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I started training on November 05, 2020. Mom brought me into somewhat kind of studio, a dance studio. I was a little bit confused but all of that disappeared when the fair lady came in . She was all smiles, really happy to see me.

"You can call me Marg," she said when she got right in front of us. My eyes stays on her.

"Is that your real name?" The lady blinked twice at me before chuckling.

"We'll just settle with that," she smiled again. My forehead creased a little.

"I can't settle with a code name while I'm here working with you. Agreeing and being here is already a risk for us."

I felt my mom pulled my arm a little bit closer to her. I know what she's trying to imply and I'm aware of it. Moments later the lady chuckled again.

"Such doubts you have in me, Josie. What do you want?"

My brows furrowed, my eyes analyzing her face. In conclusion, she's amazed of what's happening in front of her now.

"An assurance," I said after a few seconds. One of her brows shot up.

"Assurance? What do you mean?" I let out a sigh and I almost rolled my eyes to her.

"What I mean is I want to know your name and maybe that could lessen my doubts for you. An assurance at least that we can trust you by knowing your name."

Silence. By the looks of her face she's just staring at me or maybe just thinking about something.

"Margarette Ang."

My eyebrows shot up and grinned at her cheerfully.

"Nice to meet you po. I'm Arabella Josie Egnacio. Everyone calls me Josie and I don't mind you calling me that, ate Margarette." I heard her scoffed a little bit but that didn't stopped me from smiling.

"Call me Marg. It's more convenient than saying my full name." I shook my head to her.

"I'm not experiencing inconvenience naman po, kaya ayos lang." Her one brow shot up again before she shook her head to me.

"Experiencing inconvenience or not you have to call me that way."

Napakunot ang aking noo nang umalis ito sa harapan namin ni Mama. Napatingn ako sa aking ina nang haplusin nito ang likod ng aking ulo.

"Huwag kang magsalita ng ganyan anak. Tandaan mo kahit hindi natin lubusang kilala ang kung sino mang tao, ang respeto sa pananalita ay kinakailangan." I sheepishly smiled to her.

I know I've been rude. Might as well apologize later to ate Margarette, by starting to call her the name she wants.

Tumalima ako sa paglakad nang makitang humarap si ate Marg sa napakalaki at malapad na salamin. I stood beside her and stared at our reflection. There's a big gap between our height. I'm just below her waist. Wearing a simple shorts and a white shirt with my hair in a ponytail.

"Do we begin now?" I lift my head to her.

She took a quick glance at me before nodding. I slowly nod my head to as I cleared my throat. I saw my mom's reflection in the mirror. She's sitting at the back of the studio, watching me.

"Favorite color?"

I saw her executing her body, like doing a stretching. I was confused in the first place but when she looked at me and like trying to say to follow her, I obliged.

"P-pink," I stuttered when I couldn't reach my toes. I glanced at her but she's doing so well. She's not suffering at all, unlike me!

I hissed when she started making me do the butterfly position. I saw her reflection and her one brow shot up.

"Gotta stretch that thighs of yours. Believe me it'll be easier for you to dance better."

I bit my lower lip when she tried to push my knees in order to touch the floor. When we were done I saw mom coming towards me, with a towel she's carrying she wiped my sweat away.

"Masakit," bulong ko sa kanya ngunit tinawanan niya lamang ako at bumalik sa kanyang kinauupuan. I frowned at her and faced ate Marg again.

All day we were just stretching our bodies. Tinuturuan niya rin ako ng iba pang paraan para mapadali ang pag-inat ng aking katawan. Ngunit mas lalo lang ata sumasakit ang katawan ko.

I can remember it clearly. We didn't have a good start in our conversation, obviously she's just getting her ways to me to get even. But after that long tiring day, I have learned many from her.

- Arabella Josie