ACT II
I slowly opened my eyes, my sight blurry. I tried to distinguish where I was, but to no avail. I felt something in my hand. It was cold. I looked upon it, trying to clear my vision and there I saw a metal cup in my hand, with a bit of liquid in it. It seemed someone just drank from it. What was it doing in my hand? I thought to myself. I then felt something wet drop on my face. I looked up and saw a crying girl holding me as lay in her arms. What the heck is happening here? Adjusting my sight again, I suddenly recognized who that girl was. Ebony hair... Pale skin... and those familiar but intimidating lavender eyes. Imai... I frowned as this thought entered my mind.
But, wait a second. She was in a dress – an English dress to be exact. And I saw myself in clothes I most likely will not be wearing unless I am in some Shakespearean play. Wait a minute. Shakespearean play... I trembled when I thought about it. I looked at my surroundings. High stone walls... Coffins... Maroon curtains... There was no mistake about it. I was in a Romeo and Juliet scene. The scene where Juliet discovers that Romeo has committed suicide thinking she had died.
I tried to get up knowing what was most likely going to happen next. However, I felt my muscles had atrophied and I wasn't able to move. I wanted to shout, panicking, wanting to get out of this place. I felt a hand cup on my face and tears dropped one by one on me. I saw Imai mumble a few words which I was unable to comprehend. Oh no. I finally gave up. Why is this happening to me? The scene which I have always dreaded to happen – except for the case with Sakura – is happening right now in front of me... And it is going to happen with my worst nightmare – both in sleep and in wake – acting as Juliet will give me that final... gulp... kiss.
I saw her nearing her face towards mine. She pursed her disgusting lips as they approached mine. I wanted to shout, but was unable to. This is the end of Ruka Nogi. I told myself. I closed my eyes in clear defeat. When I felt her lips touch mine... I shouted to the top of my voice... Reaching the highest note impossible to be reached by a mere human being.
-0-
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
I then felt a burning sensation overcome my left cheek. I was relieved when I heard a familiar voice.
"Ruka! Snap out of it!" The voice commanded me... His voice shaking...
Disoriented, I looked at my surroundings. My bed. My television. My unfinished glass of milk. My collection of classical masterpieces... My wall clock telling me it's 3 o' clock in the morning... I realized I was back in my room.
"Ruka, are you all right," the familiar voice asked me, with an obvious concern in his voice.
I looked at the person in front of me, and there was Natsume, holding his right hand up and was looking surprised. I panted for a while, relieved that I escaped from that dreadful nightmare I just had. I took a deep breath once more and calmed my nerves down. My heart stopped beating in an intense speed and slowed down, following the pace of my breathing. Then, a pain running like electricity raced through my left cheek. It felt like it had a pulse of its own – only faster than that of my heart's. I groaned in pain and touched it lightly with my hand.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you. You were screaming like crazy and I thought that the only way to stop you was to hit you," he started to explain himself without even me questioning why.
"It seemed you had quite a nightmare in there," he continued.
"Uh... yeah," I replied, lightly massaging my face. "Thanks, Natsume."
"It's nothing."
Then awkward silence. Both of us didn't know what to talk about. And both us knew why. Everything changed ever since I gave up on Sakura. Even my friendship with Natsume – which I never dreamed of ending – changed. Unlike before, I feel inferior in his presence. I feel so powerless.. So minuscule. I feel like I'm such a big loser. We were best buds before, but now... It does not feel like it. It seemed we just had a competition and I lost. That's how I feel. And I know he feels the same way and is feeling guilty about it. He wants to get back the friendship we had not so long ago, but he does not know how because he knows I am totally broken into pieces and no one knows how I could be fixed.
"Ruka-pyon, are you all right?" My heart skipped a beat when that familiar greeting echoed in my ears. I looked at the door and I saw... her. Sakura: the girl who I have always loved. She ran towards me and gave me an embrace. I felt my blood rushing towards my head and the throbbing feeling on my left cheek aggravated. I felt those dainty arms holding me closer towards her body. Her scent. Her warmth. I wish I could live like this forever. I looked at Natsume, and I saw him smile a little... and I know he felt pity for me. He knows I wanted Sakura more than everything, so he gave me a chance to feel her near to me... even for just a moment.
I felt her move away from me and brought her brown eyes towards my aquamarine ones. I wanted to hold her again and love her like there is no tomorrow. But, I mustn't
"I heard you scream," Sakura said while combing my golden bed hair. "Did something happen?"
I stared at her for I don't know how long. I followed the movement of her lips as she asked me of my condition. I felt myself turn deaf as my heart pumped more blood to my head. If I was going to die today, I'll be happy. As long as I have Sakura with me in my very last hour.
"Ruka had a nightmare," Natsume told her and I came back to my senses. Yeah, I am still having a nightmare right now. My one and only dream to be with Sakura... shattered. My dream of having a long lasting friendship... also shattered. Leaving me to Imai is my everlasting nightmare. I told myself.
"Did your nightmare scare you, Ruka-pyon?" She tenderly asked me as she caressed my throbbing cheek. I closed my eyes, held her hand and slowly, it began to soothe the pain: both on my cheek and my heart. I felt her jerk when I did that; hesitantly, I released her and smiled.
"I'm okay now, Sakura," I felt my lips shaking as I continued to force a smile. "As long as Natsume and you are here, I'm fine."
Liar. Liar. Liar. I called myself. Also, unable to believe my words, Natsume asked, "If you want to, we could stay the rest of the night in your room."
"No, I'm fine," I said as I continued smiling. "You have done enough. Thank you, though."
He wanted to say something, but he finally gave up. He ruffled my hair a bit and smile at me with obvious pity. He took Sakura's hand and left the room with her. When the door finally shut, a tear flowed from my eye. It hurt as it trickled down my burning cheek.
Sakura... I love you... I said as I brought myself back to sleep.
-0-
A week has passed and I found myself rushing towards the High School Building holding the script in my hand. It was already 4:30 in the afternoon and I was late. I found myself through the endless hallways and finally reached the classroom. I opened the door and there I saw them: Naru and Imai.
"Ruka-kun, where have you been? Hotaru-chan and I have been waiting for you for thirty minutes," Naru in a disappointed tone asked me.
"Sorry," I said panting. "It took me a long time to find Giant Piyo. My ability class members were not able to feed Piyo his lunch. It was difficult finding him because he colored himself green and pretended that he was a hill."
"I see. Well, then. I'll just have to add an extra thirty minutes to compensate with the time we had lost waiting for you," he answered.
"I understand." I took a chair and sat in between the two.
I took the script in my hand and tried to review the lines which I have not perfected yet. I started to mumble some words when I heard Imai also mumbling her lines. I stopped looking at my script and unconsciously stared at her. I can't believe she's really serious about this play. Is her love for money really that great that she could do anything just for the sake of it?
"Okay, let's start with the rehearsal," Naru said while clapping his hands to get our attention. "We all know that the balcony scene is one of the main scenes in the story. And we need to perfect this scene because this is the part where Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other. The whole play will be a mess if this part isn't as captivating as it should be."
The balcony scene, huh? This is where Juliet talks to herself and Romeo overhears her. This could be interesting. I couldn't imagine Imai doing the part perfectly... Much less satisfactorily.
"All right, then. Hotaru-chan, you start with your lines."
Imai lifted her script up that it was on the level of her eyes. She cleared her throat for a moment and began.
"O Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo de-." Then, Naru stopped her.
"Hotaru-chan, please. Remember this is a romance story. You should act as if you are truly in love with Romeo. Here in this scene, Juliet says that she is already in love with Romeo even if he belonged to a rival family. And she will do anything just to get his love," He said with a tint of passion in his eyes. He also is really serious about this play, huh?
"All right... Hmmm... What to do? What to do?" Naru said while drumming his finger on his face. "I know. Why don't you guys say some of your lines in the balcony scene and I'll critic about your performance so you'll know where to improve. Is that okay?"
"I guess..." I answered.
"Whatever," Imai also answered.
"Okay, let's start from the beginning. Hotaru-chan, start."
She took a deep breath and began reading her lines.
"O Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo. Deny thy father and refuse thy name. For thou wilt not, I'd be sworn, my love. And I shall never be called a Capulet," she said in her usual monotonous tone. As what I have expected. Now, it's my turn.
"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak of this?" Darn it. I sucked. My lines were so empty. Sigh. It will feel much different if I was doing this with Sakura.
"Okay, guys. I have heard enough," Naru said as Imai was going to say her next line. "I see you young people aren't into the play yet. Especially you, Hotaru-chan."
See, I knew it. This will not be easy as he thought it would be. Of course, our pairing will never work out. We hate each other. We never liked each other's presence. I then saw her fumbling across the pages of her script. Maybe, she's thinking of giving up and make an invention out of the script.
"What you two lack is chemistry," our so-called director said.
"Yeah, we are oil and water," I answered.
"Oh, I see you are good at something aside from your drama-queen title," the unladylike-like person said as she continued to play with pages of her script... and irritate me.
"Look who's talking. Who was the one who said she had a 'certain someone' that she cared for and was unable to tell him about her feelings?" I tried to compose myself while saying that. I felt that I was going to lose it anytime.
"I didn't say that," she answered with an obvious feeling of panic engulfing her.
"All right, both of you. You are here with one purpose and one purpose only: to practice for your roles as the lead characters. You are not here to fight, okay?" Naru told us while preparing to use his pheromones on us. Of course, both of us didn't want that, so we stayed silent in our seats.
"That's better. Now, you both have memorized your lines, right?" He asked us.
"Yes," we chorused. That was the first time it happened that both of our thoughts were in sync. But, what did it matter anyway? It was just a coincidence that both of us memorized our lines.
"Very good," he said in tremendous joy. "Now, I want you two to say your lines with each other and look into each other's eyes."
"As if we could do that!" We chorused again, which was a weird thing because we did it the second time.
"Now, now. You don't want me to use my alice on you, right?" He smirked as a pink smoky substance was rising from his body. "Be good little children and do what I say."
"Y-yes, Sensei," we said altogether.
I faced Imai, but still not looking into her eyes. I don't know why. Was I shy? Was I terrified of her? I really don't know. However, I tried. I slowly brought my eyes towards her and there she was looking at me, too. And she was... blushing. Her face was flooded with blood. Imai? Blushing? Pfft. As if. But, it was true right before my very eyes!
I felt my heart pumping liters and liters of blood within a second. My body became numb. I was shaking. I felt my ears deafening. My vision, blurring. What is happening to us? More importantly, me? Just a mere look at each other's eyes sent us away feeling like we want to escape from this awkward classroom.
"Hotaru-chan, start," Naru told Imai.
I saw her close her eyes and breathe deeply. She opened her lavender eyes and looked straight at my aquamarine ones. But now, instead of that blank stare she has always had for me, her eyes... looked softer. It did not look as cold as it was before. She swallowed for a moment then said her lines.
"O Romeo, Romeo... Wherefore art thou, Romeo... Deny thy father... and refuse thy name. For if thou wilt not. I'd be sworn my love and I shall never be called a Capulet." She said her words in such a slow manner... With emotion... With passion. I was astonished by how she spoke every syllable of it. It had content. It had feelings. Imai... Not bad.
I brought my eyes deeper into hers. Hoping that I'll do a better performance than her. But, instead of stabbing my eyes on hers, it felt that I am the one who is being pulled closer. I felt weak. I felt helpless. I felt captured. I then remembered that I was going to say my line.
"Shall I hear more..." Oh no. I cannot hear myself speak anymore. What sorcery does this Imai have that I cannot escape her stare? I felt my mouth moving, but I did not hear the sound of my voice. Why am I like this?
Everything around me then grew distant, and the only one left with me is Imai. She was the only one present in my sight. I cannot remove my eyes from her. Come to think of it, I've never looked at her this way before. Her black hair was glistening under the mere light above us. Her lavender eyes were darker than I thought I have seen. Her nose was triangular shaped and looked appropriate for her face. Her lips opens just a little when she's speaking. It was pinkish and thin. And I never knew she had a dimple on the side of her mouth. Her neck was long and somewhat bony. Actually, she looks...
What are you thinking, Ruka? Are you going insane? How can you be fascinated by a girl like her? She has always brought you into your humiliation! This is no time for you to admire a hag like her!
"Whoa, you guys. You have gone way past the balcony scene," Naru interrupted us. I caught myself still staring at Imai, and her, at me. I avoided her eyes and started to feel embarrassed at myself. I felt my heart beat faster than usual that the pulse was already audible in my hears. And I never even knew that I got through the balcony scene. Everything around me just now was incomprehensible! What the heck did just happen to me?
-0-
"Job well done, guys," Naru complimented us. "As what I have expected with the lead roles. You have done most of the scenes already and I guess our practice with the other characters will be scheduled earlier."
Relieved that our rehearsal time is over, I stretched and made a big yawn. I rose from my seat a few seconds before Imai did and walked to the door.
"Oh, before I forget. You guys haven't practiced for the kissing scene yet," Naru told us before I was able to turn the door knob.
I felt immovable after hearing the words... kissing scene. I totally forgot that we had to do a kissing scene. Me? Kissing? No way. Well, actually. I have actually snuck a kiss or two from Sakura when she and Natsume weren't still... gulp... going out. So, I know how it should be like. But, a kiss from Imai? Darn, it's like my dream last week has come true! I'd rather kiss a horse! Seriously.
I looked back and saw Imai shaking terribly. I bet she was shocked when she heard about the kissing scene. I bet she never expected this would happen. Well, that's theater. Everything is unexpected in theater.
"Naru, will we just skip the kissing part? It is not that an important part of the story," I told him.
"No, we can't do that, Ruka-kun," he told me as he winked at me. "The kissing scene is an important part of the play. A romance story is never complete without a kissing scene. So, I expect the both of you to know how to kiss in one week. You should be performing it in front of your co-actors."
"If that is the case, then I withdraw from the play," Imai said in a relaxed tone, but obviously, she was scared. "I don't remember stating anything that I agree to kiss in the play."
"Oh, but you did," Naru said as he took a piece of paper filled with small texts and a couple of signatures. "It is said in Agreement No. 2 that the performer, Hotaru Imai, is to follow what the director asks her to do when she receives her payment. If she violates any of the rules of the contract, she is to pay triple of what she is earning from the production. I remember giving you your payment yesterday, right?"
"Damn contracts," she mumbled in between her teeth.
"Anyway, I expect you to practice on your kissing scene by next week," he said in his most villainous voice. "You are going to perform it along with the rehearsals with your co-actors."
He then went towards the door and turned the knob. "That is all for today, kids. I thank you for your cooperation. Adieu!"
He then left with me and Imai remaining in the classroom. After Naru's footsteps have faded, I too turned the door knob and found myself in the verge of freedom. Then, she called my name...
"Ruka-kun."
"Yeah? What is it?" Annoyed, I looked at her. She wasn't looking at me. She kept on looking on her script and was sweating very heavily.
"I need your help," she finally got some courage to say it after she breathed deeply. Imai? Needing my help? Will this day get any weirder?
"You... need my help for what?"
"It's because," she hid her face behind the sheets of paper. And I can tell she is going to say something she doesn't want to. I also feel awkward at the same time. "I have never kissed before."
I think I know where this is going. But, I can't find the courage to get away. Come on, legs! Run! Move! Before she tells you she wants to...
"I want to know how it feels like," Bingo.
"W-why are you a-asking me that all of a s-sudden?" Stuttering, I asked her. I started to feel so embarrassed that I wanted to explode that very moment.
"Because I know you already have experienced it. And I cannot deny the fact that I have to do this for the play. You are my partner, right? You need to help me. My money is at stake."
I knew it. It's all for the money.
"Then, what good will that give me?" I said knowing that I will gain nothing from this. You know, kisses aren't that easy to get. How dare she ask for one when I am only reserving these for someone else. You know who I mean.
"If you really don't want to do this," she said while taking something out of her pocket. "I have no choice but to sell this one of a kind masterpiece of mine called..."
She brought out some kind of picture from her pocket. She placed it just inches from my face and I saw what it really was. It was a picture of me having a nightmare! I was in my pajamas and I didn't even look right. It looked like I had constipation while in bed.
"The Most Handsome Animal Boy-kun in a Nightmare," she smiled while she evilly said these words. "The copies of this picture will surely be sold out in a matter of minutes. I developed already a thousand of these, you know. That is, in case if you don't agree to my proposition."
This is why I hate Hotaru Imai. She always has something up her sleeve when I don't do what she wants me to do. Darn it. Which will I choose? My dignity... or the 'purity' of my lips? I don't know where to choose from. But, I know I only have one choice. And I have to make one fast.
Hello, everyone! The next chapter has arrived! You know, after uploading the first chapter of this story, I was so excited to make the next one and wrote it until midnight. I just proofread it just this afternoon.
Before I'm going to end this message, I would like to thank the following who have written their awesome reviews on the first chapter of the story: itsfaye, Hopeless Renai Rider, and Loveless Goddess. Thank you for the awesome reviews! I really appreciated them!
I hope you guys continue to support me and my stories. What a nice way to start refreshing my writing skills one more. Please read and review my story! And don't worry. The next chapter will be out soon.
For now, Adieu!