The Art of Words

Our Time

Setting: A dark room in one of the resort the squad rented.

                 2030

Characters:

Hazel Suarez

Fred Chavez

Sypnosis: High School graduate Batch 2018-2019 of Magsaysay Memorial had a reunion held in a beach resort. For their last night, they decided to play truth and dare and Hazel decided to pick dare. She was dared to stay at a room for an hour with Fred Chavez.

Act no. 1

Scene no. 1

Hazel and Fred entered the room and their friends locked the door shut.

Hazel: I'm sorry Fred. If I had just picked truth, we wouldn't be in this hassle.

Fred: No worries. It's not a big deal. Atleast we have our peace and quiet. So what's new?

Hazel: Nothing much. Currently anticipating for the result of my Bar exam. After that, I can officially work at my father's law firm. How about you?

Fred: Well... I have a nice, stable job now in Canada but I'm still planning to help my brother Franz in our business here in the Philippines, especially now that a lot has been going on. Remember the food house?

Hazel: Of course! We used to hang out there with Kyle, Kyla, Alden, and Denise. Frank has been so hands-on in managing that food house. Sometimes, I wonder if he loves that more than me.

Fred: That wouldn't be true. (short pause) (look intently to her) You're the most precious thing and he knows how much you're worth every time and love in the world.

Hazel: You're still that sweet young little boy, aren't you Fred?

Fred: Only to you. (quietly)

Hazel: What?

Fred: I said only to you.

Hazel: I.... I don't understand. What do you mean?

Fred: Everyone knew. My parents, Kyle and Kyla, Alden and Denise and every one. They knew how much I like you. They knew since the first time we moved in the house next to yours that I had a crush on you.

Hazel: I... I thou-

Fred: No. Let me just say everything I want to. I need to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I was always there for you. You befriended me at school and I am very thankful because I'm not as outgoing like my brother Frank. He was the crush of every girl in the school, except you. And I'm the nerd one. I'm the quiet brother, the boring brother but you talk to me every time you had a chance and we shared a lot of common interest like horror films, our love for tear jerking movies, and our curiosity for science. We bonded and I actually fall in love with you.

Hazel: Fred...

Hazel would be shedding some tears by now.

Fred: You will always be the girl who saved me from the pits of despair. Those times when our parents divorced each other, you were there for us. Frank and I, we are thankful for you and your family for being there for us through the hard times and I fell deeper and I thought the feeling is mutual because we once planned our future together. We talked about what we want to do in the future. What you would like your house to be, the name of your future children, how I would design the house for you, the movie room, the library and the promise you told me.

Hazel: Promise me this is forever. (a hush whisper to oneself)

Hazel: I'm sorry Fred. I didn't know you felt that way for me.

Fred: The fact that I helped Frank prepared the gifts without knowing it was for you, that breaks me. I was hurt that no one even told me he's courting you.

Fred: What am I to you Hazel? Okay. Don't answer that. I'm JUST THE BESTFRIEND.

Hazel: Fred. If I only I knew.

Fred: What hazel? What would have changed if you knew?

Hazel: I...

Fred: Nothing would have changed. It's Frank. It's always him. He was my parent's favourite. He was the school's ace. He was everyone's favourite and I thought I was yours. I told myself that it was okay for everyone to like him more as long as the person I treasured most chooses me.

Hazel: Fred, I loved you. It was you. I loved you.

Fred will look at Hazel as if he doesn't understand words.

Hazel: The day Frank asked me to be his girlfriend; I was puzzled because he told me you have some discovery about the project we had. When I got there, when he kneeled and asked me in front of everyone, all I want to see was you and I saw you walking away. You didn't saw me answered him cause I didn't. I followed you. I followed you home and heard about you and your scholarship in Canada which you never told me. You told your parents you would go and who am I to stop you from achieving your dreams. I loved you. It was you I wanted and needed. It was you.

Fred: Then why are you with Frank?

Hazel: Because after you left with no goodbye, he was there. He updated me about everything going on about your life. He was so selfless to show me pictures of you and your achievements, and our dream cat. He was there telling me details about your life even though he love me. He knew I loved you and despite him hurting, he was there for me. Eventually, I found peace and love. I found stability and I found my home. When my mother died, he's there; he became my umbrella when the world was drenching me with all the problems. Frank never left. He's the one who saved me from the pits of despair the same way I did for you and the way I also did for him.

Fred: Why? Why didn't you talked to me that day you learned about Canada.

Hazel: Because you didn't even bother to tell me about it and who am I to stop you from reaching your dreams.

Fred: But I lost you.

Hazel: It's better that way. If as friends, we were not able to tell each other little details about our life, we would not last long anyway in a relationship. 

Hazel: I am still the girl from before. I am still your best friend. Always and forever, like the promise I made you.

Fred: I'm sorry about leaving you.

Hazel would hug Fred.

Hazel: It's okay. I am also sorry for the pain and for everything but I know someone out there would be perfect for you as I am with Frank.

Fred: I love you Hazel.

Hazel: I know now. Everything's going to be alright. You will also find someone who'll love you forever. All I can offer now is the friendship we had.

Fred would hug Hazel tighter

After calming down, Fred would let go of the hug.

Alarm sound effect

Fred: So am I still the best man in your wedding.

Hazel: Of course. You're my best friend and so is Frank's. We love you.

Fred: Our time is up then.

Hazel: Yes. Our time is up.