Before Reality Knocks (DLC Series #1)

Chapter 14

"Part of the criteria―"

Napatigil si Miss sa pagsasalita nang buksan ko iyong pinto at pumasok. Napansin kong napatingin rin iyong mga kaklase ko sa 'kin.

I waited for five seconds but their stares remained on me. Usually kasi ay pagkatapos ng limang segundo, umiiwas kaagad sila ng tingin, pero ngayon ay hindi parin sila umiiwas ng tingin.

My forehead creased.

"Tinitingin-tingin niyo?" Pagtataray ko.

Doon lamang sila umiwas ng tingin.

Umirap ako bago dumiretso sa pwesto ko. Napansin kong nakatingin lang sa 'kin si Brant.

"Gusto mo dukutin ko iyong mata mo?" I threatened.

He clicked his tongue before shaking his head. "Buti nalang talaga at nag-salita ka. Nagising ako sa katotohanan."

"Pinagsasasabi mo d'yan?"

"Nung pumasok ka, akala ko ibang tao ka eh. Sobrang bait ng hitsura mo sa damit na 'yan. Maiinlove na sana ako, kaso bigla kang nag-salita. Nagising tuloy ako. Buti nalang talaga." Sagot niya habang naiiling-iling.

Napairap ulit ako.

"So as I was saying," Miss said. "Part of the criteria is audience impact at kasali na ako doon. There's a higher chance of you winning this activity if napaiba niyo ang reaksyon ko. Iyong tipong hindi ko inaasahan iyong gagawin niyo. It must be unexpected enough to cause an entirely different reaction from me."

May nag-taas ng kamay. "So Miss kunwari nag-backflip ako, counted iyon?"

Miss smiled. "Of course. Pero syempre, dapat in character parin kayo," she said. "Any more questions before we start? None? Okay, group one kayo ang mauuna."

Nakapahalumbaba lang ako sa mesa ko habang pinapanood iyong ibang mga grupo na mag-perform. 

Boring.

I decided to close my eyes and take a nap while waiting for our turn.

Napapitlag ako nang biglang maghiyawan iyong mga kaklase ko. I opened my eyes in irritation and turned my attention to the performing group.

Ano'ng meron?

"Brant," lingon ko kay Brant na nakangisi habang nakatingin sa harap. "Ano'ng meron?"

"Muntik na kasing mahulog si Jizelle sa platform, buti nalang nasalo siya ni Kevin. Hawak niya sa bewang si Jizelle tapos muntik na silang mag-halikan. Nakita ko ngang nagulat din si Miss." Natatawang sagot ni Brant. 

Nagulat si Miss? So umiba reaksyon niya?

I frowned.

Kailangan may wow factor din iyong sa group namin para manalo kami. Pero paano iyon mangyayari? Maging ako nga ay naboboringan sa script namin.

Everyone clapped their hands after the group's performance.

"Okay, last group." Miss announced.

Our group stood up and went in front. Scarlet introduced our characters and explained the scene that we will be showcasing. Hindi dapat parehas iyong script namin sa mismong Noli pero dapat andun iyong essence at plot. They tweaked the script kaya may pagka-iba iyon sa mismong libro.

We started our performance.

Minsan ay nasa scene ako, minsan ay wala. May solo moments rin kami ni Faustian since he is Crisostomo Ibarra. Minsan naman ay kami ni Brant since siya si Elias.

Last sequence na namin iyong susunod pero wala paring pagbabago sa reaksyon ni Miss. Kanina ko pa kasi siya pinagmamasdan para tignan kung na-aaliw ba siya sa performance namin o hindi. It seems like the latter's the answer.

Damn it.

It was finally the last sequence. Kami ni Faustian at Brant ang nasa scene.

This is the scene where the adults were discussing the wedding of Maria Clara and Linares. After the party, Maria Clara walks onto her private patio. She sees a boat docking below followed by a figure of a man. Makikita niyang si Crisostomo Ibarra iyon na tumakas mula sa kulungan. Kasama niya si Elias at dumaan lang sila para makapag-paalam si Crisostomo Ibarra kay Maria Clara.

"Crisostomo," I said, my lips parting in surprise. "You're here."

Faustian's serious face stared back at me. "Maria," he replied gravely. "Elias has rescued me from prison."

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I only came to bid my goodbye," he answered. "Maria, we shall never see each other again. Thank you for everything but I believe this is the end of us. Be happy and farewell."

Tatalikod na sana siya pero hinawakan ko iyong braso niya para pigilan siya.

"No," I breathed out. "Please don't do this."

He turned to look at me. "Maria, you are to be married to another man."

"But I don't love him!" I cried. "It's you who I have feelings for!"

He smiled bitterly. "The feeling is mutual. But you know that we cannot happen."

"But―"

"Maria," he said, his hands firmly gripping mine. His hands were oddly cold. "All I wish is for your happiness―and I... I cannot give that to you."

"Why not?" I asked, forcing myself to cry.

Fucking cry, Blair.

Inisip kong namatay na si Brant.

Hindi parin ako naiiyak. 

Inisip ko nalang na namatay na iyong favorite character ko sa isang zombie series.

A tear escaped from my eye.

Napansin kong nagulat si Faustian doon dahil tuwing practice naman namin ay hindi ako umiiyak. He quickly composed himself.

"Because I'm a fugitive," he answered. "I escaped from prison."

"I don't care!" I bellowed, gripping on his cold hands tighter. "I will never forget the vows of faithfulness that I have made to you."

"What do you plan on doing, Maria?" he asked.

"The future is dark and my destiny is wrapped in gloom! I don't know what I should do. But know that I have loved but once and that without love I will never belong to any man. And you, what is going to become of you?" I answered. That line was really from Noli.

"Maria..." he trailed off, looking problematic.

I glanced at Miss' direction to see her reaction. Wala paring pagbabago.

Fuck. We need to win. 

Huminga ako ng malalim.

I licked my lips and stared brazenly into Faustian's dark eyes.

"I can't lose you, Crisostomo," I said. Napansin ko ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo ni Faustian dahil hindi naman iyon iyong line ko. I paid it no heed.

I released my hold on his hand and wrapped my arms around his neck. His eyes automatically widened in surprise. 

Hinila ko siya palapit sa 'kin at nilapit ang bibig ko sa tenga niya. I could feel his body shudder at our close proximity. 

His breathing hitched when I whispered in his ear. "Apologies Mr. President but I really have to do this."

Bago pa man siya makapag-salita, I quickly brought my face back in front of him and cupped his cheeks. I saw something flicker in his eyes.

This is now or never.

"Don't leave me, Crisostomo," I said before staring straight into his eyes. "I love you."

Without thinking twice, I tilted my head and closed the distance between us, pressing my lips onto his.

***