10. Foundation Day II

"Sayaw ed Bangko. It is a traditional dance here in Pangasinan. At the top of the stacked bench, both women and men will dance. I will mix hip-hop steps to be modernized. He he, we will win!"

"Will Foundation Day be held at night?"

"Yes, so you can go and watch."

"All right, I'll help you. Come on, let's make benches!" Drake become excited.

The next day, Blade met class II-A for the dance they will be competing in the upcoming event.

"Class, this afternoon, we have a dance practice that we will be present for on the upcoming Foundation Day. Everyone will participate because this will be your project for me in P.E. subject." Blade's announcement.

"Eh Sir, what are we going to dance?" Louie asked.

(Sayaw-dance)

"Sayaw ed Bangko. We will mix hip-hop and my friend and I have already created the benches we will use for the dance. They are already in the gym. I have also been able to remix our music." he even detailed the other things to do.

"Sir, do we have a step?" Rane.

"Sure. My friend and I formed it last night. So we'll all meet later at the school gym. Anyways, let’s start the lecture."

The class started and in the afternoon, they went to the gym to practice dance.

"Boys, have you laid the foams here yet?"

"Sir, it's done!" almost simultaneous language of men.

They then arranged the benches and stacked them on top of each other.

"Sir, its scary! It is high, what if we fall there?" Barry asked.

"What is being done to those who fall? Isn't it picked up? That's why I put foam on the floor so all of you won’t get hurt. Okay, all of you come here!"

Everyone followed and saw the faces of his students who were a little scared.

"I'll show you the steps. Rane, come on."

Rane hesitated to approach. She is afraid of the high. Blade steps on the bench, in the first grade. He held out his right hand to her. She reached for it and Blade supported her in getting to the bench.

"Okay, I'll show you the first step. Don't overdo it, Rane."

"Yes."

It has already started sampling the step. Partners should work side by side so that they do not fall into the bench on which they stand.

"Oh what? Did you get the first step?"

"Sir! How about me? I’m a bit heavy." Jamielyn asked.

She is fat and relatively small.

Blade gets depressed and looks at his other chubby students. Of course, It will definitely be difficult for them to balance above the bench.

"All right, no practice first. I think the solution is the other group is going to dance the tinikling. So bring bamboos tomorrow. But anyways, do you know how to dance tinikling?"

(Tinikling- a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish colonial era. The dance involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who steps over and in between the poles in dance.)

Everyone stared at him but nobody answers him. Blade sigh.

"Study that. Tomorrow, I will bring bamboos here. I will think of a new strategy." He said.

"Excuse me, Sir. I'm going down." Rane ask Blade.

He helps her to go down. After that, Blade announced...

"Okay, class! Dismiss!"

"YEHEEY!"

Blade scratched his head so hard. He needs to learn the step in Tinikling. His knowledge about that folk dance is just little. But never mind, he would just ask Drake if he knew a lot about it.

In the evening, Drake and Blade cut the bamboos for the dance. He has surfed google before and he has seen how the right timing for tinikling dancing.

"It's hard to be a teacher! It's stressful!" Drake suddenly snapped.

"You're right. But it's fun too."

Drake look at Blade in amazement.

"Really? Weren't you just complaining on your first day? You said, the kids were crazy, hard-headed and nuisance!"

"Hmm... That was just the beginning."

Drake rubbed Blade’s forehead.

"I think your temperature is normal. You are not sick. What did you eat before?"

"What's your problem?!"

"He he he, just nothing."

The next day, Blade actually started rehearsing for the dance they were going to present. Traditional mixed with modern. They were in the middle of practice when Conrad came to the gym to watch. He just let it go because the child is not scratching.

"Class! Rest first." Blade said to everyone. He went to the place where his bag was and he open it and took its content.

"Come on, let's eat mangoes. Jaypee, get some vinegar and chili in the canteen. Borrow a knife and a plate. Don't forget the salt too."

Everyone likes the mangoes he brought. He tapped the hand of his students who wanted to take.

"Everyone will eat, just wait! Anak na lase!"

The one he commanded came and they started peeling and slicing the mangoes into thin slices.

"Sir, you are kind even if you are a little cruel." Marvin commented.

"What did you say?! I've been kind for a long time but only now did you notice?! That hurts! Animal."

They just laughed. They started eating after they had prepared everything. Meanwhile...

"Conrad, that's spicy. Just dip in the salt." Rane scolded her brother.

"Why everyone is allowed? Why I am not?" its complaint.

"It's spicy! Here's yours, as well as the sauce." she gave him the separate plate with the remaining mangoes and salt.

"Conrad, listen to your sister." Blade whispered to the child.

It frowned.

They are starting to eat and they enjoy chatting.

"Sir, after Foundation Day... Let's have an outing!" Van recommend.

"So Sir!" everyone has already scratched him...

"Wait, I don't have a salary yet! I don't have any money." he said before biting the piece of mango he dipped in vinegar with chili.

"Sir, we don't have much money either. But we can go to Antong falls, it is located in Sison." Van said again.

"Antong Falls in Sison?"

"Sir, the fare for the jeep to Sison is only ten pesos and only fifteen pesos for the tricycle to Antong Falls." Van added.

Blade think a little and then...

"All right! I can be there!"

"OKAY!" everyone said happily.

They continue to eat and what else they are talking about. Plan for outing.

"Wait, why does this vinegar seems to be increasing?" Blade thought.

But he just ignored on what he notice.

They continued to eat until only three pieces of mango were left on the plate. Blade was about to take a piece when...

"WAAAAHHH! I really can't take this! It's really spicy!"

It was Conrad. They all looked at him. They were stunned and seemed to become rocks... How come, they saw that it was salivating and its saliva, it was dripping on the vinegar with chili that they were dipping. It turns out that they do not notice because they are busy chatting.

"OH NO!" their group suddenly disbanded ...

In the evening, Blade talked to Raphael. He wanted something in favour of it.

"What favour do you want?" it played with its greyish braided hair.

"I wish you could sing on the Foundation Day of the School. You know, intermission. At least two songs."

"Blade, I am the shy type. But for you, ill sing." Raphael answered.

All angels have a beautiful voice. Drake suddenly arrives.

"Who are you talking to there?" he asked.

Raphael looked at Drake and smile. Blade stared at his friend and said...

"I'm talking to Raphael." Blade's short answer.

"Raphael ?! As in... One of the seven archangels ?!" Drake said in shock.

"Yes."

Drake quickly approached Raphael and shook hands.

"It's an honour for me to meet you! Please, make me a normal person .."

"Hmm... You are a vampire and Blade is your friend?"

Its obvious that Raphael was surprise.

"He wants to be a normal person. Does he have any hope, Raphael?" Blade asked.

"If he is really kind and doesn't kill people. I can probably find a way. But I don't promise. All right, I'm leaving. Let's just meet at the Foundation day. And by the way, Blade... Avoid those bad expressions!"

"Yah! I'm avoiding it." 'Son of a bitch.'

"That’s good, Blade. By the way, nice to meet you, Drake."

It waved and suddenly disappeared into space...

"Blade, he's smart. He's really an angel! Then what are you? Are you sure you're really an angel? You're suspicious eh."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, just ignore me!"

The next day is Foundation Day so they are in full swing. One of Blade's students accidentally out of balance, it fell and...

"SIR! It crack!" Jericho shouted sharply.

He fell on the bench when he falls. This is Rane's partner.

Blade quickly approached him to see if he was in good condition or needed to be taken to the clinic.

"Are you okay? Your angry bird?"

"Sir... I think the eggs of the angry bird broke." he cried.

"Girls, even you mermaids! OUT!"

"Sir Blade, why?!"

"The angry bird’s egg has broken, so get out!"

"Where's the angry bird?! Where's the egg?!"

Blade scratched his forehead.

"JUST GET OUT OF HERE!"

The women came out of the gym, along with their gay classmates.

"What, shall we fry, huh?" Blade asked Jericho.

"Don't Sir! I think it's still whole. I just need a break."

"Do I need to take you to the clinic?"

"Sir don't! It's embarrassing!" his face is red.

His other male students laughed.

It's FOUNDATION DAY and everyone is busy for the upcoming event. They drew teachers for their section number. Blade drew number five . The host of the event was Mr. Pinular and Mrs. Solano. Currently, number four is on the rise. Section IV-A...

"Sir, I think we are nervous..." Rane said.

"Didn't I tell you? Just be good and give your best. You can do that, remember our rehearsals!" but honestly, even he is nervous...

The current group has finish performing.

"Okay, let's give IV-A a big round of applause!"

Everyone applause. The group did a modern dance.

So far, class II-A is going to be the next to perform. They were seated at the back of the stage as Blade and Drake prepared the props. When the two finished, they took the stage.

"Good luck to you all!" Drake and Blade speak almost at the same time.

Drake didn't look obvious because it was a bit dark behind the stage. They started dancing and they heard loud applause. Blade was watching quietly because he was nervous. Nothing would have fallen from the bench and nothing would have been pinched the foot on the bamboos. The whole II-A routine ended well and loud applause rang out.

"Wow! Sir Blade! II-A did something different!" comment by Mr. Pinular.

Blade proudly waved to everyone. Winner!

"You did a good job! We will win!" he said to his students.

"Thank you sir!"

Class II-A also feels proud when they finish their presentation. That is the result of their vigorous practice.