“Okay.”
Chapter 36
Adrien
Adiemus - Adiemus
“Hi, I’m here! Ready to go?”
I stand nervously in the doorway of Élias's apartment, waiting for my best friend to finally get changed. Honestly, what's taking so long? Is he taking another shower or what?
“Élias!”
“Yes, damn it! Just a minute! I can't find the t-shirt I want to wear!”
“Which one are you looking for? I'll help you.”
“The one by Dead by April with the heartbeat on it.” He yells from the direction of his bedroom.
I let the front door close behind me and after a short detour to the bathroom, I stop in the next doorway. The sight is delightful. Élias is standing on his toes and rummaging through the top shelf of his closet. His dark curls are sticking out in all directions and I almost suspect that a hair tie will be the only way to tame his mane tonight. He hates hair ties.
“You meant this one, right?”
Surprised, Élias turns around. “Where did you find it?”
“In the laundry basket, you were wearing it the day before yesterday.”
“Shit, you’re right! I'll take that then!” He quickly throws the dirty t-shirt on his bed and pulls a black Bad Omens shirt over his head before trudging past me to the front door.
“Can we go?” He grins cheekily at me at this question and I stop, perplexed. “Hurry up, will you?”
Unbelievable!
I just want to get to Philipp and Nika's studio early to watch them dance for as long as possible.
Since Philipp went home last night, we've been texting back and forth. Usually we only do that when we set up a date. This is new and my stomach is tingling a little more than usual.
I knew the movie night at my place would be difficult for Philipp, but three months ago I didn't understand what was going on with him. What was going on in his head, what had happened to him.
We had one or two difficult moments, but Philipp didn't shut down, he stayed and we had a great night and an even better next day. We laughed so much together and the exciting (and unexpected) thing is when he feels free, doesn’t think and just can be, there is this playfully dominant air around him. Who would have thought that? He has so many facets and I can't wait to discover them all.
Recently, Nika and Philipp started recording their impros on video and uploading them to YouTube and Instagram. As they already had quite a few followers from dancing with their crew, it wasn't that hard to branch out and they quickly gained over ten thousand followers.
***
Philipp and Nika are standing close, facing each other, waiting for the music to start when Élias and I slip into the studio and sit down on the floor in front of the mirror.
The song is... strange. Certainly it’s Philipp's choice, as his taste in music is… unique. I quickly tap an app to identify the song: “Adiemus” by Adiemus. Okay, never heard of it. Nika takes in the sound of the music, gently moving her body to the first beats. With the first strike of the timpani, Philipp beginsto dance. Light, flowing movements, arms swinging, his feet drawing patterns on the floor. Nika quickly gets into the music, following his motions. Their hands find each other again and again, their bodies intertwine in slow twists and turns.
The song has something natural and native about it, with percussions, timpani, a pan flute and something that leads the melody in the background. A woman sings in a language I don't understand. Is that even a language?
Nika and Philipp twist close together until they are kneeling opposite each other on the floor. There's something different about the way Philipp is dancing today, I can't put my finger on it yet, but… Suddenly the dynamic of the music changes, the single voice turns into a powerful choir. Philipp grabs Nika's wrists and pulls her up in a sweeping twist. A short, sharp cry reveals that Nika wasn't expecting this move and Élias flinches when he sees his girlfriend literally flying through the air.
But she recovers from the small shock quicker than we do, because the very next moment her feet find the floor again in a feather light touch and she leans into Philipp’s side.
With a little tug on her wrist Philipp lets her twist quickly and he takes off across the room. Three quick steps and he spins high in the air and, while still landing, he drops to his knees again, facing Nika.
The music is powerful and captivating, building up tension. Nika runs and the moment she jumps off, Philipp drops onto his back on the floor so that she flies over him in a perfect split. When Philipp turns his face in my direction again, I see him laughing. I've never seen him laugh like that before, but they've never danced like that either.
