Letters For My Dancer: An Epistolary

Day 19: Epilogue

Kino's Point of View

This is the day.

Sweat was now visible on my forehead. Nervousness enveloped my whole body. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang mga taong manonood para sa performance ko. The thought of me messing my own performance made my heart beat faster. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of the crowd. I don't want myself to embarrass myself in front of him.

The auditorium was now filled with only the aspiring members of the club, the club officers, and as well as the club advisers. Hindi nila pinapasok ang mga gusto lang manood para maiwasan ang kaguluhan sa loob ng auditorium.

I tried to look for him. His features was nowhere to be seen. Before I perform, I want to see his face first. I want to hear some good luck charms from him. Siya pa rin kasi ang dahilan kung bakit ako sumali rito. Siya pa rin talaga.

I held a deep sigh after a student messed her own performance. Hindi sumakto ang timing niya sa beat ng kanta, kaya naging magulo ang sayaw niya. She immediately took the exit, maybe because of the sudden attention she got. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ko kapag sa akin nangyari 'yon.

"Kino."

I looked up when someone called my name. I turned around and saw one of the club officers waiting for me. HIndi ko alam pero bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. I guess nervousness really got the hell out me.

"After the next performer, ikaw na ang susunod. Ipalagay mo na sa sound manager ang gagamitin mong tugtog para hindi magkaroon ng aberya. Tandaan mo na kung ano ang patutugtugin ng sound manager, iyon agad ang sasayawin mo. Siguruhin mong tama ang ipalalagay mo," the club officer said before leaving me. Pakiramdam ko talaga na may malaking galit sa akin ang officer na 'yon.

I stood up and went to the control room. Sumalubong agad sa akin ang mga nagkakagulong officer sa loob ng room. Parang gusto ko na lang tuloy umatras dahil sa dami ng tao sa loob.

"Magpapalagay lang ako ng music," I said monotonously. I still need to act confident in front of them.

"Sure," one of the officer answered. "Song number ano ang ilalagay ko?"

"Thirty-seven." The club officer immediately inserted my song. Hindi na ako naghintay pa na sabihin niyang ayos na dahil masyadong maingay sa loob ng control room. The officers were too loud.
 
It felt like it was the longest 5 minute of my life. While waiting for the performer to finish her routine, I almost called all the saints that I knew. Kinakain na ako nang kaba habang naghihitay. The pressure that was on my shoulders too heavy. I don't want to disappoint him. Hindi ko hahayaang masayang lang ang ginawa niyang pagtuturo sa akin.
 
"Kian Nicholas Angeles, you're next."
 
Halos marinig ko na ang mga yabag ng paa ko dahil sa biglang pagtahimik ng paligid. I bet everyone's eyes were now fixed on me. I could feel their stares, causing my heart to beat faster than it's normal rate.
 
It's now or never, I thought.
 
I stood right in front of the judges waiting for my music to play but, right at that moment, my nightmares came true. A different music played. A damn different music played!
 
Seconds passed by until my body reacted. I remembered that one of the officer told me that whatever song played first, I should dance to it. Hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko ay naisahan ako.
 
I thought I'll mess my own performance but, I guess the heaven favored me this time. My knight in shing armor showed up. I saw his features standing at the entrance of the auditorium. His arrival suddenly changed the atmosphere inside the venue.

"That's not the right song," he said with his prominent voice. Chills suddenly entered my system. Those times that we spent together practicing my dance flashed inside my mind. It thought I was in cloud nine because of those memories that entered my mind.
 
Suddenly, something caught my attention. He was holding a familiar thing on his hand.
 

It is it. He was holding my diary.

End of Book 1