Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Every day, after class, I pull on my pink tights for my ballet class. I know my parents are investing quiet a lot of money for this prestigious ballet school, so I take each class seriously. And it's hard to be a rebel in this class, for I have a very strict ballet teacher.

"One day, you will be a Prima Ballerina..." palaging sinasabi ni Mama sa akin, pagkatapos niya akong panuoring mag-perform ng Romeo and Juliet. "And everyone in the room will adore you for your radiance and elegance."

Ballet dancing is just a hobby for me. I have some classmates who talk about applying to an international ballet company when they grow older. But for me, I know I will handle the hacienda soon. Much as I want to travel different places and perform ballet, I couldn't just leave our hacienda behind.

Pinaghirapan iyon ni Papa. He worked like a dog to flourish it. Dapat lang na ipagpatuloy ko ito.

Some of my classmates in school know that I am dancing ballet. Aside from the occasional mentions and the impressed reactions of my teacher, no one really talks about it with me. Walang sinumang nakakapanuod sa akin na mag-perform, except my parents, who have been both very supportive of me being a ballerina.

Sa totoo lang, gustong-gusto kong mang-imbita ng kaibagan sa tuwing may performance kami. My ballet classes kept me lean and in shape, but I still think that I'm not as sexy as Denise and Shanna who can wear dresses with plunging necklines while I still look like a kid.

"Are you still seeing that Alex guy?"

Startled, I turned around and saw Blake darkly staring at me. Nandito kaming dalawa ngayon sa birthday party ng chief police ng La Union. He's a good friend of my parents and Blake's father. Even though it's a birthday party for a kid, the whole place is filled with people of my father's generation. I could barely see any teenagers hanging around.

"Blake..." banayad ko siyang nginitian nang makita. He went with his father to Thailand for a business trip and he wasn't able to pick me up for two weeks. Sa loob ng dalawang linggo na iyon ay palaging si Alex ang naghahatid sa akin pauwi, o minsan, sa ballet school kung saan ako pumapasok.

"Welcome back..." I said and briefly hugged him.

"So, are you still seeing him?" he asked impatiently. I could tell he tensed for a bit when our skins touched, but the stoic expression on his face remained.

"Alex? Well, yes." I admitted. Since the invitation to the party was sent in such a short notice, we weren't able to shop for dresses to wear. I just pulled a satin Dior champagne dress and paired it with black cigarette heels, hoping I'd look mature for my age.

Mas lalong dumilim ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Blake. Kapag talaga si Alexandre ang pinag-uusapan ay nawawala siya sa mood.

"Bakit?"

"Anong bakit?" inosente kong tanong sa kaniya. I sweep a gaze over him, admiring how he looked so handsome in his simple white button down shirt and black trousers. "Alex is a good friend of mine. In fact, Mama invited him for dinner. My parents know his parents."

"But they don't know Alex." He insisted.

I sighed. "Blake, he is a good friend. Wala naman siyang ginagawang masama."

"Nanliligaw ba yun sa iyo?"

Natahimik ako sandali. He did ask me last week if he could court me, and I said I'll ask permission from my parents first. Alex laughed and said it's going to be fine. After that, we never talked about it. But I assumed he's really courting me now, what with all the roses and notes and driving me home every day.