Dance the Rhythm

Persistent Rain

Gino left Zarins sleeping. Hindi nya kayang magtagal pa don.. he needed to stop himself from loving her dahil alam nyang wala na silang patutunguhan..

"She needed us.. she needed you, Gino," Vince said habang nakaupo sa stool sa labas ng kwarto ni Zarins.

"She ripped us apart.."

"But she's now realizing her mistakes.. like how you realized yours.."

"Ramdam ko ng binitawan nya tayo.. at ramdam ko kung gaano kahirap ang dinanas ng mga kagrupo natin dahil sa kanya."

.........

Zarins blinked once she felt someone in her room. Nakita nya si Ms. Lorena..preparing her food..

"Gising ka na.. kumaen ka muna.."

"Salamat po, ma'am."

"Kelangan mo na pumasok.. madami-dami ka pang hahabulin para sa exam.. nami-miss ka na din ng mga kaklase mo.."

She smiled bitterly.."I doubt it."

Lorena sighed, sat beside her and held her cold numb hand..

"You never gave them a chance, Zarins.. you keep on telling to yourself.. na kapag nalaman nila ang totoo mong buhay.. huhugasan ka nila.. you keep on making your life an excuse... but is it not the other way around? You judged them first.. inisip mo agad na hindi ka nila magugustuhan.. and so you closed yourself to them.. you keep on using your status in life para isara ang mga tao sa buhay mo.."

...

"Zarins, open yourself up.. to everyone.. dahil hindi mo alam.. na baka..ikaw lang ang hinihintay nilang gumawa ng paraan.. forget about your status.. forget about what others might think.. and learn to stand up.."

Hindi nya napansin ang pagtulo ng luha until Lorena wiped it away.. 

She realized... tama ito.. hindi nya biinigyan ng chance and mga kaklase nya.. she felt that they are trying.. but she refused..until she ended up with nothing.

+++++++++++++

A week has passed at nakalabas na sya ng ospital. Pansamantalang si Lorena ang kumupkop sa kanya habang tuluyan syang napapagaling... 

Ilang araw na lang at maguumpisa na ang finals nila.. at pinipilit nyang makahabol sa lessons..

One night... habang malakas ang ulan sa labas,, nakamasid lang sa bintana si Zarins... thinking deeply.. lost in her own world..

"Tahimik ka, iha?"

She smiled.. Lorena was already someone special in her heart.. para na itong magulang sa kanya.. pati ang asawa nito na si Mr. Henry.. 

"Salamat sir ha.. sobrang laki na ng natulong nyo sakin.. hindi ko na alam kung pano ko mababayaran lahat ng toh.."

Henry sat besdie her wife and smiled.." You know..this past few years.. my wife has become fascinated with you.. your group..with how you danced. Nakakatawa ano? Sa tanda na nyang yon.. don pa sya nahilig manood ng  mga sayawan. But you made her happy with your dance.."

"i-i.."

"Gabi-gabi..lagi syang nagpapasama sa may eskinita para lang mapanood kung meron kayong laban... and everytime she watches you.. nakikita kong nabubuo sya.. bilang isang babae.. bilang isang..ina.." Henry smiled and drink his cup of coffee..

"wala po kayong--"

"unfortunately..and miserably.. though masaya naman kaming dalawa na magkasama.. pero hindi ko pa rin maibigay ung bagay na naibibigay ng isang anak.."

"and I can feel her happiness every time she watches you,"

"But that dance ruined me..and my whole being.. I starved for more power and money.. hanggang sa eto..walang natira sakin.."

"Iha.. may isa lang akong hiling sayo.."

"ugh..ano po yon?"

"Dance."

"S-Sir..y-you know I-I cant.." she said almost in a whisper..the pain rushing through her heart again..

"I can see the fire and happiness in you and your group when you're dancing.. It is what makes you happy.. and it is what makes my wife happy.. gusto nya ulit kayong mapanood.."

"Pero hindi na ulit kami mabubuo.. ako ang sumira sa grupo.."

"Then you'd better be the one to fix them.. stand up, iha.. hindi pwedeng lagi ka na lang magmumukmok at hayaan silang mawala sayo.. andito kami ni Lorena sa likod mo.. susuportahan ka namin.. You are already in the lowest part of your life.. nawala na sayo ang lahat.. and the only choice you have is to stand stronger.."

She started crying on his shoulders... his every word and calm voice makes her want to believe that she still can make it..

"Thank you..thank you po.."

"Kung pede nga lang akong maging back-up dancer mo eh.. aba, baka matalo ko pa ung partner mo sa sexy dance.."

She giggled at that.Gino.

"At kung alam mo lang kung gano gusto ka nang balutin ng kumot ni Lorena ng mga panahong yon.."he said while tapping her head," you touched her heart by simply swaying your body."

**********************

Kinabukasan.. she smiled despite the heavy rain that welcomed her.. yes..she already lost everything.. and all she needed was to get them back.. kahit anong mangyari.. kahit sa anong paraan..

She will dance again.. and this time..

It is because she wanted to become whole and happy again..

because she wanted others to be happy and whole..