Chapter 5: Romeo and Juliet
(Damsel in Distress)

Medyo magaling na ang mga sugat ko na sanhi ng exploration ko sa loob ng kweba. Nang makauwi kasi kami ng araw na iyon ay agad akong dinala sa ospital but I wasn't confined since hindi naman masyadong malalim ang pinsala. The doctor said I might be in trauma dahil sa pangyayari but I assured them that I'll be fine.

Mom and Dad also came when they heard about what happened to me. I just assured them that I'm perfectly fine and do not need any psychiatric treatment at all. It's been 5 days since that happened. My wounds were healing, ganoon din ang pasa ko sa katawan at sugat sa ulo.

As of Gray, matapos ang naging eksena namin sa bus, he's back to his normal self. Yep, the one who is arrogant, braggy and full of himself Gray. He often solves simple cases at school tulad ng mga nawawalang equipments sa lab. He even identified through his deductions kung sino ang mga nakabasag ng ilang equipments at kung anu-ano pang mga bagay sa school which makes him very famous in Bridle. He's been tagged with the title Bridle's Detective and gained fans and supporters, which he really enjoyed! Geez! That show off guy!

Kasalukuyang nasa clubroom ako ng kinabibilangan kong club. Busy ang Drama and Theatre Club ngayon dahil may gagawin itong play to convince students join the club. Narito kami ngayon sa office ng club para sa meeting.

"Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat. Kaya tayo narito ay upang ipaalam sa inyong lahat na may gagawin tayong play to induce students to join our club," wika ni Mia, ang president ng club.

Umugong naman ang ingay doon. Everyone is very excited except me. Sumali lang naman ako dito dati para lang may salihan ako. I never had a major role, puro minor o kaya minsan ay behind the scenes lang. I usually write scripts sa mga play na gawa mismo ng club.

"Tahimik muna," pagpapatuloy ni Mia. "This play is not for Bridle's students only but it is also open to the public. This will be the first time na magpapapasok tayo ng mga outsider dito sa Bridle to watch our play."

Everyone wants to have a major role since it's not for Bridle students only. Oh, why are they so excited? Someone from the crowd stood up.

"Madame President, what will be our piece?" Tumahimik ang lahat at naghintay ng sagot.

"Oh, our piece will be the famous Romeo and Juliet," Mia said.

Muling umugong ang ingay sa paligid. Ohs and Yes filled the room. Everyone want to have Juliet's role and even Romeo's role; the boys are looking forward to it.

"We're going to have our impromptu audition for each role today," Mia announced. Someone handed us papers with a little script on it na siyang magiging audition piece ng bawat isa. I don't want to audition for the main role pero tinanggap ko pa rin ang audition piece na binigay.

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Uh, so cheesy and I cannot imagine myself saying all those words. Not that I can't. I just don't want to. Kahit papaano ay magaling din naman ako when it comes to theatre acts because I usually got the lead role way back in my elementary days. But now I'm not fond of those, not anymore. Ayoko na sa mga ganoong role.

When I looked around, kanya-kanya namang ensayo ang mga esyudyante sa gilid.Since hindi ako sasali, I folded the paper and kept it in my pocket.

"You don't want to join the audition?" Mia asked from my behind. Umiling ako sa kanya. I know Mia since we're in the same school in elementary. Ahead siya ng isang taon sa akin but I never called her 'ate'.

"Not interested," wika ko sa kanya. Ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

"Oh, Amber, I want to see you act again gaya noon. I really adore you when you once played Snow White," she said and I frowned at her reminiscence.

I was on the fifth grade that time while she was on the sixth grade. Sila ang nagdirect at nagsulat ng script and I was the one who played Snow White. Ayaw na ayaw kong maalala iyon dahil I was kissed back then! Sabi kasi nila, to make it more realistic, the prince have to kiss my nose!

Geez! I gained positive praises with such play dahil ang galing ko daw magportray ng role ni Snow White and I was superb nang magkunwaring walang malay and then the prince came and bring me back to life. Uh, they didn't know that I literally stopped my breathing that time! Sino bang Grade 5 ang hindi kakabahan kung may hahalik sayo?! Not to mention that the prince was my crush, Reo Loyola.

"Shut up Mia, I don't want to remember that play," wika ko sa kanya at nagpokerface.

"Then help me with the script and directing then."

"That's fine with me."

Sinama niya ako sa judge's table para sa mga mag-au-audition. Since I will be helping her with those stuff, she said that it will be convenient for us if I also choose whom I want to work with. The audition went on at tatlo kaming judge. It was very hard to choose since marami ang mga magagaling at nababagay sa role.

The audition ended five in the afternoon at nang pinauwi na ang lahat, the officers decided who will have the roles. A certain Rachel Salvacion got the role of Juliet samantalang isang nagngangalang Xander Miller naman ang nakakuha ng role bilang si Romeo.

Lumipas ang mga araw at abala kami sa papalapit na play. Nasa auditorium kami ngayon at nagpa-practice.

"But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I, I , I forgot again", napakamot ng ulo si Rachel at hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Mia.

"Rachel, bukas na ang play tapos hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa rin nasasaulo ang script mo?" Mia sounded pissed pero nagpipigil ito. "At ayusin mo yang accent mo. Tunog conyo ka minsan. Again from the top!"

Nalukot naman ang mukha ng lahat. No one can compel Mia's order lalo na at naiinis na ito.

"But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the, the, magbreak na muna tayo please!", Rachel complained. Naupo ito sa gilid at nagdadabog.

Nilapitan naman ito ni Mia, "Sabihin mo nga, can you do it tommorow or not?"

Tinaas ni Rachel ang isang kilay. "Of course I can! Pagod na talaga ako, we've been practicing for the whole four hours!"

Mia is on the brink of bursting and no one even dared to interfere. "Kapag hindi mo maaayos ang trabaho mo bukas, we're all doomed!"

"I can do it tommorow," confident na wika ni Rachel.

"We'll see. Fine, let's have a 30 minute break. Be sure to be back after 30 minutes dahil magsisimula agad tayo!" wika ni Mia at agad lumabas ang ibang cast at crew sa Auditorium.

Inilapag ko muna ang hawak na script at akmang lalabas na rin when Mia called my name. "Amber."

Napalingon naman ako kay Mia at agad lumapit dito ng sinenyasan ako na lumapit.

"Anong gagawin natin ngayon?" hopeless nitong tanong. "I doubt kung masasaulo ni Rachel ang script bukas."

Kahit ako, I really doubt if she can memorize it. Aside from that, she's acting like a bitch at palaging nagrereklamo. It's too late to replace her because it will be presented tomorrow. "We have no choice but to believe in her," wika ko kay Mia bago nagpaalam sa kanya. Bumalik ako sa room at kinuha ang mga natitira kong gamit.

No classes today because it is intended to be the final practice for tomorrow's showcase. Hindi lang ang drama club ang magpapakitang-gilas bukas but as well as the other clubs. Nang makarating ako ng classroom ay tanging si Gray lang ang naroon. He was reading a book, uh, Sherlock Holmes.

"Hoy, wala ka pa bang napupusuan na salihan na club?" tanong ko sa kanya. He didn't answer, bagkus ay patuloy lang itong nagbasa.

Nang itiniklop ko ang librong binabasa niya ay saka lamang niya ako napansin. He frowned at me."What?"

"Sabi ko wala ka pa bang nasasalihan na club? Why don't you join martial arts club?" ulit ko sa tanong ko. He stared intently at me bago sumagot.

"I'm not interested with the martial arts clib, mas magaling pa ako sa kanila," wika niya.Uh, nagmamayabang na naman. Or he just likes to tease me knowing I am annoyed the way he brags.

"Yabang." I whispered but enough for him to hear. I heard him chuckled bago ako umalis doon.

***

"We're doomed! We only got two hours bago magsimula! And Rachel is not yet around!" tarantang wika ni Mia. Paano ba naman kasi ay kanina pa namin hinihintay at tinatawagan si Rachel. Alas dos ng hapon magsisimula ang showcase ngunit kaninang tanghali pa lang ay hindi na dumating si Rachel sa dressed rehearsal.

"Anong gagawin natin ngayon?" I asked desperately. We've been working hard for this at ayaw naming mauwi ito sa wala. Maluha-luha na si Mia. Even the others ay tila nawalan na ng pag-asa. Ang ibang cast na nakabihis na ay napanghinaan na rin ng loob.

Suddenly, Mia rose from her seat. "I guess we only have one solution for this," wika niya at tiningnan ako with shining eyes!

Oh no, wag lang niyang sabihin na gaya iyon ng iniisip ko na naisip niyang solusyon!

Mia pulled me at iniharap ako sa cast and crew. "Amber will portray Juliet!" wika niya na nakangiti. Everyone was shocked at maging ako ay hindi agad nakapagreact sa sinabi nito.

Ako?

Ako ang magiging Juliet?!

No way!

There's no way I will do it!

No! I will never play the role of Juliet!

Never!

Nakatingin ako ngayon sa sarili ko sa salamin, my hair was curled a little. Yeah, I will be performing Juliet's role, contrary on what I just said a while ago. Kahit anong tanggi ko pa, I guess I have no other choice. Dahil isa ako sa scriptwriter at minsan ay nagda-direct din, I'm likely to familiar the piece not to mention that I have already played such role before.

"Smile Amber!" Mia said to me at mas lalo naman akong napasimangot. Oh yeah, I was actually given a choice in which I had no choice, uh!

"Ang ganda-ganda mo Amber!" excited na wika ni Mia. I rolled my eyes at her. I was wearing a long white dress and I'm not so comfortable with it.

"I hate you Mia," wika ko and she chuckled. Mas lalo tuloy akong nainis!

"Just stay in the dressing room at tatawagin ko si Xander so that you two can practice your line with each other since magsisimula na tayo in 30 minutes nang hindi naman kayo mailang sa isa't-isa," paalam ni Mia bago umalis.

Naiwan akong mag-isa doon. I can't believe it. After 3 years I'll be able to step on the stage again as an actress. The make up artist was good. Maganda ang resulta ng ginawa nito sa mukha ko. It was light but very impressive. Mukhang natural lang ang mga kulay ng mukha ko but it's actually make up. Muli kong tiningnan ang mga lines sa script. It's all familiar to me.

Napalingon ako sa pinto ng may kumatok. Dahil mataas ang damit na suot ko, I moved slowly bago nabuksan ang pinto. Wala nang tao doon but there was a chair at may nakapatong na styro cup doon and it was a lemonade. May nakadikit din na sticky note doon na may nakasulat na 'drink this Juliet'. Maybe it was from Mia. Kinuha ko iyon at inilapag sa mesa at muling pinagtuonan ng pansin ang script. Muli namang may kumatok sa pinto at ng bumukas iyon ay iniluwa nito si Xander.

"Hi Amber," wika niya. He was a little shy. Maybe it was because this is the first time we talk with each other. Haller, I'm a nerd right?

"Hi din Xander. Sige na, let's start," wika ko. Duh, time is gold at ayaw kong maubos iyon sa simpleng batian.

Tumango siya sa akin bago nagsimula. "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops- "

Sumagot naman ako, "O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Xander: What shall I swear by?

Inalala ko ang linya ko, "Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self. Which is the god of my idolatry, And I'll believe thee."

"If my hea-", napatigil si Xander dahil bigla itong napaubo. He coughed hard.
"Pasensya na, masakit talaga ang lalamunan ko." Muli siyang napaupo.

Nataranta naman ako at naghanap ng tubig ngunit walang tubig doon. Nasulyapan ko ang lemonade na marahil ay bigay ni Mia at inabot iyon kay Xander matapos tanggalin ang sticky note. "Here, drink this," wika ko sa kanya. Kinuha naman niya iyon at agad ininom. Nang medyo umayos na ang pakiramdam nito ay napaupo ito.

"I'm sorry Amber," nakayuko niyang wika. "Sinipon at inubo kasi ako last week kaya medyo may remnants pa ng ubo at sipon. Ininom ko pa tuloy ang lemonade mo."

"It's okay, walang problema," wika ko sa kanya. "So paano, ipagpatuloy na natin?"

We continued with our lines hanggang sa may kumatok ulit sa pinto. Sabay kaming naplingon ni Xander nang bumukas iyon.

"We're about to start, Amber pumwesto ka na sa backstage," Eda, one of the crew said. Tumango ako sa kanya bago tumayo at pumunta backstage at naghintay na matapos ang naunang club.

Ang unang eksenang gagawin namin ay ang Act II, scene II which is in the Capulet's Orchard. Nasa backstage na ako and I'm a little bit nervous. Oh, bakit ba kasi ako pa? Bakit kasi pumayag ako na maging Juliet!

Napansin ko na nagkakagulo ang mga crew ng play sa gilid. What's their problem? Tila kasi natataranta ang lahat. We cannot cancel this performance since it is an open showcase kung saan maraming tao na hindi nagmumula sa Bridle High ang nanunuod.

Biglang lumapit sa akin ang natatarantang si Eda with a worried face. "Walang malay si Xander!"

What? Paano? Oh, then who will play as Romeo?

Unti-unti namang bumukas ang kurtina sa harapan ko. I was in an elevated platform to make it look like I'm in a balcony. Nang makita ko ang napakaraming tao sa loob ng auditorium ay sinalakay ako ng kaba.

Shit! This play would be impossible since wala na palang gaganap bilang Romeo. I heard loud cheers and applause kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan. Nakakahiya naman kung aalis na agad ako dito. At hindi naman muling sumara ang kurtina. Hindi ba sinabihan ni Mia ang operator na hindi matutuloy ang play since walang malay si Xander? What should I do? I felt so helpless. This is so embarrassing. Nakatayo lang ako dito at agad din namang aalis dahil hindi matutuloy ang play na ito. Napakaraming tao doon and they're all waiting for the play to start.

I took a deep breath and decided to have my exit ngunit natigil iyon nang biglang may magsalita.

He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

Heaven sent! It was Romeo but it wasn't Xander! Who was that?

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.