Death Trap Vendetta

Chapter Thirty-Seven

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Open Auditions

February 27, 2016; Saturday
Damian Hall, Elysium University Theatre
4:00 pm

In the end, JC discovered that a long discussion wasn't really needed for them to decide to push through with the new production. Inilapag nina Kevin at Joy ang pros and cons ng pagsabak nilang muli sa pagtatanghal sa entablado pagkatapos ng nangyari sa retreat house. Sa huli, lahat sila'y sumang-ayon na mas matimbang ang good publicity na dala ng fund-raising pati na ang pagiging distraction nito kesa sa posibilidad na pag-pyestahan sila dahil sa pagkakasangkot nila sa massacre.

The only thing left to be figured out was what play they were gonna perform-since Mors Laqueum was out of the question-and the roles they were gonna play. Because they have lost some of their previous actors and staff, Kevin decided it was time to find reinforcement, so to speak.

And so, a week later, JC found himself sitting in the audience's seats in the theatre hall, waiting for the auditions to wrap up so that they could go go to a party 8teen was hosting. Bagamat halos bantay-sarado si Ailee ng mga bodyguard na hinire ni Giovanni, mas kampante pa rin si JC na ihatid ito pauwi sa bahay ng mga De Valerio kapag weekend kaya naman naging parte na iyon ng kanyang routine.

"Gaano katagal pa ba 'to? Gusto ko nang i-celebrate ang birthday ko," reklamo ni Cess na nakaupo sa tabi ni Joy. Bilang mga hurado ng audition, nakaupo ang mga ito pinakaunang hilera ng mga upuan. "Ni wala pa nga tayong buong script. How are we supposed to pick who plays which role when even we don't know the characters in the play?!"

Tahimik na pinanood ni JC habang nagsimulang magtalo sina Ailee at Cess dahil sa usapin ng script ng play na hindi pa rin ibinibigay sa kanila ni Ailee. Hindi niya alam ang buong konteksto ng kalagayan ng preparasyon nila para sa fund-raising event ng Le Compendium. Ngunit hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni JC na isang linggo nang stressed si Ailee.

"It's not like I can produce a good story-for theatre, no less-instantly," Ailee argued, obviously at the end of her patience as well. He remembered her saying the exact same thing to him several nights ago.

"We're ready for Mr. Marc Alden Christoff Floresco?" Bumuntong-hininga naman si Joy matapos tawagin ang susunod na mag-a-audition.

Napakahabang pangalan naman nun, natatawang sambit ni JC sa kanyang isipan habang patuloy niyang pinagmasdan ang nagaganap na pagtatalo. Of course, watching the auditions and waiting for Ailee wasn't the only reason he was there.

Napansin ni JC na napapadalas nitong mga nakaraan ang mga biglang pagsiklab ng galit ni Ailee tulad ng dati, marahil dala na rin sa stress na dala ng imbestigasyon at bagong stage production. At dahil sumama si Shem kay Kevin sa isang firearms safety conference-na may halong kaunting pag-iimbestiga-sa Villa Muerte, si JC muna ang nakatokang mag-referee sakaling magtalo na naman ang magkaibigan.

Fortunately, they were all saved from the argument devolving into said breaking point when the auditionee with the long name finally took the stage.

"He-Hello po!" Masiglang pagbati ng isang lalaking nakasuot ng parisukat na salamin. "A-Ako si Marc Alden Christoff Floresco. Alden na lang for short. Mag-a-audition bilang...uhm, Character 3. S-Saka pwede rin akong mag-compose para sa b-background music, m-marunong akong tumugtog ng trumpeta!"

JC briefly observed Alden, recognizing him as a classmate of Gregg. He remembered him from the time he picked up Gregg from one his Engineering-related classes for their basketball game. Unlike his late friend, Alden had a slight build, not necessarily lanky or bulky. Pormal ang pananamit nito na animo'y pupunta sa corporate interview sa halip na sa isang theatre audition. Naka-gel pa nga ang kulay itim nitong buhok.