Maggie's PoV

"Guys, come on wrap-up na! Malapit na tayong magstart!" Sigaw ko sa kanila sa backstage. Today's really the day.

"Elrik Okay na ba 'yung sound effects?" Tanong ko kay Elrik. Siya kasi 'yung technical Director/Sound crew namin. Tumango lang siya saka bumalik sa pag-aayos ng mga wirings. Kahit na adik 'yon may alam din naman 'yon pagdating sa pagmamanipula ng mga sound system.

"By the way na'san si Morissa?" He asked curiously. I'm right. Magtatanong talaga si  Elrik kung nasaan ang babaeng 'yon. Dapat nandito na rin si Morissa eh, she's the script writer at alam kung hindi niya palalampasing panuorin ang sarili niyang gawang kwento.

"Morissa's sick. Sabi niya hindi raw siya makakapunta. Send her the video na lang daw." Sambat ni Paula. Well, si Paula 'yong class president namin. Isa rin siya sa stage managers.

Ang malas naman ni Morissa, ngayon pa talaga nagkasakit.

"Excuse me! Derek. Derek Maggie. Yeah you. Can I go to the CR lang saglit? May stomache is masakit kasi eh"

Maarteng pagkakasabi ni Vanessa a.k.a Deborah. She really look so evil with his get-up. Naka cape kasi ito ng black na katulad ng suot ni kamatayan na nakikita niyo sa mga horror movies tapos may dala pa siyang katana.

"My God Vanessa! Magisimula na tayo ngayon ka pa mag C-CR?! At bakit ba lahat ng tao ngayon may sakit?!"

"Don't raise your voice nga on me! I'm the star of this event kaya better treat me right or else talagang i-indianin ko kayo! Hmmp!"

Inismiran niya lang ako sabay labas. Hay naku! Ang tigas talaga ng ulo ng Vanessang 'yon.

"Oh! Ayusin mo 'yong pagkaka make-up Tina! Kapalan mo 'yung eyeshadows para medyo fierce"

I bellowed at our hired make-up artist/costume designer. Kung hindi niyo naitatanong si Tina 'yong babaeng muntik ng magpakamatay sa rooftop. She voluntered to be our make-up artist. Kung ano man ang dahilan niya ay hindi ko pa rin alam.

"Relax lang Maggie. Baka lalo kang pumangit niyan hahaha." Sinipatan ko si Josh na ngayon ay bihis na bihis na. Tumatawa-tawa pa siya na parang baliw.

"Tumahimik ka Josh kung ayaw mong manghiram ng mukha sa unggoy!"

"Hahaha...You're so funny Maggie. Sabihan mo nga pala ang loves ko na may nakareserve na na upuan para sa kanya sa front. Gusto kong klarong-klaro niyang makita ang kagwapohan ko."

Sabi niya sabay wink pa. Hayss, hindi ko pa pala na contact si Aly ngayong araw dahil busy na busy na ako. Wala na nga rin akong time na mag charge ng cellphone.

"Excuse me! Mag! Hey Mag!" Lumingon ako sa nagsalita at...

"Oh ano na naman Recoletti? Este Patricia Mag C-CR ka rin ba? Let me guess masakit din ba ang tiyan mo?" Sarkastikong sabi ko.

Sa halip na tarayan ako ni Patricia ay umiling lang ito na parang isang bata. Nakakagulat ang reaksyon niya, hindi naman kasi ito ang normal na Patricia. Ini-expect ko ang isang mahabang litanya na sasabihin niya pero wala.

"I just want to ask you lang sana a favor?" Napakurap ako. Si Patricia nga ba talaga ang kausap ko? Kasi ito ang unang pagkakataon na manghihingi siya ng pabor sa'kin. Ni hindi nga ako kinakausap niyan.

"Ano?"

"Is it okay na I will quit being Recoletti?"

"Seriously Patricia?! Ngayon ka magdadrama sa mismong play na'tin? You want to know my answer? NO! IT IS NOT OKAY! Sinong papalit sa'yo ha?! Hindi 'to ang tamang panahon para mag inarte ka!"

In all honesty this is the first time that I had spoke in this manner towards her.

"Look, you don't understand! My life is in dan..."

"Ms. Flores you need to start. Everyone's already bored."

"Okay Sir" Tugon ko kay Sir Romano na bigla na lang napadpad sa backstage.

"Patricia wala kang ibang choice kundi gawin ang role mo!"

"Derek!" Irita akong lumingon sa tumawag.

"Ano na naman Paula?! Huwag mong sabihing mag C-CR ka rin!"

"No Derek. May malaki tayong problema. We can't start! Hindi pa bumabalik si Vanessa!" She panically squawked. Agad na nagpantig ang tenga ko. Ano bang meron sa mga tao ngayon? Bakit lahat sila pinapainit ang ulo ko?

"ANO?! Hanapin niyo sa comfort room!"

Baka naman tinuloy ni Vanessa ang sinabi niyang i-indianin niya kami.

Limang minuto ring naghanap ang mga crew ko at....

"Oh! Derek nandyan na pala si Vanessa" Lumingon ako sa dereksyong itinuro ng crew at nakahinga ng maluwag. Papalapit na sa amin si Vanessa. She had her hood pulled over to her head na natatabunan ang mukha niya. She is also wearing a mask. And she has her katana on her back. She does really look like death.

"There you are! Bakit ang tagal mo? Pati rin ba sa CR may traffic? Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay! Ikaw na lang ang kulang! Saang bundok ka ba kasi gumamit ng CR ha?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng engkanto ang sumapi sa kanya pero hindi niya ako sinagot. Weird. Vanessa always argue to everything that I'll say. Everything.

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Aly's PoV

"Hop in!" Sigaw ni Sirius habang sakay ng isang pulang motorbike. Halata sa boses niya ang pagmamadali. I've never ride a motorbike before. Pinagbawalan kasi ako. However I don't have the right to refuse knowing that someone's life is in peril. Ibinulsa ko ulit ang cellphone ko. I tried calling Maggie pero cannot be reach palagi.

"This is the fastest and the most convenient ride. Now hurry up!"

"Where did you carjack this?!" Tanong ko habang sinusuot ang healmet.

"This is mine. Now hold tight." And I did. I snake my hands around his abdomen and lean my head on his firm back.

He started the engine and ate-up the miles as if they were just a few yards. Dahil sa lakas ng takbo ng sasakyan na tila napapapikit na lang ang mata ko dahil sa lakas ng hangin na sumasalubong sa akin ay mahigpit akong napayakap sa kanya.

"Waaahh! Sirius dahan-dahan naman! May plano ka yatang patayin ako eh!" Reklamo ko sabay tampal sa likuran niya nang bigla siyang mag overtake sa isang dambuhalang ten-wheeler truck. Mabuti na lang hindi pa ito ang araw ng kamatayan ko.

"We're in a hurry Laurel!"

"I know! Pero baka tayo naman ang mapahamak dahil sa hurry-hurry na 'yan! I don't want to die because of reckless driving!" 

Ito talagang si Sirius napaka inconsiderate. Hindi man lang niya iniisip ang kapakanan ng iba.

"Don't worry. As long as you're with me, I will keep you safe." Dahil sa lakas ng pagmaneho niya ay hindi ko masyadong narinig ang sinabi ni Sirius. Bakit parang may narinig akong 'safe' at 'with me'?

"Huh? Hindi kita narinig!"

"I said Shut-up and hold still, we're going 80 kilometers per hour!" Then he clutched the throttle hard to eat up a few more miles effortlessly going to our destination.

I wonder what did he really said.
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Dave's PoV

"Hindi mo man lang ba bubuksan ang pinto papa Dave?" Malaswang sabi ng ugok kong katabi sabay puppy eyes pa sa'kin. Mabuti na lang nasa kotse pa kami at walang ibang taong nakarinig 'non.

"Ulol! Hindi ka chiks!"

"Papa Dave!"

"Fvck you Lester! And sagwa mo!" I removed my seatbelt saka bumaba na.

"Fvck you too Papa Dave!!" Malanding sabi ng ugok habang humahabol sa lakad ko.

"Gago! Kapag hindi ka pa tumigil Les, talagang uupakan kita!"

"Woooh! 'Wag naman. Ayokong malagay sa alanganin ang mala-adonis kong mukha" Saad niya sabay himas-himas pa sa buo niyang mukha.

He is always like that. Siya na yata ang pinakanakakairitang tao sa buong mundo. He get so gay and playboy sometimes. I still don't know which is which.

"Walk faster. Magsisimula na ang play"

"Yes boss!" Tsk. Lester should need to see a psychiatrist soon. He totally has this personality disorder.

We entered the theater hall. Madilim na ito. Only the lights manage by the lighting crews are on. Off rin lahat ng cellphone ng mga audience.

Dahil ako naman ang Student Body President it is not hard to find a seat at the front. I sat still while Lester sat next to mine.

"Christian Dave Ponce?" I snapped my head to my other side to see the person who had just called me by my full name.

"Maam Natasha?" I thought on live ang mommy ni Aly, bakit siya nandito? Hindi ba niya alam na hindi sumali ng play si Aly ngayong taon? And wait where's Aly by the way?

"It's good to see you dear"

"Me too maam. Ahm, you knew Lester." Abot tenga namang ngumiti ang kumag sa mommy ni Aly.

"Of course. Lester Suarez. I've met him"

"So tell me, what's my daughter's role in this play? Hindi niya kasi na gawang banggitin sa'kin."

Seems like she have no idea that her daughter didnt take part of the play.

Lester and I both look at each other. What am I going to say to her?

"Maam Natasha kasi po..."

"Good evening ladies and gentleman, brace yourself from tonights performance." Our attention shifted to the announcers voice.

"Before that, It is the theater's house rule to turn off all the gadgets to avoid taking videos from the play. Thank you for your cooperation."

I was surprised when maam Natasha turned her phone off. I would really appear so rude if I wouldn't follow the order so I did, to think that I'm sitting beside Aly's mother.

Nagsimula na ang play. The plot is really nice. And the background music sends me goosebumps.

"Papa Dave it's so scary!" Lester cling to my arms pero agad ko rin naman siyang binatukan. Minsan talaga lumuluwag ang tornilyo ng kumag na 'to.

"Pull your shits together dude. Kung hindi I will personally contact Deborah to kill you!" I mocked.

"I know I have sinned. I admit I'm a temptress. I had bewitch your husband and it is something that I am definitely held accountable with. I am now repenting my sin. Oh please! Forgive me! Oh Deborah! Spare my life!"

"Woooh! Ang galing pala ni Patricia dude no?"

We're at the stories climax at ito na iyong scene na mukhang papatayin na ni Deborah si Recoletti.

"That sword looks real" Puna ko sa katana na hinahawakan ni Vanessa or should I say Deborah.
Why would they use a real sword. Is it even legit?

"I will pay all the bad things that I've conjured. Oh Deborah..."

Deborah said nothing which is weird. Wala ba siyang linya? Then she slowly drew her sword out while Patricia is still weeping on Vanessa's feet.

"Patayin mo na! Ang bagal naman!"

"Shut the fuck-up Lester!"

Then slowly...very slowly.

*Bogsssh!*

The door opens and two familliar figure appeared...

"STOP THE PLAY!!!!!"

"Deborah! Spare my li...."

"PATRICIAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*Slash!*

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Then I saw how the blood spurt out from Patricia's throat before the lights went out.

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Next chap!

"You look dazzling"-Sirius

" Why, thank you. You look devilishly handsome too" -Aly

"I might kiss you right now"
-Sirius

"Oh I insist *smirk*" -Aly

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A/N: Aly and Sirius are going out on a date next chap! Stay in touch! Pramis mag U-UD ako before christmas. :) :)

Please vote and comment what you think :) Pang christmas gift lang :) jeje.

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-Ms. Gie.