My Sweetest Downfall (Based On A True Story) by Epey Herher

Break a Leg

At dumating na nga ang araw na pinakahihintay namin, our Feast Day! Yay!

"This is it! We're next", nakangiti pero kinakabahan kong pagbabalita. "Oops! Walang mahihiya", dugtong ko na tila lalong nagpakaba sa grupo. Phew!

"Lead the prayer", nakangiting utos ni Pinky kay Yish bago ang aming dance number.

"Lord, our God, we thank you for this day. Please, please, please. . .kayo na po ang bahala sa amin. Sana po hindi kami magkalat. Sana po ma-appreciate ng lahat. It's not something we do every day, please, kayo na po ang bahala sa amin. This has always been my dream. . ."

"Our dream, Lord, our God", salo ni Marie. We are doing this for Your glory."

"Amen", pagtatapos ni Pinky.

"Amen", sagot ng lahat.

"Break a leg, guys!" I said.

"Break a leg!" they replied.

At tumugtog na nga ang intro ng sasayawin namin.

"Game!"

Isa-isa kaming nagpunta sa stage and our dance number begins. . .

After Two Hours. . .

"I want to congratulate Batch 2005 for doing an excellent job", simula ng Principal namin. She had her speech after ng lahat ng performances. "I have a confession to make. . ." very intriguing nitong dugtong. "This has always been my favorite batch."

We're like, "Oh, my God!" Heart heart.

"Every single one of you did a very very good job. And I must say, I am impressed with "that" very special dance number", tukoy nito sa grupo namin. Ahem!

"It's not something we see every year. Nagagalak ako sa mga bagong mukhang napanood natin."

"May mga hidden talents pala kayo sa pagsasayaw", pambobola ng butihin naming Principal. "Ay noong una ay nahihiya pa tapos noong bandang gitna na ay talaga namang bigay na bigay", pagbibiro nito.

"Galing ng choreo, ano?" proud na proud sa sariling bulong sa 'kin ni Pinky. Oh, eh 'di sige.

Everyone was smiling. Well, almost everyone. . .dahil ang mga ka-grupo ko were all crying. Hindi na namin gaanong napakinggan ni Pinky ang speech because we're too busy thinking kung paano namin sila patatahanin.

Yeah, I know the feeling. Sino ba naman ang hindi maiiyak sa tuwa kapag alam mong may nakaka-apprecite pala sa ginagawa mo? 'Di ba, nakakataba ng puso? 'Yong pakiramdam na parang ang sarap-sarap mabuhay sa mundo. 'Yong tipong bawat salitang lalabas sa bibig mo ay may yohohohoho. Phew! And it also feels good knowing na na-overcome mo 'yong fear mo. . .pero it feels better knowing na hindi ka na invisible. Like, come on!

Thank you, Epey here. Thank you, Pinky there. Thank you, Epey and Pinky everywhere. Well, Pinky is the real hero here. She made it happen. She made everything happen! Oh, Pinky, my Pinky. . .habang lumalapit ang Graduation Day, I feel sadder and sadder. Pagka-graduate namin, hindi ko na siya makakasama every day, magkaiba na ang school namin. . .ang schedule namin. . .ang course namin. . .ang everyday routine namin. . .our e v e r y t h i n g! I will surely miss her! Pero ang hindi ko akalain, dinadahan-dahan lang pala ang tadhana ang paghihiwalay namin.