Blue Flower

Chapter 20

-Chester-

I ran to my classroom the next morning. Everything was happening in such a rush. There was a school play to be shown today in our auditorium, and we need to make a summary out of it. Time ran fast, while my legs sped to its limit. I did it as long as it can take me to where I have to go, or else, I’ll suffer Mr. Schulein’s  very weird punishment.

 The door was closed, and I was catching my breath. I twisted the doorknob open. In that same second, their eyes laid heavily on me.

“You’re late again, Chester.” Mr. Schulein said.

“Yeah. I’m sorry sir.” I said casually and hurried to my seat.

I sat on my usual seat. He started speaking about the play, and we had to go there as soon as possible. As we all stood up, he announced something.

“Chester, carry those boxes of books to the stock room. There are four of them, and I’m sure you can do it alone.”

Everybody laughed at me. I just hid the shame with a nod, coupled with a bright smile. They started to walk out of the room. I walked nearer to the boxes that were placed in the very corner of the room.

“Be careful, Chester. The stock room is too far from here.” Mr. Schulein said, flashing his evil grin on me.

That sounded like an insult to me, but I just shrugged it off. It was nothing but unimportant. I carried the first box after they had disappeared from my sight. I was having a hard time carrying it. I stopped along the hallway, and hen I opened the box, old hardbound books about history, philosophy and ethics were piled neatly. My jaw clenched at this humiliating act. My teacher really brought the hell out of me.

I still made it to the stock room, despite the turns that I encountered while going there. Andrew met me when I was about to open the door. He was dressed in his costume.

“Chester? Aren’t you going to watch the play?” he asked.

“Uhm, I’ll make it up later. I have to carry three boxes of books to the stock room.” I said.

“Okay. Be sure you’ll be there.” he said, and smiled his trademark smile. It made me smile back and look at his eyes. I was happy that his simple response cheered me up.

“Okay.” I said. He walked away to the auditorium, and I opened the door to put the box in its right place.

After putting all the boxes to the stock room, I went to the auditorium to watch the play. Almost all the vacant seats have been occupied. I gently closed the door. The play at the center stage was going on, and as what I could see, all the students were so absorbed to it. I creased my eyebrows to have a clear view of who were playing the lead roles. There was a boy and a girl dressed in 16th- century costume. While I was getting a clear picture of them, I knew it was Andrew and Reese.

And in the next second, I realized who they were onstage.

Romeo and Juliet.

I’ve read this play before, and I wasn’t sure if the scenes on the stage were similar to what happened on the book. I walked along the still darkness of the auditorium, hopefully finding a seat that would hide me from all of them. The scenes got weaved into a thick plot, as I tripped on a hump, and the whole place was filled with silence. The sound of it was loud enough to stop the event.

Everyone started turning their heads to search for me. I planked myself on the floor, inside the black surroundings, to escape this damn situation.

When they were done searching for me, I stood up and fixed my gaze on the stage. Andrew and Reese portrayed the forbidden lovers very well. They brought out the best of emotions. I was kind of captivated by them and the next thing I saw brought people to squeals and swoons.

Andrew pursed his lips on Reese, softly and lovingly.

I was glued in my position. My mind tried to absorb the scene, protesting that it shouldn’t happen, when in fact it should. That was a part of the play… and their avenue of expressing their affection as lovers. I was beginning to lose my mind when the kiss was consuming both of them, escaping from the real world. My heart contorted and thwarted with pain. All the emotions inside me went crazy with every stroke of their lips. I should sweep these feelings out of my system.

It was nothing but forbidden.

I moved my feet and sat on a chair. The kiss ended with a blast. Everyone was taken away with the story, but not me. This odd feeling still lingered in me. I closed my eyes, breathed in and out, and told myself over and over again that this was insane.

But still, nothing happened.

“Hey, are you alright?”

That low voice was still audible for me to hear. It was Michael, and he was sitting five seats apart from me.

I forcefully nodded my head.

“Yeah. I’m fine. How about you?” I replied.

He smiled as he looked at me, despite the darkness around us. I think he was hit by something that he didn’t want me to know. Would it be that vulgar?

“You’re not okay. You love my brother right?”

I froze. How could he know that?

“No. I don’t love him.” I lied, looking straight into him, nursing the bravest look that I could handle.

“Don’t trick me, young kid. It’s too obvious. I’ve been watching you a while ago, since you came here.”

I guess this time I have to give this up. I was in love with Andrew, and Michael was the first one to know it.

“Okay. I’m in love with him. And I want this to go away. But the sad thing is, I don’t know how.”

Michael transferred to a seat beside me. He put a hand on my shoulder.

“That is a love you can’t resist, but if you really want it, you can let it go.”

A tear suddenly ran down on my cheek. It was so true to me, but how can I let it go?

I nodded in agreement as he stood up and made an exit out of the auditorium. I wiped my tears as the play ended minutes later. Everyone began standing up and going out of the place, while I idly sat on my seat and stared at nothing.

Sam stood in front of me.

“Hey.” I said, my voice was somewhat brittle.

“There’s a vacant seat beside me a while ago. Why are you here?”

“I’m late, and I was supposed to find you, but I couldn’t. Thanks by the way.” I reasoned out.

“That’s not a big deal. Let’s go.”

“Sure.” I said, but I let her out of the auditorium before standing up.