Curtains Rise
The school auditorium was buzzing with excitement as the day of the play finally arrived. Students, teachers, and parents filled the seats, the chatter of the audience creating a hum of anticipation. The stage was set with a grand, hand-painted castle backdrop, and the props Hiroshi and the other club members had worked tirelessly on glimmered under the stage lights.
Backstage, chaos reigned. The actors scrambled to make last-minute adjustments to their costumes, while the crew whispered instructions and double-checked the props. Hiroshi stood off to the side, a clipboard in his hand and his script tucked under his arm. He tried to focus on his role as part of the crew, but his mind was elsewhere.
“Hey, Hiroshi, stop zoning out! We need you to help with the curtain!” one of the staff members called out.
“S-Sorry!” Hiroshi replied, shaking his head and rushing to the side of the stage.
The play began with a soft melody from the piano, the lights dimming as the first scene unfolded. The audience fell silent, their eyes glued to the stage as the story of the play began.
It was a tale of a poor girl, abandoned as a child, who grew up working as a servant in the kingdom's palace. Hina, in her stunning costume, played the role of the servant girl. Her dress was simple yet elegant, and her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her face. She looked radiant under the stage lights, her every movement graceful and captivating.
Hiroshi tried not to look, but every time she spoke her lines, her voice carried so much emotion that it was impossible not to be drawn to her. He clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as he watched her interact with the lead actor, who played the prince.
“Why does it have to be him?” Hiroshi muttered under his breath, glancing down at the floor to avoid watching the scene.
Meanwhile, the rest of their classmates who weren’t part of the play had gathered backstage, peeking out from the curtains to watch.
“She’s amazing out there,” one of the girls whispered.
“Yeah, Hina’s totally stealing the show,” another agreed.
Hiroshi felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see one of his classmates grinning at him. “Hey, Hiroshi, why aren’t you watching? It’s your script, after all. Don’t you want to see it come to life?”
“I… I’m just busy making sure everything runs smoothly,” Hiroshi replied quickly, holding up his clipboard as if it were proof.
But the truth was, he couldn’t bear to watch. Seeing Hina act so naturally with the prince made his chest tighten. He felt foolish for being jealous—it was just a play, after all—but he couldn’t help it.
Onstage, the prince knelt before Hina’s character, offering his hand. “You don’t belong here, living as a servant. You’re the true princess of the neighboring kingdom. Come with me, and I’ll help you reclaim your rightful place.”
Hina’s eyes widened, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. “But… how can that be? I’ve lived here my entire life. I’m no princess.”
“You are,” the prince insisted, taking her hand. “And I’ll prove it to the world.”
The audience erupted in applause as the scene ended, the lights dimming for a set change.
Backstage, Hiroshi’s heart sank further. He knew it was just acting, but the way the prince looked at Hina—the way he held her hand—it felt too real.
One of his classmates nudged him. “Hey, Hiroshi, you’re looking a little green. You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Hiroshi muttered, forcing a smile.
But inside, he was anything but fine. His emotions were a tangled mess of admiration, jealousy, and something deeper that he wasn’t ready to admit.
As the play continued, the story grew more intense, with Hina’s character grappling with the revelation of her true identity. The chemistry between her and the prince was undeniable, and the audience was completely engrossed.
Hiroshi, however, kept his distance, pretending to busy himself with tasks backstage. He stole a glance at Hina every now and then, his heart aching with every line she delivered.
“She’s incredible,” one of the backstage crew members said, breaking Hiroshi’s thoughts.
“Yeah, she really is,” Hiroshi whispered, his voice barely audible.
He looked down at the clipboard in his hands, gripping it tightly as if it could anchor him. But no matter how hard he tried to focus, his mind kept drifting back to Hina.
The final scene of the act was approaching, and the tension backstage was palpable. Hiroshi stood near the curtain, peeking out at the stage as the lights dimmed.
“Will the prince and the princess end up together?” one of the crew members whispered.
Hiroshi didn’t have an answer. All he could do was watch as Hina stepped back into the spotlight, her voice carrying through the auditorium.
But deep down, he knew one thing for sure: his feelings for Hina were no longer something he could ignore.
The curtain fell on the act, and the stage lights dimmed. The audience erupted into applause, their cheers echoing through the auditorium.
As Hiroshi stood there, lost in his thoughts, a single question lingered in his mind.
*Am I just a writer in her story, or could I ever be more than that?*
YOU ARE READING
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