Breaking Winter (Amethyst Member #1)

{ xxi }

CHAPTER 21

I woke up early the next day.

Maaga akong pumunta sa studio. I wore a white tank top paired with a black jogger pants and running shoes para magaan sa paa. I started my routine of stretching exercises. It will not take long before the kids start arriving.

I need to get energized dahil kailangan kong makipagsabayan sa kulit ng mga batang students.

There's a usual schedule every hip-hop summer classes. Kids are scheduled 8am to 12 noon, because they're the one who are never late. Teens are from 1 to 5 pm, because this is the time where they are most attentive. Lastly adults are from 6 to 10pm because most of them have work.

Ang ibang hip-hop dance teachers ay one time lang pumapasok sa isang araw. Minsan ay sa during kids lang, minsan during teens lang at minsa'y during adults lang. Depende sa pinili nila. There are only two teachers na pumayag magturo sa lahat; me and Isaac.

I choose to teach everyone pero dahil ayaw kong makita si Winter ay pinili kong kids at teens nalang ang turuan. Mamaya ko palang sasabihin ito kay Isaac. I really hope na maintindihan ng ibang teachers ang desisyon ko. They're the one who kept on insisting in the first place na hindi na dapat ako magpagod pa.

I ignored them that time. Dancing is my passion. Ito na ang itinuring kong boyfriend kaya hindi ako pumayag. But because of that guy... ugh!

I bent down to tie my shoe lace. Siguro ay maluwag ang pagkakatali ko kanina. I heard the door open and close. Thinking it was Isaac or another teacher ay binati ko ito ng magandang umaga.

"Good morning, Tiff." Napatuwid ako agad ng tayo at mabilis na umikot para humarap kay Winter. Naabutan ko pa siyang nakatitig sa bandang pang-upo ko. His outfit is almost similar to me. The only difference is his shoes. He wore a classic black Vans. Pero ang lakas pa rin ng dating niya.

Binigyan ko siya ng maliit ng ngiti bago humarap ulit sa wall na puro full length mirrors. I continued my stretching. Thanks to the mirror ay nakita ko ang mga kilos niya from my peripheral vision.

He stood not too far away from me. Ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin. I saw him doing what I do. He's also stretching imitating my moves. May nagwawala nanaman sa tiyan ko dahil kami lang dalawa dito.

Hindi ko din maiwasan na mapatingin sa repleksyon niya sa salamin. I can freely see his arms thanks to his tank top. His biceps looks so firm and strong. I wonder what it will feel when he hugs me from the back. Napakurap ako bigla. Did I just seriously imagine that?

Itinigil ko ang ginagawa at hinarap siya. Hindi na ako nagtaka when he did the same. I crossed my arms. "What are you doing here? It's too early," we're not supposed to see each other today, "I'm sure you're informed that adult sessions are from 6 to 10 pm."

Nilagay niya sa bulsa ang kamay niya and looked at me. I tried to look intimidating kahit na higit ang tangkad niya sa akin. Kumalabog ang puso ko sa klase ng tingin niya. Namumungay ang mga ito and it's full of... wanting.

"I was informed," he said. "I'm also informed that you teach the whole day and I want to spend time with you."

Gusto ko siyang sumbatan. Their band is on hiatus and this is how he wastes his time? He should be there partying the night. Hanging out with his band mates. Dating models like his band mates do. Bakit nandito siya at nagaaksaya ng oras? A summer class, seriously?

Napalingon ako sa pinto nang bumukas ito. May pumasok na batang babae at kasunod pa nito ang marami pang bata. "Ate Alex!" Dinumog ako ng mga pamilyar na bata. Yumakap sila sa baywang ko habang nakatingala sa akin. Muntik na akong matumba sa dami nila.