The room was silent after Boruto was rushed to the clinic. Everyone's worried about his leg. Our adviser panics when she realized that the Prince is in a bad shape and nobody's going to take his place if he fails to show up this afternoon. We still need to hear a thing from the clinic before the time comes.
"I need to go and check on Boruto's situation I'll be back right away," she says and grabs her bag from the chair and left for the clinic. We are watching her back until it fades.
"I wonder if Boruto's going to make it on time," Tsubaki feebles. Everyone has a sad and worried face.
"Sarada..." Cho-Cho calls and I keep silent. I don't know what to say anyway. My chest turns heavy and my feet seem so tired that I can't move them to make at least a single step.
"Whether Boruto's going to make it or not, the show must go on," Tsubaki says and everyone agrees.
Well, it should but who will replace him if he won't make it? That's a big question mark in my head. I think my brain will burst from overthinking. I don't know what to do now.
"You know what, Cho-Cho? I am almost there for being a part of the drama club yet this happens. How unfortunate I could be?" I tell her sulking. She rubs my back with her palm to comfort me. I still feel so heavy.
Everyone gets back to their work as nothing has happened. They are still positive that Boruto will show up in no time with a smiling face, assuring us that everything will be okay.
"Sarada, don't stress yourself out. We don't like having an exhausted Snow White or else you will switch places with Yodo," Wasabi teases me and I laugh at her statement. Namida then grabs my hands and smiles at me.
"Don't worry. Everything will fall into place. Let's wait for our adviser to come back and proceed to what we must do," Namida's sweet voice is reassuring. It makes my heart relax and calm. I think I look very affected that they all noticed and give words of encouragement.
I smile at her and I think I have recharged a bit. I turn on my left and Cho-Cho was there smiling at me. I am grateful that I got such wonderful friends. I don't know what to do without them especially my best friend, Cho-Cho.
Wasabi and Namida say their goodbyes as they still have some important things to do and told me not to overthink before they leave. Cho-Cho has never left my side and keeps telling me stories to keep me occupied. She gives me jokes so I could laugh and forget about the bad things not until our adviser returns and gives us an update about Boruto's condition.
"Sorry, but Boruto would not make it for the play this afternoon. The doctor advised him to be confined at the hospital for further tests. He doesn't look so good. His ankle is swollen and he barely moves his leg. I really feel sorry for him. Let's pray for his fast recovery," she tells.
Everyone has been saddened by the news. Our shoulders drop. Indistinct chatter takes over the room and it makes me feel awful. What should we do now?
"We need to choose a replacement for Boruto real quick. We are running out of time. The play starts at 1 o'clock and it's twenty-nine past eleven and we are not done yet with the preparations," she utters while keeping her composure steady. I know our adviser is in panic from the unexpected accident. She is our adviser and she is responsible for everything and for what happened to Boruto.
"Everybody listen up. The show must go on no matter what. I promised Boruto that this play must succeed even without him. He knew that everyone worked hard for it and he doesn't want all your efforts to be in vain. To whoever be chosen to be his replacement, he wants him to do his best for this play that's his only injunction," she adds.
Everyone is encouraged after hearing everything from our adviser. I think everyone owes Boruto for this one. This is one of the very important parts of our lesson in the literature that we must pass.
"But who is going to play the role of the Prince?" Wasabi asks.
"Now, that is the problem. We lack back-ups. Mitsuki has been called for a contest earlier and there is no more qualified person to take the role," our adviser hopelessly says and it feels very sad.
"The role of the Prince is very simple and his lines are brief and not that hard to memorize. His appearance is quick at the beginning and his next and last appearance would be at the end of the play," Tsubaki comments.
"So do you have any recommendations as to whom is going to play the role of the Prince?" Namida asks her.
"Actually, I have someone in mind," Tsubaki rubs her nose and turns her head a little as if she is insinuating something.
"I recommend Kawaki to take Boruto's place," she is confident when she said it.
"What?!" we all say at the same time.
"You can't be serious," the jerk comments.
"I am serious though," Tsubaki says unwaveringly.
"I am not doing that stupid fantasy of yours," the jerk scoffs.
"Are you sure about that, Tsubaki?" our adviser worries if Tsubaki isn't joking when she said that.
"I am. Kawaki knows everything. He is my assistant, remember?" she says while rolling her eyes. Well, if he was paying attention I think he knows everything but with the kind of attitude he has? There is no chance.
"I am not doing that nonsense just pick someone else," the jerk refuses and aims to walk away but our adviser stops him from his tracks.
"Kawaki, this activity is for the whole class. You can't be selfish and act stubborn. Your grades will be based on your performance here. What you get is what everyone gets, do you understand?" she tries to convince him but I know he is stubborn and a jerk, but we are running out of time and no one is going to take Boruto's place.
"I am not doing it," he says and walks away.
"Hey, Kawaki!" Tsubaki tries to stop him but he is unstoppable.
"No way. How could he be so selfish? That bastard needs a punch on his face," Iwabe annoyingly says and Denki tries to calm him down. He clenches his fist and he is serious about punching his face.
"No fighting!" our adviser stops everyone from talking and her palms rest on her forehead. She seems to be worn out with all of the mess. She sits down on the chair and takes a sigh.
"I don't know what to do anymore," she utters in a slow voice. I feel sorry for all the headaches we have caused her, from Boruto being injured to the jerk so stubborn and obstructive.
"I will try to talk to him again. Maybe he will give yes as an answer this time," Tsubaki tries to light up the mood a bit. She seems so hook with the play, well she should. Our grades depend on her compelling communication skill.
An hour later...
"Tsubaki, is Kawaki going to show up?" our adviser asks her. The tension can be heard in her voice. The play is about to start in a few minutes and I am behind her waiting for Tsubaki's response. I was all dressed up and ready for the play but I don't know if the jerk is going to replace Boruto.
"He did not respond to me when I asked him the second time around, but I have told him something that will make him show up. I am pretty sure he will," she confidently says.
"Oh, what a relief," our adviser utters and her hands landed on her chest gesturing of being relieved.
I sigh and get back to the dressing room to where Cho-Cho is. I think everything's okay now. Tsubaki seems so cool with Kawaki.
"You look great, Sarada," Cho-Cho compliments me and I think I blush. She barely compliments me. Oh, I sound like a hypocrite. She always compliments me not on how I look but on other things.
"Thank you," I tell her.
"You look okay now," she notices. I think my face tells it all. I look tensed and problematic earlier when Tsubaki hasn't told us that she made a way to make the jerk come.
"Well, I'm kind of relieved," I honestly tell her and she furrows.
"So, Kawaki finally says yes?" she sounds excited while confirming.
"Somehow. I'm not sure, but he needs to show up or else I will kill him," that sounds exaggerated and Cho-Cho's face gets shocked.
"T-That's frightening," she stammers. I don't know why she reacted that way. I was just kidding, but I will never forgive that jerk if he does not show up later.
"Well, this play must be successful no matter what, Cho-Cho. This is my way to the Drama Club that I dreamed about all this time," I tell her, and she did not utter a word.
"I am expecting him to come and I am already looking forward to entering the Drama Club," I say and act like daydreaming. I can't wait to be closer to my dreams. It's my first step, one step at a time.
"Sarada, get ready. We are about to start," Tsubaki shouts and immediately leaves.
"The jerk isn't here yet," I murmur, and Cho-Cho moves closer to my side.
"Are you sure he is going to come?" Cho-Cho asks with furrow brows.
"Tsubaki was so confident that he will come, maybe..." I say and I think I stammer when I utter the words.
Namida's voice echoes in the room as she starts to narrate and it's my time to show up in a minute. I suddenly feel nervous and I can't help it.
"Good luck, Sarada," Cho-Cho cheers me up before I go to start my script and to show up to the crowd.
When I look at the crowd, the Drama Club Council is there. I feel edgier. My anxiety turns into courage when the memory of my ticket to the club crossed my mind.
I try to impress them and they seem entertained with my performance. I keep myself focused on my role, my script, and my acting and with the impression of the council on me.
"Where is Kawaki?"
I slightly hear someone mention his name from backstage.
So, he hasn't been here yet?
I try to focus on my performance but I can't help myself from thinking that he is not showing up whenever. After this scene, it's going to be his.
I glance backstage and Cho-Cho was there with a gloomy face. She shakes her head as if to say the jerk is not going to show up.
"The Prince hears her sing when he roams around the forest and he is bewildered by her angelic voice..." Namida narrates.
"He slowly walks in Snow White's direction with cautious steps to not notice him..." she continues to narrate, she is also waiting for the jerk to show up from backstage but nobody's walking out.
"Please show up..."
To be continued...