Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 8

GRACEFUL DANCER

“Hindi naman natin pwedeng iasa pati kay Kuya Marcus pati ang pag-arrange ng mga gagamitin nating props.” sabi ng isang babaeng kaklase ni Pacer.

I do not intend to listen to otherʼs conversations. They were speaking to loud that even I—who wasnʼt that distant from them—could hear what they were talking about.

“Yeah, I know pero mas maalam siya sa kung paano natin maisasabay ang paggamit ng props sa pagsayaw.” tugon naman ni Pacer. “Wouldnʼt it be more nice if our set up is organized?”

“Youʼre right...” his classmate replied. She squinted her eyes and take a look around. She might be searching for something... Or someone. Then she turns back to Pacer. “Pero nakakahiya na sa kaniya. Iʼm beyond sure na marami siyang gagawin, kaya ʼwag na nating dagdagan pa.”

“Huy.” bulong ni Liana mula sa aking gilid. “Masamang makinig sa usapan ng iba.” saway niya sa akin.

“I know.” I turned my body towards her with a sigh. “It wasnʼt my fault na malakas ang boses nila.”

“Yes, but still—” she was about to scold me more then I noticed that it wasnʼt getting us to somewhere.

“Should I talk to Pacer?” I cut her off witha question.

“Why?”

“It seems that they misunderstood the whole plan.” I told her. “I told them that Iʼll be also taking charge of the props and costumes they should use. I said that because I want to guide them, not because I am getting paid here.”

“Letʼs ask him. Kung pumayag siya, dagdagan na lang natin ang ibabayad sa kaniya or letʼs see also if we could help him in some ways.”

When I heard them coming by their footsteps, I stood straight and pretended that I didnʼt hear a word from their conversation.

“Kuya Marcus,” tawag ni Pacer sa akin.

“Good timing,” I said. Liana left me and went to the locker. I was nervous at the moment because Liana wasnʼt beside me. Doon ko bigla naalala ʼyung sinabi ng mga kaibigan ko.

Before I ask him about my curiosity, I breathe in and out so I wouldnʼt be stuttering as I speak to him. “Hindi ba para ʼto sa PE ninyo? Anong klaseng props ba ʼyung gagamitin niyo?”

“Para ʼto sa competition next month.” sagot niya sa unang tanong ko. “Paniguradong kaunti lang naman ang gagamiting props at panigurado rin na pang-Halloween.”

November magaganap ang competition so technically, pang-Halloween ang theme.

“Ah ganun ba...” tanging nasabi ko.

Bigla ko namang naalala ʼyung sabi ni Primo. “Bakit sabi ni primo para sa PE niyo raw?”

“ʼWag ka maniwala roʼn. Hindi ko naman pinaalam sa kaniya na sasali kami eh.” aniya saka humagikhik.

Nang bumalik si Liana ay siya umalis naman si Pacer at bumalik sa mga kasama niya.

“Letʼs get back to practicing guys!” Liana announced.

She was at the front of the speaker, ready to play the music and start practicing again.

Liana and I havenʼt had our usual conversation. Itʼs always asking about dancing this and dancing that. She havenʼt asked me anything except for that in the whole week weʼve been teaching together.

As I glance at her at my side, she was so serious about this. Taking the practices seriously, wasnʼt a bad thing at all. I just hope it wouldnʼt cross her boundaries.