The Final Dance

The Final Dance

by glenmore bacarro

February 14; JS prom night.

The place was now crowded with excited Juniors and Seniors on their spectacular dresses. The hall was delicately decorated with gleaming crimson colors. Flowers were scattered on every corner. Every table arrangements were beaded with glasses and wines; candles and cards are messed above the bloody mantel. Love is in the air.

A senior student felt his heartbeat screaming in his chest as he slowly approach his designated place for the planed event. Tonight is very special. For the first time on his wildest dream he had his chance for the woman for long he had loved.

Her name is Jenny. He saw her sitting and in a conversation with her friends. Her hair was set, a light make up good for the night. An elegant dress highlighted by a small pouch bag she held. Those hands, her lips everything about her make him nervous.

He started with. “Jenny…dance with me.” The night goes on as planed, they dance tirelessly, drink and somehow get drunk. But he found no strength to confess. The love he had for her kept hidden within his smiles and stares.

February 17; Classes resumed

Still he is her greatest fan. He stalks at her whenever she goes, but trembled and became speechless whenever she talks to him. Perhaps he can never confess. He doesn’t have the guts and the courage to say the love he had for her.

Without him knowing, she is just waiting.

March 25; Graduation Day

Days from now they will part ways. She will be going to take her studies at the city. As for him he is still undecided for to finance his college is a problem.

Thinking about these possibilities made him sick. He fears that she will be gone from him forever. A thought he can hardly accept.

April; Summer time

They were just living in the same alley. Everyday he found time to have a glimpse of her. His romance grew much than it was before.

Days went fast. She decided something that will change her life forever.

May 27; morning

He walked passed her house again. He is with his friends. They teased him when he obviously glanced towards her house and disappointment showed on his face when he didn’t saw her.

They had passed her house when at the next alley, Jenny is walking towards them. He tried to hide himself but it was too late.

“Where are you going?” She greeted.

“Obviously we’re going to play basketball…” One of his friends answered.

She looked at him and smiled. She caught his eyes as he tried to hide himself at his friend’s back. He almost leap in joy, he shyly smiled back.

“How are you?” she said to him.

He is about to answer with his trembling voice when one of his friends interrupts.

“Actually we were talking about you. He…” He pointed at him. “…is actually planning to visit you if not tonight then at least one of these days.”

“Perhaps to court you,...finally!” His other friend added.

“Sure! What about tonight? You all can come too if you want.” She said. She smiled at him and walked pass them. “I have to go…see you tonight.”

In a distance she turns her head and found out that he is looking at her.

“I’ll wait.” She whispers. He smiled shyly.

May 27; night

“You’re early.” She greeted him at the door.

He blushed and smiled.

“Are you alone? Where are your friends?”

He just bowed his head and did not utter any word.

She guided him in.

Time passed. They talked but at most only Jenny did the talking. She wonders why he is so shy with her. In school he’s one of those who are always in trouble. If she’s not mistaken he had been into the guidance office for many times.

Nevertheless she enjoyed their time together.

“It’s getting late.” She said after a while.

He stands, quite embarrassed. “I’m sorry. Hmm…I must go.” He said.

She guided him towards the door.

Before he walks out he turned and said with all the courage he had.

“Can I come again sometimes?” he blushed.

She smiled. “Sure…You can come here on May 31, mother will be here. And…” she looks at him directly in his eyes “…and by then I might answer your courting.” She said smiling.

Awestruck! He trembled and took away his eyes from her. He bowed his head and said. “I’m sorry…I-…i…” he stuttered.

“Hush. Don’t be.” She said and smiled. “You must go. It’s getting late.”

“Thank you.” He said and he slowly walks away. His heart is celebrating.

She turns towards the house when she notices something behind the door plant. She took it and smiles. A long stemmed rose with a box of chocolates. She reads the card.

“I love you Jenny.”

She kissed the flower and whispered in the darkness. “I love you too.”

May 28; afternoon

He came home with a tearing head pain. His mother thought it was just because he was caught by the rain on his way home from his basketball game. She thought it was just a common flu. She self medicate him. But the pain progresses and he was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night.

May 29; morning

Jenny heard what had happened to him but was assured by his friend that it was just nothing. They didn’t want him to worry. They even teased him by saying that he’s just overly excited for the date she set. That he is actually not sick but he is preparing for May 31.

His sickness rapidly progress within the day. Sleep denies him. The pain kept holding his sanity. He at once shouted her name and convulsed with the thought of not being there on their rendezvous. When he is calm, when the pain leaves him he talks about his plans. How he will be going to confess his feelings with Jenny and how he wanted his friends to be there to witness the love for long he had kept.

All these things were unknown to Jenny.

May 30; night

He woke up with a smile in his calm face. The pain was not there to spoil the feelings he has. He stared at his sister who’s sleeping beside his bed. He lifted his weak arm and gently strokes his sister’s hair.

“Jenny…” he said in a harsh voice. He is smiling, gliding and stroking his hand in love on his sister’s head. She woke up feeling his hand at the back of his head. She smiled at her younger brother as she fights the tears that began to line in

her eyes.

“Yes?” she swallowed hard. “…how are you feeling brother?”

“Jen-nny…I can’t wait for tomorrow.” He said staring hard on his sister.

His sister bit her lower lip and said after a while. “Don’t worry brother; tomorrow…we’ll come to Jenny. She’s waiting for you. S-she had prepared something for you.”

He looked at her again. Then he smile.

“Jenny…I want to stand. Help me.” He tried to raise his head up and surprisingly he did without the help of his sister. He took his legs down the bed and with all his strength he tried to stand.

His sister supported him. When he was standing, he held his sister’s hands wrapped it into his neck and he at once hugs her tight.

“Jenny…dance with me.” He begins to move his body, swaying gracefully, with great care to his partner.

His sister closed her eyes for tears are gently falling down her cheeks. She goes with the rhythm of her brother’s heartbeats. They dance only with his heartbeats as the music. He mumbled her name as he tastes the sweetness of this dance.

May 31; the clock strikes twelve

The hall was now crowded, the dance floor with the unfading lights; dancing…pair of two souls hiding the love they’d kept for so long. The hall was decorated with flowers. Love is in the air. Wines rivered down the times that had been wasted, it gives sense of euphoria to the lost soul of a loving heart. They dance again…swaying…gliding with the rhythm of a sweet old music.

He was tired. The time had come. Tomorrow when the sun glows from the east he will come to fulfill his promise. And he will hear the sweetest answer a heart ever wanted.

She waited. Tomorrow she knew he will come. As the dawn breaks she will wait at him with his friends. The cool summer breeze of May 31st warmth her cheeks as she was in a deep slumber. Beside her, the only remembrance she has. The dance she had with him on that one last lovely night.

end