Melpomene

[2] Yet We Sleep, We Dream (Part 1)

ROSE DE GUZMAN
[2]

San Rafael High School, 5 years ago

"Excuse me, excuse me. Sorry," sabi ko habang pinagpipilitan ang sarili kong makatawid sa dagat ng mga tao. Pinost na kasi ang listahan ng mga tanggap para sa 'Romeo & Juliet' kaya naman napaka-raming tao ang nagkukumpulan sa harapan ng announcement board.

Sa wakas, napa-punta na ako sa harapan. I looked at the bond paper in front of me, trying to find my name. Once I had already found it, hindi ako maka-paniwala. Tanggap ako bilang Juliet! Kahit na sabihin na understudy lang ako, I'm still happy that my talent in acting has been spotted!

Hindi lang naman si Juliet ang may understudy, pati na rin si Romeo. "Hello! Anong pangalan mo? I'm Rose," bati ko sa kapwa understudy ko. He's a year older than me and I can say na he's an introvert.

"Uhhh... Oscar," he answered. Parehas kaming naka-upo sa gilid ng stage pagkatapos sabihin sa amin ng director namin na 'find your happy place and practice.'

Kumuha ako ng hair clip sa purse ko. "May I?" I asked for his permission. Nagulat siya pero um-oo na lang. I clipped his bangs kasi natatakpan na nito 'yung mga mata niya.

"There! Eh 'di mas gwapo ka tignan," I said. "I may not be a stylist pero you have beautiful eyes! Hindi mo dapat sila tinatago."

"Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres 'til they return," Oscar recited.

"Is that an invitation for us to practice our lines?" I said, smiling.

"Nope. Gusto ko lang sabihin na ikaw rin mayroong expressive eyes," sagot niya. "You're like how Romeo describe Juliet in these pages."

"Siguro tama ka. Kung isang understudy si Juliet," I joked. Tinignan ko 'yung main cast for Romeo and Juliet sa may mga upuan, kung saan sila nag-babatuhan sila ng mga linya.

"Hindi ka ba masaya na understudy ka lang?" Oscar asked, moving inches closer to me.

"Uhmm... Masaya naman kasi I get to perform at the dates na hindi magpeperform 'yung main cast," I answered. "Ang takot ko lang kasi na baka i-kumpara ako sa iba. Ayaw ko ng ganoon kasi if that's the case, I'll be forced to follow what she practiced instead of me practicing what I think will justify the given role."

Ngumiti si Oscar sa akin, "Can I say something?"

"Ano naman 'yon?" I asked, looking him in the eye. Habang lumalapit ang mukha niya sa akin, I noticed that he really does have beautiful eyes and handsome features.