel it in her guts that they’re gonna be friends friends after today.  “Kumusta ang biyahe mo papunta rito?” aniya. “Oh, my god, wala akong nasakyang bus kanina papunta rito. Sabi ng host ko, si Roberto, iyong na-meet mo kanina, baka walang mga bus ngayon from the airport kasi may demonstration.” “Ay, oo nga, nagpo-protesta kasi sila ngayon kaya affected ‘yong mga transpo,” Ari said. “Kaya nga, eh. Para saan ba? Anyway, tinulungan naman ako ng host ko na hanapin ang sasakyan kong tren.” “Gusto na kasing humiwalay ng Catalunya sa Spain, gusto maging independent and be a country of their own,” imporma niya. “Saan tayo after nito?” tanong niya. Like, hello, ikaw ang maglilibot sa kanya? Duh? “Medyo padilim na rin kasi. Kumain ka na ba?” “Alam mo, kain muna tayo ta’s saka tayo maglakad-lakad. Ikaw bahala saan tayo pupunta,” anito. Before they left the place, Iya left a pack of piaya for her host and a note saying that the food is for him.  They braved the crowded and narrow streets of this part of the neighborhood. Barcelona is the right mix of pickpockets and carefree people in the sense that they leave their phone on a table in a bar indicating it is occupied or they leave their backpacks on the ground in the train while busying themselves with their phones without a ring holder. Ari can’t imagine not having a phone ring holder. It just means any minute anyone can take her phone away. At least three members of her family have been a victim of pickpocketing. It’s disgusting how the years pass, the higher the pickpocket rate climbs. Kumain na lang sila sa 100 Montaditos sa may Rambla. Budget-friendly lang muna. It’s good, fast-food good kind of food. They ordered several plates on the menu and two sangrias.  “Saan ka nanggaling pala kanina?” asked Iya then sipped on her glass. “Sabi mo malapit ka lang sa bnb ko.” “Oh, yes.” Ari smiled at the thought. “This ho had a booking,” she deadpanned. Namilog ang mga mata ni Iya. “Hol’ up!”  Natawa siya sa reaksyon nito. “Like, hookup?” anito na hindi makapaniwala. “Oh, my god. Tito, ang anak niyo!” wika nito at sabay silang napahagalpak ng tawa.  “Grabe siya sa akin,” kunwa’y nagtatampong sabi niya.  “Kasi isipin mo sa simbahan lang naman tayo nagkakilala. I mean, ang mga parents natin, they’ve known each other through church. Tapos ilang beses ko ring nakita ang Ate mo sa simbahan. God, Ari, hold the f**k up,” Iya said in disbelief while faintly laughing. “I’m not judging you,” habol nito. “In fact, may sasabihin ako,” nanginginig na dugtong nito. Napataas ang kilay niya. “Spill the tea, sis.” “I’m… I am gay,” pahayag nito. Napanganga siya sa narinig. The prim and proper Iya? “Really?!” excited na sabi niya. “Yes, girl!” In-extend niya ang mga braso rito at masaya nitong tinaggap iyon at nagyakap sila.  “Hindi ko alam ba’t nanginginig ako,” ani Iya nang kumawala ito sa yakap.  “Actually, I was with a girl before meeting you so…” aniya sabay higop ng sangria.  Ito naman ang nagulat at muli ay nagyakap sila. “No way.” anito. “Talaga?” “Yes, pero hindi kami, ha.” sabi niya pa.  Naubo ito sa iniinom. “Okay? Wow, I can’t believe na ang nakasama kong bata noon ay ganito ka-liberated ngayon. Cheers.”  “Cheers. They all are here. I’ve known for a long time na hindi lang ako bi-curious. Always been bisexual and I’ve embraced that fact with the help of my friends.” aniya. No biggie na lang sa kanila ng group of friends niya ang ganitong usapan. Sa katunayan, marami siyang kakilala na parte ng LGBT community. Even if they are not, no one’s judging anyone. They are okay with it and that’s good enough for her.  Ang problema nga lang, no one in her family takes her seriously when she says she is bi. They know it, they make jokes about it together, but they don’t fully acknowledge that that’s who she is now. They’re not foreign with family members being gay or lesbian. Ari’s family might have dumbdown it to her joining the bandwagon or whatever. If she is, which is not, then thanks for that steamy and one of a kind s*x trip.  “Girl, kaya pala natural blush on,” puna nito na may kakaibang ngisi sa mga labi.  “Hoy, hindi ‘yan. Gaga. Sangria is hitting. You look the same,” aniya. They finished their drinks and walked the once again crowded but wide walkway at the heart of Barcelona. It’s already dark and it’s a Wednesday night and as expected, people are still out and mostly, loud. As f**k. People here talk way too loud with big hand gestures.  They entered all the fast fashion they passed by and when they saw one tee to their liking, without even trying it, they bought it and went to El Nacional for another bottle of wine moment.  Iya then whipped up her phone and asked her, “So, Ari, do you know Bumble?”  “No, go on.”  Nakaupo sila sa stool bar. It’s not the best but it will do. Ang ibang pwesto o kainan ay pinipilahan pa ng tao at wala silang pasensyang pumila.  “You’re using Tinder and not heard of Bumble?” anito.  Napataas siya ng kilay. “That means more apps for me, baby.”  Okay, they might have talked about her using Tinder for quite a while now. She wasn’t sure if she should share that information since a lot of Filipino folks are gonna jump the train to judge someone who is using any dating applications. But, Iya is handling everything well. Ni hindi ito nagugulat sa mga rebelasyong ibinahagi niya rito. Hindi niya naman alam kung malawak ang pang-unawa nito o katulad din ito ng ilan sa mga Pilipinong, for the lack of a better term, makitid ang utak. But Iya came through. “Uhm, I’m using Bumble right now,” Iya shared.  Namilog ang mga mata niya sa narinig. “Tell me about it.” aniya.  “Basically, it’s like any dating app but this time, it’s focused on women in the sense that they’re the one who is gonna initiate the conversation and only then can the guys reply no matter how many matches you get.” “Oh, okay, so can I match with women also?” ang unang tanong niya. “Uh-huh. Of course. It’s all there. May mga questions but you can skip through it and write down the basics. You’ll know more about the person than on Tinder. Mas magulo at toxic sa Tinder kaysa sa Bumble. Yes, hello, I would like to give feedback on both apps.” Ipinakita nito sa kanya ang sinasabing application. Ang bartender naman ay sinalinan ang mga kopita nila at iniwan ang bote at menu sa gilid kung sakali mang gusto nilang mag-order ng pagkain. Mga cheese cutlery or anything pica-pica. “Sinabi mo pa. Ang toxic do’n sa Tinder. Marami ka nang naka-match?” Inilabas na rin niya ang sariling cell phone at nag-download niyon. While waiting for it, Iya walked her through the basics of Bumble.  “You know, it’s weird because you never know if the person you’re talking with online is just pretending to be something they’re not,” anito. “Wala pa naman akong seryosong nakakausap ng matagalan. Just flirting here and there. But, naisip ko lang, paano mo ipaliliwanag sa pamilya mo na nakilala mo ang taong ito sa isang dating app? That would weird them out and also judge me right away.” Napatango-tango siya. “I’m glad you’re not most of them.” “Take me out of that equation, please. I just don’t think they understand that change is constant and people are evolving, times are changing, what’s being frowned upon then is acceptable today.” anito na may kasamang pagkadismaya sa tono. “I understand. Alam mo naman kasi sa atin, kapag sinabi mong online dating o na-meet mo online, parang ibang lahi agad ang papasok sa isipan mo at alam naman nating marami nang mga Pinay ang sumubok niyan at umangat ang buhay dahil nakapag-asawa ng may lahi,” sabi naman niya, to balance the perspective. “Of course. You’re right. Kaso kapag ipinapaliwanag mo naman, when you have that conversation with older people, they shut you down and their words are final. Their outlook in life is stagnant and poor and somehow sad. Matanda na pero walang pinagkatandaan.”  “I know,” she said and it made sense. She felt it deep. Hindi niya maiwasang isipin at ikalungkot na ang pamilya niya ay hindi magawang kilalanin ang pagkatao niya. Parang nakabitin lang sa ere ang malaking elepante at dinadaan-daanan lang iyon, panaka-nakang titingnan, kakausapin, kukumustahin, bibiruin, pero hangga’t walang tatanggap dito, mananatili lang itong nakabitin. “You expect them to be the bigger person, pero wala, ‘no. We have to educate them in some aspects in life, and when we do it, akala mo niyuyurakan natin ang pagkatao nila. Akala mo katapusan na ng iniingatan nilang ego.” “Which brings me to this point. Walang nakakaalam sa amin na ganito ako, you know, bi. May naging girlfriend ako noon for four months at sinabi ko sa isa kong Kuya tapos binalaan ako na tapusin ko agad ang kung ano mang meron kami. Hindi naman daw kasi ako gano’n. ‘Di raw ako ganito. Nasaktan ako, naniwala ako sa sinabi ng kapatid ko, nakipag-break ako. Natakot ako, eh,” Iya said weakly. “They will say we are young, naïve… Whatever. Sooner or later daw, lilipas din naman ‘to.” Pinaglaruan niya ang baso niya. “Should we set up my account?” “Duh, yes.” And they did. Takot itong mag-swipe dahil baka mag-match at nasa paligid lang nila ang maka-match niya. Na siya namang gusto niyang mangyari. They almost emptied the bottle at that point and they can tell by their giggles and loud voices that the wine is doing its job. Iya ordered one bottled water that they can share. “So tell me about the girl you were with,” anito. “Ayaw mo talagang palagpasin, ha,” aniya at hindi mapigilang matawa. Wala namang nakakatawa, sadyang tinatamaan na siya.  “Nothing to tell. Pero may boyfriend ‘yon,” sabi niya. “Ari! You wild shit.” “Maka-s**t ka, close ba tayo?” biro niya. “Ngayon lang kayo nag-meet?” “Ilang beses na rin,” nag-aalangan na sabi niya. “Ari, no,” anito na parang bata ang kausap.  “I know, I know,” sagot niya agad. “Ari, no,” mariing ulit nito. “Self-love, sis. Sabihin mo hindi ka na makikipagkita sa kanya ulit.”  “Here’s the tea,” aniya. “Hindi niya sinabi sa akin na meron pala siyang boyfriend. Lately ko lang nalaman no’ng sinabi niya na bibisitahin siya ng boyfriend niya mula sa ibang bansa at mag-i-stay ito pansamantala sa studio niya. I was like? The audacity? Ganda ka, ‘te?” “Oh, my god.” si Iya. “I don’t like her. Cut her loose. I will fight. I’mma fight.”  “Well, I don’t know,” alanganing sabi niya. “Seriously, Ari? Nooo. Please. Tito, si Ari, o.” Ito na ang nagsalin ng huling patak ng wine sa mga baso nila. “This is good.” wika nito nang lagukin ang laman ng baso. “Really good. Balik tayo rito.” “We probably should get back to your place,” wika niya. “Gabi na, anong oras na pala. Nakakatakot din kasi ‘yong kalyeng pinagtutuluyan mo, baka paglabas ko do’n, may tagas na ‘ko at nanakawan.”  Bumaba na sila ng upuan at sinubukang tumayo ng tuwid. “Let’s go?” “Tara.” Hinatid niya lang ito sa tapat ng building at hinintay na makapasok saka siya tuluyang umalis.

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