Tadhana (Destiny)

Chapter 7: Dance lessons?

After catching up with Jade, we decided to visit our other cousins Fe and Angela. They then brought me to my favourite restaurant as a kid, JOLIBEE!

I ordered spaghetti, of course, no surprise there. My favourite food. After we've eaten, we went to walk around the mall.

There went in Forever XXI and my cousins started looking at clothes, but dropping it right away when they saw the price. Since I wasn't a person who likes to buy many clothes I said, "Take something you like, my treat,"

"Are you sure?" they all asked.

"I insist!" I said. As they all browsed in the store, I notice something just across on the right side of Forever XXI. It looked like a Dance Studio that offers various dancing styles lessons. I didn't know they would have one in this area.

"Whatchu looking at?" Fe asked as she caught me staring.

"Oh, uhm... That dancing studio," I pointed at it briefly, "Do you know about it?"

"Oh, yeah that. I heard it's good but I never really entered, why are you interested in learning how to dance?"

"Mmm... I don't know."

"You should try,"

"I don't want to sign up alone,"

"Girls, wanna go take dancing lessons?" she asked the others.

"Ah, no time for that, I have work," Jade said.

"I don't like dancing," Angela said.

"Oh, c'mon you guys!" Fe whined.

"It's okay... I don't need to go. It was just a thought." I said.

"No, if you want to take lessons, we'll go together." Fe said.

"But it's—"

"El."

"Oaky, I really want to learn how to dance. I just don't have time in Canada,"

"Okay, let's go register then."

"Wait... we're doing this? for real?"

"Yeah, it's now or never EL."

"Okay." I said before we walk towards the dance studio, but not before I hand in some cash to Angela and Jade who continued to browse at Forever XXI

"Hmm... so there's hip hop, contemporary, Salsa, Tango, Chive, Paso Doble and Balai"

"There's no Filipino dances, I'm surprised." I said.

"Yeah, it's because you can learn that in a lot of places whereas these ones, they don't offer it everywhere in the Philippines. Which one do you want to learn?"

"I've always wanted to learn Tango."

"Ouhh... That's pretty sensual. Do you think we'll get cute partners?"

"Ha. ha. Remember, you're married too."

"Ah yeah. Love my hubby, alright."

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" she asked suddenly.

"Nope."

"Ah, tell you what, if you get a boyfriend by the end of your time here, you'll owe me."

"Wait... owe you what?"

"I'll think about it. But don't worry, it won't be something impossible."

"uh huh. Anyway I doubt I'll get a boyfriend in the short amount of time I'm here. I'm not into fast-paced courting."

"You never know,"

We entered the studio and walked towards the receptionist who was busy on her phone. She had her black hair tied up into a bun and a face covered in heavy make-up.

"Hello."

She looked up, slightly startled. She frowned briefly before smiling professionally, as if she'd been practising it all her life.

"Hi, how may I help you?" she asked.

"Oh we want to apply for Tango lessons," Fe answered for the both of us.

"Okay. Tango lessons are 1000pesos per week."

"How many hours?" I asked.

"one hour."

"Ay grabe, ang mahal." Fe said. (wow, that's expensive)

The woman whose name I now see on her name tag, Shiela.

"It's okay, we'll take it."

"Okay, you need to complete the form, you can sit on the chairs over there, once it's completed, I'll send you to my colleague and he'll give you guys a tour."

"Okay, thank you."

"Ahhh, this is exciting!" Fe exclaimed.

"Yes. Yes, it is." I said.