Morrie and Naven

Six

SIX

Morrie still tried her best to keep on smiling. She convinced herself that this is an acting exercise; this is preparation for all those red carpet moments. But she swears, if she hears another person say "Hey, she's the girl on the promotion video!" one more freaking time, she's going all ape shit on the planning committee. And that's not her only problem. She's been meaning to scratch her arms for a while now, but Stefania's beside her so she can't do that. Sure, the blue dress is pretty and it suits her and everything, but it's just damn itchy! And her entire back is exposed! Good gods, she hopes she doesn't get pneumonia after this.

"Smile, Morrie," Stefania whispered while still smiling herself. "I made you beautiful, but all those makeup will be nothing if you don't smile."

She wanted to make a face and yell, "That's what I have been doing this entire time!" to her friend. But instead she said, "Thank you, Stefania, for making me look like a decent human being. Now, where are Amelia and Nancy?"

Stefania pulled Morrie among the throng of visitors. "I think they're in the dressing rooms. You are aware that they have solos somewhere in the middle, right? We better go and find our seats, bella."

Morrie let her be pulled by a ballerina who was suddenly speaking in rapid Italian, basically pushing everyone away. "Look at all these people. It is amazing, no? I also think you did an amazing job with the acting, bella—oh! I see the door!"Morrie tried to keep up with her friend's long glides... until Stefania decided to stop walking that is. Looking up, she saw Stefania breathe heavily before forcing a smile. Being the curious person that she is, Morrie took a peek.

Ah. Now she understands. Right there, also in front of the auditorium doors are a group of boys. Now, if the said boys were just normal everyday boys, it would have been fine. She and Stefania would have just smiled and let those boys open the doors for them, but no! These were St. George boys! And they were here! Morrie decided to just hide her discomfort and plastered a smile.

"Good evening, ladies," the one leading the pack said, moving forward to hold the doors for them before winking at Stefania.

Stefania was still smiling like some creep who wanted to murder the guy, so Morrie decided to just be the diplomatic one. "Good evening, gentlemen. I hope you enjoy the performance." She smiled at them, nodded, and pushed the ballerina lightly forward. Once past the boys, she inwardly sighed. Great, just what she wanted. Not. She found their seats and tried to calm her friend who was slowly turning into a tomato.

Speechless, the students of St. George looked at one another. Damn, they didn't know Knightsbury actually had so much to offer other than their arts. "Keep them in your pants, will you?" one said in a commanding manner.

The boys straightened up and made way for the owner of the voice. His blue eyes scanning the place before finding the person he was looking for. He stepped forward, his "brothers" following him; but instead of turning to go to their designated seats, he continued to walk, his eyes set on one person.

Morrie recognized the St. George boy that caught him that night when she and her friends decided to go on a rendezvous to trash some of the St. George boys' stuff. She expected him to stop in front of her, and give her a few words. She didn't expect for him, however, to walk past her, and speak the words—"Excuse me."—accompanied by the briefest touch on the small of her back, before side-stepping and continuing to move forward.

She watched as he stopped in front of her new department secretary, Jasper Howell. Jasper's eyes widened in surprise before beaming at the guy in front of him, "Naven!"

Morrie cocked her head to the side. Naven? Is that his name?

Jasper saw Morrie looking at them, so he decided to pull the guy with him and introduce the two.

"Hi, Morrie!" he greeted. She smiled and nervously glanced towards her friend for help. Stefania raised an eyebrow, amused. "So, yeah, I forgot to tell you something. I want you to meet my older brother, Naven. Naven, this is the head of the Theatre Department, Morgen Salvacion."

Being the actress that she is, Morrie widened her eyes in an act of pretend surprise and gasped. "Hello, I'm Morrie. Jasper didn't tell me he has a brother from St. George."

Naven Howell smirked. He remembered seeing this girl twice. The first time, she sneaked in the St. George dormitories; the second was in that promotion video. He could say she was one heck of an actress. "It's nice to see you again, Morrie."

Morrie heared the subtle shushing of the crowd. As if everyone was curious as to how this St. George boy knew this Knightsbury artist. She tried hard not to let her right eye twitch. "I'm sorry?"

Naven cocked a brow. "I believe we have met somewhere in Switzerland before. Our father did business with your father."

How this Naven guy knew Morrie's dad was a businessman, she did not know. So she just feigned remembering instead. "Ah. I'm sorry if I can't remember you. It has been so long."

"It was only last December, though," Naven said, as if genuinely confused.

"Ha ha ha... yeah, I had so much on my plate last semester. You know, with plays and everything. Ha ha..."

She tried her best not to scream, really, she did. But if this guy opens his mouth one more time—

"What's wrong, Ms. Salvacion? You look flushed." He raised a hand to touch her pink cheeks, only to find that they were warm. Huh, she's mad already? But he hasn't even had much fun yet!

Inside Morrie's head, she was already screaming. She wanted to go on a rampage! Deep breaths, she reminded herself. Calm down. Play along if you must.

So play along she did. She stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, having to stand on her tiptoes just to reach his ear, giving a show to the crowd that she's just whispering something to him. She also expected the hand that touched her bare back. It looked too intimate that some had to look away.

"I appreciate you helping me back there, Mr. Howell," she whispered, her lips grazing his earlobe. "But if you want to play with me, do so in the morning. Don't embarrass me now, please."

Leaning back, she saw how his pupils dilated. Huh. Boys. She smiled sweetly before linking her arm through Stefania's. "Good evening, gentlemen," she addressed the other St. George boys. "I hope you enjoy listening to what the Music department has prepared."

As the two ladies walked away, Jasper looked from his brother to the representative of his department. He tapped Naven's shoulder before quietly asking, "We went to Switzerland last December?"