Chance

Everything's change

Is she really okay?

Should I bring her to hospital?

Is it going to affect her in long term?

Those words kept haunting me during my sleep that night after the incident. I couldn't help it but my brain kept showing me the image of her crying in pain in front of me. That sound when she fell. The blood, scar, pain...

The next day, early in the morning, I texted her. I wasn't sure whether she could still reply me or not.

"Hey, are you okay? Please reply me as soon as you read this. I'm really sorry for what happened yesterday..."

I waited for a few minutes and she finally replied me.

"Hi, I'm fine. It's okay, I'm still alive :) Don't worry about me. It's my fault anyway... for jumping without making sure you're ready."

"Oh gosh, great to hear from you. No, I should be ready all the time. It's my fault for not paying attention to you. Do you need anything? Just ask away and I'll get it for you."

"Let's just agree that it's both our faults, okay? So nobody is blaming anyone anymore. No, it's fine. Thanks for asking."

Although her reply proved that she was fine, I was still worry about what would happen to her if the wound's not checked properly. So, I texted her sister, Sharon, directly.

"Hey, Sharon. Sorry about your sister again but, will you bring her to doctor or something? To check the wound incase it's really bad and we don't know it."

"Oh hey, yeah, I'll bring her to the doctor later in the afternoon. Don't worry, Ryan. I'm pretty sure she'll be fine. She can eat and drink like normal, so just relax." Sharon replied.

"Okay then, if you guys need anything please say so. And the check up fee, just name the price and I'll pay for everything."

"Nah, don't worry about it. We can handle this by ourselves. You just focus on the rehearsal for the performance. She'll probably have to wait for a few days though."

After hearing that, I was anxious waiting for the result of the check up. I continued my daily routine and practiced as usual. 

In the dance room, I saw Andre practicing with others. The atmosphere was different now. He greeted me as usual but not so many words were spoken between us anymore. I knew this would happen, after all the incident. We continued our rehearsal anyway while waiting for Viona to return.

The result of the check up was good. There was nothing wrong with her head and the wound was not that serious. The doctor said that she was lucky she dropped her head on wooden floor instead of ceramics or concrete. Things could have been worse.

A few days passed and Viona returned for rehearsal. Due to the risk of the previous movement, Ken decided to change it but Viona and I would still be the one doing the movement. It was much easier and safer than before. When I grabbed her waist during one of the movement, I whispered to her ear.

"Don't worry, I won't let you go now."

She smiled to me as she jumped and I successfully completed the movement. Although the new set was much easier, it still looked very cool.

So we practiced for another weeks and finally it was the day of the performance. Our campus was filled with many visitors. Some of them were students but most were outsiders. We spent our time rehearsing again for a few more times before our turn to perform and finally we waited at the backstage. That night was very nerve wrecking.

"Are you comfortable in the costume?" I asked Viona as she kept adjusting her costume.

"Yeah, but this frill here keeps brushing up my arms."

"Don't worry about it. As you dance later, your arms won't be touching it anymore. By the way, are you nervous?"

"Of course I am. Don't drop me this time, okay?" and she laughed at me. That was actually the first time she cracked a joke at me. Although the joke was not that pleasant as it reminded me of the bad memories but still, it was funny.

"Sure, just don't jump to the wrong direction. My hands are not that long to catch you." I replied her with another joke. Suddenly, Andre approached us.

"Hey, hey, don't joke about that. If you dropped her, I'll make sure you..." Andre said and before he could finish, the MC had called out our group to be ready on the stage.

Finally we got to perform the routine that we had prepared for quite some time. The crowds were wild as we danced on the stage and when Viona and I showcased our couple routine, everyone gave a huge applauses. We pulled it off and everyone was really happy about it.

"That ain't so bad, right Viona?" I asked Viona as we returned to the backstage.

"All thanks to you" and she gave me a high-five. She was really happy, I could see it from her face.

The night went on and when the party was over, we had our dinner together at our usual place, the hawker center. 

I felt closer to Viona after that night. She responded more to me and I could feel that she's more open to me as well.

Somehow, deep inside me, I felt something strange. Something that I'd never felt before whenever I was around her. That experience really changed... everything.