Youth With You - Lisa Manoban x Female Reader (Short Story)

VIII

February 07, 2018

Dance class has been very good these past few weeks. I'm learning more and more each day. Our class will hold the final performance in the next couple of weeks so we got busier.

And these past few weeks, Lisa eonnie and I just got closer. We talk about almost everything. Every night, we call each other until both of us fall asleep.

I don't know if it's right for me to say this but I think my small admiration for my dance teacher just grew into something bigger that I can't begin to explain. At least not right now. It's just that, she always makes me happy. She puts a smile on my face. She makes my worry vanish.

Lisa eonnie has been my greatest plot twist, as how people like to address it, since I never expected that going into this dance class would give me the opportunity to meet the purest person in my life. I never expected that someone like her, a girl who is beyond perfection, would be my friend. If this is a dream, then I'm glad that she became a part of the sweetest dream that I ever had. But at the same time, I hope this is not just a product of my very creative mind. I hope that Lisa eonnie is my reality.

However, when you are having the greatest time of your life, a bad thing would come and ruin your mood. It's not that bad but it somehow dampens my bright day.

These past few weeks, I get headaches. The constant pain in my head makes me weak in general. Eomma said that it's probably because of how rigorous our dance training is. So every time I get home, I take a rest then eat dinner. Then when the night fully comes, I talk to Lisa eonnie once again.

To make things worse, I have to go with eomma at the hospital more these days. And from what I have heard, things are not going that well. Everything are going south. So eomma gets weaker and weaker after every consultations. That's why I strive to be stronger for her and be the one to hold her.

It's getting rough for us but with all my might, I promise to fight for my family and keep us together. I'll always be there for them, specially my eomma.

Lisa's POV

Today is a big day for us. We will start rehearsing for our final performance that will be held in the next couple of weeks. It's the dance company's way to evaluate each students that attended their classes.

All students from different genres would come together and perform. There would be a group performance and of course, the solo one. Deciding whether a student would perform with a group or do a solo depends on how well they did on last month's evaluation.

I'm not going into all of my students' results but I would say that Y/N would do a solo. She improved a lot and her evaluation showed that she's better when she's dancing alone. I mean, it's not that the other students outperformed her but Y/N had developed a unique style that would be emphasized and be given more appreciation if she would dance alone. That is why, it has been decided that she'll be one of the solo acts for the final performance.

"Okay guys. Gather up." I clapped as I commanded the students to sit in front of me.

One thing that I also noticed about Y/N is that she got less shy and more confident. Back when we were just starting, she would always sit at the back and isolate herself. But now, she would sit right in front of me with a smile, that I have always loved, plastered on her face.

Seeing her makes me smile too so I always return her smile whenever she gives me one.

"So as all of you know, our final performance is coming up and that would probably also be the last day that we'll see each other." Sad groans were heard inside the studio we are in. Now if this happened at the beginning, I would think that these students are nothing but plastics cause all they do is badmouth me. But that has changed and the students and I are now friendlier with each other. And judging by their tones, they seem genuinely saddened by the fact that we will soon be parting ways.

However, with the all groans, Y/N's voice stood out the most. I'm not sure but she seems to be the saddest one with this. Then again, I actually feel exactly what she feels. Her and I have grew closer so us parting ways is such a scary thing to think of.

I slightly and subtly nudged her that gained her attention. She looked up at me with those sad eyes that I have never seen before. It's as if she really didn't want for that day to come. So to at least make her feel better, I smiled at her and mouthed "We'll keep in touch. I promise." Luckily it worked and the smile was brought back to her face. I really don't like not seeing her smile.

•••

The students have showed me what they started working on for their performances one by one. And just like before, Y/N comes in last. It's indeed true that you save the best for last.

She stood in the middle with a confident smile. Her head was also held up high. She's like a new Y/N but at the same time, she's still the same. If that makes sense.

As the music starts, her body smoothly flowed with the rhythm. The snaps and points are all beautifully executed that I can't help but awe at her. But just as the music is about to stop, she stumbled while holding her head. Seeing that, I immediately stopped the music and went to her. She was wobbling so I had to hold her to make her stay still.

"Hey what's wrong?" I asked her softly. Her eyes are shut tight while gripping her head. The other students also gathered around her and one girl even brought a water bottle for her.

When she removed her hand and opened her eyes, she gratefully took the bottle and took a sip.

"My head aches a bit but it's nothing to be worried about." She smiled at us but I can still see how she's in pain.

"This has been happening frequently so I guess I'm just tired. But don't worry, it's nothing that I can't handle." And with that, she bowed to all of us and asked me if she can redo her dance. I was hesitant at first but with her pleading eyes, I let her.

So throughout her performance and the remaining hours of class, I watched Y/N carefully. I'm afraid that her head will ache once more.