Kismet | ENGLOT

Chapter 7

Charlotte POV:

All members of the drama club were exhausted for days trying to revise the storyline and script for our upcoming drama—well, all except Engfa, who was too detached to even care to help.

Once everything was polished and the final script was approved, Mrs Warren called for another meeting after class.

I had just arrived at school, parked my trusty old Toyota Corolla, and walked towards the theatre while carrying boxes of costumes for the play. I was wearing my favorite sweater, the one my grandma gave me when I was 12, and some comfortable baggy pants. My hair was tied in a messy bun.

I saw Engfa with her friends engaged in a casual conversation, which was either a foreplay of nonsensical banter or a series of insults toward people who, in their perception, are not as "cool" as they are.

Engfa's eyes caught mine for a split second before she looked in a different direction. Before I got past them, Tina whistled and said "Hey Charlotte, nice sweater" I saw them stifling a laugh, except for Engfa who just shook her head. "Thank you" I said almost a whisper then started walking.

Before I was completely out of earshot, I heard them burst into a booming laugh, with Heidi mockingly saying "Thank you" gaining another series of laughter from the group. I looked back and saw Engfa hitting Heidi on her arm but still laughed nonetheless. She suddenly stopped, her face softened with guilt when she saw me looking at them with a tinge of humiliation etched on my face.

I tried my best to shake it off, so I walked faster and tried not to look back. I knew better than to let those pricks get into my skin. But what bothered me is that even Engfa laughed. I thought she was different from her friends, I thought I saw something good in her. It turns out they were all cut from the same cloth.

Classes went by so fast and I was just glad I did not have to suffer another encounter with Engfa's group. At the theater, members were already settled in their seats. I looked around and noticed Engfa wasn't around.

I gave everyone a copy of the script, but still, Engfa is nowhere to be seen. Maybe she really doesn't want to be paired with me and decided to just quit – I think to myself. Does she despise me that much? Maybe she's ashamed to play the main role with me as her partner. I felt a bit hurt at the thought.

Just as we were about to start reading the script, Engfa came in shuffling into the room. She looked around and saw that the only seat available was the one beside me. "Miss Waraha, better late than never. Please take a sit so we can start" Mrs Warren cut through the silence. Engfa left with no choice, sighed, and settled beside me.

I can feel how uneasy she was sitting next to me, it's as if her seat was made of burning coals. I whispered, "I know you don't like being around me, but can you at least not make a scene and try to keep still?" She stopped squirming and sat up straight.

I could see her glancing at me until she went onto a full stare just when it was my turn to read my part. I stopped and waited for her turn, but she kept quiet. I tucked the stray hair to my ear and turned to look at her.

She was staring at me, lips parted like she wanted to say something but couldn't. I blinked at her to get a response but she just looked at me, her eyes went to my lips for a split second then back to my eyes.

"Miss Waraha, are you still with us?" Mrs Warren's voice cut through the awkward silence. Engfa blinked and shook her head as if her soul just got back to her body. "Ahh uhhm, yes. I was just lost in thought" she said while her shaky hands flipped through the script trying to find where we left off.

After two hours of meeting and table reading, we finally call it a day. Marima went to say goodbye before she left and gave me a hug "Bye Char, Patrick is waiting for me so I'll head on first." I hugged her back and gave a smile "See you tomorrow Mar."

Surprisingly, Engfa was not in a hurry to get up and leave. Everyone already left except us, she was still sitting there, looking like she was having an internal debate with herself. I wanted to ask her if she was okay but I don't think she'd appreciate my concern so I just stayed silent.

When I was about to leave, she suddenly called me "Charlotte, wait!" I looked back at her, my voice full of sarcasm "What does the great Engfa Waraha need from me?" She just stayed silent. I looked at her shaking my head "Come on, I know you need something, I've known you for years and you were never the one to call out to me first."

She opened her mouth, her expression a bit reluctant "I was just wondering if you could help me with my lines." I was taken aback. "Engfa Waraha asking me for a favor? That's something I've never imagined happening" I replied with a bit of mockery.

Her hand went to scratch the back of her neck, looked up with a bit of frustration then said "Come on Charlotte, I know you want this play to be a success. So, could you help me out so I don't ruin it for the whole team?" I shook my head in disbelief. I know she doesn't really care about others, she just didn't want to admit that she doesn't want to mess up and look ridiculous in front of the whole school.

I stayed silent for a minute, trying to contemplate if I should agree to help her or not.  "Fine, I'll let you know when I'm free" I agreed. As much as I hate to admit it, she does have a point. I didn't want our play to become a disaster. If helping Engfa with her lines guarantees the success of our performance then so be it. 

"Awesome! Maybe it's better if we meet up at your place after school?" she said acting to be all friendly. I can sense that she just didn't want to be seen hanging out with me in public, hence, the suggestion of practicing at my place.

I agreed and asked for her number. She took my phone and saved it. "I'll send you my address when I get some free time." I told her. "Sure thing" she said handing me back my phone. Before we went our separate ways, I stopped. I turned around to face her then said "Just one condition before I help you"-- she looked straight at me with a smile tugging across her lips "Anything".

"Just promise me you won't fall in love with me" I said seriously. She let out a laugh like she just heard the most ridiculous thing "Not a problem. Not in this lifetime or the next" – and with that, I turned and went straight to my car.