Intertwined

Chapter Twelve

When morning came, I was more stoked than ever. I was still having a hangover of what happened last night and I tried my best to contain my feelings and not go crazy about it. I went to school and everyone was busy. The classes of the actors and writers were suspended for us to prepare. The play would start at four in the afternoon. When it was almost time for the play, I met up with Charles and we went to the auditorium together. Xazelle and Jay were waiting for me near the auditorium doors. Jay waved and smiled at me and I returned it back. Suddenly, Charles put his arm around my shoulders. When we all got inside the auditorium, we settled on the fifth row. Julia finally showed up from the backstage and sat beside me.

"Hey Vie! How are you?" she greeted, planting kisses on my cheeks.

"Stoked! I have been over-using that word only because I'm...stoked!" We both laughed and she squeezed my hand.

I said to her, "Already wished your babe good luck?"

"I did more than just a wish good luck," she replied, winking at me. We giggled again.

I sat in between Julia and Charles so I couldn't chat with my co-writers during the performance. I really hoped the judges liked our story. Our group was first to present. I tightened my grip on Julia and Charles' hands. The curtains then opened.

Amanda stood in the center reciting her monologue. The story was about Martha, the daughter of a rich psychotic merchant who spent more time with other women than his own family. Martha's mother died when she was still a toddler leaving her under the wings of her compassionate housekeeper turned nanny turned mother figure. Martha was a rape victim who was assaulted by her own father. She was completely traumatized and couldn't bring herself to confide with anyone including her nanny. She was also afraid that if she told anyone, the guards would take her father away and she couldn't afford losing both parents even after all the bad things her dad had done to her. We definitely made her the dumb overly loyal daughter. Anyway, she met Oliver, played by Daniel, because he worked in their manor. They immediately connected with each other. Amanda and Daniel then said their lines.

"You brought me redemption. May God give me the courage to take it," said Martha.

As much as I hated Amanda, I'd like to applaud her for giving me goose bumps. Daniel then wiped away the tears on Amanda's cheeks, grabbed her face and kissed her lips. I was hoping for a demure kiss and they gave me it. I looked over at Julia who was certainly not looking at the stage.

"Hey, you okay?" I called her attention.

"I hate kissing scenes," she responded.

The story then continued. Martha's father still continued to rape her and the walls of the manor couldn't hide the screams of Martha. I was worried how they would do the rape scene because they basically couldn't have sex in front of the public's eye. So what we did was put a wide white cloth and Amanda and the guy playing Martha's father would go behind the cloth and just create sounds as if there really was a rape going on. Martha tried to escape from her father but he got out a knife and attempted to stab her.

"I couldn't let you live in shame," said the father.

I also wanted to applaud the guy playing Martha's father for playing the psycho that we wanted him to be. Anyway, back to the story. Oliver then opened the doors and quickly hit Martha's father in the head. Oliver and Martha then ran away and secluded themselves, living in the outskirts of the city. A month later, Martha found out that she was pregnant and the baby that she was carrying was of her father's. Martha started going nuts, scared of whatever might happen to her and traumatized from everything that had happened. Months passed by and Martha's belly got bigger. One afternoon, Oliver went to the market leaving Martha alone. In their house, Martha heard a knock on the door. When Martha opened it, she saw her father. At first they greeted each other and talked decently. Of course Martha was still frightened.