Revenge Ballroom

With fists clench against the rails of a buzzing hallway, my eyes kept going to pairs on the dance floor. Swaying in a counter clockwise direction with a waltz music. Line of dance. They were dancing on a wide space of cement in the courtyard but the rough surface never hindered the inhuman moves. The silhouette of the arching of the women's back was beautiful. And the big steps of the men was so encompassing. 'I once was like that too', I don't know what face I was making but I hope I'm maintaining a blank expression. I am envious, frustrated and has been regretting for a long time. My body wanted to join the pairs on the floor but my heart is tired. I'm slowly dying.  Reverse turn...Oversway...such figures had words labeling them but in my eyes they are smooth moves nothing can describe. It's like watching a water current. Disfiguring, reshaping the dancer's body but was never ugly. Just a force against a smooth plane of water. I can feel shivers but it wasn't because of cold. But because of the intensity of the dancer's, everyone was giving their all not for the prize but for their passion.  'Will that passion help me feel alive again?', I thought to myself. And when my eyes strayed from the one pair, I trembled. "Why...? Of all people", I mumbled. Flashes of a long forgotten career had resurfaced to my mind. "Winner...Entry Number 27 Wynter Evans and Alicia Watsons. Congratulations." "You got great potential Wynter." "You'll go far with that talent, sweetheart." "They are still beginners but they are more amazing from other girl and girl pair novice." "It's just beginner's luck…" "Yeah, beginner's luck with them winning their 10th official competion." "Alicia, you don't need to work really hard. Just follow my lead." "Another win for Wynter and Alicia, another prodigy in sight. Unfortunately, they are a girl and girl pair." "Wynter, I think you need to start looking for a male partner." "Alicia, can I be the follow for now?" "No, I don't know the lead's role." But...but… 'But before I can dance as a follow, I was forgotten.', my gripped with the rail was very tight that my hands had turned white. God, I really hope my face wasn't showing my inner thoughts.  My eyes can't seem to leave the face of that infuriating girl on the floor right now. The girl's dress was an eyesore pink, that it looks like a road sign from a far. "...Alicia…", I assumed that because our career together wasn't progressing, she stopped to. But clearly, it didn't. I thought that just because I hadn't done any ballroom dancing for many years, this wouldn't affect me but...God I want to kill a pair of dancer. Unknown to Wynter people around her had moved away from her because of the dark aura surrounding her.  "Darling, let's go. She's scary." One girl said to her probably boyfriend because she was clinging like leech to the boy. "Yeah, sweety buns. I think the lady just don't know the power of love that's why she's gloomy." the boy responded. "Oh honey, I love you." Then they walked away while making smoochy sounds. 'Excuse me, I heard your nonsense!', the side of my eyes are twitching like crazy and my killer intent just increased ten-fold. Love couples should just drop dead. Especially the pair dancing in the courtyard. 'I can't believe this. Why Alicia?!', it might be jealousy speaking or just my torn pride but I got a legitimate reason. Bryan Marvolo, my first love—yes present tense— had rejected my confession when I was just a budding lady during my younger years. No, I'm not that pitiful of course I wasn't upset because he rejected me. I was upset because even if he rejected me he still had sent mixed signals. He bought me lunches, carried my things, joined me with my cafe dates and just generally being sweet to me. And the foolish me had fallen in love more. I dropped to the rabbit hole. Harder and faster than Alice in the Wonderland. Yes, yes, I know he might be guilty and pitied me but he could have just left me alone and let me wallow in despair. But no, he was persistent in his own adorable way. I couldn't do a thing. Though of course I resign as one of those girl who watch their unrequited love from a far while holding a white handkerchief wiping the occasional tears. I was happy for him. Goodness, I felt those girls in sad music videos. Anyways, I told Alicia of my situation. She was supportive, giving me comforts and being my listener. I was truly thankful of my best friend. Considering that I was a shy girl I got no friends except her. But then one day, I discovered ballroom. The music was so upbeat, the dance was so energetic and the dancers' were enchanting. Their expressions and their moves are telling me to don't look away. To look at them. To be amazed by them. It was the most majestic thing I saw. The adrenaline I felt was so sudden that I got goosebumps. I was trembling and sweating despite just watching them. I want to dance. That was the only thing that made me confident in myself. I was so sure of doing dancing that I immediately enrolled to a dance studio. It wasn't really expensive and so my parents supported me. I was so excited that I invited Alicia to join me and she agreed. But because mostly it was girls that were interested in ballroom dancing first, there were just a handful of boys and all of them shorter than me. And so, I paired with Alicia with me as a lead and her a follow. It wasn't a big deal for me, I was just happy I could dance. That I'm a step closer to becoming those dancers I saw that day. And as years passed I grew to be more confident of myself. I fixed my posture, I stood up for myself and I was able to speak to everybody without hesitating of being outcasted. And coupled with my stable friendship/unrequited love for Bryan going steady and progressing career with Alicia, everything was going well. "...licia are you sure she hasn't notice yet?" Hm, before I rounded the corner going towards the stairs, I heard a voice ahead of me. I know it's bad eavesdropping but I recognized that low voice. Who was Bryan talking with? "Love, I'm sure she's still as clueless as a helpless kitten."  'Alicia? And Bryan? What are they talking about?', I thought to myself. And then I don't know why I felt cold but I know I will overhear something bad for me. "Kittens scratch people, Licia.", Bryan responded. "Not this kitten, darling. I trimmed her claws until her fingers are bleeding.", Alicia chuckled after she said those. "So, had you transferred Wynter's money to your account yet? I'm anxious. What if she figures it out? That were stealing from her?" Bryan urgently asked. '...W-what...? Money? S...steal?', my mind was muddy. I felt cold all over my body. "Of course I finished it. The little b***h didn't even notice that her money was being snatched right under her nose. Really if she wasn't a rich kid, I wouldn't even befriend her some time ago. She's an absolute wreck and mess. Ew." "Yeah, I mean she really did trust you with everything. Her things, her credit card and just everything.", Bryan then laughed loudly, "Jesus, she was so easy to catch. I only gave her a gaze and some time and she immediately wags her tail to me." My mind had crashed. I vaguely feel tears running down my face. The world around me was growing cold.  Lies. It was all lies since the beginning. A perfect orchestra of betrayal. 'I can't feel my feet. I can't feel anything.', I was standing under them. Listening to their insults and plans to exploit me further. "If it isn't because she got the money, I wouldn't even care about that pathetic dance. Seriously, ballroom is a pathetic and lame kind of hobby. And she's taking it so seriously that it makes her look like a joke.", Alicia continues. "Yeah, I mean she dances like a waddling penguin. But you baby, you dance like a dream." "Thank you, baby. Come on, let's go or someone might hear us." Then they left towards the upper floors. I was just standing their. Trembling so badly. My tears are blurring everything. I was a mess. I can't control my sobbing. I was feeling so nauseous that I immediately ran towards the nearest comfort room, not caring of anything. Then I immediately vommitted in the sink while sobbing. I can't breath. I'm drowning. I'm… I can only sank to my knees and curl up. I feel so cold and alone. My heart beat was so loud to my ears that I can't hear anything. I'm just sobbing.  My relationships with those two had been built with I'll intentions. How can I be sure that the people befriending me now aren't the same to them? I...hate myself. For believing that...that girl and boy wearing a mask of deception. I hate myself for falling for their tricks. And I hate myself for not realizing that the girl in the mirror above the sink was the same girl that was alone and pathetic. That I never grew out of that existence.  The next day I transferred school and cut ties to anyone I knew at that place. My parents ask me for details but I just clam up. I can't talk about it. It hurts more than losing a competition. Ballroom. 'Yeah, I mean she dances like a waddling penguin.'  I can't dance anymore. I got no confidence anymore. I can't. I snapped out of my thoughts when am male of my age step beside me. And he was looking at me weirdly. 'Hmm, so someone is immune to my super killing aura', I thought absent mindedly observed. "What are you looking at?", I snapped to him. I ain't a zoo animal sir, stop looking at me. "You dance right? Ballroom?", he asked. I stiffened immediately. How did…? "None of your damn business.", then I walked away from him and from the Bryan and Alicia dancing in the courtyard.  I love ballroom but ballroom doesn't love me. I once walked away from ballroom and the people who tainted it for me, I can walk away for the second time. Denial is a dangerous thing as well as morbid acceptance of my reality. I left the scene with a heavy heart and troubled mind, not knowing that a certain make was left standing at her previous position looking at her intensely. "Wynter Evans, the only girl lead that I had lost to.", he mumbled. Then turn to the courtyard where the dancing was still going on. With eyes so intensely remembering the past.