Ready For It?

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Nasa kalagitnaan ng pag-iingay ang aking mga kaklase nang tumunog ang chime na mula sa intercom. Right there, we knew that someone is making an announcement.

"Calling the attention of all grade 9 students; as agreed during the meeting of all MAPEH teachers of grade 9 department, you will be having your social dance competition by section. You are instructed to start your rehearsals as soon as today and keep in touch for further announcements. Thank you."

Muling tumunog ang chime to notify that the announcement is done.

Agad na tumungo si Celestine sa blackboard kasama ang classroom secretary para magsulat ng agenda sa chalkboard.

No doubt, we will be having a meeting about this competition.

Habang nagsusulat sina Celestine, napunan muli ng ingay ang section but this time, it's because of the announcement. Tungkol sa social dance ang maririnig mo.

Of course we had our lesson about social dance and we also heard some rumors and testemonies about kaya may background na kami. Madalas kaming binabalaan ng mga seniors namin and they also gave us some tips.

It's a dance that is intended for socialization but it became an inter-section competition at the same time. It happens between the sections of the grade 9 department of Inundacion Vocational High School. Parang naging tradisyon na rin ito ng grade level at maging ng paaralan.

Kailangan na naming ihanda ang sarili namin para sa mga nakakapagod na rehearsals. Just like the past years, we expect that we will be left without a choice but to practice every weekday morning until late at night. We will also be forced to use our weekends as practice days instead of rests. It's how busy and competitive this school is.

Nagsimula na kaming mag suggest kung ano ang magandang theme, costumes, motifs at maging ang gagastusin namin para sa sayaw.

I hope that this performance will turn out well.

***

Entrepreneurship ang subject namin sa second period namin kahapon instead of MAPEH. We also have Internet and Computing Fundamentals instead of Filipino kaya wala kaming oras kahapon para sa rehearsals. Kung Filipino pa kasi iyon, pwede pa kaming mag-rehearse dahil naka maternity leave ang aming subject teacher at wala pang substitute.

Today is our first rehearsal for the social dance competition. As what Celestine said, we will focus on the mastering of choreography dahil hindi pa kami nakakagawa ng formations. No worries, we still got time.

Celestine and her friend Yssa will be our choreographers. Habang sumasayaw sila at nagdedesisyon ng choreography, they told us to be with our pairs. That's the reason why I'm with Quinn right now.

Inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay na siyang tinanggap ko. Now my left hand is over his and the other one is on his shoulder. His hand is on my waist and the other one is under mine.

Sumasayaw kami ngayon kahit wala pang choreography na binibigay sina Celestine. We are just having fun and dancing the day away. Like the usual ay iikot ako sa kanya, pero dahil hindi nagpapatalo ang mga bakla ay umiikot rin siya sa akin.

I know that he's not a gay but I like him calling that way. Maybe to justify the fact that being close with him is fine, because he's gay.

But he's not. So I don't know if I'm doing the right thing or not.

Of course I am! I told myself. We've been friends for a long time! Ngayon pa ba kami pagbabawalan na maging malapit sa isa't-isa kung halos hindi na kami mapaghiwalay?