Remembering the day of the stage mix event.
I wouldn't wish for butterflies in my stomach.
Today is the Stage Mix day, everyone has been given 4 days to prepare for this big day. I am so nervous even Marcus is always telling me to stay calm, I just can’t stay calm in this kind of situation. All of his admirers will watch us perform a very lovely and romantic dance. I can’t stand to be bullied by them again. The single thought of being cornered by them give me chills. I am so much worried about what will happen next to me.
“Kattie, you can do this huh.” My classmates cheered me.
“Yeah, I’ll try my best.” I give them assurance that I will give my best in this event. I may not be accurate with this event but I will try to win.
My classmates are counting on me, especially the bitches who is always giving me a look. A disgusting look, with the way they look at me I know that they don’t want me to represent our class. But I was the one who was pin-pointed to do so.
“Kattie, you need to go to the backstage.” Thylane told me and I just nodded, my classmate who is good at make-up does my make-up. It was just light though.
“Uh-oh no need to carry your bag, Kattie. I will carry it for you.” My classmate told me, I was about to get it back but she said she can do it and it’s okay for her. So I just let her.
“I think my bag is little bit weighty.” I told her. But she just shook her head.
“No need to worry about me, Kattie let’s just walk for the event will start later.” She said so we walk until we reached the Backstage.
“You seems like doesn’t need a retouch, but I will still do it.” My classmate told me.
“You skin is so soft and easy to beautify!” she added.
“Oh no, you too.”
“Kattie I have big pores you seem like have none.”
“Claire don’t be jealous, you’re good putting on make-up, that’s all that matters.” My other classmate teased Claire.
“Joyce, you’re not funny at all.” Claire said as she rolled her eyes.
After a couple of minutes, the MC announced that the event will start in a few minutes. That announcement made my heart thump. I need to see Thylane! I said in my mind. I am hoping that Thylane will come in my way to calm me down, I am so nervous, I am not that confident.
“Kattie.” I heard Marcus voice. While I am having chills here in the corner.
“Kattie, it’s okay. You’re beautiful. You don’t need to be afraid, we will get through this.” Marcus told me and even patted my head.
“I’ll go to the boys’ tent.” He said.
After Marcus left me, I am still not that so calm. I can still feel chills, I kind of friendly I can talk to other people and be kind with them, but performing in front of people I don’t think I can do that. I am not being negative here I am just having a huge stage fright. If this was Thylane, I know she can face everyone without any hesitations.
“Hey, What, are you doing there? The event will start after the speech.” I finally felt relief when I heard Thylane. I ran to her and hugged her. I felt that she was shocked by my sudden action but she did not push me or anything.
“Are you nervous?” she asked and I just nodded.
“Marcus came here, right?” she asked again and I just nodded.
“Hmm, you don’t have to worry about anything. Just think that I am just the one watching you. I don’t even have any idea what will you two perform.” She said. And after that the MC called each contestants.
Even I still feel some chills I still managed to walk through the stage. At the stage the first candidates introduced themselves confidently they are not stuttering or having chills it seems like they were used to audience appearance. When my time comes, the crown became quiet which gives me chills even more. I searched for Thylane in the audience and I saw her holding a camera, she captured me, and she raised her thumbs.
“Kattie Hernandez. You’re not so popular but gorgeous queen. And I believe that Knowledge is power!” I tried my best to sound confident while saying those words when I heard a round of applause and even my classmates cheering at me, I felt relive it seems like I did it.
Every contender in the stage mix where super talented. Some students do gymnastics which made me amazed. They were so freaking flexible. Some played instruments. Some of them do a duo theater and some dance gracefully. Some performed a hiphop dance. B-bop and street dances. They were way too talented than us and that is giving me chills even more.
“For our last contender. Let’s call on our third year students, tango dancers Mr. Marcus Del Rosario and Ms. Kattie Hernandez!” the MC announced. Marcus were beside me now, he hold my hand but he stopped for a while when he noticed how cold it was.
“Kattie, Dance with me.” He said as he smiles. I do not know but his smiles captured me. I stiffened for a while but I still managed to smile back at him. After that we stand in the stage.
I am not minding the audience anymore, I think it was only me and Marcus, dancing gracefully with solemn music. I am giving him a constant eye contact from the beginning of our performance up to the end. He was smiling and doing his emotionless face during the dance. He was so graceful in dancing, he is holding me not so tight and not to lose, he was like he knows what he was doing. I never thought Marcus dances really well. During our practice we often fail. We did not even perfect the dance for the whole practice that we did. It is either he will suddenly let go of my hand or I am going to step on his toes. I am not even giving him a constant eye contact during our practice and look how we do it now.
“Thank you for everything.” He whispered as he gave the rose flower into me through his mouth. I bit it too. He holds my other hand as we bow to the audience.
“Oh Goodness heavens! That was sweet guys! It was like a Disney play live show!” the MC announced.
“Okay, so guys that’s the end of the stage mix for this school year. I hope that the judges won’t be stressed. But I guess it is not right partner?”
“Yes partner, seems like it is a hard decision to do now. To decide who will win for this school year.”
“All the contenders have a potential!”
“You were right partner.”
I went to the back stage to compile myself. I just realized a while ago what I have just did. But it is only for my classmates for the third year students especially in my class. Yeah, I did it only for that.
“OMG Kattie!” Joyce says as he giggles.
“OMG, do you have a romantic thing with Marcus? You never leave his eyes. You did a very constant eye contact throughout your performance!” Caroline added.
“Am it was part of the dance. I mean you know in dancing Tango. It should be that way. Like stare with your partners’ eye.”
“Duh, we know that! But how he made a sad and emotionless face whenever he let’s go of your hands.”
“Huh? Uhm, well that is part of the show. It was not only a dance but a story, I guess.”
“Hmm, who’s the author huh? Well that is a great performance and even the sound. Gosh! It is so romantic!”
“Guys, the MC is calling us. I need to go to the stage.” I went to the stage to get rid for more of their questions. They are making it an issue again. When it is not an issue anymore.
“Okay, I am holding here a plaque and the cash prize of course!”
“By the way congratulations to our second runner up.”
“Mr. Karlo Hattie and Ms. Quelah Ong!” the crowd gave them a clap and I did it to. They deserved it. Doing a gymnast while telling a story is hard to do.
“Alright for our first runner up. Congratulations to.”
“Mr. Gavin and Ms. Ma. Kaela!” I was amazed when they got the first runner up title they deserve to be the champion. They did a very great theater show.
“Alright we’ve already announced the second and first runner up. And now we’re on the champion!”
“Guys, the students who get this plaque will be joining the town stage mix contest. They will also receive a certificate of recognition, a plus points bonuses in all of their subjects and a cash prize!”
“Are you excited?”
“Of course we are all excited.”
“The students who won’t win in this even will still have a certificate of recognition. A plus point bonus and a free snack!”
Even if we won’t win a free snack is already a great prize for me. And I will still be happy for the students who get the title. For me they would be the most deserving for that.
“Congratulations to…”
“Mr. Marcus del Rosario and Ms. Kattie Hernandez!” the MC shouted at the top of his lungs. I was shock for their sudden announcement.
How could it be? We won?
“Kattie!” I saw how happy Marcus is. He is smiling from ear to ear.
“Marcus, we won.” I told him in a low voice.
“Yes Kattie!” he said and then he hugged me. After that he jerked me through the MC he even asked for the paper to legit check if we really won the event.
“Kattie we really won!” he said still having that ear to ear smiles in his face.
I saw how happy the crowd and some of the students sad faces. I even saw Thylane who gave me a double thumbs up. I am crying inside my head and I did not realize my tears are already falling down. I just realized it when Marcus is wiping my tears.
“It’s okay Kattie, you deserve this.” He said and he gave me a hug again.
“Congratulations! Tango dancers! You will represent the school for the town stage mix next year.”
We did a pictorial after that and they gave us the check. When I checked it. I saw that it is a hundred thousand worth of money.
“It is all thanks to you Marcus.” I thanked him as he sent me home.
“No, Kattie it is thanks to you. If you were not my partner I would collapsed in that stage a while ago.”
“Sorry if I got lot of mistakes during our practices.”
“No it is okay, Kattie you did great earlier. You can be a star if you will pursue it. You know what you have the potential. You can be a dancing queen.”
“Thank you Marcus, thank you very much!”
“Thanks for dancing with me.” He said and gave me a hug before leaving.
--