Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 03

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las vegas, nevada

"Again!"

The dancers flinched as Astrid's voice echoed inside the theater. Her eyes threw daggers at every one of them as they scurried to their rightful places for the act and began to dance again.

"It's called The Dance of the Swans, not The Dance of f*****g Ducks! Again!"

The dancers did the best they could to gain the prim ballerina’s favor as her opinion as of the moment, matters the most. She was the star of the said production five years ago and getting praised by her would mean that they are a force to be reckoned with.

"You call that an arabesque?! Even a seven-year old can do better!"

Extensions, turns, jumps and splits, the dancers gave all their best and projected like it's already show day. Their legs hurt but it was for the love of dance—something everyone in the closed confinement of the room has in common.

Well it used to be for Astrid, at least.

"You all disgust me! Take five!"

The dancers all crashed on the wooden floor of the stage as she marched towards her seat. She reviewed all papers sprawled on the table and checked the profiles of each dancer.

They were all good, yes but, not good enough. They had to be perfect to gain positive reviews from the critics and secure a permanent Las Vegas show.

On the far corner of the stage, two dancers look in horror at Astrid Manoban. They know exactly what'll happen next whenever she reviews their profiles. Julia, a new recruit, was clueless.

"Hey Ryujin, Rina," she called the two. "Why do you two look like you're about to pass out?"

"She's reviewing our profiles," Ryujin said while clutching on Julia's hand tightly.

"So?" Julia asked which shocked the two dancers.

"You're the new kid, right?" Rina asked and the latter nodded. "I guess that's why you look confused. Okay. Here's the juice. Astrid is one of the best—if not the best, ballerina in the country making her the toughest one to please. But her words are like gospel. Once you gain her approval, you have a bright future ahead of you."

"Alice, Dakota, Yeji and Rina," Astrid suddenly called startling the girl. "To the center of the stage, please."

Julia's eyebrows furrowed as the girl beside her stood up and did as she was told. Ryujin sat closer to her.

"This is why it's scary when she reads the profiles," the girl whispered. "Impromptu showcase. Make or break time."

"Like a 'dance for your life' thing?"

Ryujin nodded. The two dancers watched as one after the other, the four dancers called out danced—for their lives. "Look at her closely. You have to be observant with her expressions."

Astrid stared blankly at the first dancer—Alice, for a good second before scribbling something on the paper.

"That. That look right there means she's no good," Ryujin explained as Astrid placed the piece of paper facing downwards to her right. "The reject pile."

Then, when Dakota—the second dancer, started dancing, Astrid sported her usual blank stare for three seconds before scribbling down on the paper.

"She's safe," Ryujin continued. Astrid placing the paper to her right. "At least for now. Back-up dancer."

Then a raven-haired girl—whose name was Yeji, danced. Astrid's eyebrow raised but she still had that cold stare. Five seconds. Then everyone clapped. Julia was yet again, confused.

"Five seconds mean she's talented. Lead material," she said clapping. Astrid placing the paper in front of her. "The last time she did that was with Annie Kim."

"Annie Kim?!" Julia exclaimed. "The Annie Kim? New York's newest Giselle?!"

"The one and only."

Julia muttered an inaudible 'wow' before turning her attention back at the remaining dancer. Rina.

The girl started to dance. Astrid raised an eyebrow as well but instead of a cold stare, she was smiling. A bit creepy as she retained the expression for a good five seconds.

"Oh no..."

Julia turned to Ryujin who abruptly stood up.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "She raised an eyebrow and looked for five seconds. It meant she's amazing, right?"

"She smiled," Ryujin said as Astrid stood from her seat with Rina's paper at hand. "That's the devil's smile, Julia. It only means one thing."

"What?"

"No talent."

Astrid ripped the paper in front of everyone making the poor girl burst out crying. Ryujin immediately ran towards the poor girl who just got cut from the company. Some girls did too.

Julia watched as Astrid stood from her seat and walked towards the theater's exit. How can one person be this mean?

"She's cruel, yes but, she knows what she's doing," someone from behind her said. "She's the best ballerina of our generation."

"Then why'd she stop?"

-

Astrid walked out of the theater and headed straight to the exit. Then someone suddenly called her name.

"Astrid?" She froze as soon as she recognized the voice. "Oh my God Astrid it is you!"

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her body as soon as she turned.

"Nina," she said monotonously. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here with Sam. We decided to go have a weekend off and saw your name at one pf the posters," she said smiling widely. "I could not, not come here to greet you!"

She can't help but smile. Janina and Samuel were the closest to her back at the academy. The three of them were often regarded to as the Golden Trio of the New York Ballet Company until...

"So, are you dancing again?" Nina asked enthusiastically. "You're dancing again right? That means you'll come back to New York?"

She shook her head and just smiled. Then gave her old friend a tight hug.

"I missed you," she said. "Give my regards to Sammie, okay? I need to head out to a meeting. But here's my number. Let's hang out tomorrow, okay?"

Nina reluctantly agreed and gave her friend another hug before heading out.

The smile on Astrid's face faded as she turned back to her trail—straight to her private studio.

-

Astrid's arm extended flawlessly as the beat grew faster. She executed her turns with crisp and power. She embodied the Black Swan as the music progressed—her arms flapping precisely like that of a swan's.

Pirouette after pirouette, she spun sharply at ease while projecting the devious glint on Odile's eyes. Her right leg extended beautifully as her other supported her body as she balanced effortlessly with every pause.

And with the final leap before the final pose, images of her car colliding with another suddenly flashed before her. She suddenly felt a sharp stabbing pain on her leg—similar to that of her accident. Her knees buckled and she fell helplessly on the floor.

She cursed. They were liars. They all are. They said she could go back and dance again. They said she can recover from the hit. They lied. She can't dance anymore. She can never dance anymore.

"I'm dying, Assie..."

Her brother's words from his previous visit rang into her ears.

"Please do this for me. You're the only one I know who can handle the company in my place," he pleaded.

"I'll think about it," was all he got from her.

Now she has an answer.

Astrid grabbed her phone from the floor and tapped on it. Overseas calls cost a lot but she didn't really care now.

"Hello, Assie—"

"If I do this, it's only temporary," she bargained. "You have to get better, Ash. If you don't, I'll drag you back to the company even if you're in the depths of hell."

She could just imagine how wide her brother's smile would be right now.

"I knew I could count on you, Assie," he said. "Thank you, my little sister."

What could possibly go wrong, right?

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