Behind Her Tears

Chapter One

It's raining really hard. The sky was cloudy and dim. Wow! How I wish everyday's like thisㅡsad and the sky is crying as well.

Damn! Crying again? My heart aches so  much as hell! But they don't know why. And they'll never know why.

And why would they care, anyway.

"We're done. I'm breaking up with you." Cristopher said as he turned his back on me.

It feels like yesterday is going back. I'm having a notalgic day. Again. I grabbed his wrist and said, "No, please don't leave me."

I started to cry. I saw our stage manager smiled in my peripheral vision. Great, he must be very proud of me now.

"No, I am sorry." He replied. We seem to both feel our character. I hate it. I hate my role. I hate everything.

Thia wasn't me, I know. And I'm having a difficulty finding where I really am.

"Cut!" Our director exclaimed. "Good job guys. I like your acting today. Just improve your voice Cristof. It must be convincing, okay? Good job. See you tomorrow." He dismissed.

Finally, our rehearsal has done. I bid my goodbye to my co-actors and gone ahead.

I feel so tired. I wanted to quit acting but they don't want me to. They say they needed me here. Disapppointing people is not really an easy feeling to bear. And that's the last thing I'd do, atleast, to people, whom I think care for me in a way.

"Wait up, Athena!" Our stage manager, Paul, ran towards me. "Want a ride?" He asks.

"No." I answered wryly.

Why does he always been kind to me? I don't need that!

Fine. I'll have to admit that they were really treating me so special than to any of our colleagues here, that as if I'm an easily-broken glass.

However, I don't feel deserving to any of those treatments. I have been so aloof and cold towards them.

Not before he left you. A small voice from my head remarks.

"You're so quiet in person. But you act really good on stage. You even wowed that veterant Indie film director!" Paul compliments. "In fact, you're absolutely better than the famous actresses nowadays. Well, just sayin'" He adds.

I did not comment. I just hate talking around guys, well yeah. No one can blame me. And he must know that. But he can't just leave me alone for heaven's sake!

"Your fiancée might be looking for you at this moment." I said in a cold manner.

"Oh please, let me give you a ride. I can't just leave you here." He insisted.

"Paul, you have a fiancée's waiting for you." I repeat.

"She'll understand." I stop walking.

He must be nuts! Why would a wife-to-be of someone understand this scenario? That woman would be furious, I know. She might get jealous.

How did you possibly know? A small voice on my head mocked.

I sigh. I just know.

Or because you've also gone there. It answered truthfully.

I shake my head and cast that thought away. I am so exhausted, physically and mentally. Emotionally also.

I just want him out of my sight. Is that difficult?

Soon enough, he sighs in defeat and finally, I'm alone.

WHEN I got home, my phone suddenly rings. I pick it up and lazily answer, "Hello?"

"Athena, this is me. Stephen." My face lit up with mixed surprise.

"Oh, Stephen. How are you?" I asked, trying to make my voice cheerful as possible.

"You don't have to pretend, Athena. It's okay. I know you're tired." I smile. He really knows me. "I just wanna invite you for a dinner tomorrow? Are you free?" He asks.

"So, you're back." I said in a flat tone.

"Yup. Just 10 minutes ago." He said a matter of factly. I chuckle.

"You really called me soon as you arrived!" I said in amusement.

"Of course!" He exclaimed. "I've missed working with you." He adds.

Stephen Miller, brother of Pauland good friend of mine, has been very jolly around me though I always ignore him.

I met him month after my nightmareㅡthat night!

He once said, he liked my company. And for someone so broken like me, I had been very rude to him. But Stephen is Stephen.

And when I say Stephen, it's annoyingly persitent!

He's been my co-actor for two years but he decided to migrate to follow his parents.

And now that he's back, I sure will have to deal with a jock! Well anyhow, not totallya bad news to me. Actually, I've also missed being around him. Like duh, who wouldn't want to be treated everyday a lunch?

Atleast, I'll have even one who'd I can talk toㅡwell just in case.

"Anyway, Athena, Dina wants to see you, too. Is it okay if I go with her?" He asks.

Speaking of which, Dina, his sister that's persistent and energetic like him. That silly girl loves being around me, too, for some silly reason.

Imagine that she only likes my company because her brother likes my company, too. Silly, right?

"Of course." Was my answer. As if I have choice.

"Good. Have a good night. Bye, Athena." After that, I ended the call.

I just don't feel like answering back. After all, he's used to that. He perfectly knows for a fact that I won't change.

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