Chapter 6: Romeo and Juliet
(His Great Rival)

Nagulat ako nang may nagsalita, uttering Romeo's line. He stated the line impressively. Wait, he looks so familiar.

Is that... GRAY?! Oh! It's really Gray!

Pumwesto siya sa baba ng platform and he lifted his head and continued his speech. He's the substitute for Romeo? Bakit siya? Alam ba niya ang script? Nang tingnan ko siyang mabuti ay wala siyang dalang kodigo which means alam niya talaga ang script!

Applauses filled the auditorium. Lahat ay na-impress at humanga kay Gray. Kahit nakakapagtaka kung paano niya nai-memorize ay script ay nagpatuloy lang kami.

Juliet: Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my Romeo's name.

Romeo: It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!

Juliet: Romeo!

Romeo: My dear?

Juliet: At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?

Romeo: At the hour of nine.

Juliet: I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Romeo: Let me stand here till thou remember it.

Juliet: I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,

Remembering how I love thy company.

Romeo: And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.

Juliet: 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no further than a wanton's bird;
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

Romeo: I would I were thy bird.

Juliet: Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! parting is such
sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

I exited from above at nagpatuloy naman si Gray.

Romeo. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

The curtain closes at inihanda muna ang stage para sa susunod na eksena. I pulled Gray immediately nang nasa backstage na siya.

"Bakit ikaw ang naging Romeo, what exactly happened to Xander?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Inayos naman niya ang suot na damit. Marahil maging siya ay hindi komportable sa suot. "That guy was drugged with sleeping pills. I have to solve that but after we finish this play. Namomroblema ang crew ng play kung sino ang gaganap na Romeo and that's when I volunteered myself. Damn, I hate these clothes."

"How did you memorize the script?" tanong ko. He's really good. "You have the script with you?"

He frowned at me. "Naah, don't underestimate me, I have photographic memory. So just by simply staring at the script, I can recall what's exactly in the script."

"Ang yabang mo talaga."

He chuckled. "Fine, truth is I played this role sa dati kong school but me having photographic memory, that's true," wika niya at tinuro ang sarili.

"Whatever." Tiningnan ko siya ng masama bago pumwesto sa susunod na eksena.

"Ikaw, you're not supposed to be Juliet, right?" tanong niya and I nod at him. He crossed his arms and demanded an explanation.

"Yup, I've got no choice, I'm forced to do so kanina lang," sagot ko. His brows wrinkled.

"How come you've memorized the script kung kanina ka lang din pala napiling gawin ang role?"

"I've got photographic memory too," wika ko at ginagaya ang sinabi niya kanina.

"Don't give me such pun."

"Fine. I've played this role before too, and I'm also one of the scriptwriters", I told him."But me having photographic memory is true." I told him trying to imitate his voice.

"Whatever," he said irritatingly at pumwesto na. I chuckled on how he's irritated. Huh! I'm giving him dose of his own medicine, bragging. I don't really have a photographic memory, just a sharp one.

Nalaman ko sa crew na hanggang ngayon ay walang malay si Xander at dahil iyon sa sleeping pills. But how come he drank sleeping pills when he knows that we have a play to be performed? Inalala kong mabuti ang mga pangyayari, we were in the dressing room, practicing our line ng napaubo siya and I handed him the lemonade that I have received.

Matapos iyon ay dumating si Eda and that's the time that Xander was unconscious because he fell asleep. Ibig sabihin ay nasa lemonade ang sleeping pills! But that drink was for me. There was even a note saying 'Drink this Juliet'. This only means that I am the target of the pills ngunit hindi sinasadyang pinainom ko iyon kay Xander. Someone who sent that drink must have grudge against me. He or she might want to sabotage the play by putting pills on my drink.

Inakala ko dati na kay Mia galing iyon but why would Mia put some pills on it when she is the one who wanted this role to be portrayed by me? Ibig sabihin hindi iyon galing kay Mia and whoever sent it, I will find out who he or she was after this play.

The play went on at mas lalo akong naimpress sa performance ni Gray. He's really good at it, no. He's excellent.

It was already the last scene and I was lying in a bed designed as a coffin. Pumasok naman si Gray kasama ang gumanap na Paris.

Gray sat beside me. "For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again: here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest,
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here's to my love
Drinks O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

Gray got the prepared fake poison which is cola put in a tiny decorated bottle. Mia instructed him to drink it so that it will be realistic than just simply acting to drink it. He was about to drink it when someone from the crowd shouted.

"DON'T DRINK THAT!"

Kahit nakahiga ay napataas ang kilay ko. What's with that person who just shouted? Kahit si Gray ay natigilan sandali but he still continued. Maybe that was just someone who got carried away by the scene. Gray opened the cap but that someone still shouted.

"DON'T DRINK THAT SILVAN!"

Muling napatigil si Gray. Dahil hindi naman ako nakikita ng audience ay ibinuka ko ang mga mata ko. "Just keep going Gray", I whispered. Tiningnan niya ako at muling itinapat sa labi ang maliit na lalagyan but then that someone went up onstage at inagaw kay Gray ang maliit na bote. Nagulat naman ang lahat ng nanunuod at maging kami rin. The crowd made a curious noise. Napabangon ako at napatingin sa lalaki. I'm sure he's not from Bridle. He's handsome at malakas ang dating. What's the problem of this guy?

Pumasok ang ilang crew at pinaalis ang lalaki but then he pushed them away. "Silvan, this is an attempt of murder!" he said at muling nagkagulo ang mga audience. He knows Gray?

"Close the curtains," wika niya with conviction. Kahit natataranta ay sumunod naman ang ilang crew at isinara ang mga kurtina. Nang tuluyan na iyong naisarado ay sinuntok niya sa sikmura si Gray. Napasigaw naman ang mga nakakita sa ginawa niya. "Hi Silvan, long time no see."

Nairita naman ang mukha ni Gray, as if he doesn't want to see the guy. Ngunit hindi nagreklamo. What? He's been punched by some random guy at parang wala lang iyon sa kanya?

"You know him Gray?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Bumaling naman sa akin ang lalaki. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan iyon. "Khael Alonzo, at your service madame. Silvan's great rival".

Binawi ko naman ang kamay ko at binigyan siya ng masamang tingin. He smiled devilishly.

"What are you doing here Alonzo?" wika ni Gray. Tila hindi talaga ito natutuwa na makita si Khael. He also punched his stomach at tumawa pa ito. Really? Ganoon sila kaclose? Nagsusuntukan?

"Hindi mo ba ako namiss?" he said jokingly.

"I'm sure you didn't travel this far just to joke," wika ni Gray.

"I just came here to visit you. I've heard you're already famous here kahit bago ka pa lang," wika ni Khael. He roamed his gaze around.

"Tsk." Hindi na ito sinagot ni Gray, bagkus ay tumayo ito. "What's with the scene?"

Itinaas naman ni Khael ang maliit na bote. "Ah, eto?" He opened it and smelled it for a while. "I'm not really sure but I guess this contains potassium cyanide." Nagulat naman kami ni Gray at ang iba pang naroon.

"Potassium cyanide? Ano yun?" tanong ng isang crew.

"It is a highly toxic compound from potassium. Its has been described as acidic with a burning sensation on the tongue. Sa madaling salita, nakakamatay na lason," wika ko sa nagtanong.

Napatango naman ito at maging ang ibang cast at crew. The audience doesn't know what happened at kung bakit hindi na ipinagpatuloy ang natitirang eksena. The martial arts club performed next to us kaya sila ngayon ang lumilibang sa audience.

"You sure know a lot about this compound, you're not only fierce but smart as well," wika ni Khael sa akin.

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. "How about you? Only few can directly tell that compound by just simply smelling it, don't tell me-" he cut me off.

"Yeah, I've got genetic trait," wika niya. "But that's not the problem here; it's about someone trying to kill you Silvan."

Kinuha ni Gray ang compound kay Khael at inamoy ito. "This is really potassium cyanide."

"Sino ang naglagay ng content dyan?" tanong ko. Nagulat naman ang lahat at tinuro si Mia. Wait, si Mia? Tiningnan naman ni Gray si Mia. Nagulat naman ang huli.

"I didn't do it!" wika ni Mia. "Hindi potassium cyanide ang inilagay ko dyan! I don't even know what's that!"

"Ngunit ikaw lang ang humawak dyan diba?" tanong ng isang cast na gumanap na Tybalt.

"Totoong ako ang naglagay ng laman niyan but Gray knows that I put cola in it! Nang magsimula na ang scene 5 ay iniwan ko yan sa gilid," depensa ni Mia sa sarili.

"Yes, it's not her. Alam kong cola ang nilagay niya," wika ni Gray.

"Yeah, I don't think it's that girl," wika din ni Khael.

Hinarap ko naman si Khael. "At paano mo naman nalaman na delikado ang laman ng boteng hawak-hawak ni Gray kung nanonood ka lang ? Hindi kaya't ikaw ang naglagay ng cyanide doon?" wika ko sa kanya. He raised both his arms as if he surrenders.

"Oh-oh. Your girl is really fierce Silvan."

"She's not my girl."

"I'm not his girl!"

Magkasabay naming tanggi ni Gray. Geez, what's with this Khael guy here? Tsk.

Lumawak naman ang ngiti ito. "Edi mabuti pala. And it wasn't me. I just saw someone switched that bottle with another," wika ni Khael. Someone switched the bottle with another?

"If you saw someone switching it, ibig sabihin nasa backstage ka kanina, ano namang ginagawa mo dito sa backstage. I'm sure you're not from Bridle," wika ni Mia.

"Ah, yes nandito ako kanina," pag-amin nito. "I was around the school looking for that bastard kaya lang wala siya so I happened to come here and I saw him onstage. That's also the time that someone switched the bottle. He's wearing a cap and trying to hide his face kaya as if he's doing something bad. At tinapon niya sa basurahang iyon ang tunay na bote, you can check it there."

What he's talking about was confirmed. Nang tingnan kasi ng iba ang laman ng basurahan, naroon nga ang tunay na bote.

"Who wants to kill me?" nalilitong tanong ni Gray. He pulled Khael through the neck of his shirt. "Did you see the guy's face?"

"Easy Silvan. I'm a great detective. I didn't only see his face, I've caught him. Pinaamin ko rin siya kung bakit niya iyon ginawa," Khael said. Tsk, hindi lang pala si Gray ang mayabang. Maging ang Khael na ito! Great Detective, my ass!

"I chased him outside, good thing I arrived here even before you could have drink that," dagdag ni Khael. Tama nga ito, if he had been a minute late, malamang ay isa ng malamig na bangkay ngayon si Gray since potassium cyanide immediately kills. "Ah, he said he's been paid by someone. And I have a deduction who was that someone, the police already have it investigated."

"Who's the culprit then based on your deductions?" tanong ng isa sa mga crew.

"I've heard from the police that two high school students revealed the true culprit of the food poisoning here in Bridle and that's how I came to know that this guy Silvan transferred here. The suspect was currently under the supervision of the state. So naisip ko na marahil that guy Angelo Costa was the suspect or his brother, Ariel Costa. Their father is a chemist right? Kaya sila marahil ang mga may access sa ganoong uri ng chemical. Their father was stroke at hindi nakakapagsalita ngayon kaya he's eliminated as the suspect. Sila lang naman ang may galit sayo for exposing Angelo's crime."

Napaisip ako. He's right. They might be holding grudge against us. Wait, ibig bang sabihin ---- no!

"Gray! Hindi kaya potassium cyanide din ang-"

Gray cut me off. "No. The one that knocks Miller off was just sleeping pills. I assure you that." Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag. Mabuti naman kung ganoon.

"Wait, paano nakainom ng sleeping pills si Xander?" tanong ni Eda.

"Habang nasa dressing room ako, someone knocked and when I opened the door may nakalagay na lemonade with a note that I should drink it. Then Xander came. We practiced our lines kaya lang ay inubo siya so I handed him the drink", I told them and one question remained. Who sent the lemonade then?

"Ah, it might be someone who wants to sabotage the play," Khael commented. Nagtataka pa rin ako. Konektado ba ang paglalagay ng sleeping pills sa lemonade that was meant for me and the attempt of murder for Gray?

Napatingin ako kay Gray. He's been thinking hard. Bigla namang may tumunog na cellphone and it was Khael's phone. Agad naman iyong sinagot ng huli.

"Yes Officer Sanchez?" he said at nakinig mula sa kabilang linya. "Salamat."

Matapos niyang ibaba ang tawag ay muli niya kaming hinarap. "Confirmed. It's Angelo Costa. Siya na mismo ang umamin after they found the same chemical in their house. Nababaliw na yata ang lalaking iyon," wika niya.

Si Angelo? Oh, he's really holding grudge against us. Marahil ay tama si Khael, he needs a psychiatrist. Ganoon niya kadali nalaman lahat iyon? Who the hell exactly is he?

"Alonzo? You're Khael Alonzo. How are you connected with the head of Police, Miguel Alonzo?" tanong ni Mia.

"Ah, he's my father," sagot naman nito. He's the son of the head of police? Kaya pala madali lang itong nakapagtimbre sa mga pulis at inaksyunan naman agad.

"Who are you again? At saan ka galing?" tanong ko dito. I hate his confidence but I guess I have to know him.

"Woah, you're the only woman who doesn't remember my name after I say it," he said at napakunot naman ang noo ko. Oh! One overconfident Gray is enough! Wag na sanang dagdagan ng isa pa.

"Again, I'm Khael Alonzo. I'm from Athena High School. Gray and I used to be classmates before," he said and winked at me na sinagot ko ng irap. He's from Athena High? That school's a two-hour drive from here. He came that far just to see Gray?

Inilahad niya ang isang palad sa akin. "At ikaw magandang binibini?"

"Her name is Amber. Ano ba talaga ang ipinunta mo dito Alonzo?" wika ni Gray at tinabig ang nakalahad na palad ni Khael sa akin.

Khael let out a naughty smile. "Tsk, bumabakod ka ba Silvan? That's bad news Silvan. Totoo yun, kinukumusta lang kita dito. I miss you, best buddy. Hindi ka man lang nag-abiso na lilipat ka na."

"Umuwi ka na," Gray said. Hinarap naman ako ni Gray. "I still have a case to solve. It's about the sleeping drug in your drink."

"I could be of help," suhestiyon ni Khael. Umiling lang si Gray at iwinasiwas ang kamay.

"We don't need you here," wika niya at hinarap ulit ako. "Do you have any idea who sent that lemonade?"

Umiling naman ako. "Iniwan lang iyon doon sa labas with a note that it was for me." Napaisip si Gray. He stopped for a while at minasahe ang noo niya.

Tumikhim naman si Khael. Lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong. "Nice dress, masyadong low cut sa dibdib." Nanlaki naman ang mata ko. What the hell! Agad kong inayos ang damit ko at sinuntok sa sikmura si Khael.

"Pervert!" I hissed at him. Uh, I really hate this guy. Natawa naman ito habang hawak ang sikmura.

"Aw, you're surely a fighter, I like that", natatawang wika niya. Bumaling naman ito kay Gray. "It seems like you don't miss me at all Silvan."

He smiled at everyone nang nagpasalamat ang mga ito when he saved Gray. Kumindat naman siya ng bumaling siya sa akin at ginantihan ko naman siya ng masamang tingin. He chuckled as he made his exit habang hila-hila si Gray sa leeg.

Kung tutuusin ay mabuti ang ginawa nito. He really saved Gray. And not to mention that he's really observant enough to notice the suspicious guy and smart enough to trace the mastermind behind. Ngunit naiinis ako sa kayabangan nito. O kaya'y ganon lang talaga ang taga-Athena. Bridle and Athena are both known high schools. Maliban sa design ng buildings that are surely costly, most of the students are smart. Bago kasi makapasok sa Bridle at Athena, one must undergo three examinations at kailangang mapasa mo ang tatlo. The first exam is just the typical entrance exam but the second and third exams are hard. It is about logical reasoning and case analysis.

Ibig sabihin hindi basta-basta ang mga estudyanteng nakakapasok sa Athena at Bridle.

Sinulyapan ko sila habang papalayo. Uh, so that is Khael Alonzo, his great rival huh?

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-ShinichiLaaaabs.