Tama nga ang sabi ni Zel, walang pasok buong araw.
Matapos ang announcement ni ma'am Jhoanna sa classroom namin ay umalis ito at sinabing mag prepare kami na mga actors for the theater play dahil may practice kami tomorrow.
Joellen was also a supporting character. Kaming dalawa lang ang kinuha ni ma'am since may mga kinuha na sila sa ibang section.
Kinabukasan, nang makarating ako sa classroom ay kunti lang ang taong naroon kahit late na akong pumasok.
"Shein, punta daw tayo sa theater room mga nine sabi ni ma'am." Agad na sabi sa akin ni Joellen nang makita niya ako.
Walang Allyza, Ellejah, Alexus at Ice sa mga upuan nila.
Ng mag 8:50 ay nagsimula na kaming maglakad patungo sa theater room ni Joellen.
Nang makarating kami sa theater room ay isang malaki at malawak na halos kasing laki ng normal gymnasium sa mga university na may malaking stage sa harapan ang bumungad sa amin.
"Ayon sila seguro." Joellen pointed the people who was at the stage habang naglalakad pa kami papunta doon.
"There she is!" Agad na salubong sa amin ni ma'am Jhoanna kasama niya ang iba naming prof. at mga students.
"Hello po, good morning." Nakangiting bati ni Joellen sa kanila.
"Good morning." Bati ko naman.
"Ms Estamante, we're looking forward on your talent." Sabi noong isang lalaking prof na I think nasa middle 40's na.
"Hi, I'm Tina." Nakangiting sabi noong isang babae na may kulot na buhok.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Bernice." Sabi nong katabi nito.
"I'm Kylie."
"Dan."
"James."
Sunod sunod ang pag papakilala nila. Nasa twelve silang lahat na nandito na at hinintay kami.
"Let's wait for the others before we start I'm sure they're all on their way na." Sabi naman ni ma'am Jhoanna.
Tumango naman kaming lahat at naupo lang sa chairs na nasa baba ng stage habang nakikipag kwentohan sa iba.
"Oh nandito na sila." Ma'am Jhoanna suddenly announced kaya napalingon kami sa daang dinaan din namin ni Joellen kanina.
Then I made an eye contact with Ice, he was with Alexus as usual.
"Sorry were late." Ice said with formalities.
"It's alright." Sagot naman ni ma'am sa kaniya.
"Sir Pau, let's have the script to them." Ma'am called the prof who greeted me earlier.
"Hi." Bulong ni Ice sakin then sat down at the vacant chair next to me.
I just glance at him at ibinalik ang tingin kay ma'am na nag bibigay ng script.
We had a briefing about sa kung ano ang gagawin namin sa stage, sino ang aarte, at ang naka assign sa mga props, pati na rin ang mga gagamitin namin costumes.
"You will present on Thursday at 2:30 pm, next week." Sabi ni ma'am.
Tumango lang kami at nakinig lang sa ibang mga sinabi niya.
We just scan and read the whole script, hindi pa kami nag start mag practice. Nag remind lang si ma'am about sa act na gagawin namin on stage.
Nakaupo lang kami habang nag babasa at nag me memorize ng dialogue the whole morning.
"You can go have lunch na, balik kayo before 1 we will start our practice na sa stage." Biglang sabi ni ma'am kaya napatingin ako sa wristwatch ko.
It's already 11:58. Kaya pala ang ingay na ng iba, they must be starving.
"Let's go out together." Dinig ko na sabi ni Alexus.
"Let's go Shein?" Sabi naman ni Joellen na nasa tabi ko.
Hindi ko sila pinansin at inayos nalang ang mga gamit sa bag ko.
Then tumayo ako at lumapit kay Joellen na busy sa pakikipag usap kay Alexus.
"Bat ang tahimik mo, Shein?" Alexus suddenly asked.
"Anong gusto niyo, mag sisigaw ako?" Sarcastic na ani ko.
"Grabe ka naman." Then he pouted while Joellen was just chuckling.
Napatingin naman ako kay Ice na nasa tabi ko lang, tahimik din at nakasunod lang.
Nagsimulang maglakad si Joellen at Alexus habang nakasunod kami ni Ice sa kanila.
"Where's Allyza and Ellejah?" I suddenly asked Ice when I remember the two at dahil ang tahimik namin.
"Allyza's with Hillery, don't know where Ellejah is." Simpleng sagot niya naman.
Tumango-tango lang naman ako, then I remember something na kaylangan ko itanong sa kaniya.
"Have you already confronted the guy who uploaded our video?"
Tumingin ako sa kaniya at tumingin din siya sakin at tumango lang.
"What did he say?" I asked again.
"Someone ordered him. He has no choice since the money was sent to his account." Seryosong sagot niya naman.
"Then? Who is this someone that ordered him?" Seryosong tanong ko.
He was looking at me with that serious face of his. Then just sighed.
"Ellejah."
"Tsk." Napangisi ako at ibinalik ang tingin sa daan ng banggitin niya ang pangalang yon.
"Wait... You knew?" He confusedly asked habang sinasabayan ako sa paglalakad.
"Should I not?" Bored na sagot ko at muling napangisi.
Nakita ko siyang napailing nalang.
"I still don't know why she did that." He mumbled.
Hindi na ako sumagot at nagsalita pa.
Ellejah...
What is your reason and you ordered someone to upload our video where it should be confidential.
Hay~ I've gain a lot of haters because of that.
"See you later." Dinig kong bulong ni Ice ng makarating kami sa tapat ng cafeteria.
Hindi ako sumagot at lumapit lang kay Joellen at sumabay sa kaniya papasok, habang silang dalawa ni Alexus ay nakasunod.
At dahil don. Marami na naman ang nakatingin at nagbulungan ng makita kami. Tsk.
Nakisabay muli si Joellen samin ni Zel kaya walang humpay ang kwentohan nilang dalawa. Kwenento ni Joellen ang about sa act na gagawin namin.
Napasulyap naman ako sa kabilang side ng cafeteria kung saan naka upo sina Ice. They're having lunch.
"I wanna watch you practice but you said bawal." Nakangusong sabi ni Zel habang palabas kami ng cafeteria.
Sinabi ng nina ma'am Jhoanna kanina na bawal pumasok sa theater room ang mga hindi kasali, since may oras naman para manood, at para hindi ma-spoil.
"See you later nalang, Shein, Elle." Zel said and then she smiled.
Joellen waved her hand habang naglalakad paalis si Zel, papunta sa building nila.
"Let's go—" Hindi na tuloy ang sasabihin ko ng biglang may nag salita sa likuran namin.
"Hi girls." It was Alexus who's with Ice.
"Oh hi." Joellen smiled at them.
Lumapit si Alexus sa kaniya at nauna na naman silang maglakad.
"Let's go, Shein?" Ice suddenly said who was already beside me.
Tumango lang ako at sumunod na kena Joellen, then sumabay naman siya sakin.
I was just silent the whole time hanggang makarating kami sa loob ng theater room. Dahil marami na namang matang nakatingin sa amin. And I don't like their stares.
"Let's start!" Ma'am Jhoanna said ng makitang nandito na kaming lahat.
Pumunta kaming mga lahat sa stage while ma'am Jhoanna's giving instructions.
"Okay let's start practicing the first scene." Ma'am said as she stepped out from the stage at pumunta sa mga chairs sa harapan kung saan naroon din si sir Pau and the other instructor whom I still don't know the name.
The first scene is the female lead with her family. So I was the first one to act with the others.
Then we also practiced the other scenes even if we made a lot of mistakes.
It wasn't that awkward when I acted with Ice since we already did this before.
It was just a bit awkward since many eyes were watching us. Members who can't control their emotions and excitedly slightly screaming and cheering at the back stage.
Even the instructors who's watching us were just smiling as if they were all pleased and satisfied on our acting skills.
"Aren't you tired?" Ice suddenly asked while we're at the back stage watching our members do their parts at the stage.
Tumingin lang ako sa kaniya at umiling.
"You sure?" Tanong niya ulit at umiling lang ulit ako.
"Guys kayo na sunod." Kylie one of our members said. Tumango lang kami at nag prepare nang pumasok sa scene.
We practiced the whole afternoon, and we finished exactly 5:00 pm.
Just like kanina, sabay-sabay rin kaming apat na lumabas ng theater room.
"Guys!" Suddenly Luca with the other boys were at the bench outside the theater room.
"Kanina pa kami nag hihintay." He said and walk towards our way, sumunod naman yung iba sa kaniya.
"Asan sina Allyza?" Dinig kong tanong ni Joellen sa kanila.
"They're with Cianna at the drama club." Sagot naman ni Eiderson sa kaniya.
"Ahh.. diba siya yung new president ng drama club?" Dinig kong tanong ulit ni Joellen.
"Yup." Cian answered.
Nasa likuran namin silang lahat habang kami ni Ice ang nasa uunahan this time. They were just talking about some stuffs hanggang makarating kami sa parking lot.
"Shein!" Agad na salubong sa akin ni Zel ng makita ako.
"Psh." Nag iba agad ang timpla ng muka niya ng makita ang mga kasama ko.
"Una na kami, Shein. I don't think someone was pleased to see us." Cian suddenly said who was behind me.
"Tara bro." Aya niya sa mga kasama.
"How bout Elle?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin kay Joellen.
"Isasabay ko na siya. Bye, Shein. See you tomorrow." Sabi naman ni Alexus.
"Bye, Shein, Zelyanna." Nakangiting sabi naman ni Joellen samin at sumama kay Alexus.
"Let's go, Shein?" Pag-aaya naman ni Zel sakin.
Napalingon naman ako kay Ice na nasa likoran ko.
"Bye." I heard him said.
I just nodded at naglakad na papunta sa sasakyan ko.
I saw him walk towards his car ng pumasok ako sa sasakyan ko.
Napatingin ako sa sasakyan ni Zel na nasa tabi ng sasakyan. Nag simula siya umatras para makalabas kaya pina andar ko na rin ang sasakyan ko.
I am glancing at Ice's car and the others while I was driving thru the exit gate while Zel's infront.
Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay nandon na si Clayd at Blake. Hindi pala sila pumasok ngayong hapon.
"Gosh. I need to participate in the make up contest this coming founding anniversary." Dinig kong sabi ni Zel ng makababa ako galing sa kwarto.
"And you're annoyed because of that?" Dinig kong tanong ni Clayd sa kaniya.
"Of course! I don't have a model, sino naman ang kukunin ko?" Inis na sagot naman ni Zel.
"Edi ikaw nalang din." Dinig kong sabi ni Blake.
"Kung pwede lang! Kaso bawal." Sagot naman ulit ni Zel.
"Kung si Shein nalang?"
Napalingon yung dalawa sakin ng sinabi iyon ni Clayd.
"Oo nga!" Masiglang sabi ni Blake.
"But... May play din kayo that day, diba Shein." Napabuntong hininga nalang naman si Zel matapos sabihin iyon.
Hindi ako sumagot at lumapit ako sa kaniya at naupo sa tabi niya.
"Bakit, kaylan ba gaganapin ang contest?" Tanong naman ni Clayd.
"Thursday din, 1 o'clock." Parang bigong sagot ni Zel.
"Eh how about Shein? What time naman sa inyo?" Tanong sa akin ni Blake.
"2:30." Simpleng sagot ko at sumandal sa couch.
"Oh? Edi pwede pa yun. One o'clock naman ang make up contest niyo, habang 2:30 naman sa inyo." Sabi niya ulit habang nakaturo sa amin ni Zel.
Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Zel then biglang nag liwanag ang muka niya para bang naka kita ng pag-asa.
"Ayoko." Bored kong sabi at umiwas ng tingin.
Muka naman siyang pinag sakluban ng langit at lupa.
"Shein, please, sige na! ikaw nalang, it won't take long, I promise. Pag nag 2:20 na hindi pa tapos ang contest, sasamahan pa kita hanggang sa stage, since manonood naman kami. At isa pa, ayaw mo non, naka make over ka na para sa theater play niyo! Sige na please..." Sunod sunod niyang sabi at hinawakan pa ang dalawa kong kamay.
"Fine." Sagot ko nalang at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ng kamay niya.
"Yay! Thank you!" Malakas niyang sabi and the hugged me.
"Tsk. Bitaw nga!" Nag pumiglas ako sa pag kakayakap niya habang yung dalawang na nonood sa amin at natatawa lang.
"Nice, manonood kami." Nakangiting sabi ni Blake.
Kinabukasan. Hindi pumasok si Clayd, habang sinamahan naman ni Blake si Zel sa mall para mamili ng mga gagamitin niya sa contest.
Habang ako ay pumasok dahil may practice kami of course.
I was at the hallway to the theater room when I saw Ice at the entrance.
"Why are you still here?" Nagtataka kong tanong.
"Waiting." Tanging sagot niya.
"Huh?" I confusedly asked but he just chuckled.
"Let's go inside." Pag-aaya niya.
Takang tumingin lang ako sa kaniya habang sabay kaming pumasok sa loob.
When we entered. Everyone's already there except the instructors who have yet arrived.
Ice and I was just at the chair kung saan kami naka upo ka hapon habang Joellen and Alexus were practicing behind us, even the others.
"Let's practice our dialogue." Ice suddenly said.
I agreed to him kaya nag batuhan kami ng linya habang naka upo lang at habang wala pa sila ma'am.
"What? Anong sabi mo, wala yun sa script ah." Natatawa kong sabi kay Ice.
"Ah wala ba." He mumbled.
"Yie, style mo Del Castillo." Natatawang sabi noong isang ka member namin.
Ice just chuckled when everyone laughed.
"That's enough everyone." Biglang sabi ni ma'am kaya napatingin kami sa kiya.
Kasama niya ang dalawang instructors habang nakaupo sa chairs malapit sa may stage.
Kanina pa ba sila?
"Let's start our practice." She mandated so everyone went infront, including us of course.
We start our practice just like what we did yesterday.
Everyone seems to have memorized the first scene because it went smoothly and almost perfect. Kunting polish nalang ay ma peperfect na, pero first sense palang yun marami pang scene ang gagawin namin.
Inulit ulit lang namin ang mga mahirap na scene para maayos ng tama.
Then balik ulit sa simula.
That's just what we did the whole morning.
"Just like yesterday, 1:00 pm, you should be here. Remember wala tayong practice sa Sunday, at hindi tayo sure sa Wednesday dahil baka gamitin ang theater room ng ibang club." Paalala ni ma'am sa amin bago kami palabasin ng theater room para makapag lunch.
"Let's have lunch together." Ice suddenly said habang naglalakad kami sa hallway.
Kami na naman ang mag kasabay dahil iniwan na naman ako ni Joellen at nandon na naman siya kay Alexus. Tsk.
"No." Bored kong sagot habang nasa daan lang ang tingin.
"Why not?" Tanong niya naman.
Napakunot noo nalang naman ako.
Bulag ba siya, or bingi, or what? Doesn't he know that we're the talk of the century. Ang dami kayang tao sa cafeteria.
"Ah I know... Then let's go to the SC room." He suddenly suggested.
"I don't wa—"
"Al!" Hindi niya pinatapos ang sasabihin ko at tinawag si Alexus.
"Bakit?" Lumingon agad si Alexus at nag tanong.
"We'll have lunch at SC." Simpleng sagot ni Ice. Tumango lang naman si Alexus.
"Ice, ayo—"
"Let's go there." Hindi niya na naman pinatapos ang sasabihin ko.
Tangina?
Hindi na ako nag salita ulit dahil for sure babarahin niya lang ako.
Dahil na uunang mag lakad si Alexus at Joellen ay nakasunod lang kami sa kanila and take a different direction since sa SC ang punta namin.
"Why don't you wear again your eyeglasses." Ice suddenly said habang naglalakad kami sa hallway patungo sa SC room.
"Huh? Bakit?" Takang tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Because I hate those eyes that's looking at you." Seryosong sabi niya habang seryosong nakatingin lang sa daan.
Napatingin naman ako sa mga school mates na nadadaanan namin.
I just chuckled and didn't say a word.
I know everyone's looking at us but I'm not aware na may mga lalaki palang nakatingin sa akin.
Seems like I just don't gain hater, may mga followers at supporters ko din pala diyan. Lol.