AGNES

The other members from the club start off with slight muscle stretches and a few simple dance routines while awaiting our instructor. Only me and my friends huddle in a corner at the side of the hall.

"I am wondering the classic Miss Francesca will make us dance to for the school play this year," Yvonne sighs, inclined with one shoulder to the wall.

"Maybe ballet?" Tessa giggles.

"Ugh! Don't even make me think about it," I tell them seriously. The scrupulous effort I put into that dance and at the end of the day, it was just for nothing, what with the several mishaps that transpired. I don't think I'll attempt that dance ever again.

"My ballet shoes are still in my closet, and they will rot there because I am never dancing ballet again," Yvonne shares the same opinion.

Even as we laugh it off, we are dead serious.

"But why has no one suggested contemporary dance routines to Miss Francesca?" Tessa asks. "Agnes, you are in student council, right? Don't you guys bring it up in your meetings?"

"We don't have the power to change anything in the curriculum for extracurricular activities."

"Isn't that funny?" Yvonne sneers. "What is the point of having a student council if the counsel of students is not taken seriously?"

"Don't ask me. I'm just the assistant secretary. I only function when the secretary isn't around, and trust me, he's always around. So I'm just as invisible as it gets."

"So what exactly do you folks chat about when you meet?" Tessa asks. "Is it about the weather and environmental awareness?"

I shrug, allowing the topic slide. My focus starts to waver from how to continue this dance class without any hassles to how I can ignore Ronald any way conceivable. I see him with the others, mingling and being friendly, and though I want to ignore him, his presence keeps forcing me to the thoughts. For sure, it does not help with my mood.

Miss Francesca enters the hall abruptly and we congregate in the middle. "Good day, students. First of all, I am glad with the turn out this year. I honestly prefer the scantiness." She pauses to count us with her eyes. "Ten people registered for the school play, how come I see just nine?"

We turn to one another, wondering who might be the last person.

"Well, we are going to start right away. For this year's play, we will present a classic dance, and it is the 'Waltz', a ballroom dance in three-four time with a strong accent on the first beat, and a basic pattern of step-step-close."

Little murmurs break out at every angle. Either there are eyes rolling, frowning or sighing with displeasure. We were expecting something like this, but at least, we're not dancing ballet.

She continues, "firstly, I will pair you up and the person I pair you with shall be your partner for the entire dance. Are we okay with that?"

We nod our heads unenthusiastically. I'm sure most people here expected a change of choice after our last performance into something a bit groovy. Little did they know, classics never get old for Miss Francesca.

In no time, she begins pairing. "Alright, Yvonne Alcott and Xian Owen, you two are couple one. Derrick Hunt and Tessa Johnson, you're couple two. Gladys Anderson and Andre Jones, you're couple three. Agnes Carter and Ronald Albright will be couple four."

"What!" I shoot my eyes wide in astonishment. "Of all the people to be paired with, Ronald?" I shake my head so she will notice that I'm trying to get her to change her mind. Embarrassingly, Miss Francesca chooses to ignore my gestures. I doubt she isn't seeing my facial expressions of refusal.

The only student unpaired is Sofia Hemsworth, and I wish so badly to be in her place. Anybody, literally anybody else but Ronald.

"So it's just one person left. Sofia, you'll need a male partner but since there's no one available for now, you'll just watch and learn, or perhaps I'll allow you to share with someone. With any luck, the last person will eventually make up his mind to join us soon," she says.

"Miss Francesca, can I switch places with her?" I request.

She gives me an expressionless stare. "Why?"

Why? Oh no! How didn't I think of that? Unable to come up with an excuse or alibi she will take in hook, line and sinker, I beat around the bush. "I promise it's going to be the only thing I'll ask of you."

She takes some time to consider. "Alright. Sofia will dance with Ronald, while you will pair with the last person. He'll be your partner whenever he decides to show up."

"Thank you!" I exhale with relief. Now, I won't have to tolerate Ronald or his foolish antics on me. I can't imagine dancing with Ronald for any reason whatsoever, when I know he might just assume we're friends and try to take things too far.

"So let's begin." She claps her hands lightly.

Everybody goes to meet their respective dance partners as I stand aside, wanting and praying for someone more who is sensible. I watch the others eager to begin scoring their best moves. The next moment, the door swings wide open. Behold, my wish gets granted – but not quite.

The entire room pauses to stare. Felix hurries in apologetically, panting breathlessly, like he ran miles to get here in time.

"You are late!" Miss Francesca reprimands him first.

"I apologize. I had to turn in my homework," he responds, rather calm.

Still in the whirlwind of surprise, I wonder what he is doing at the dance club. Though I already know what is about to happen, I kind of expect him to say, 'oh, I'm really sorry, I must have lost my way' or something like that.

"It is good you got here before we started. Get ready quickly, you're with Agnes," she declares with a gentler tone this time.

My chest virtually heaves without control, like a concealed baggage of jitters sparkling against the tightness of my body. I get so lost inside my concern I fail to realize when he already stands beside me, smiling ear to ear. My pulse throbs, my face flushes with hot rage, as that is just the beginning of the great war.

"So, let us begin. In this dance, the first thing to know is that the males in this room will lead the routine. You're to guide your partner with each and every step. Every female follows their male counterpart. You allow your pace be guided by your partner. Remember, he leads, you follow. As the saying goes, 'it takes two to tango'. So if one partner misses a step, it'll affect the other, and the entire routine."

I pay minimal attention to what she says while I'm busy thinking of how to get myself out from this messy situation I've created. I should have checked the list of people who registered, then maybe I would've seen this coming. Who could even think someone like Felix was interested in this kind of club anyway?

"Now, each male should hold their partner like this," she says, demonstrating accordingly with an imaginary partner.

In that moment, I slide my eyes shut, earnestly hoping everything that's happening around me is just some kind of nightmare, only to wake up and it's alright again. A feeling of disgust brings me back to reality as I flit my eyes open to Felix grabbing my hand and waist. That same feeling unconsciously propels my hand to slap his off.

"Are you crazy?!" I snap.

He withdraws himself quickly, a staggered look on him, and everyone else in the hall.

"Don't you dare!" I warn him. In a sudden flash, I escape the music hall.

*

I camouflage myself behind the bushes outside the school premise until they finish rehearsals. After waiting for what felt like ages, they finally exit the hall. I make sure only Yvonne and Tessa sight me afar off so they hurriedly approach my direction.

"Agnes?" Yvonne calls out.

I retract so they get the memo that I don't want to be seen by anybody else.

After successfully leaving school unnoticed, my friends stop me at a junction to glare at me like a picture left to burn.

"What?"

"What was that earlier? Running off like that in the middle of practice!" Tessa starts brashly.

"Tessa, Yvonne, I cannot dance with Ronald, let alone Felix." It's too much to make excuses and expect them to believe me, but I wish they can understand.

"You can't be serious," Yvonne scoffs, "it's just a dance and you're already feeling giddy!"

"I am not giddy! I simply can't dance with Felix. Never!" I allow them a moment to process my grievances. "I rather quit the class and..." I trail off.

"And what?" Tessa asks. "Give up again like last year?"

I hold my pale face. "I can't do this."

Yvonne reaches a hand on my shoulder. "Look, Felix is not an evil person. Of course there is no point trying to convince you to like him, but for us and the sake of the club, and the reputation of our school, just get on with it."

Tessa contributes, "and it's only for this dance, after which he might not be your partner again. Who knows? We might stop pairing the both of you."

"Consider your passion, and what you stand to achieve through this. We've been so optimistic about this year's school play. You can't just let anyone kill that spirit, even if the person is your partner."

"And there should be a reason he became your partner. In fact, why the two guys you hate the most were paired with you. Why don't you just experience it? Waltzing with your enemy could be a good thing, you never know."

They wait for their words to sink.

"I honestly can't believe just how motivational we were," Yvonne forces a joke in, as expected.

"But seriously, Yvonne. Agnes just can't give up on dancing because of Felix... or Ronald," Tessa says persuasively.

Yvonne loops her arm around mine. "Don't you worry, if Felix tries to do anything foolish, we'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget."

I let my guards down and let out a weighty sigh. "Do I have a choice?"

"Come on, best friend!" She shakes me up with a tight grip on my arm.

"Okay! Okay! You guys win," I say evenly as my face tries to brighten up.

I do have the finest crew of friends in the world no doubt. They pull me close for a warm hug.

"So you're in, right?" Tessa asks.

"Mm... yeah. Let's do this and get it over with," I reply.

They let go and we continue our walk home.

"You do know you will have to apologize to our dance instructor, right?" Yvonne mentions out of the blue the inevitable.

Guess I'm doing this again for the second time.

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