The day of the recital finally came.
The sun started to dip low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the city. Hanaria had hurried into the theater wearing a plain red sweater to warm herself from the cold night. Sheila's nervous yet excited voice was echoing in her ear as she called Hanaria, telling her that the recital was about to start. Hanaria then rushed trying to make it in time for the ballet recital. The school's theater stood majestically, its entrance adorned with shimmering lights and beautiful flower arrangements of vibrant colors. The theme of the recital was "The Nutcracker," promising an evening of delicate artistry and enchanting ballet.
As she made her way inside, the theater was filled with a gentle hum of anticipation. Hanaria then slipped and to a seat just in time as the light dimmed, signaling the start of the performance. The audience's murmurs faded into a hush as the curtain rose revealing a stage decorated beautifully with ornaments.
The opening performance showcased a splendid display of coordinated dancers with graceful and harmonious movement that slowly brought the spirit of the Nutcracker to life. The audience watched closely as the whole theater was weaved with a magical atmosphere. As it ended, the lights dimmed once more, leaving a spotlight focused on the center of the stage.
A familiar figure then appeared, catching Hanaria's whole attention. "Is that... Yin?" She muttered, feeling her heart beating faster. He was dressed in a sleek black costume with gold accents. Even though he was far away from her, she could tell how dashing he looked that night, just like a prince from a fairytale. The music began, a hauntingly beautiful piece from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite," an expressive solo performance that both showcased the beauty and complexity of ballet.
Hanaria was mesmerized, her eyes never leaving Alexis, entranced by his technique. How he'd leap and execute steps in a graceful and elegant manner, just like that of a delicate flower. Yet despite his flawless execution, she sensed an underlying emptiness in his performance. Just like a wilting flower—exquisite but devoid of the vibrant life it once held. She then remembered her talk with him in the floral shop and slowly got to grasp the struggle and sadness he had to face alone.
As the performance concluded the audience erupted in applause, satisfied and touched with what they had seen. Hanaria had clapped enthusiastically but she still could not dismiss the feeling of wanting to know more about Alexis.
After the recital, Hanaria met up with Sheila who was changing out of her costume, her face still flushed after the performance.
"That was amazing, Sheila!" She smiled, giving her friend a warm hug, "You nailed it as usual!"
Sheila's cheeks flushed even more, "You better not just be sugarcoating things!" She teased playfully.
"Fantastic performance! Well done!" Raphael exclaimed proudly.
Zoe, who was standing close to Raphael added with a grin, "Yeah you were incredible out there!"
Sheila shyly massaged her neck with flushed cheeks, "Thanks you two!" Her gaze lingering on Zoe.
"Also, I didn't know our tigress would be a fan of ballet!" Raphael teased, looking at Hanaria.
"Even if I didn't, Sheila would no doubtedly find a way to drag me here anyways." Hanaria shrugged playfully.
"You bet I would!" Sheila chuckled, "So, what did you think about Alexis's performance?" She asked, looking at Hanaria.
"You mean the guy with teal highlights on his hair?" Raphael asked, "What about him?"
"Well he's one of the reasons Hanaria came." Sheila teased as Raphael looked at Hanaria with a slightly concerned look. "She wanted to know more about elegance and grace~"
"So... Yin is the ballet prodigy named Alexis?" Hanaria thought to herself, "Now that I think about it, it all adds up."
"What's wrong?" Sheila asked in concern as he looked at Hanaria who was deep in thought.
"Well Yin.. I mean Alexis.. he was great and all but.. I don't know, there was just something missing."
"Right?" Sheila nodded in agreement. "I overheard our instructors talking about it. Alexis is incredibly talented, but his performances have been emotionally flat lately. Miss Aurora mentioned that he used to be much more expressive. I wonder what happened."
"I hope he finds a way to overcome whatever he's going through," Hanaria said softly, her concern evident. "There's so much more to him than what's visible on stage."
With that, Hanaria and Sheila continued to chatter with Raphael and Zoe. The evening had been full of surprises and remarkable performances, and yet Hanaria couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to know him more on a deeper level. There was so much to uncover behind the cold facade of the talented yet troubled dancer.
As they left the theater and bid their goodbyes, Hanaria's thoughts lingered on the striking contrast of the spider lilies and Alexis's performance that night— a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful things can carry such painful sorrows.
