Lean on the Acrux

Chapter 10

"Stop singing, Elysia," Zale for the tenth time.

I was in the other corner of the room where the equipment for working out was there while Zale was on the other side where there was not even one single piece of equipment. It seemed like that place was made for Zale to have his practice area for his dance.

Kanina pa niya pa ako sinasaway na huwag daw sumabay sa kanta dahil nahihirapan daw siya magconcentrate sa paggawa ng step at naiirita rin daw siya sa boses ko. E, masisi niya ba ako na hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na hindi sumabay sa kanta? Ang catchy kaya ng kanta! Edi sana pumili siya ng kanta na may high notes para hindi ko masabayan, 'di ba?!

"Para saan ba 'yan?" tanong ko sa kanya nang makaalis sa treadmill. Kinuha ko ang towel ko at pinunasan ang pawis bago ako pumunta papalapit kay Zale na busy pa rin gumawa ng mga steps. Nag-indian sit ako sa sahig malapit sa kanya.

"Ano bang pake mo?" inis na baling niya sa 'kin.

"May pake ako kasi pakialamerang kaibigan ako," I said, grinning. And that made his face look more irritated.

He didn't say anything back and just continued making dance steps. Looking at him while dancing, I can really see that he wants what he is doing. Seeing how dedicated he is, I can say that dancing is really his passion.

"Alam mo ba, sabi nila 'di ako marunong sumayaw." He drifted his eyes at me while his mouth was slightly open and gasping for air when I said those words like a sad puppy.

Grabe, kung pagod ako, mas pagod siya. Kanina pa siya sumasayaw tapos noong nag-start na ako mag workout, doon lang siya nagsimulang gumawa ng mga steps. Ewan ko ba rito kay Zale. Sasali ata sa the voice.

"Sabi nila parehas kaliwa ang paa ko," pagpapatuloy ko sa malungkot na tono pa rin.

"Is that even possible?" Hindi ko na pinanindigan ang pagkaka-sad girl ko at natatawang nailing sa kanya.

Was he serious? He doesn't know those kinds of words? Zale didn't even recognize the song!

Laking gulat ko nang biglang tumabi sa 'kin sa pag-kaupo si Zale. Hindi ko na alam kung anong nararamdaman niya sa akin. Kung naiinis ba siya o ano dahil seryoso lang siyang nakatitig sa 'kin.

I was just joking! What was with the serious face, huh, Zale?

Simula noong lagi na kami nagkaka-usap never ko nang nakita ang ganitong kaseryosong mukha ni Zale. Nakikita ko siyang seryoso pero hindi ganitong seryoso. Nakikita ko rin naman ang ganito niyang seryosong mukha pero 'pag hindi niya kilala ang kausap. Ginagamit niya 'yung ganitong mukha 'pag hindi pa niya gaano kilala 'yung kausap niya.

Ito na naman 'yung marami akong pera at sisirain ko buhay mo vibes.

"Elysia, if you want to dance, then dance. Don't listen to other people. Let's say they're right, hindi ka nga magaling sumayaw pero hindi naman ibig sabihin nun ay hindi ka na gagaling. There's always room for improvement. Even the best dancers were not even good at first. It took them a lot of time and effort to be the best. Walang nagsimulang magaling, Elysia."

Gusto ko sanang matawa ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil napaka-seryoso nang pagkasabi ni Zale. It was obvious that he was concerned and trying to motivate me.

"If you want, I can help you to be good at dancing. I'm not a professional dancer and I'm not even that good enough to be considered the best at dancing but I'm sure that I can help you and you can help me too. Sabay tayong magprapractice." He smiled at me genuinely.

Magiging dancer pa ako nang wala sa oras.

"Anong hindi ka gano'n kagaling? Sobrang galing mo kaya!" I tried to divert the topic from him teching mo how to dance.