Articulation of Love

Chapter 4: Stage Play and I'll be Playing the Witch?!

Para lang pala sa third year students ang nasabing announcement na gaganapin sa auditorium. Sa ngayon ay lahat kaming 3rd year students ay nakaupo na sa kani-kaniyang upuan.

Napuno na ng bulung-bulungan ang buong paligid. Tila lahat ay excited na marinig ang announcement. Sakto namang umakyat na sa stage ang Principal, si Mr. Evangelista. Lahat ay napatigil sa pagsasalita at taimtim na nakinig sa anunsyo ng aming Principal.

"Good morning, dear students. I am here to announce that there will be a competition to be held between the four sections A, B, C and D." Panimula niya. Muli ay napuno ng bulungan ang buong auditorium. Umubo-ubo ang Principal para ipahiwatig na tumahimik ang lahat na nangyari naman.

"The competition will be a stage play, now the catch is you'll be selling tickets. The price will be 10 pesos for one ticket." Madali lang mabenta ang gaanong kataas na presyo ng ticket. "Now, all of you may think that this will be an easy task but... do all people have the interest to watch your play? This will not be a competition on who's section got the highest tickets sold rather, the one with the most number of audience." Mahabang lintanya niya.

"The story of the said stage play will be all up to you. Whether you make a recreation of different stage plays that already existed or you will choose to create your own original stage play is a choice that you have to decide. Good luck, everyone. The prizes will be explained to you by Ms. Alfonso." At bumaba na sa stage ang aming Principal. Sa kanyang pagbaba ay siyang akyat naman ni Ms. Alfonso.

"Okay, as said by our School Principal, this will be a competition on who's section will get the highest number of audience for their stage play." Pag-uulit niya sa anunsyo ng Principal. "Before I announce the prizes, I will first tell you about this Access Card." Ipinakita ni Ms. Alfonso ang isang card na kulay blue na animo'y atm card. "This card holds E-points or known as Excellency points that can be used to purchase anything you want in school for a given amount. Of course, as school policy, everyone will be given one Access Card for their own."

"Like I've said, the E-points can buy anything you want in school. For the 1st prize, 50 E-points for each student of the winning section. 2nd prize will be 25 and 3rd prize is 10 E-points." Pagpapatuloy niya sa kanyang ipinapaliwanag. "I'll give you examples on things you can buy with the E-points. Textbooks, food, rent for a dormitory, or even vehicles. The school has it's own set of vehicles that they are willing to give to students for a given prize."

Muli ay umingay ang buong paligid. Lahat ay nasabik dahil sa sinabi ni Ms. Alfonso. Sobrang yaman ata ng school namin kung kaya nilang magbigay ng sasakyan ng ganon-ganon lang. Itinaas ni Ms. Alfonso ang kanang kamay niya, senyales na tumigil ang lahat sa pag-iingay.

"Everyone! I expect you to do your best! We will give you one month to prepare for your stage play!" Pagkasabi noon ay bumaba na siya ng stage at nagmamadaling nagsilabasan ang mga estudyante para bumalik sa kani-kaniyang classroom.

"Good morning, Lorraine!" Iba talaga ang sigla ng isang 'to.

"Morning, Carl." Balik ko ng bati sa kanya.

"Bakit parang matamlay ka?" Tanong niya.

"Masyadong matrabaho ang stage play, iniisip ko palang... napapagod na ako." Sagot ko sa tanong niya.

"Hoy, kayong dalawa diyan, bilisan niyo na." Tawag sa amin ni Harry. "Pag-uusapan daw ang tungkol sa stage play!"

Pagkabalik sa classroom ay nasa harapan na agad si Dylan at nagsusulat sa board. "Una sa lahat, genre. Anong genre ang gusto natin para sa story na iaakto natin?"

"Syempre, romance!" Sigaw ng isa naming kaklase. At ang daming sumang-ayon sa kanya. Ang iba naman ay nagsabi ng fantasy o horror daw.

"O sige, romance ang magiging genre ng story natin pero hahaluan natin ng fantasy. Fairy tale kumbaga." Ngumiti siya sa naisip niyang 'yon.