Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 29

"What happened?" Agad akong lumapit kay Eli at sinipat ang buo niyang katawan. His right foot had a bandage, na mas lalo lang nagpadagdag ng pag-aalala ko sa kanya.

"I'm fine." He placed his hands on my shoulder, forcing me to face him. "During my practice earlier, namali 'yong pagbagsak ng paa ko and then the ankle twisted. Sabi ng doktor, I had ankle sprain. Ni-recommend ng doktor na ipahinga ko muna 'yong paa ko within one to three weeks..."

"Pero, Eli... Four days na lang bago ang concert mo. How could you perform having your right foot injured?"

"Corrine, hindi naman pwedeng pilitin ni Eli ang sarili niya na sumayaw sa kabila ng kondisyon niya ngayon," I heard Dylan explain.

"What should we do now?" I looked at Eli, smiling unsound. "You've waited for this moment for too long, haven't you? Alam ko kung gaano kahalaga sa iyo ang bagay na ito kaya nga pinaghandaan mo ito nang matagal, e. And now I'm upset seeing you in this situation. If ever I know how to dance, kayang-kaya sana kitang saluhin para lang kahit papaano, maituloy 'tong concert mo." Now I can't control myself to get emotional.

"You're making my heart warm." He got up from the bed just to give me a hug. "Despite this happening, the concert should still be going. Marami ng fans ang nakapag-book ng ticket, either online or sa mga ticket booths. Sold-out na nga lahat ng tickets. GenAd na lang ang hindi."

"Kaya dapat lang na matuloy," rinig kong sambit ni Harris. "Alam mo na, Dylan. Saluhin mo na si Eli."

"Ekis kami ni Warren diyan, bro. Alam mo naman mga girlfriend namin, sobrang possessive. Gusto nilang sila lang ang kukuhanan namin ng atensyon." Dylan giggled. "Tiyaka isa pa, pass ako riyan. Gusto man kitang tulungan, Eli... kaso tambak ako ng trabaho sa school."

"Sure din ako na busy rin sa trabaho niya si Warren," si Alec naman ang nagsalita. "Actually, ang hirap na niyang i-reach these past few days. Of course, umiikot na lang ang oras ni Warren sa trabaho at kay Delancy."

Akala ko ay mayroon ng pag-asa na makahahanap kami ni Eli ng proxy para ito ang pumalit sa kanya sa pagsasayaw. As far as I could remember, si Warren at Dylan ang dalawang magagaling sumayaw sa DWEIYAH, of course, including Eli na rin. But because the two remaining options are no longer available, paano kaya namin ito gagawan ng paraan?

"May apat na araw pa naman para makahanap ng papalit kay Eli. Sa ngayon, siguro pagpahingahin na lang muna natin si Eli, ano?" Harris suggested.

"Tell me how?" pabirong sambit ni Eli. "Anyway, 'wag n'yo nang i-stress-in pa ang sarili n'yo na maghanap ng kapalit ko. Manager ko na ang bahalang mag-asikaso sa bagay na 'yan."

"Wala rin kasi talaga kaming maitutulong, bro. I'm very sorry for not being able to help you in this matter. Nagkaroon lang ako ng isang araw na dayoff sa opisina, tapos ito pa 'yong mababalitaan ko. I'm very sorry, Eli. Get well soon!"

"Salamat, Alec." Eli then glanced at me after those three left the room. "How about you, Corrine? Tapos na ba ang trabaho mo or you need to go back to the office?"

"I think I should," sagot ko.

Bigla ko rin kasing naalala 'yong pagiging mahigpit ni Israel the last time we argue. Tiyak na hinahanap na ako no'n dahil hindi eka ako responsible employee for roaming outside during working hours.

"And maybe we should reschedule our supposed dinner date later?"

I just nod as an answer. I was about to leave the room as well, when he stopped me from standing up.

"What's wrong?"

"I just thought of having this injury as a miracle." And he also laughed at what he just said. "Maybe this is destiny's way of preventing me from performing with an error. Kasi alam mo, Corrine... I can't perform the choreography superbly, not even once. Kaya rin siguro na-injured ako, e. Dahil pinipilit ko 'yong sarili ko na ma-perfect 'yong sayaw kahit na halos wala na akong pahinga."