Dancing With Our Hands Tied: The Series

Patience

Even before reaching the door of the student council office, Claire could already hear a loud voice which she can't be mistaken was from Ningning. Only the secretary would have the energy to talk on an on especially on a Monday. And she wasn't wrong. There she was standing in the middle of the room while the other officers present were sitting on the couch listening to her banter.

"All I'm saying is, it's kind of unfair how the athletes have a week off from the university after the season yet we officers don't have the same privilege." Claire closes the door which made a soft thump garnering the attention of Ningning who pauses for a second and turned to look back at her. After a nod at Claire, she was back at it again. "We track and take note of their progress, needs and profiles while in preparation for the competition." She finishes with an exasperated sigh.

Philip, the newly elected auditor this year stretches his arm before saying, "Just say you still have a hangover from the party last Friday, Ningning." which earned a series of laughter from the rest of the officers.

"Well I wasn't the one puking out all over the damn floor was I?" Ningning countered back sharply.

"You can cut it out now. We all had our share of liquor last Friday." Claire intervenes lightly to ease the situation before settling on her designated desk. "And as for your sentiments Ningning, you can voice it out to Mr. Park since I just got out of his office and he's asking for you."

"Did he say why?" Ningning questions with a knit on her brows. Her thoughts completely wash away by the new found information.

"Nothing that I'm aware about." Was the president's immediate response.

For a moment, Ningning made a mental ran through of her tasks over the weekend. Reports, dinner meetings, planning with Yijun...all were already finished.

It was Anna, her closest friend in the room who breaks her out of her thoughts. "You already submitted your report last week right?" She asks even though she already knew that Ningning had it already sent last Friday.

"Yeah that's why I was late for the party."

"Was he at the party? Was he invited? Maybe he caught you smoking, Ningning! Remember? You were drinking wi—" Philip consecutively queries as he looks around the room to check if his suspicion was right.

"Oh it was one stick!" Ningning huffs and rolls her eyes in annoyance at the auditor's enthusiastic voice.

Knowing well enough that Ningning was stretching her words, Philip smirks at the former and whispers softly but enough for the whole room to hear, "You know student council officers shouldn't lie, Ningning."

It was only the first day of the week yet her patience was already being tested.

She knew what she did last Friday. The overflowing liquor definitely took a toll on her but not enough for her to forget what transpired that night. Yes, she did smoke. Even though it was prohibited for student council officers to do so, Ningning with liquid courage flowing in her system paired with her turmoil stemming from her fiancé did grabbed a stick for the first time in her life.

The initial burning sensation wasn't for her but the puff of relief was what pushed her to ask for another one and another until the last drop of liquor hit her lips.

"Okay I had two. Or maybe three. I don't know,  I've lost count that night okay!" Ningning tried to explain as she fetched her bag and faced the other officers in the room.

Claire stands up from her seat and slowly approaches Ningning who was clearly being worked up on the situation. "Take it easy, Ningning." She started then puts a comforting arm around the secretary's shoulder. "Maybe the call for you wasn't about last Friday. Maybe Mr. Park just wants a personal explanation of your report."