Ayesha Point of View
I don't know if it was a coincidence or intentional.
In the past, I had no luck with such draws. Even when I was still studying and the teacher was drawing an index card whose name would be called for the recitation, my name was not called. Even in drawings at gift-giving parties or no matter how many ticket numbers I have, I have never been drawn.
I did say to myself that I was blessed not to be blessed. Since it was the first time I was called out, I haven't been blessed. If we hadn't changed Ron's seat, my seat number wouldn't have been drawn.
I wouldn't have to like a stump as others called it for those who are simply incompetent of moving to the rhythm of the music. I was so engrossed to the point of feeling embarrassed.
Another thing is that the dance only lasted a few minutes but it seemed to last a few hours because of my excessive panting. I'm not used to it but I didn't let anyone notice it.
"Are you now okay?" Vener asked after a long silence. I felt his concerned voice. After we danced the Budots, chosen music, I immediately went down to the stage and he followed me to a garden near the parking lot to breathe fresh air.
"Why did you follow me?" I asked rudely. I saw how Vener was shocked by my sudden rudeness. Well, not my intention to act that way. "Sorry!" I abruptly mumbled.
"No, it's okay," I noticed how he calculated every inch of his actions since we are not on good terms. I noticed as well how he managed to start a conversation that made me chuckle a little bit. "Why?" he inquired but I just shook my head. I won't tell him.
"Well," he paused. "I didn't know that you know how to dance, " he teased, back fighting me as if he seemed to understand why I chuckled earlier.
I glared at him. "Speaking of so go for it. Not because you're good at dancing Budots," I said in displeasure.
"No, I didn't say that," he sound innocent. Bully? I rolled my eyes in disagreement then we both laughed.
"I didn't know that we do have in common," we laughed hard about how we talked about our epic intermission earlier.
"I won't dance again," I concluded.
"Don't say that. You won't know what will happen. Like me, I swear to myself before that I won't dance anymore but look at me earlier how pathetic I was."
"Then why did you dance?"
He cleared his throat, "I wouldn't to leave you alone. Let's embarrass ourselves in front of everyone."
"So, you know that I can't do dancing?"
"Sort of!"
I frowned. "I just know," he smiled which made me confused. I tried to let him spill the bean but I ended up hearing a blurred answer.
"Are you now okay?" he asked out of the topic and I nodded as my response.
Then the next thing I knew, silence filled between us. This kind of silence was loosening up. This moment reminds me of those days that we used to stay on the rooftop.
I glanced at how he keenly observed the sky so I looked up and there is the moonlighting up in the dark but clear sky.
"I hope that you'd be like a moon that no matter how dark the situation is, you still shine and stand out in the sky where I belong," I heard him whisper but enough for me to hear clearly. I was about to ask what he means by it, he stood up and excused himself. I was left confused as I saw him walk away.
I looked back at the sky again and admired its beauty. I won't get tired of looking at it. I remained in that position when I realized what he meant earlier. He indirectly wants to say something but is afraid to say it straightforwardly. Suddenly, the wind blew and I just hugged myself in emptiness because I felt cold.
I just realized that there was a cloak covered behind me to relieve the coldness. "Can I seat beside you?" I shifted my gaze to the familiar voice to check if I was right.
"Silence means yes," Renz concluded and sat not close beside me. I unexpectedly felt different emotions inside me but the emotions only clear to me was that I was surprised a lot. Unlike those previous years that had passed that I was still longing for the reason of my unforgivable emotions, now I can say that my heart was in peace.
Though I was still surprised, I managed to compose myself. "How are you?" he said.
"I'm okay. Still, the Ayesha you seem to know. How about you?" I answered casually.
If this moment was like the one before, with the clock ticking and I was sitting and chatting with someone from your past, memories, feelings, and thoughts surge in, and my old self appears, demanding a response and an apology. And it was at this point, when I saw him again, that I noticed the difference between my former and current selves.
I'm no longer in discomfort.
This me, who was seated next to this remarkable person, was not shrinking. I'm grateful that I made it through and matured well.
"Still, managed to survive in my chosen career," he said and I'm glad to hear it from him.
"Your heart was into it ever since we are young so I'm not even surprised," I smiled proudly because it was one of the reasons why I agree to go beyond our friendship before. When Renz and I were young, I knew what career he wanted to pursue and it's to become a police officer.
We talked about a lot of things as if nothing happened in the past and I can't believe that this moment happens.
"Where's Ron?" he suddenly asked.
"I do not know. I saw earlier that her ex-boyfriend pulled her to something I don't know while we were dancing Budots. Maybe even now, her ex is still with her," I replied unsurely.
"As well as you," he hesitated. "You are with your ex?"
I chuckled at his unsure words. "Ex? Who told you?"
He cleared his throat as if my words had devastated his heart, yet his beaming eyes said the exact opposite, making me laugh even harder.
Now I see that, no matter how much he has wounded you, there is still hope that people from our past will be our friends.