Heart 3: Swollen Heart

CHAPTER 27

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PREIOUS PZRAE’S POV

“Ano, Pzrae?! Kanina pa nating pinapaulit-ulit ang part na ‘yan!” Mr. Escueta yelled. “I said you must exaggerate your emotion! Isipin mong in love ka kay Glenn! Parang tanga naman, oh!”

I rolled my eyes nowhere and hopped out of the bed to prepare for starting again from the top.

I’m freaking tired! Okay naman na, e! I’m overreacting my ass off as I perform, but still not enough! Paano bang exaggerate ang gusto niya?!

Siya nga ‘tong OA, dapat siya na gumanap!

“Ayusin mo, Pzrae! You are Madame Butterfly, and you are in love  with American soldier!” He pointed at Glenn. “Internalize your character!”

“Yes, sir,” I answered in a lazy tone.

And then we started playing the scene. Kaming lang dalawa ni Glenn ang nasa setting. The setting was a silent night inside Madame Butterfly’s room.

I sat on the bed, singing my line with my extended mouth and jaw. My eyes are wandering around and my brows complimented my emotions.

Glenn, in his deep, manly voice, emerged from the other side of the stage.

Gosh, this is the cringe part! Madame Butterfly and the soldier will make love through singing and cuddling!

I sighed internally as I looked at Glenn through my soft eyes. I would just imagine that he is Keiroh.

He is Keiroh.

He’s not Glenn.

He’s Keiroh.

The scene was R-16, and it was pretty suitable for us. Glenn sat on the bed and the execution of the scene went smoothly as I plunged into my mind that he’s Keiroh.

When our lips were about to collide, Mr. Escueta clapped his ass off in celebration—waking us up from the internalization of our characters.

“I love it, I love it!”

The background music faded away.

“Hay salamat, sila naman magpa-practice.” Glenn heaved a deep breath. “Galing natin!” He smiled.

“Finally. I’m frigging tired.” I giggled.

The role fits Glenn ‘cause his body composition is naturally broad and big and he’s mestizo. He even know how to harmonize our voice together and since we were friends for years, we knew each other’s style—though this play requires broadway style of singing—we even breathe as one as we sing. That’s freaking insane!

“Oh, puwesto kaagad, puwesto kaagad! Walang makakalimot ng line ah!” Mr. Escueta’s voice echoed, commanding our classmates for their roles and where will they took place.

I sat on the bench, feeling the sweat drenching my body. I took a towel out of my bag and wiped my forehead. I was panting, catching my breath.

I freaking need a shower, but I wanna watch the rehearsal of my classmates. Only several of them are my friends and I barely talk about them but I know their capabilities as artist.

Many of them are even better than me! I know they’ll slay the play that was written by Mr. Escueta. Yes, they were rehearsing a separate play.

My classmates are all in a rush, preparing the setting and taking their last gaze on their scripts, when someone blocked the view.

He’s wearing a costume of a royal prince with a sword hanged on the side of his hips. My eyes crawled from his stomach up to his face and I met his serious eyes gawking at me.

“I think you need this.” Arjo handed me a bottle of cold water.

I flashed a fake smile and took the water. “Thank you. Wala bang lason ‘to?”

He chuckled and took a seat beside me. The familiar aroma of him entered my nose and I couldn’t help myself to admire how fragrant he is.

An awkward silence blanketed us, only the sound of the grumbling things on the stage was what could be heard. They are all vocalizing and Mr. Escueta’s guiding them, but the ass of this guy seems like pasted on the bench.

“I need to tell you something,” he broke the silent atmosphere. “About Angela—”

I turned my head to him and gave him a sour look. “Seriously?” Irritation evident on my voice. “That’s over, move on, buddy.” I opened the bottle and gulped the cold water.

“It’s still not, Pzrae. You haven’t know of her past... she needs me,” he mumbled through his cold tone.

I sarcastically chuckled. “She needs you, huh?” I restrained my voice from cracking. “You cheated on me, the talk is over.” I stood up.

I was about to take my way out of him when I felt his grip on my arm, restraining me from walking out.

“I mistake you, Pzrae. I was sexually attracted to you,” he muttered, sending my eyes warmness. “I didn’t love you.”

And as if on cue, my tears streamed down. My classmates are too busy on their business to notice us... and I couldn’t freaking stop these tears.

Despite of the liquid taking their way down on my cheeks, I faced him.

“I-I know.” I bit my lower lip and sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, Arjo. I moved on—alone. And conquered the pain you’ve ‘caused me, pero... ganito pala kasakit masabihan ng ganiyan. If you didn't loved me in the first place, then why did you let me fall?”

“I said I was mistaken.” I let go of my wrist and looked at floor. “And I have to tell you something, Pzrae. It really... i-it really took me a lot of courage, before having the guts of telling this to you...”

My brows met, creasing my forehead. “What? Is there any thing that you’re about to say more than what you’ve said—”

“Angela is my ex-girlfriend,” he trailed me off.

I chuckled sarcastically, “Oh, you broke up that early—”

“Before you, she was my girl.” An acrid smile flashed on his lips. “And we had a baby... at the age of 15, we had a baby. And... and I never fucking knew about it.” A lone tear fell from his eye.

My eyes widened in shock... “W-wait... what?!”

“I was a douchebag, dumb, stupid and everything you can describe me. I promise, I never knew... I never knew about it...” he cried in between of his sobs. “I had a baby with Hanna, and I only knew it now—that my son is already gone.”

“H-how? Wait... Who’s Hanna? When? W-where?” I stammered.

“Angela’s—”

“Arjo, come here! Kanina pa kaming naghihintay sa ‘yo!” Mr. Escueta yelled, stopping Arjo from speaking. “Hurry up!”

“I’ll just tell about this to you later, at lunch, okay?” He patted my shoulder and I nodded with my lips tightly pressed to each other.

I was freaking stoned at my position, fetching Arjo through my gaze. It took me few minutes before I completely gather myself up from the freaking information he just spilled.

They were freaking seeing each other inside the mansion so frequently! How can... how did that happened?! How the freak is that even possible?!

Questions filled my head, making my mind float as I walked towards our room. Because of that, I think I badly need a shower with cold water!

Angela, who really are you?

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Author’s Note:

Ey, xviors! Just wanna greet you a merry Christmas! Please, always stay safe and God bless y’all! Happy holidays! =)

Papasko n’yo na sa akin ang vote. *pout*
 

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