“That will be all for today.” Director Donald announced as the practice came to an end and we all got up to leave.
“Ivana Kimberley.” I heard the director call out my name when I was about to leave so I turned to see him looking directly at me. It wasn’t the first time he had called my name out but it felt like I was about to be scolded.
I made a mess during the practice. I tripped on my dance partner and also tripped on Katherine who was trying her best to avoid me at all cost. It was only out of luck that we didn’t injure ourselves. As much as I want to perform on stage, I was a dance mess.
“Stay behind while the others leave.” The director said out loud and I waved Kate goodbye as she left with the others, while they were leaving I could hear a few of them saying I was finished and would be taken off the practice and I knew this would be the end of me performing on stage.
“Yes sir,” I said out when the hall was empty leaving only director Donald, Chloe and Ava with me. “The look on their faces weren’t so friendly, I couldn’t tell if I was the one making up the image in my head but right now I couldn’t hold their gaze so I looked down on my feet.
“Do you know why you are here?” I heard the director ask as I peeked up from my eyelash to see his forehead furrow. “Do you know what this anniversary means to this school and others who are willing to participate in it and are giving it their best?” He scolded me and I flinched, it was the first time an elder was scolding me and I felt the ground should open and swallow me up.
“You are the worst in the group right now but guess why I am not taking you out of it this instant?” I lifted my eyes to look at his face with a hint of a smile in my eyes. I thought this was the end of it for me but he was assuring me. “Don’t think of smiling.” I looked down immediately.
Is he a mind reader? How can he tell that I am feeling happy right now?
“I won’t smile sir.” I choked the words out of my mouth, looking at the director upfront. He looked like a gentle and loving man but right now standing in his front with his eyes on me, he felt so pissed and I felt like I was standing in a thin thread.
“You were picked because I saw a talent in you, something special, so don’t let me regret bringing you into this by ruining it for everyone.” His voice was so low but it held a fit of anger and love that only I can understand.
I looked up at him without hesitation. “Thank you sir for bringing me here, I will make sure not to disappoint you.” I pressed my lips together as I could see the smile on Chloe’s face and I wondered why she was smiling but it made my heart warm.
“Then you should think more of this practice and not let anything distract you, also, I want you to take that banner off the front of the school, you are bringing so much attention to yourself and this is so early, do you understand me?” He asked.
For a moment he sounded like my loving father and this was when I realize he was only looking out for me and wanted the best for me, honestly, I was a bit distracted during the practice since Robin was not there, he was with someone else and also that banner that made it seems like everyone was mocking at me during the practice.
“Yes sir,” I told him as I looked down at my feet.
“Better,” He gazed at me for a while before walking away with Ava as they were talking but I couldn’t hear it although I figured out it was about the performance of the others.
“Although you messed things up today, you did great, unlike other days.” Chloe walked close to me and I looked at her. “The director wants you to be part of this practice even if you are the worst among the others, he is a good man and I don’t want you to also make him regret it.”
“I lost focus,” I told Chloe, something about her gentleness makes me want to talk to her.
“I can tell it’s because of your boyfriend.” I looked up at her with wide eyes. “Don’t be so surprised, the boy in the banner is your boyfriend right, I think everyone knows about it already.” She touched my shoulder and I looked down at my feet.
Since everyone knows and she also knows, there is no point in denying it. “At times I doubt I am in a relationship with him,” I told her honestly.
Chloe smiled at me. “That’s just your imaginations messing with you, I will advise you to put any thought of your love life aside for now while you focus on your practice since things like that seem to mess with our talent and dreams.” I looked at her, she wasn’t looking at me so I figured out she had gone through something similar.
“How does that work for you?” I looked at her for advice and she smiled down at me since she was a bit taller than me.
“It doesn’t.” Chloe shook her head at me and I blinked. “It is just if you are mentally strong, try to put that love aside when you are practising, then once you leave this hall, you can put that love back in your head, that is how it works for me, just clear your mind and focus on your dreams.”
Clear my mind and focus on my dreams? How do I do that when I don’t even know where Robin is and I am sure he was with that other girl.