Snicker & Tears

55: Dancing On His Own

“Bro, tara na sa field.” Reggie invited his friend to join him in their practice.

“'Di ako maglalaro.” Spencer replied. He turned to his friend and walked in the opposite direction.

“Oy, sa'n punta mo? Sama 'ko!” Reggie ran immediately until he caught his friend who still walking fast. It seemed like Spencer was in a hurry and it seemed like he was chasing the time though he had no important way to go.

“Up to you.” Spencer glanced at his friend and focused his attention again on his way forward.

•••••

“Next na tayo... galingan natin. Let's do it for the grades!” Paul motivates his classmate Sierra and now his partner in dance for the meantime. They are here in the backstage of the San Agustin Theater because this is the venue where their performance at P.E. subject be held.

A few minutes passed and the current performers had just finished their performance. Sierra and Paul are the next performers. When the two of them were called, they immediately went to the middle of the stage. The audience applauds them again and again until the operator plays their piece— “Sa 'Yo / Silent Sanctuary”.

Spencer and Reggie had just arrived actually. Spencer paused and briefly stomped his feet on the floor where he stands when he heard the intro of the song Sierra and Paul were dancing right now.

“Anong mayro'n dito, p're?” asked Reggie to his friend Spencer as they entered and stood here at the back of San Agustin Theater near entrance. “Uy, si Sierra 'yon, a!”

Reggie points to Sierra currently dancing onstage with Paul as her dance partner. Spencer patted and lowered his friend's hand because Sierra might notice them.

Spencer gaped at Sierra as she danced slowly. His stares follows the girl everywhere as the girl follows the slow melody of the song which further enhances its beauty which is only now recognized by the young man. It was just the first time he had seen Sierra wearing that kind of women's dress and was acting like a damsel who was modestly costumed or a mistress unable to break any piece of brittle things.

“Thank you, Paul and Sierra!” the emcee cheers with the cheers of the people applauding.

Reggie waved his hand over and over again in front of Spencer's face. Seconds later he returned to his senses. He still stared at the two from where he stood. Sierra and Paul held their hands before bowing their heads together.

But to his surprise, Sierra's eyes widened when their pining eyes met accidentally. Spencer was terrified and rushed out the door but with so many people coming inside the San Agustin Theater from the outside he found it difficult for him as well as Reggie to get out but eventually they also got outside and took a deep breath afterwards.

“Peng...” Spencer's eyes fluttered as he heard Sierra's voice from behind him. He breathed a sigh of distress and sighed ineptly.

“Uy, Sierra! Congrats, ang galing mong sumayaw.” Spencer shouted as he turned his face nervously to Sierra. “Congrats, bro! You're good too. It's a great thing for you to partner up! Bagay na bagay kayo... sumayaw.” Spencer struggled to speak well even though he was unable to come up with a good sentence to speak for both.

“O siya, I'm up. May practice pa kami.” Spencer said and skipped the two. “Tara na, Gie!” He called Reggie as he walked away.

“Akala ko ba 'di tayo magpa-practice?” Reggie asked Spencer but he ignored his friend. Spencer just continued his walk and Reggie just followed him.

•••••

All of the fluid in Spencer's body seemed to be running low because of his constant crying. His eyes were in tears without any force applied to it. Tears are freely streaming down his lachrymose face. His earphone clutches his ears that listens to the song— “Paalam / Silent Sanctuary”. It is only now for a long time ago that he has been hurt like this and the pain that he is feeling now is the reason why he is drowning in his own tears.