by Keren Or
Never before... until that moment.
Eli knew that it would not be easy to get her parent’s approval for classes, however. Especially... after they had invested in vain in the rising concert pianist. But she decided to try. After all, she had nothing to lose. To her great surprise, the attempt was successful!
Eli started her classes with the sole aim of getting her artist teacher... to fall in love with her. She dressed up, wore perfume and patiently waited for a miracle to happen at any moment. It seemed that her ingenious plan was bearing fruit... However, something along the way, not taken into account... went wrong.
Indeed, Eli fell in love... not with him, but with the guitar!
And so, ironically, her flamboyant teacher... lost his flame.
Life continued, and Eli, along with her best friend Valeria, began to go two nights a week to a group class of all kinds of dance. People her age, and even older, came to the dance class looking to have a great time filled with energy. Some wanted to learn dances, others to meet new people, but there were always those who simply came... looking for love.
Eli... was looking for everything...
Both teenagers were delighted with the novel prospect the classes held, and so the dance class quickly became their favorite pastime.
As she already had dance experience, it was not difficult for Eli to learn new steps, and someone always approached her, inviting her to dance. Most of the time they were men with dancing experience, like her, with whom she could show off and enjoy what she liked to do most. Nonetheless, on other occasions she was not so blessed and fell into the hands of some beginner who stepped on her, messed up her hair and let her go...
But even so, she still had fun...
Eli had been dancing for a month. The last few classes had been quite entertaining, as she learned a new style that she did not know, called Rueda de Casino. For this dance, all the participants, both veterans and novices, were divided into pairs that then formed a circle. Thereafter... on hearing the name of the different steps taught by the teacher, they exchanged partners until they had made their way around the circle and each one got back to their original partner.
The place was still relatively empty when Eli and Valeria arrived one day just in time to learn the new steps. Within a few seconds, they had already taken their places and found partners with whom to practice. Generally, the time devoted to learning basically depended on how often the teacher had to stop the music for those who did not manage to catch or execute satisfactorily what was taught. Nevertheless, at ten o’clock after every class, a party began without interruptions and with many more dance styles. Tango, merengue and the cha-cha were just some of the styles that Eli liked to dance, but on no account did she accept the waltz... The dizziness and nausea were simply not worth it...
After each couple had internalized the steps to the new dance, it was time to practice the famous round dancing together. This time, not even five minutes had passed before the music stopped just as a young boy, whom Eli did not know, stood in front of her.
A mysterious wind suddenly circulated.
Uncontrolled, her body, which was never indifferent... began to tremble. A chilling spark pierced her inside, freezing their locked eyes in time.
This was how an inexplicable magic, finally, managed to stop the clock... How many minutes might have passed? Maybe one, maybe ten... Who was counting...?
But the music started again, forcing them to continue with the dance... And his arms had to take her, bring her close and hold her tight in order to be able to move along.
Eli... could barely breathe.
For several seconds that seemed like hours, they danced… or flew... or both... The only thing certain was that for the first time... after a long, long while, the reason for her flight... was not Alex.
“What was that?” asked Valeria when the song ended.
“I haven’t the slightest idea...,” replied Eli, still agitated and hypnotized.
“I imagine... but something happened between you two... you can’t deny it...”
“Something,” breathed Eli, staring at him, “definitely happened to me... I’ve never felt like that before, not even with... you know who...”
“Like what? Explain yourself!” Valeria pressed.
“So strange... As if a gust of wind had put him in front of me...”
“Oh... you mean, like Mary Poppins...,” said Valeria, laughing at her own joke.
“Ay, Vale... don’t ask me any more questions!”
“Okay, okay, I’ll leave you alone. But I’ll tell you, it was very strange...”
“I know...,” agreed Eli, concluding the episode.
After a refreshing drink, the two friends sat down to rest. Eli followed the boy with her eyes. To be honest, the young man fallen from the sky was not even, by chance, close to her taste; in fact, physically he was the complete opposite of Alex. However, Eli could not deny that he had his charm... He certainly knew how to dance (she was a witness), and his smile lit up the dark setting...
This was what Eli was thinking about when she began to feel a familiar spasm in her stomach...
“Will he take me out to dance, Vale?” she asked in an anxious tone.
“Sure... and sooner than you imagine...”
Before Valeria finished the sentence, her prediction had come true. Standing in front of them was the young dancer... fulfilling her wish...
Eli took the arm he offered, thrilled to death. And, still looking at her friend, who was now supporting her with an encouraging smile, she followed him and allowed herself to be carried away... by the magical energy that took hold of her and by the desire to live again what… she had almost managed to forget…
That night, Eli was born again. Her heart beat again. The cause had a face and a name: its name was Tomás.
In the next class, Eli hoped to see him to collect on his promise... to take her out to dance. It was challenging to learn new steps while constantly looking at the entrance door, being disappointed at not seeing Tomás...
One by one she broke her nails until she had nothing left to destroy. And just then... when she was about to lose hope and also her patience... thank goodness... she saw him.
Tomás was a charming young man of twenty-one, though Eli had put him at not more than fifteen. He was skinny and pale as a noodle, and his height barely an inch or two above her. His dark brown hair was smooth, and his almond eyes were hidden behind delicate glasses. He appeared to be intelligent and harmless, though he also seemed to have a mischievous, enthusiastic and fun personality. A small and modest star who, without intending... shone with vitality. The suntan, the muscles and the brazen attitude, features that Eli was accustomed to worshipping, so it seems... belonged exclusively to Alex...
To tell the truth, at first glance, there was nothing in Tomás that could draw her attention. However, something in him... managed to conquer her. Maybe it was his contagious smile, or perhaps his inexhaustible source of energy. Eli did not know... but she felt that her soul wanted to know him.
Tomás lingered for several minutes, greeting everyone who crossed his path. Meanwhile... Eli talked to Valeria at the bar, wondering if he would remember her...
“Calm down, Eli... he’s coming...”
“Don’t turn dumb... Talk to me...”
“What do I talk about?”
“About whatever…
“Hello!” said Valeria in a too-loud voice.
But he was already there, just as he had promised. Accompanied by his best friend, he stayed for a while to talk and then disappeared with Eli, leaving Valeria... in good company.
Receiving, without major effort, what she so desired was a feeling to which Eli was not accustomed... From one moment to the next, the space between the two bodies as they danced was imperceptibly growing smaller, until it disappeared. Eli and Tomás d
anced... or talked, but definitely... they did not separate (except once, when Eli and Valeria went to gossip in the restroom).
At one point, going outside to take a breath, but above all to be alone, they sat on a little hill, staring at the stars. Eli tried to silence her feelings; to wait a while longer would have been normal... However, for her it was nothing but madness to contain her emotions under a celestial canopy...
In effect... great madness...
That was how, as she lowered her guard, her thoughts flowed... to the rhythm of the warm wind that gently welcomed them. And Tomás, captivated... took advantage of the occasion and, in a single breath, finally confessed that he... felt the same...
Shortly afterwards, Tomás offered to give her a ride home. It was not a problem for Valeria, since Edi, Tomás’s friend, offered to keep her company until they came to collect her. Therefore, she encouraged the bright ideas and dreams of her friend, saying goodbye to her with a big hug.
When Tomás turned off the engine at the door of Eli’s house, they remained where they were, talking about life. Half an hour later, suddenly, leaning against his door, Tomás kept looking at her, but his lips did not move...
“What are you thinking about?” asked Eli, trembling with emotion and terrified by his possible response.
Tomás kept silent, his eyes fixed on her, examining her slowly, with respect and affection. And, without prior warning, he held her by her blouse and pulled her towards him... then began to kiss her.
Despite not being really ready, still feeling things for Alex—the only owner of her lips until then—Eli did not stop him. Which was good... since for the first time she was experiencing a kiss so pure, perfect and harmonious... like a song.
On entering her house, from so much excitement... Eli forgot what time it was and without thinking twice she woke her sister.
“Sofi, I have something to tell you!” she said, shaking her without compassion.
“What? What happened!” replied Sofi, frightened and sleepy.
“He kissed me... it was beautiful... I can’t believe it...,” said Eli, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I can’t believe it either, Eli! Are you crazy? You wake me up at two in the morning for this? Let me sleep! Get out of here!”
Eli left her sister hiding under the sheets and went to her bed happy and excited. And after endless nights of sleeplessness... she finally slept like a dormouse.
Waiting for Tomás, nervous and excited, Eli, as usual, felt spasms in her stomach. For her, this was her first real date, and Tomás, whose kisses still burned on her lips... was on his way and about to arrive.
Leaning on his car, Tomás greeted Eli with a huge, happy smile.
Everything was perfect…
And perfect was Eli... in Tomás’s shiny eyes.
However, late into the night, without knowing why, Eli unexpectedly felt... a great disappointment. Suddenly, she looked at Tomás, but she did not like him anymore, and the periods of silence simply overwhelmed her.
Once again, what seemed perfect... was nothing but an optical illusion. Eli could not point to anything in particular that might have upset her. It was rather a combination of insignificant reasons... that simply did not let her enjoy herself.
And so... despite the fact that on the previous occasion Eli had felt she was the happiest woman in the world, a step away from living a possible love story, this time she felt she was inexplicably... with a stranger. Even the kiss Tomás gave her the second time when they left the restaurant was no longer the same.
Her heart... betrayed her.
Eli lost all control of her unstable feelings, and she could not wait to go back home and be finished with what never had begun.
Even with the distance Eli put between them both, Tomás called her again and was nice to her. And although in that communication Eli tried to be gentle when telling him that it would not work out, that she was to blame and that there was no why... disappointment and hurt were evident in Tomás’s tone.
But being an absolute gentleman and perhaps trying to save his dignity, he did not pressure her at all. He simply accepted the verdict and they both agreed to remain just friends.
As she hung up, a sharp pain pierced her chest, which revealed that her decision... had been rushed. Should she have tried for longer, giving him another chance?
Tragically, she had not measured the weight or consequences of her own actions... It was now too late...
Remorseful and frightened to think that she had just made the biggest mistake of her life, she resolved then to reverse the situation when she would see him again at dance class that weekend.
Eli arrived at the next class late and anxious. Could she remedy the damage done? Would Tomás give her a second chance, after having been rejected without any explanation?
There was only one way to find out...
The problem was... that she did not find Tomás. But this, she was about to discover, was the least of her problems...
A few minutes later he finally appeared, bringing with him the answers… to all her questions...
He was holding a pretty, unknown girl around the shoulder. They seemed happy and radiant, as if spreading their happiness everywhere.
Eli’s world collapsed...
When could all this happen... in a week? she wondered, while sorrow burned her soul.
As he passed beside her, Tomás greeted her without stopping. The rest of the night was a constant torture for Eli... And she had no choice but to accept her defeat, by going off to cry... far away from there.
Knowing very well that she had brought it upon herself, she could not demand anything from Tomás. As a consequence... she had to face her own sentence, silently accepting the remorse and jealousy that were tearing her apart inside.
For a while she even refused to go to dance classes, for fear of seeing that pretty girl again... occupying her place.
A month later, Eli resumed her classes after receiving a friendly call from Tomás during which she discovered that he was single...
Over the following months they kept in touch. They met at dance classes, they called each other on the phone and even went out every so often to the movies or to dinner. Tomás considered her a very good friend, and Eli realized that she really loved him.
On several occasions she tried to raise the subject, until finally one night she managed to reveal her feelings and begged him for a second chance.
Tomás was no longer interested.
Every day that passed, Eli fell more and more in love with Tomás. Knowing him better now, she discovered the person who could have been by her side... A cheerful person, passionate about life and full of kindness. A person... who would have loved her as she deserved and with whom she would have been protected, far, far away... from her eternal loneliness.
She could only lament and regret having let him go... in that moment of madness.
Sadly, it was her turn to live the agony, the anguish and the frustration... of not having her love reciprocated.
And so, without any mercy, that summer night... when they had kissed for the first time… was being left behind.
Lying under the blanket on a winter’s day, Eli could only think of sleeping. Her favorite program was about to end, and, feeling tired, she wondered at first if it was worth the effort to reach for the phone, which rang without stopping...
Thank goodness... she decided to answer. It was Tomás, agitated, in a hurry and... a little strange:
“Hello, Eli. How are you?” He continued without stopping to hear her reply. “I need a Yes or a No. You don’t even have time to think. I just received two tickets to go tonight to the concert you wanted to see so much... Do you want to go with me?”
“Yes, of course!” replied Eli, jumping out of bed. And even if you had woken me at three in the morning on the worst winter’
s day, or even if I had had other plans... just to be with you I would have accepted, she added to herself after hanging up the phone.
When they arrived at the concert, they were seated in a privileged area near the stage. On each seat they found a bracelet that glowed in the dark, a red rose and a songbook. The excitement that Eli felt before the start of the show with her favorite band was immense, and even more so... after Tomás gave her his rose.
Hugging each other, they sang the songs, while a flow of drinks and cookies intended only for the VIP section came for free. Tomás sang phrases in her ear that went directly to her willing heart, and every now and then... they kissed... as if no one was watching.
No doubt... it was the most romantic and extraordinary night that Eli had ever lived.
When the concert ended, Tomás left her at the door of her house and, without prolonging the moment, thanked her for a wonderful evening.
For Eli, more than the evening... wonderful was he.
The next day, Saturday, Eli did not hurry to open her eyes. She preferred to keep dreaming... about the night before.
Inconsiderately, Sofi interrupted her rest looking for her coat. When Sofi finally left, Eli lay awake, reclining in her bed.
As usual, she took her magazines and started to leaf through them until suddenly she found a very interesting article…
Why not be the one who takes the first step?
Who said that only the male side has the right to take the first step?
Who says that even in this century young women should sit and wait for his excellency... the prince?
So... let’s ask it another way: Why should YOU be the one who takes the first step?
Possible options:
1.Because taking the first step means a challenge.
Will you have the courage to do something different, daring and unusual?
2.Because although it is not a great challenge, there is nothing to lose.