Saving Me: Ruinene

Rediscovering The Magic (7)

Nene

After everything's that's happened at school... I felt disconnected. The idea of performing again? It just feels too overwhelming. I don't know what it is, but I've never had this feeling before. Oh, wait, I think I heard this from someone, but it went something like... 'socail axienty?' I don't remember. But when Rui said he had something special planned for today, I couldn't help but be a little curious.

"Rui, where exactly are we going?"

Rui: "You'll see soon enough. Trust me on this one."

As we're walking closer to the theater district, it starts to hit me. We're seeing a show.

"Wait, is this?..."

Rui nods, his smile spreading wider.

Rui: "Yep, I got us tickets to The Little Mermaid. I figured it might help you to remember how beautiful shows can be."

I'm stunned. The Little Mermaid? That's a big deal. I haven't thought about going to a show in forever, let alone something like this.

"But why? I'm not sure if I'll  be able to enjoy it..."

Rui: "Just give it a chance, Nene. I know things have been hard, but I want you to feel that spark again."

Rui

As we settle in our seats, I can feel that familiar excitement bubbling up inside me. The curtains rise, and immediately, I'm hooked. But not just because of the story— I'm captivated by how everything comes together.

"Whoa, look at the way they set up the stage. The underwater effect, it's genius!"

The props, the lighting, the transitions— everything is seamless. I can't help but admire the craftsmanship, the careful details that bring the whole performance to life.

"And the dialogue— it's perfect. The timing, the delivery— everything's so polished."

I glance over at Nene. She's watching the performance with wide eyes, lost in the magic of it. But she's not focused on the technical stuff like I am. She's feeling something deeper, more emotional.

Nene

At first, I wasn't sure if I would've enjoyed this. But as the story unfolds— something stirs inside me. The songs, the actors, the  colors of the set— they're pulling me in.

"The way they're making this feel so real... I forgot how much I loved this."

For the first time in a while, I'm not thinking about messing up or being embarrassed. I'm just... there. In the moment. It feels nice, even comforting.

As the show goes on, I catch myself smiling. Not because I'm forcing, but because it feels right.

Rui

By the time the final bow comes, I'm blown away. The way the crew coordinated the entire show— it's flawless. The pacing is so well thought out. I wonder if I could become a director someday....

Nene's smiling too. And seeing her like that makes me feel like I've accomplished what I've set out to do.

"It was nice, wasn't it?"

Nene

I nod, still caught in the afterglow of the performance.

"Yeah, it really was... the mermaid was so pretty, and the way she moved... it kind of reminded me why I loved performing."

Rui: "I knew you'd feel it again. It's not just about standing on a stage, Nene. It's about everything that goes into it."

"I guess you're right. I just needed to see it from a different angle."

We walk out of the theater, and for the first time in a long while, I feel lighter. Like maybe, just maybe, performing on stage doesn't have to be so scary anymore.