2 – New Girl

Normally, he would have been out of bed and eating breakfast by this time. Instead, Oblio was still lying on his bed wide awake. He kept thinking about the new girl. Normally, his musings and thoughts about life had no place in a club, only dancing and partying were allowed there. Normally, he hated being bossed around by Aubrey but when that girl approached him to help him, he was thankful that he got ordered around. Normally, he never attempted to do anything about getting close to persons he liked, but last night… was different.

He took a deep breath. Yesterday was a special day, now everything was back to normal. No more slowing down of time. No more muting of unnecessary background noise. Last night, it felt like there were only two of them. Now, he was one of the people in the background – just another human being. The dream was over and he accepted that.

He got up and went about his daily routine, occasionally thinking about Gabby. He made himself a simple breakfast and he thought about talking with her. He washed the dishes and he thought about her dancing. He went down to the bike repair shop that he owned and went to work on the bikes all lined-up for repair.

His shop looked like any other repair shop but what people don't know is that he makes more than enough because he is THE "bike repairman to the stars." That title never bothered him because he was passionate about bikes – if anything, it flattered him. But despite the huge salary, he chose to live simply and saved all of the extra money he earned.

He worked on the bikes on autopilot. He had memorized everything about bikes and the things that might be wrong with them, and what might need improvement. This allowed him to keep thinking about the girl – how he wanted to see her again but had no way to contact her.

He spent the day working, stopping only to eat lunch. As he was finishing the repair on a bike, someone rang his buzzer. "Excuse me," a female voice said. "Is Oblio-" He looked up and met eyes with Gabby.

"Hi, it's me Gabby, from last night."

"I-I know. H-hi," he stuttered.

"I got your address from Dare. I got everyone's address from her," she smiled. "I brought you, uh, dinner?" She took out a plastic container from her backpack. "Can I come in?"

"Uh, yes. Sorry, please come in," he gestured inside. "I'm afraid it's not comfortable here in my workshop. My place is upstairs, if you prefer it there."

"Oh, no. I'm okay. I just wanted to give you this," she handed him the container. "It's a vegetarian dish, just in case any of you guys don't eat meat. I hope you like it. It's like a reverse housewarming gift."

"You made it?"

"Yup. B-but I don't know what it's called. I kind of just threw ingredients together. It tastes good though."

"Thank you," he smiled at her.

"Thank you for last night. I enjoyed your company."

"Anytime," was all that he could say. She smiled in reply and they both fell into an awkward silence.

"I should go," she said finally. He wanted to ask for her number. He wanted to talk to her some more but he didn't know what to say next. But then, "Uh, wait. There's this dance contest…"

"Oh, you mean this?" she pulled a flyer out of her backpack and showed it to him. It was about a pair dance contest. "I got it from a guy I passed by on the way here."

"Are you interested?"

"I-I want to… But I don't have a partner."

"How about the two of us?" Now Oblio wanted to praise and punish himself for saying those words. He wanted to ask her but now he felt so vulnerable.

She smiled. "It would be an honor." He felt relieved and smiled.

"Can I have your number?" Gabby handed him her cell phone and he gave her his. He felt somewhat embarrassed that she asked for his number first but at least now he can contact her. "So, we have about a week. Do you think we can pull it off?"

"Of course," he gave a slight nod. "When are you available for practice?"

"I finish working at 5, so I can meet you around this time, 6?"

Oblio tried to take a deep breath as discreetly as possible. "Are you free now?" he asked her. Her eyes widened in response. "I mean, the sooner we start…"

"N-no, yes, of course. Um, maybe I can give you…" she glanced at her watch. "An hour? Is that okay? But after I finish delivering the rest of the gifts. Just 3 more."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"It's okay. I can manage. You might be a little busy here. Where do we meet up later?"

"Where is your last stop?"

"Angel's place."

"There's a coffee shop across his place. I'll meet you there."

"Gracias, Gabby," Angel smiled. He was such an obviously good-looking and charming man. She bet he was such a beautiful dancer too. She though to herself, why of all people…

ding dong, ding dong

"Meeting someone, Chiquita?" She read the text message – I'm here.

"I-It's Oblio. I have to go. See you." Angel waved her good bye and she ran off to the coffee shop across the street. Oblio was standing at the door. Angel yelled after them, "Take care, the two of you!" Oblio waved at him.

"Do we go inside?"

"No, I'll show you the place where we'll rehearse first."

They walked a few blocks towards the direction of Oblio's place. Five buildings from his house was a gym. A muscular man greeted them as they entered, "Hey Oblio! Hi miss!" Gabby nodded, Oblio smiled at the man.

"That's Steve, he owns this place," he told her as they entered a door at the far end of the gym. The sign on the door read "Restricted Area." Oblio turned on the light switch and they climbed a flight of stairs towards a locked door. He fished out the keys from his pocket and opened the door.

It was dark and smelled woody inside but not old. He turned on the light and it revealed a dance studio.

"Wow, so you're good friends with the owner, huh?"

"Yes."

"That's why he lets you use this place."

"This dance studio… I bought it."

"Really? Wow! That's so cool!" She walked around and examined the square room. It had full-wall mirrors on two consecutive sides. The floors had been refurbished and were smooth. The walls with no mirrors we're painted blue, almost the same shade as Oblio's hair. In one corner of the room was a CD player. "This is so awesome!"

Gabby walked towards the player. "So, what song do you wanna dance?"

"I was thinking something like a medley or remix of hip hop songs."

"Oh hey, Daft Punk! Daft Punk's good. Let's use Technologic."

"I like that song. I have some other songs here," he plugged his mp3 player into the player. He played his playlist of hip hop songs with heavy beats mixed with electro songs. They both picked out the ones they thought worked together for a remix. They talked about their music, and then favourite artists, hobbies…

"So you like riding bikes?"

"Yes, it's… Exhilarating."

She laughed. "I can't pronounce that word right. Say it again for me."

"Ex. Hi. La. Ra. Ting." He said it really slowly and they both laughed.

…and food.

"Do you cook a lot?"

"Yeah, I enjoy it very much."

"Then I look forward to eating your dish," he made a bowing gesture. She laughed and curtsied back. "I hope you find it to your liking."

"Speaking of food, have you had dinner?" Now, he thought to himself, he wasn't asking her out… yet. It was what seemed natural to ask. He was also genuinely concerned. He tried to rationalize with himself and realized he was thinking too much again.

"Dinner? Oh… Yes! I've had dinner!" she glanced at her watch again. It was already 8 in the evening and she had spent an hour with him already. "And so should you. Have dinner, I mean. I-I have to go home."

"Oh. Alright. I should go too and start editing the songs. See you tomorrow?"

"I'll drop by your place at 6?"

"6 is okay."

She smiled and held his gaze for some time before hurrying out the door. "Sorry, I really have to go. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"HELLO? Sorry I can't hear you!" the voice shouted over the loud party music in the background.

"Dare, it's me! Oblio!"

"What? Potato?" She carried her cordless phone outside of her apartment where it was quiet. "Who is this again?"

"It's Oblio."

"Oh hey! What's up?"

"Is Gabby home?"

"Hey! Why don't you ask her yourself?" Dare laughed.

"No, no. I just wanted to check."

"All right, all right. You stalker!" Dare laughed some more. She knocked on Gabby's apartment door, no answer. "No, she's not home."

"Are you sure?"

"Wait a second." She went downstairs to talk to her landlady. "Has Gabby come home yet?" he heard over the phone. "No, she hasn't come back since she left this afternoon."

"Nope, Oblio. She hasn't arrived yet."

"Okay. Thank you, Dare." He looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. He got himself a glass of water. He needed to relax. Maybe Dare was right – he was becoming a stalker asking about her whereabouts. Gabby just seemed jumpy and suspicious a while ago. Or maybe he just imagined it. Her whereabouts are none of his business, he told himself.

"Calm down, Oblio. You'll see her tomorrow." And he retired to bed but he tossed and turned in his bed for an hour before he finally slept.

"Oblio." He looked up from the bike and saw Gabby waving at him. He felt the usual excitement and happiness he experienced whenever he saw her but it was overshadowed by relief. "Gabby," he smiled at her.

He wiped the grease from his hands and the sweat on his face. "I'll be ready in a while." He jogged up the stairs and traded his dirty white shirt for an army green shirt. He put on a black leather jacket and grabbed his body bag. "Let's go."

Upon arriving at the studio, Oblio played the remix he had made for their routine. "What do you think?"

"Wow, that's awesome! I love it. You're a good DJ."

"Thank you," he gestured to the floor. "Let's get to work."

They spent the next hour choreographing. Oblio described the way he wanted the moves to feel at different times of the music while Gabby tried her best to give her rough interpretation through dance moves. Oblio tweaked the moves here and there until he thought it was perfect. They were a good choreography team.

The next hour, they practiced their whole routine. When it comes to execution, Oblio was flawless. He had mastered his technique through years of dancing. Gabby, on the other hand, had less dancing experience. She can dance and her flexibility is a major advantage but she struggles quite a bit with Oblio's choreography. She picks up choreography fast but they might take a little more time perfecting the execution.

But whatever she lacked in dancing skill, she made up with her partnering skills. Synchronization was not a problem for them. She watches Oblio move first and then adapts to his rhythm and they move as one.

They took a break from dancing and sat down next to the music player. They discussed their progress for the day.

"It's good that you're a fast learner," Oblio remarked.

"Thank you but I think I mess up your choreography. I don't do it right."

"It's okay. We'll work on it." He took a plastic container from his bag and handed it to her. "Here's your container. It was delicious. It was as appealing to the eyes as it was fulfilling to the stomach and invigorating for the taste buds."

She laughed. "Thank you, I'm flattered." She gazed at him as she reached for her container. He smiled faintly at her and she smiled back. When she finally snapped out of it she glanced at her watch. "I have to go."

"Now? You have an appointment somewhere?" He felt he was being nosy but he couldn't help but ask.

"I'm meeting a friend. I'm sorry. I'll work hard tomorrow, I promise." And she left.

"Dare? It's Oblio," he introduced when he heard her leave her noisy apartment.

"Checking on her again?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just, uh, concerned."

"It's all right. You don't have to explain yourself. But she's not home right-" She suddenly stopped talking.

Oblio overheard footsteps, like people going up the stairs. "Dare?" No answer. He heard a door slam. "Dare?"

"Oh, hey. She's not home. Sorry. I was, uh, feeling a bit dizzy. See you!" she hanged up.