A Broken Act

Act VIII

The four of us remained silent as we sat in front of her while her eyes scrutinized us. We were waiting for her to speak-which she didn't do for a few minutes-until she nodded to herself and pointed to Mikasa. She looked more stern right now, more professional than earlier, and I got a feeling that we should take this part seriously.

"I think I want you, Mikasa, to be the first one to do this activity and act with him," she pointed to Jean who's sitting beside her, "Jean. Let's see what you two got, hmm?"

The two stood up and moved closer to Frieda. Mikasa and Jean exchanged looks, their eyes meeting as if conversing through it, before Mikasa reached out to take a piece of paper from the pouch. Without looking at it, she handed it to Frieda, whose eyes suddenly lit up in something akin to excitement.

"Oh goodie, I like this." Her usual cheeriness slipped through her stern facade. Clearing her throat, Frieda's sudden gaiety were gone went back to being serious. "The scene that you got is revolving between two persons who are lovers. Person A is feeling insecure and questions Person B about what they really are and what Person A really means to Person B. What Person A is feeling insecure about depends on you, as well as how things will work out in the end."

Mikasa and Jean nodded at her. "Alright, I'll give you a few minutes to talk."

Mikasa pulled Jean over to a corner and they started talking. The three of us kept our eyes on them as they conversed silently, nodding to each other if someone approves of something. Their talk didn't last long, only taking up a minute or two, before they went back closer to us.

Frieda looked at them, Mikasa and Jean's gaze never wavering. "You two are ready?"

"Yes." It was Jean who answered, which wasn't surprising at all. Mikasa isn't much of a talker.

"Then take the stage."

Eren and I moved back to give them enough space. Jean and Mikasa were standing in front of us, Frieda watching the two of them intently.

"Start."

Mikasa has her back facing Jean, not a hint of emotion evident on her face. Her body, however, looked stiff as she kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Jean, unlike Mikasa, looked troubled--his brows furrowed while his lips were kept shut in a straight, grim line. He looked conflicted, his eyes showing his uncertainty.

He took a step closer to Mikasa. His voice quivered when he called her name. "...Mikasa."

"Jean, please. Leave me alone." Her voice was as emotionless as the expression on her face. It sounded hard, cold and detached. She never lifted her gaze from the ground. "Leave me alone."

"No, Mikasa. Listen to me." Jean approached her, his movements quick as though she would be gone if he wasn't fast enough. His hands moved to grab her arms, tugging it to make Mikasa look at him. "I need you to listen to me."

"Why Jean?" It was like a switch was flipped. Mikasa, who was acting cold earlier and distancing herself from the other, suddenly looked open and vulnerable. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. Her face was screaming hurt, and I can feel emotions rolling off her. It was like I could see the way her heart was torn apart with claws that were too sharp, inescapable with its tight grip.

"Why?" The word came out sounding strained. "Why does it feel like that whenever she's around, I become unimportant to you? Why does it feel like I am nothing but a rebound to you?"

A shocked look crossed over Jean's face before it turned into one of anger. "What are you talking about?"

Mikasa shrugged away fromJean's grip, turning around to face him. Her face was contorted into a mask of anger, hurt and defeat as she looked at him straight in the eye.