Death Trap Vendetta

Chapter Thirty-Nine

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Pre-Prod Shenanigans

March 3, 2016; Thursday
Elysium University Gymnasium
2:00 pm

"Nananadya na ata kayo, eh." Hindi naitago ni Clyde ang akusasyon sa kanyang boses. He didn't care if he sounded whiny. He aggressively ran his hand through his hair that was once again growing out. "Pari na naman?! Gusto ko rin namang makapag-asawa pagtanda ko, huy!"

The entirety of B.I.P. and Leo had been playing basketball with some upperclassmen at the gymnasium. Since all of their classes are done for that day, Ailee and Joy eventually joined them, hoping to discuss some things about the new production with Kevin. That was how Clyde found out about the role he landed for the play.

"Naku, Clyde. Baka iyan na talaga ang destiny mo," natatawang sambit ni Leo.

"At sino naman ang gusto mong mapangasawa in the future, p're?" Makahulugang tanong ni Anthony kaya't pinakyuhan niya ito.

"'Wag ka ngang OA, Clyde," saway sa kanya ni Ailee na nakasandal kay JC habang nakatingin sa mga papel na ibinigay sa kanya ni Joy. "Maliit lang naman yung role mo na pari ngayon. Sa first act lang. Tapos ensemble ka na."

Hindi pa rin naiwasan ni Clyde na mapabusangot at pabirong nagpapadyak kaya agad siyang binatukan ni Kevin. "Nagdesisyon na si Joy kung anong role mo kaya 'wag ka nang magreklamo, Clyde."

"Ikaw, sure ka ba na ayaw mong tanggapin yung lead role ngayon, Kevin?" tanong ni Ailee. "Ikaw ang pinaka-qualified sa lahat ng nag-audition. Not that it wouldn't be great to share a stage with you, Anthony. No offense."

Humikab naman si Anthony bago tumugon. "None taken. Kung 'di nga lang ako pinilit ni Kev, masyado akong mai-intimidate umarte kasama kayo."

When Kevin did not respond to Ailee for several moments, Clyde had to kick his friend's knees, thinking he must have spaced out again. Not that he blamed Kevin. Alam ni Clyde na sa kabila ng pagiging busy nila sa paghahanda para sa play, pinagluluksa pa rin ni Kevin ang mga pumanaw nilang kaibigan—lalo na si Markus.

Which was why Clyde didn't hold it against Kevin when he eventually gave an obviously forced smile. "Okay na ako sa minor role, kung anuman ang ibigay niyo sa 'kin ni Joy," sabi niya. "Bilang president ng org, masyado na akong maraming aasikasuhin para tanggapin yung lead role."

"And you're always the leading man, Kev," Joy said in a slight teasing tone. "Hindi maganda sa credentials mo na ma-typecast ka."

Muling napakamot si Clyde ng kanyang ulo habang tumatawa ang mga kaibigan niya. "So kung hindi lead role, anong karakter si Kevin para sa play?" tanong niya. "Sayang naman ang galing niya sa pag-arte kung hindi magagamit."

His friends all voiced their agreement while Kevin uncharacteristically all but blushed at the praise. Meanwhile, Joy hummed as she pored over the stack of paper in her hands before eventually looking up with a grin.

"I think I've found a character. Obviously, si Alden na ang napili natin para gumanap na main kontrabida. Pero kailangan din niya ng kakampi," aniya. "Ano sa tingin mo, Kev? Think you're up for a villain role this—"

"No." Kevin's swift rebuttal left them all temporarily speechless. Even JC and Shem, who had been quiet for their lack of interest in the plots and characters of the play, were looking at him in confusion.

Nakunot ang noo ni Clyde dahil hindi siya sanay na tinatanggihan agad ni Kevin ang anumang role na ibinibigay sa kanya mula nang madiskubre nila ang galing nito sa pag-arte. At lalong hindi ganito kabilis at walang paliwanag.

Kalauna'y tila napansin ni Kevin ang kalituhan nila kaya bahagya siyang tumawa. "Gaya nga ng sabi ko, marami akong aasikasuhin behind the scene bilang president," paliwanag niya. "Gustuhin ko man, pero baka mas mainam kung minor role tulad ng kay Clyde ang ibibigay sa 'kin."