Ludic Selcouth #3: Dancing Keys

PROLOGUE

"Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, F. Liszt." I stared at the piano infront of me as I inhaled deeply. I started playing the piano piece as what with my piano teacher instructed.

My heart is beating so fast while I'm pressing the keys. Shit.. I didn't attend the class last week and now I know that I'm fucking up.

"Stop. You missed a chord." agad akong tumigil sa sinabi ni Ms. Arianna. Ikinuyom ko ang kamay at ibinaba 'yon.

Tinapik niya ng hawak na stick ang music sheet na nasa harapan ko at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"You've been learning piano for years, Kinsella. By now, you should have already perfected this hard piece. You keep on ditching our classes, do you want me to report these to your parents?" I pursed my lips and shook my head slowly. I flinched when she hit the music sheet infront of me again.

"Then do your best."

I was exhausted after the session. I was just sitting and my hands and arms were the only limbs that are moving but still, I feel drained.

My brain is tired.

I was just walking like a zombie, smiling tiredly to my classmates who are greeting me here in Dorothea Piano Institute. Naiwan na ako at ibang lesson na ang inaaral nila. I keep on skipping my piano classes because I'm tired. I'm tired of forcing myself to learn.

I want to dance. Mas gusto kong sumayaw kesa umupo at tumugtog nang tumugtog.

Nang makalabas ako ng building ay saktong tumunog ang cellphone ko. Inilagay ko ang suot na backpack sa harapan at kinuha ang phone sa pocket.

My eyes twinkled when I saw the name of my co-dancer and friend.

"Hey! Saan ka?" Kerry greeted. She sounds exhausted too.

"Hindi ako nakatakas sa piano class ngayon. Natuloy ba yung practice ng dance troupe?" I should be practing with them right now but Ms.
Arianna cornered me this afternoon. She's so persistent because my parents are paying her a big salary just to teach me music.

"Yes.. You know our choreo.. he's actually pissed right now. Ang dami niyong wala." my lips automatically twisted. Siguradong masesermonan nanaman ako.

"Is the practice done? Or pwede pa ba akong humabol?" I really want to be committed to our group, but my piano classes are always interfering.

"I'm not sure. Earl is really pissed, I think he will dismiss us early since we're not complete. Wait, sige punta ka nalang! Kapag hindi ka nakaabot, maggala nalang tayo. I need to hang this up! Tumatalak nanaman ang bakla." tumatawang aniya.

I just shook my head and stared at the road. Ibinalik ko ang cellphone sa bag at nagsimula na ulit maglakad. I was still near at Dorothea when I spotted a familiar car. Mabilis akong napatakbo sa gilid para magtago.

Shit talaga. Sinusundo nanaman ako.

Nang makita kong nakapasok na ang driver ko sa building ay tsaka ako nagtatakbo palayo.

I really hate my family. Palagi nalang akong bantay sarado.

I'm keeping my membership on a dance troupe as a secret. My parents are so against about my dancing. I forced them to just enroll me on a dancing lessons when I was still a kid. Nang mag ten years old ako ay bigla nalang kasi nila ako inenroll sa Dorothea kahit na hindi ko naman gusto.

As expected, they immediately discarded my request. I hate that they always want me to act so regal. They even also attempted to make me a ballerina. It's also dancing, pero ayoko nga! I just want to stop acting so elegant and graceful.