CHOOSE ME ✔️

THE RAIN

CHAPTER FIVE: THE RAIN

" It's dark and raining and yet it still feels like the sun is here, shining so brightly and beautifully, all because of you. "

"Miss Aiko." huminga ako nang malalim nang binanggit ng teacher yung last name ko ulet, hindi ako makatingin sa kanya dahil sa hiya at sa inis sa papel na hawak hawak ko.

She sighed with her back leaned against her chair. I could tell how disappointed she is right now, but I'm more disappointed than her in myself. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ganito ang magiging grade ko sa exam ko... I just... how? How? How is it even possible when I worked really hard for my dance?

"We expected more coming from you especially from your past choreographies in junior high school. What... went wrong?"

"Ma'am... I..." Wala akong masabi, ano namang sasabihin ko o isasagot ko sa tanong na yan kung 'di ko naman alam kung bakit?

"Your grades overall are average but we expected a lot from your performances. All I could tell you is there are other forms dancing there too, Miss Aiko. For the past few months, pare pareho na yung mga cheorographies mo pero ibang tema lang... we've told you that in order to improve, you would have to do something out of your zone."

I love dancing. It became my favorite type of art in my life. Hindi ko narealize kung gaano ko kamahal sumayaw until I told my parents that I don't want to keep pressuring myself and putting stress in my brain when it comes to school. They told me to dance and when I danced again in my freshman year... that's when it began just like that.

Nung sinabi ko sa mga magulang ko na gusto 'kong sumayaw kahit sa kolehiyo ko, of course masaya sila at sobra ang suporta galing sa kanila. Malapit na 'kong magkolehiyo kaya sobra na ang preperation ko for my admissions to some performance arts university.

For years, wala akong ibang hinangad kung hindi sumayaw lang. I continued dancing and lately... I have been hitting a slump. Akala ko kakayanin ko, pero... dumadating sa ganitong panahon kung saan paulit-ulit na lang yung sayaw ko at pero iba ang tema, tama ang mga teachers at mga judges sa sayaw ko.

It's not good. It's not different. There is nothing. There is no flavor. But the thing is... what am I going to do now? Hindi naman puwedeng wala akong gawin, next month kailangan 'kong baguhin yung sayaw ko at yung cheorography. I need to do a whole different genre if I want something different and impactful this time.

Kailangan 'kong pumasa, yun lang ang importante. And right now, I don't think I'm passing for my dance monthly exam. I can't get into senior high kung ganito ang grade ko sa major ko sa dancing.

"Hoy, okay ka lang." tanong ni Ryland sa'kin at nilatag yung pagkain sa harap ko.

The usual. One cup of rice, baked chicken breast with a BBQ sauce, and Zesto. I rolled my eyes back. Nakakawalang ganang kumain ngayon, paano ako magugutom kung punong-puno ng mga tanong yung utak ko kung ano yung sasayawin ko next month?

"Mukha ba 'kong okay?"

"At least tinanong kita, anong problema mo? The last time you've had that expression was years ago when you failed to buy ice cream in the field trip."

"I was eleven, Ryland."

"You want ice cream?"

"Gusto mo sapak?"

Natawa naman siya sa sagot ko. Seryosong seryoso ako pero nakikipaglaro lang sa'kin 'tong lalaking 'to. Why is he my best friend again? I swear if he makes a joke again I might kick his ass right here right now in the school canteen.