Chasing Axel Blaze (Mi Amore #2)

01

Masayang ngumiti ang mga kinawayan ko pero hindi naman umalis sa pwesto nila.

"Seraphina bakla!" Mark, or should I say, Maria, called me at agad akong niyakap. Na-miss ko siya! Ilang linggo na rin kaming hindi nagkikita dahil marami siyang tinuturuan habang ako naman ay paminsan minsan nalang nakakapunta dahil sa mga ginagawa. Ngayon nanaman lang ulit kami ni Lucas dito.

"Maria!" Tumawa ako at hinigpitan ang yakap sa kaniya, palagi kong hinahanap ang kaingayan niya kasi ang saya niya kausap at nakakaaliw siya masyado magkwento!

"May mga bago?" tanong ko.

"Aba't sama-sama silang nagtipon-tipon dito, mag-aavail daw ng membership. Kaloka!" He exclaimed as I let out a huge laugh. Maganda iyon na maraming gustong sumali.

After catching up with him for a few minutes, nagpalit muna kami ng damit. I changed into a white halter cropped top and pink jogging pants as well as comfortable sneakers I could easily move and dance to.

I tied my hair into a high ponytail before we danced to some old songs Mark choreographed para makapag-practice.

Aside from Black Fire being a group of dancers for competitions, it was also created to teach people who want to learn how to dance. Isa na si Mark sa mga choreographer. May mga classes na binibili para ituro ang ibang choreography, o kaya naman one month membership para lahat ng ituturo sa buwan na iyon ay kabilang ka na.

Unlike those, I'm an official member since I was already with them before the studio was even created. I didn't have to avail memberships and classes.

Simula nang sumali si Lucas, mabilis din siyang nakilala ng mga miyembro sa galing niyang sumayaw. After availing classes for months once I referred him to our group, he immediately studied most of the choreographies.

Dahil mahal ko naman siya, tinuro ko na sa kaniya 'yong iba kahit may bayad dapat iyon kay Mark. Kaya lagi akong nagpapa-libre sa kan'ya at isusumbat sa kaniya na mahal ang talent fee ko!

Kaming dalawa lang ni Lucas ang sumasayaw sa gitna habang masayang nanonood lang ang iba. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mark with a proud smile, his arms crossed on his chest. Mas natuwa ako roon at pinag-igihan pa ang sayaw, lalo na't maraming bagong gustong mag-avail ng classes, this could be a great way to show them what Black Fire's made of.

The immense euphoria I get as I project each intricate move with polished steps never fades no matter how many years I've been dancing.

That was my biggest fear before. What if I woke up one day to realize that this isn't for me? That I'd grow tired of it someday?

Pero ngayon na nandito ako at nakikita ko ang manghang mga ekspresyon ng mga bagong sasali, it takes me back to the moments when I first started dancing and idolized everyone who could make me feel amused, who made me realize that dance is a form of expressing yourself through graceful and expressive steps.

Nang matapos namin ang dalawang kanta sa hiphop style ay agad silang nagpalakpakan kaya malaking ngiti ang iginawad ko sa kanila. Though I like dancing because it brings me joy, I equally like making other people happy because of it as well. I feel like I can be an inspiration to them.

Nakita ko pa ang iba sakanila na binaba ang kanilang mga phone na agad nakapagpakunot ng noo ko. Did they just take a video?

Sanay na ako roon, pero ayaw kong ma-issue lalo pa at kasama si Lucas na palagi ko rin kasama sa school. Everyone might think we're together.

I took a step back when someone gently wiped the beads of sweat trickling down my forehead. Nakakagulat naman 'to si Lucas!

Nakakahiya, ang daming taong nakatingin! Agad kong kinuha ang panyo at pinunasan ang sariling pawis habang matalim ang tingin sa kan'ya. A lot of people are watching and holding their phones! They might show it to everyone! Baka iba ang isipin nila at ayaw ko no'n.