Chapter 26.2: Let's PLAY

***

Pagkatalikod ko nakita ko si Sharlyn. I ran towards her way, and hugged her. Ang init nya. Di bale na, kaya na naman nya yata 'to eh.

"It's a good thing you're okay." sabi ko. Showing a little care.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss this opportunity." umupo na siya sa harapan ng salamin at nagsimula nang mag-ayos.

"Sige. Iwan na muna kita." I smiled and left.

/KENNETH'S PERSPECTIVE

This is it! This is the time.

But, one problem. There's no Juliet? I heard that Sharlyn's having hard time because of her burning fever. That's a shocker.

Light bulb.

If Sharlyn's not present, then Kathy will be forced to Juliet's part. >:D She's, infact, the understudy. Or so I think she is. Another thing, if she'll play the part. I won't hesitate to do one thing. I know she'll get furious, but at the end of the day I know she'll be mild again.

This may sound weird, but I really do like her. I'm making a move. I sure hope that she won't be dense, but get a sight of everything I'll do instead. And I'll really start today, o'course I already started, but today's the start of an Epic Move.

Someone knocked.

"Hey man!" it's James. "Less then two minutes until curtain. Mag-ayos ka na." I nodded and he left.

Is the butterflies in your stomach a gay thing? Because if it is, then I would consider myself one. Kidding! I won't dare to deny. I'm experiencing it, maybe because of excitement and at the same time nervous. I took a deep breath before heading outside the dressing room. It's half of the school population that will be watching us. I don't know what's gotten into our English teacher that she invited that many students to watch.

Before I closed the door, I heard my cellphone rung. I hadn't got the chance to answer the call or what because someone already grabbed me away and lead me towards the back stage.

"Hoy Kenneth! Ayusin mo ha? Better treat your Juliet nice. Hihihihi." Eril winked.

"Yeah, whatever man." I smiled and rolled my eyes.

"Man ka dyan! TSS! Sinisira mo ang pagkababae ko!" and then he faked a sob.

"Shh." I pretended to care, though I know it looked like we're fooling around. He's fun. "You're gorgeous." I'm trying my best not to burst out my laugh.

"Ewan ko sayo! Basta ha? Sige, good luck papa Kenneth. Hihihi." he walked away.

***

It's now our part.

I did not look the whole first scenes. I still haven't seen Kathy in Juliet's costume. I bet she's really gorgeous in it, there's no doubt.

I entered the stage. Spot light on me.

I am now reaching for Juliet's hand, and there's no way I can mess this one up. No way, dude!

Act Two, scene two; Capulet's Orchard...

"...see, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek!"

Here I am, in front of hundreds of people. I'm already used to this kind of thing because of my concerts and everything, but this seemed to be a lot more different. My knees are wobbling in not-so obvious way, I cannot utter words the way I did on rehearsals, I cannot look straight through the crowd. Am I THIS nervous? Oh, God.

It's now Kathy's turn. I can't wait to see her beautiful face.

"Ay me!" Kathy entered.

I glanced at—

Whatthegollycow?!

It's not Kathy. It's ONLY Sharlyn. I thought she couldn't make it? How come she's here? Playing Juliet, when it's Kathy's turn to shine, and most especially, when it's my turn to make a move?

I'm not mean to her or what, it's just that I have planned this already, and her showing up doesn't really help.

Now we have come to the part where we're supposed to kiss. And no, I am not going to continue what I thought I'd do. Everything was screwed. I can't do anything, so I might as well continue this until this end. I just hope time would pass by thousand times faster than the usual. I can't wait until this ends—

Sharlyn tried to kiss me?!!!

I was spacing out that I completely forgot that I'm still on stage! It's a good thing that I woke up before she could steal something. I cupped her face and... Gee! I'm not doing this! Tss. But I don't have an option at this moment. And... I kissed her only on her cheeks.

The scene was finished.

One hour left. The play was revised into Kathy's own version, so there was a slight changes to the other scenes. I was frowning the whole play. I couldn't help it.

Curtain call; At last, all was over.

"Let's give a round of applause to Romeo," The emcee, or my other groupmate announced. "Kenneth Verge!"And there was a roar of applause that welcomed me all the way to the center stage.

"And to Juliet," Sharlyn made her entrance. "Sharlyn Marquez!"

All the cast held hands and together, we bowed. There's one more thing left to do.

I borrowed the microphone from my groupmate to say something, "Now let's not forget about one person who made this all possible." I wandered my eyes to the side, hoping to find Kathy. She's there, on the left wing. She looked upset or something. But I hope this will change her mood. "Let's welcome, our director, and also our group leader, Katherine Villanueva!"

Loud applause finished the whole show. Everyone was busy congratulating each other. Even though this is not a real play sponsored by the school, we still enjoyed it. And just one clap from the audience took away all our tiredness.

Everyone's going home now. I cleaned my things, grabbed my back pack, and caught up to Kathy.

"Hey!" I smiled widely, but all I received was an upset face from her. What's up with Kathy? Isn't she happy that our play got sucessful? I'm sure we'll get high grades from this.

I placed my hand on her shoulder. She immediately sighed, more like she's shock. What's wrong?! I wanted to ask, but it seemed like her tongue was tied.

/KATHERINE'S PERSPECTIVE

Ayos! Si Sharlyn na ulit ang gaganap bilang Juliet. Ayos na ako, free'ng free na. Now I don't have to be bothered about anything because after all, I'm just the director.

But I was wrong. I was beyond bothered about what I just saw.

Nandito ako sa left-side ng stage, may harang naman kaya di pa din ako kita kahit magsasayaw ako ngayon dito. But I won't do that, especially not in this time. I feel weak.

Did Kenneth just kiss Sharlyn?

My knees wobbled. My heart skipped a beat as if it's trying to get out from me. Oh gosh! I'm going to call Repo Man right now. TSS!

After that scene I was not in the mood. Wala nga sa mood eh, bakit ba. Siguro dahil sa pagod? Malay ko, basta wala ako sa mood. I was quiet the whole play. Alangan namang magka-kanta ako dito diba? Parang ang weird naman yata pag ganun.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Curtain call na. Tapus na ang lahat. Tinawag ang mga cast by group, and the lead characters of the play one by one.

"Let's give a round of applause to Romeo, Kenneth Verge!"

"And to Juliet, Sharlyn Marquez!"

Magkalapit si Kenneth at Sharlyn sa gitna ng stage, at ako naman ay nandito pa din, stunned. Umalis na kaya ako? Wala na naman akong kwenta dito eh, plus, pupuntahan ko nalang sila Yna at Lindsay masaya pa siguro ako.

Pero hindi eh, nanigas ako dito sa kinatatayuan ko. Maya maya ay may nagsalita na naman sa mic.

"Now let's not forget about one person who made this all possible." Si Kenneth. "Let's welcome, our director, and also our group leader, Katherine Villanueva!"

And automatically, my feet lead me to the stage. Grabe! Claps filled my ears. I don't fancy this thing, I don't want attention. Ugh! Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng curtain call, tumakbo na ako bigla sa back stage at inayos na ang gamit ko. Sila na bahalang mag-ayos sa iba pang gamit. Nang okay na ang lahat, lumabas na ako at uuwi na sana.

"Hey!"

Si Kenneth na naman. I gasped! Nagulat ako eh. Pero bakit ganun, sobra yung pagkagulat ko ngayon? I'm not usually like this, pero bakit ngayon iba?

"Uh, hi." yan lang ang nasabi ko. Feeling ko, wala akong dila ngayon para makapagsalita.

Binilisan ko ang lakad ko para makarating na agad kila Lindsay.

"Hey, Kathy. Where are you going?"

"Home." matipid na kung matipid.

"Let me take you."

"No, thanks. Lindsay will."

"Please? Just for this day."

Papayag na sana ako kaso lang,

"Kenneth!" tawag ni James. "Tawag ka ni coach. Gusto ka sanang bigyan ng second chance para sa team."

Nakita ko namang ngumiti nang sobra si mokong. Pero ako naman, parang naulanan at basang basa eh. Hindi na nya ako maihahatid, pero ayos lang. Eh! Ba't ba ganito ang naiisip ko. Tch.

"Nah. I gotta take Kathy home."

"I didn't approve of it yet."

"But you will right?" he wiggled his eyebrows the cute way.

"No." at lumakad na ako palayo.

"Wait up!"

Humarap ako sa kanya. "Look, Kenneth. This is your chance, don't waste. S'okay! You can take me home some other time."

Leche flan! Nasabi ko ba yung last sentence, or that was just some kind of mental joke?!

"Really?" he seemed a bit shocked. Now, he smirked. "Okay. I'll do that. I-ingat kah!" at umalis na siya kasama si James.

Sana nga maihatid mo ako sa bahay.

Yun bang tipong hindi na kita classmate lang.

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