Impromptu Falling ni XtineVelax, winner of RomancePH's Remembering November Love contest.

It began like a scene in a movie.

I was across the hall, sitting at a different table with my classmates. And, yet, my eyes were on him. So when our gazes met, I flinched and quickly turned away. Embarrassed for getting caught staring.

Not long, a hand came to view. I looked up and found him standing beside me. While he just gave us girls a soft smile.

"Want to dance?" he asked no one in particular.

"Who're you asking?" one of my classmates asked back.

"Anyone. You don't want to?" he said.

But his hand was nearest to me. For a heartbeat, I was afraid. He could leave with anyone from that table. Not that I mind.

No. I do.

It was a now or never chance. No one can tell if he'd even ask anyone again for a dance. Or if I even get asked by anyone. Again, I didn't mind. However, it was him that was asking.

How can I not take advantage of this opportunity, huh?

Forcing my courage out, I placed my hand on his open palm and returned his sweet smile.

"Sure."

I dared not to look back at the table. I did not want to know how my classmates reacted to what I did. I focused my brain on the warmth of our hands holding. The way he clasped mine with a comfortable firmness in his. And how he had effortlessly managed to intertwine our fingers without me knowing.

It didn't last long though. Too short. In fact, just ten steps away, we were already on the dance floor. The slow music was playing in the background and he finally faced me. To dance. For a moment, I forgot that part. This was a promenade. Of course we had to dance.

"Thanks," he simply said, getting into a relaxed position, "for accepting."

"Thank you too." I let my hands rest leisurely on his shoulders. "I... wanted to dance."

A brief exchange of knowing glances and we kind of fell into a trance with a weirdly awkward swaying, ignoring everything as the speakers continued to change songs.

***

I was too conscious of how sluggardly we moved along the music. But then again, we were doing a slow dance. Ergo, we were rightfully dancing slowly.

I guess this is how it's supposed to be.

I pursed my lips. Afraid he'd hear my racing heartbeat over the gentle song.

Who even gets a heart rate this fast at this pace?

So I took a deep breath to calm myself and tried adjusting my hands. However, he pulled me closer, making my arms creep around his neck as I steady myself.

"Are you okay?" He leaned close to my ear, adding, "Tired?"

"Mm." I gulped. Hard. Then, I shook my head, giving him a reassuring smile the best I could. "I'm fine."

I AM NOT OK! I am freaking out!

"Do you want to dance until the next song?"

Again, his voice was directly coming into my ear from his lips. His cheek was a hair strand away from mine. And his breath brushed the side of my head.

And this time, my brain finally failed me. Hence, I clench my jaw and nod. The kaleidoscope of butterflies in my stomach might escape if I open my mouth.

Then, I heard him mumble something inaudible before his hold on my waist tightened. A subtle skittish feeling bubbled around us.

And as if on cue, the song changed to an updated one. Signaling that the 'party' part of the dance had started.

Everyone cheered at the sound of the first bar and suddenly more people gathered on the dance floor. We got pushed even closer as almost all four hundred juniors and seniors wanted to dance.

Instinctively, I clutch onto him as waves of people surround us. He, in turn, wrapped a protective arm around me. I couldn't recall how I ended up against one wall of the dance hall. While he was in front of me, shielding me from colliding with any other bodies in the crowd.

"How's your shoulder?" He closely eyed the area where someone had bumped onto me. "Does it hurt?"

"No," I said. "But can we get back? I want to rest."

At that, he grinned. "Of course. Leave it to me."

And for the nth time that night, I swooned. Inwardly.

***

Weird. There was nothing particularly funny being crushed in a crowd, and yet, we were laughing as we escaped to the nearest table.

"This was not how I envisioned it. I swear," he said, half jokingly. His face had erupted in a warm glow with a wide smile plastered on his lips.

I, too, was elated. The feeling was coming out of nowhere. After collapsing on the plastic chair, I was carefully wiping tears off my eyes so as not to smudge my makeup.

"Why are we laughing..?" I asked.

He tried catching his breath as well. "I don't know."

Somehow, that exchange made us burst into another fit of laughter. Again, we had no idea as to why.

"I think someone spiked the fruit punch," he said.

"Are you saying we're drunk?" I chuckled.

"How else can we explain all this?"

I openly stared at his face. His glow had faded but his strong and gentle features still remained. His hair was still intact thanks to the obvious quantity of hair gel he used. On the other hand, I still feel that tingling sensation all over my body.

Because... I like you...r company?

I shrugged, sighing. "Fairy dust and happy thoughts?"

He laughed. "I knew it. No wonder I feel like flying."

"Flying... Yeah, right." I snickered, looking down at my fidgeting fingers. And due to the loud upbeat music, I confidently added, "More like falling."

"What?!" His tone sounded like a mix of anger and worry. "What did you say?"

Ah, crap. I ruined it, didn't I? Shit, why?! Why did I say that?

I pursed my lips. "Nothing. Excuse me."

Without waiting for his answer, I escaped to the girl's lavatory. There, I planned to beat myself up. However, before anything else, I heard a knock on the door.

"It's occupied!" It came louder than I wanted. But again, I didn't want anyone to disturb my self loathing.

"I know." His voice came instead. "Are you alright? Do you need help?"

Yes. Help me make you forget that embarrassing thing I just said.

"Are you done?" came his voice again after another knock. "Can you please come out?"

I didn't answer. I was too ashamed to face him.

I heard him sigh. "Please... open the door. You're not the only one who's falling here."

Then, the moment I unlocked the door, he slipped in the cubicle and locked it behind him.

***

It was cramped inside the stall. After all, it was meant to be used by only one person at a time. Not two.

"What..." I trailed off, too surprised and confused to even fathom what was happening.

In that small three feet by three feet cubicle, our legs compete for space to balance ourselves with the position of the cold toilet. While our torsos were inclining oddly in one direction to avoid the porcelain sink. At that time, I didn't have the time to wonder how he even managed to close and lock the door.

All I could think was how his body was shamelessly pressing on mine. Our body heat spreads in every fiber of my being.

"Why are you crying?" His question snapped me off my weird thoughts.

"Ah..." I averted my eyes. The state of my make-upㅡor, for better description, the lack of itㅡwas a dead giveaway. "I wasㅡ"

"Look at me... Please?"

It was like a plea. Soft. Desperate. Hurt. As if he was saying not to leave him behind and that I should take him with me.

And, of course, I had to do it. It's him.

I kept my eyes on his. They were moist. And the harsh fluorescent light was so bright I could almost see my reflection on his pupils. Then, as if in slow motion, I saw him lean his face down close to mine.

Panic ensued.

I squeezed my eyes closed and steeled my heart.

Is he going to kiss me!?

He dropped his head on my shoulder before sighing heavily. I, on the contrary, froze. After a second, I peeked and found our position more peculiar than before. I had my hands clenched into a fists between us while he kept his hands pressed on the walls of the cubicle.

All I could do was blink.

"Is anything wrong..?" I tried breaking the silence.

Wordlessly, he held my hands gently, spreading my palms on his chest. It was hammering under my touch.

"I want to kiss you." I thought I was hearing things until he repeated it. "I want to kiss your lips. Right now."

I licked my lips, gaze dropping to his. "Me too."

I didn't care if it was the hormones, the atmosphere, or, maybe, the spiked drinks, but it felt right. Like it was the most logical thing to do next.

And so, we kissed.

A nibble at first, testing each other. Of how far we were willing to give and accept.

Then, we ventured further. Deeper. Until we drowned everything in the abyss. Including our self control.

***

The cab jerked into a stop and my reverie was interrupted. We had reached our destination.

I smiled before pushing back the decades-old memory to where I kept them for safe keeping. After all, no one foresaw that the uptight and aloof me would be the one to do all those kinds of things during the prom.

It was a night that I will never forget nonetheless. Not because our lustful decision that night resulted in the dreaded teenage pregnancy. But because that gave me my angel.

"Ma, hurry!" She ran towards the glass doors the moment we alighted the vehicle.

"Be careful, anak," I called, following her with my gaze.

I was confident to let her go ahead on her own. Ever since she was a baby, we had been to the airport multiple times. She knew the things she must and mustn't do in the place.

We patiently waited at the Arrivals. She was holding her sign up for the most important people in our lives.

"Mama, mama! I see them!" She waved her arms as if she was drowning.

I looked up from my phone and searched the lines of flight attendants that poured out the gates. Then, at the very end, I saw them. The handsomest men in my life.

Both of them saw us too, their identical wide smiles plastered on their faces.

"Daddy! Daddy!" My granddaughter rushed to hug her father while I wrapped my arms around my husband.

"Welcome back, honey."

"Thanks. I missed you," he said, squeezing me.

"I missed you too," I said, pulling away. But he stopped me.

"I want to kiss you. Right now."

And I let him.

--

The End.