Caught by the Fire

SIMULA

Simula

Asshole

"Well. When you go forward, you actually have to make a movement out of it more." Mrs. Amor is our ballet dance instructor. 

We're now performing our morning barre and centre class. It's a daily routine for me to attend my ballet class since it's my passion, and I've been doing it since I was five years old. My mother, a retired ballet dancer and performer, referred me to this program. She went to college and met Dad; they fell in love and wedded, and that is when I was born into this world. Their affection for each other, and the accomplishments they have achieved, are the result of their passion and love. 

That is why I strive to be like them as their only daughter. Pursuing my passion as a ballet dancer is actually a lot of fun and exhilarating, but only when things aren't as difficult as they are now. My parents used to be less rigorous with my relationships, but now they do nothing but watch and follow me in everything I do, which is oppressive in some ways. I adore my parents, but they take on far too much.

I wouldn't say I disliked them for doing it, but it becomes a bit too much at times, and their way of protecting me feels a little off, just because I was hanging out with my current boyfriend. 

"Yes, that's better." ani Mrs. Amor sa amin.

The classical music stopped, and we turned to face Mrs. Amor, our ballet instructor.

"Okay, right." ngumiti siya sa amin.

"Back to first position!" 

"And we go point foot front flex to point three back to first, same with other leg, and two and three and first front open second. Plie without plie... without plie..." she instructed.

Nakinig at tiningnan lang namin siya sa kanyang ginagawa. We'll follow her as soon as she finishes the instructions.

"And plie to finish, so back flex, back flex, back to second... lower the heel, lower the heel and play first! Yeah?" tumango siya sa amin. "Ready and..." the classical music played as we do the barre and centre. 

I feel like I'm floating in the clouds doing just this. I love ballet, and now I feel as though I'm on stage. Ginawa namin iyon hanggang sa isang oras. Hingal na hingal ako pagkatapos ng aming sayaw. Nagpalakpakan ang mga kasama ko na hingal at pagod rin sa ginawa. I smiled as I watched Mrs. Amor lower her head and utter her thanks and farewell.

Lumabas na rin ang iba sa mga nagmamadali kong kasama. Some of them have classes and need to arrive on time. While I still have class on one, so I'm good. Umupo ako kasama ang iilan sa mga kasama ko sa sahig. Nagtatawanan na kami sa mga kwentong sinasabi nila, habang nag tatanggal ng pointe shoe. 

"That's how I convinced my mother to let me bring my boyfriend into my room..." si Lexie, my friend.

Nagsinghapan at nagtawanan ulit. 

"They allowed you? Swerte mo!" tukso ng ilan naming kaibigan sa kanya.

"When it comes to my boyfriends, my mother is the only one that is strict in the family. But when I told her that I had a 0 in math and that someone was going to tutor me, she didn't ask any further questions and then let me and my current boyfriend inside my room!" naghagikhikan ulit kami. 

How... difficult. You really need to do something like that to be with the person you love? 

Pero sino ba ako para kumwestiyon, dahil ganoon rin naman ang mga magulang ko sa akin. Sure, if I'm as insane as Lexie, I'll try. But my parents do know who's my current boyfriend, and I'm pretty sure they freak out when that happens.