Seasons

Little Details

Anntonia's POV:

As I stepped inside the venue, I was welcomed by the staff, who asked if I was recovered and if I could participate in the practice. I immediately answered yes, so they let me. I am still being accompanied by the staff I was with in the clinic. It makes me awkward, but she's keeping her distance, so I guess that should be better.
 

They asked me to sit for a while and watch the other woman practice so that I could catch the steps, which I politely obeyed. I stood here and waited for the music to start. I decided to just look at the choreographer because the girls seem to... have different steps. They're not synchronized.
 

My eyes somewhat find their way to Miss India. She was grooving smoothly. Her poise makes her dance look like it was the easiest. The steps weren't too complicated, but she's moving her body with so much coordination that it looks so polished.
 

It made me question how I would perform later if I was already called to join. How could she be so good when, in my case, the best thing I can do is manage not to trip when I dance?
 

Oh, well, she probably has a background in dancing. That's not something I know or am interested in knowing.
 

I retracted her stare at her, and I tried to look for a figure of someone. She's not on the front row, so I searched until my vision reached the back. There she was, wearing a black tank top, leggings, and a brown leather blazer. 
 

I saw her dance to the choreography. She was good, not gonna lie. She's a bit late, but she catches up, and it's not as if the mistake was too obvious. The thing about her is that she has a great deal of control over her upper body. I love that she wasn't exaggerating the steps that require to bend over and sway to the sides, unlike the other girls who were all over the place, and I cringed to watch.
 

Or am I just being biased? 
 

Anyway, I convinced myself to stay focused on watching and learning the steps quickly so that I could join them.
 

The dance ended, and they were starting to introduce their names and the country they represent, one by one, alphabetically.
 

"Miss Thailand, you can come to our choreographer now. She will be teaching you so you can join the practice later." The staff came to me to inform me, so I nodded and followed her. We reached the right side of the venue, and the staff introduced me to the choreographer. We both greeted one another before formally starting. 
 

The choreographer nicely explained the steps one by one as well as the counting. It wasn't too hard, and I could remember them easily. We did it another three times, and then I was told that I was ready to go. I genuinely thanked the choreographer for being patient.

I was about to go back to the side so that I could watch the execution of the introduction when my way was blocked by someone.
 

I felt like my heart was about to jump out. I was literally surprised. She just came out of nowhere.
 

"Hey."
 

"Are you planning to kill me?"
 

She raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. "That's an exaggeration. I was just approaching you."
 

"You startled me." I confessed as I dramatically held my chest as I overreacted.
 

I was expecting her to be disgusted and mock me, but she smiled with her teeth showing and went close to me. She reached for my arm and slightly squeezed it.
 

"Sorry."
 

I feel like reciting all the possible curses and bad words I know.
 

Her voice was too deep. She said it with so much depth. It sounded so masculine.
 

"Apology accepted for the cruelty you show in this world."
 

She sighed in disbelief. "If you're not being mean, you're overreacting. So done with you."
 

"Get used to it."
 

"I am used to it. I am just complaining."
 

"Complain not accepted. Better off shutting your mouth."
 

"Psh. So taray naman."
 

"What was it? I didn't catch it."
 

"No plans on telling you."
 

"Will you please go away for a bit? I feel like I am so close to pulling your hair." 
 

"Go, and I'll report you to Paula."
 

"You're stressing me out."
 

She became silent after hearing that. I stared at her, but she was just staring back at me too. I was planning on taking it back, but she cut me off by asking.
 

"What happened earlier? Why did you leave?" She softly asked. I was frozen for a second because I feel like there's something more in those last few words.
 

Or am I hallucinating things? Nevermind.
 

"I did not feel well. They had to bring me to the clinic."
 

"What did they tell you?"
 

"They say I might be fatigued."
 

"Are you drinking medicine? I have extra ibuprofen."
 

"What is it for again?" I asked. The name was familiar, but I don't think I am taking that kind of medicine with that name.
 

"Didn't you have bursitis? I have carried it around since I came here."
 

I was left speechless.

How could she remember? It was good three years ago. She found it out when she saw me hitting my right arm against the wall. She scolded me for hurting myself, so I had to tell her that time that my right arm was getting hurtful as heck. Then she knew that I had been suffering from this since then. She was thoughtful enough to fill my kit with medicine tablets every day because she knows I won't do it for myself.
 

She even concluded that I drink Jack Daniels to kill the pain.
 

I seriously had been better since she did that three years ago, when we were still where we first met, in Boracay. 
 

I felt myself melting at the thought. The last time she did that for me was three years ago. We still do contact one another on Instagram after that Boracay stay, but... I really didn't expect that she would pay so much attention to me at that time, and she still has this oath of taking care of people, and I was lucky enough to experience that side of her.
 

"Hey, still with me?"
 

I flinched when she snapped her fingers at me. I didn't even realize I was too deep in thoughts, and I was zoning out.
 

"Didn't know you still remembered."
 

"How could I? It became a habit too, even for a short period of time." She said, "Anyway, do you need it or..?"
 

"I do take some medications, but they weren't helping, in my opinion. I would love to take that offer." I answered.
 

"Alright. I'll get them in my room before we grab our lunch. Gotchu." 
 

My cheeks were burning, and my breathing wasn't at its normal pace. 
 

Damn. This isn't good. 
 

She diverted her attention to the girls introducing themselves, but she stayed beside me. I took that chance to freely stare at her side profile and appreciate the things she's been doing for me since we first interacted here in El Salvador after years of only being connected online.
 

I can still feel how intense my heart was touched by the little things she does.
 

Stop doing this to me, Dee. I do not wish to come back home confused.. again.

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