Chapter 11
"Are you all guys ready?" Ate Mizee asked.
"Yes!" sabay-sabay naming sagot.
Intermission number kami this time. Kakasimula pa lang ng event at medyo matagal-tagal pa bago kami aarte. We got more time to make sure we memorized our lines.
Naka-uniform lang kami ni Maz since sa paaralan lang naman ang set namin. Some will get change more than one time but I'll be wearing this for the whole play.
Excited na ako. Artista si Ate Mizee this time. Although I've seen her act during our practice, I'm still excited to see her act. She's a freakin' good actress. Plus, she's pretty.
Nanonood kami sa program ni Mazro sa side stage. Mayro'n naman kaming conversation with other characters pero mas marami ang sa amin. Napagdesisyunan naming mag-practice ng mga dialogue namin habang naghihintay na tawagin kami.
"Can you help me with my lapel?" I asked him.
I feel like it's not tight enough and it's going to fall if I won't fix it.
I raised the hem of the blouse enough for him to see where the lapel is hidden. Thank God naka-sando ako. I stood up facing my back at him. He tighten it up.
"Okay na ba?" he asked.
"Yeah. Salamat." sabi ko at umupo na muli ako sa upuan katabi ng sa kanya.
"No problem."
Ngumiti ako sa kanya.
"Do you want to become an actor someday?" I asked him.
Bihira lang ang mga lalaki sa theatre club. Some aren't straight, just pretending to be one during the play. Doesn't he find theatre club cliché as a man?
"I don't know, I'd rather become a singer than an actor. Masaya rin naman maging artista, hindi nga lang pag-aartista ang plano ko." sabi niya.
"Bakit ka sumali sa theatre club? Mayro'n namang club na para sa mga gustong kumanta, diba?" tanong ko pa.
"Daddy wants me to be guarded by Ate Mizee." sabi niya.
Guarded?
"Basagulero ka ba dati?"
"Hindi naman. Sinisigurado lang niya na okay lang ako dahil nga hindi ako mahilig makipag-kaibigan." he answered.
"How come that you find being an actor fun when you're not sociable at all?"
I'm curious about this man. This is my chance to know him.
"That doesn't make me less as an actor, right?"
"Oo nga naman." sabi ko pa.
"Sabi ni Mizee gusto niyang mag-artista pagkatapos niyang mag-aral."
That caught my attention. He's opening things up.
"Bakit hindi ngayon din? Why is she taking a course not related to it?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.
Sabi niya she's taking political science.
"May plano rin siyang sumunod sa yapak ni Daddy at gusto niyang mag-focus muna sa pag-aaral dahil daw hindi niya kayang pagsabayin ito."
Tumango-tango ako.
"Hindi siguro mahihirapan si Ate Mizee na makapasok sa industriya." wika ko.
"She recieved a lot of offers so do I."
"Why don't you give it a shot?"
"Siguro pauunahin ko muna si Mizee." he answered.
"Grabe kayo! I'm excited for the both of you." I exclaimed.
"Guys! Tayo na ang susunod!" Ate Mizee shouted.
Tumayo na kami ni Maz at nag-assemble. The props, curtain, lights, and everything.
Hindi nagtagal ay nagsimula na rin ang play namin. Set eight pa ang unang exposure ko. Medyo matagal-tagal pa. Pinapanood ko side mula dito sa gilid ng stage.
Nakita ko si Dave na kumukuha ng litrato mula sa harap ng stage. This is going to be awkward.
I smiled how the crowd reacted to the play. Tumatawa, kinikilig, cheered for their friend, and more. I stood still and waited for my turn.
It went well. So far so good. Nabigyan ko naman ng justice ang character. I'm preparing for this scene I hate the most.
"Okay ka lang?" Mazro asked.
I have this mannerism where I kept on rubbing my hands everytime I get nervous.
"Kinakabahan lang."
"You are doing great." sabi niya at ngumiti.
Ngumiti ako pabalik sa kanya.
Here we go.
The curtains closed and we ran to our position. Both of us are leaning against this prop as our railing at the hallway.
Three, two, one. The curtain opened.
The people cheered seeing the both of us.
"Hey!" tawag ko sa kanya no'ng akma siyang aalis.
"Bakit? May problema ba?" he asked.
Lumapit ako sa kanya gaya ng sa ensayo namin at tinitigan ang mga mata niya.
Biglang tumibok ang puso ko no'ng nagsisigawan ang mga tao. God, help me.
"I just want you to mark this date as our day one of being officially together." I said and grinned.
The crowd went wilder. Why are their shouts for us way more louder than for the main characters?
He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. He placed his forehead over mine like how we practiced. He kissed my cheeks!
"An adlib isn't bad." he whispered.
We held hands and exited. What just happened? It's actually no big deal, but... hindi ko alam!
The play is over. We bowed down together and took our exit. Kailangan kong magpalit ng damit. I removed the microphone first and gave it to the one collecting it.
"Iba rin 'tong kapatid mo, Zee." dinig kong sabi ng director.
"Ewan ko diyan. Not bad, though." sabi naman ni Ate Mizee.
I took off my blouse and and wore a shirt. I just tucked my shirt into my skirt since I'm good with it. Nagpalit ako ng footwear, from shoes to flat sandals.
"Mazro, Jenim, come here." tawag ni Ate Mizee sa amin.
May mali ba? I don't remember any lapses I did on the play.
Naglakad ako papalapit kay Ate Mizee pati na rin si Mazro na kumakain ng snacks na binigay sa amin. Sabay kaming nakarating.
"Maz? Is there something you want to tell me?"
"What are you talking about, Mizee?" tanong naman ni Mazro.
Ate Mizee looked at me.
"Kung tungkol po sa kanina, hindi ko alam na gagawin niya 'yon." I said and bowed down.
"What's going on with you two? I'm asking this as your sister, Maz."
My eyes widened. Ate Mizee gave us a teasing smile. My cheeks feels hot. Oh, God.
"Stop asking nonsense, Zee." Maz said and left.
^_^
