["PLAY THE KING" IS ACT TWO OF THE "PLAY" SERIES. PLEASE READ "PLAY THE QUEEN" FIRST.]
It's been four months since Priam Torres, the once unpopular president of the Elysian University Student Council, assumed office. Thanks to his chief-of-staff Cas...
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FABIENNE
MASAYA AKO na 'di ko na kailangang magsalita para pababain sa puwesto si Chevy Serrano at ang accomplices niya. Thanks to the USC, I guess? Pero 'di ako masaya na parang binusalan ang bibig ko at 'di pinayagang mag-comment sa isang isyu na direktang involved ako.
When sought for Lucero's comment, Repertory Theater's Publicity Manager Priscilla Mercado said the lead actress had nothing to say about the issue.
"Fabienne is currently focused on the rehearsals," Mercado said in a text message. "She prefers to leave this matter in the capable hands of the investigators."
Totoong focused na ako sa rehearsals namin, pero 'di 'yon nangangahulugang 'di na ako puwedeng mag-multitask. I somewhat felt like Ariel while Priscilla was Ursula. Kaya pala magka-rhyme ang mga pangalan nila. She took away my voice, but without anything in exchange that would directly benefit me. Sabihin na nating may advantage ang pananahimik, pero 'di para sa ikapapanatag ng sarili ko.
Well, I could speak up any time if I wanted to. May ilang campus media reporters na mag-message sa social media account ko at humingi ng aking comment. Ilang beses akong sinubukang akitin ng reply at send message key. Oh, the tension! Pero sa ngayo'y mas mabuti kung 'di muna ako magpadalos-dalos. Kumbaga sa isang singer, gusto kong ireserba ang boses ko sa totoong competition at 'di sa rehearsal.
"Fab? Fab?"
I shook my head para bumalik ang consciousness ko sa present. I found myself sitting in the green room, just next to the auditorium. Tumingin ako sa aking kaliwa. Nakaupo roon si Colin na nakaharap sa salamin at nakabaling sa direksiyon ko. Mine-makeup-an at inaayusan na siya ng stylists.
Oh, yeah! We would have a joint interview with the campus entertainment press today para i-promote ang upcoming play namin. I already did some promotion through The Herald's magazine as well as their online feature. Nag-start na rin kami no'ng cast reveal kung saan in-interview kami ng local press. This time would be exclusively for the Elysian community.
Kung sa tingin mo'y puro pag-arte lang ang inaatupag naming mga sugo ng teatro, think again! We had to go out there and actually promote the play. 'Di namin puwedeng iasa 'to sa statements, promotional posters, at teaser videos. Mas mabuti kung magiging mas visible kami sa mga tao at makikipag-interact sa press para lumabas ang authenticity namin.
Lumapit ang naka-assign na makeup artist sa 'kin at in-apply-an ng blush on ang mukha ko. I told her that I was satisfied with my look. No, it wasn't my gentler way of saying that she's not good at her job. Mas gusto kong lamang ang natural look kaya pinahinto ko na siya. I felt more confident this way. I felt more real. If people wanted to see the genuine me—or at least, a part of me—gusto kong makita nila na 'di gano'n ka-perfect ang itsura ko.
"Mukhang marami kang iniisip, ah?" tanong ni Colin. Deretso ang tingin niya sa salamin, 'di nagawang bumaling ang ulo sa direksiyon ko, dahil seryoso siyang inaayusan. "O baka masama ang pakiramdam mo? Gusto mo bang ipa-delay natin ang interview? We can tell Priscilla."
