"That was a marvellous play by the drama club. Now, for the final performance before we draw the curtains and call it a night, the seniors from the dance club are going to perform a classical number. Presenting the Class of 2019..."

The audience applauds.

AGNES

We line up on the sides of the stage, waiting for Miss Francesca to finish her introduction. After she is ended, she walks towards us and gives us a double thumbs-up. In return, we give back an optimistic smile.

Felix and I stand behind the other couples. Just before the music starts, he turns to me. "We're going to do our best, isn't that right?"

I keep my head straight. "I've already promised you, the least you can do is to take my word for it."

"I trust you. I wouldn't, but I have to."

"Are you trying to make me feel bad or what?"

"For once, can we not squabble over irrelevant things?"

I shut him out of my head at last. We are about to perform on holy ground and so the last thing I need is a fight.

As the music begins with a downbeat intro, the other couples advance forward with suave and graceful steps to take their positions. Felix and I follow suit, walking elegantly till we reach the middle of the stage. The lights go out, and right before the tune changes, we assume positions with our partners.

Five spotlights fall on each couple, following us around on stage as we dance.

Felix holds my featherweight body as we swing in tune to the music. I follow his lead. He looks directly into my eyes with every opportunity he gets to pull me close. I have always avoided this moment from the very first rehearsal, but now, there's no escaping his face. For the sake of the school and a need for perfection, I quit holding onto my resistance. No doubt, we do feel some kind of good chemistry eventually.

Maybe Felix isn't so bad after all. Maybe, the ill emotions were all in my head. And maybe, just maybe, Felix does have the capacity to connect with somebody. A contagious smile appears on his face and somehow, I get infected, too.

And his eyes... heck! His aqua blue eyes render me vulnerable. For the first time, I allow myself get entrapped to notice his impeccably shaped grin. Miss Francesca and the heartbreak prince in front of me must've had this all planned out. Now, I can't help but give into him.

I see why most girls would look into these same eyes and fall helplessly then they are swooning head over heels in love with him.

Hey! Snap out of your imprudence, Agnes! Just have this presentation over and done with. You must remember, you are Agnes Carter, the girl that will never fall for someone like Felix.

We move our bodies just as we have practised, everyone in the audience enjoying our flawless performance. He spins me once then twice, we go round each other and I finally let myself fall, trusting him to catch me, and he does. We light up the stage with every step, like an enchanted spell to captivate every spectator in the room.

When it is time for me and Felix to dance as the star couple, the other four couples round their dance, leaving just the both of us on stage. The lights change into a crimson red, all focused on us. I have no one to depend on to make tonight a good night for everyone but Felix and I.

Suddenly, as though our surrounding vanishes, it's only the both of us staring into each other's eyes. My heart begins to flutter, welcoming me to feelings I never thought I'd have.

We start off by strutting anti-clockwise, my left hand raised up against his, with our right hands behind. We change course and finish the move with him spinning me twice then a stretch, and finally, we come back together with a twirl and my upper body resting in his arms.

"This is the part where you should tell me 'you love me," he mumbles. "Everybody is loving on us and our dance."

"In your freaking dreams!" I shoot back quietly. "Don't be such an idiot!"

That attitude right there quickly prompts me of our platonic relationship. I'm glad I'm not crazy over his dreamy eyes anymore.

He giggles at my mundane countenance as our bodies glide, his against mine.

Whether he thinks we'd connect more, or we'd become a thing after this performance, that is his own problem. Hereafter this school play, as far as I'm concerned, we have no business with each other.

"I can't wait for this to be over," I say to myself, and to his hearing.

Suddenly, the back door of the theatre swings open and someone takes a clandestine walk to the last rows of seats behind. For some strange weird reason, it catches my attention and from there, I misstep before losing track on what I'm supposed to do. But that isn't what bothers me – mostly.

The man who stepped into the hall racks up an ugly feeling I could recognize spot on. Even the face of the person perfectly matches one that's been etched into my memory.

My periphery blurs out. I squint just to be sure, but no, he hasn't changed at all. The feeling too hasn't changed either.

My brain goes numb in that moment, my chest becomes heavy, and God knows I didn't plan to move back, leaving Felix hanging in front of the entire school. All the agony, all the frustration, everything I suffered eleven years ago, they all come running back, and my eyes don't attempt to hold back any tears.

"Agnes!" Felix cries subtly. "What do you think you are doing?" He reaches towards me with a shaky hand.

Oh my god! What am I doing?! I shouldn't have stopped. But I can't go back. Not when the man I despise so much is sitting there, watching like nothing is happening. What should I do? What should I do?

"I'm sorry, Felix. I'm very sorry," I say under my breath and sprint out of the stage floor.

I hold my dress up to help me run faster to the bathroom. Yvonne and Tessa sight me dashing down the backstage and they follow me. I open the door recklessly to find the basin because all I want to do is throw-up. My insides are turning to jelly, it's sickening.

"Agnes!" Yvonne yells my name in annoyance.

"Calm down, Yvonne! She clearly isn't alright!" Tessa restrains her.

Since I try throwing up, and nothing disgusting seems to be coming out from my stomach, I sit on the toilet seat, but still feeling nauseous. My head feels so heavy. Pondering about what just happened, I do nothing but burst into tears.

"What happened, Agnes?" Tessa begs me with a panic-stricken tone.

"I saw him. He was there," I manage to say.

"Saw who?"

"I saw my father! I swear I could recognize him. He was right there." I sob between words then bury my head in my lap.

"What is she talking about?" Tessa asks.

"Agnes, your father won't just show up at your dance presentation," Yvonne says. "That is just absurd!"

I raise my head up. "Yvonne, Tessa, I'm so hurt, but I swear I'm not crazy. You've got to believe me. I recognize that man. He shouldn't be here at all! Why did he come here?" I ask erratically. I know they will not believe me. They think I'm silly, or I'm making up excuses, but nobody will ever understand how I feel – nobody but aunty Cherry. I wish she was here.

It's pointless. They will never believe me. I lean by the wall in my sitting position and continue to sob.

"So Yvonne, what are we going to do? We can't leave Agnes like this neither can she go back on stage."

"I don't know, Tessa. Agnes is hurting right now and the last thing I'd do is to leave her here."

I clasp my fists to throw a tantrum. "I hate you, dad! I hate you so much! I hate you! I hate you! You doesn't deserve to live!"

Tessa and Yvonne stare at me hysterically. Miss Francesca bangs the bathroom door open with nothing but anger and disappointment written all over her unfriendly face.

She stomps towards me as she raises her voice. "What the heck are you doing here?!"

I stutter, "I... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me—"

"You don't know what came over you? Well, I'll tell you. You have ruined everything the dance club has worked so hard for, all because you're a weakling who can't deal with her problems!"

I want to defend myself, but there is no chance she would hear me out. She won't even let me speak and I can't blame her. She has every right to get angry at me, or call me names. If only she knew what was happening inside my heart.

"I should've never selected you and Felix as the star couple. I'm highly disappointed in the both of you! And to think I've been learning all sorts of rumours about you two, yet, I still took that chance and trusted you!"

Words fail me to explain my side, but what am I going to say anyway? Tell her about my family problems and look pathetic, or come up with a good reason why I humiliated Felix in the way I did. "Miss Francesca, I—"

"I don't need your explanation!" She interrupts me harshly, which is good because I don't have one. "You have done enough damage already. Do you know how many parents saw that stunt you just pulled? You have disgraced this school before everyone that saw that so-called dance of yours."

"Miss—"

"Don't!" She silences Yvonne down. "Now, you listen to me, Agnes. I am sending you out of the dance club. I will personally handle this case on Monday – I can't deal with you right now. From here on out, I don't want to see you in my class again, do you understand?"

My face turns pale.

She looks at me in disgust. "I've come to realize that running off is a better interest for you, not dancing."

I hang my head with a broken... no, a shattered spirit and burst into another round of tears. My heart and soul feel like they were run over back and forth by a bulldozer. I cry so loudly I do not hear what else Miss Francesca says before she exits the bathroom and slams the door behind.

"Oh my god! This is bad."

"Yes, Tessa. Very bad."

All I wished for was that this event goes well as planned, is that too much to ask? Really, today was a fairy-tale. So much for the anticipation.

My friends squat beside me to stroke my back, comforting and hoping my pain numbs – which I highly doubt.

* # * #

Hope you felt sentimental reading this chapter. It sucks when someone who should inspire you is the one who looks down on you.