"He slowly walks in Snow White's direction with cautious steps to not notice him..."
Namida repeats to narrate but the jerk still has not appeared. I started to feel humiliated in front of everyone. I look at Cho-Cho and she still has a saddened face. I look at the crowd and they look so disappointed in me.
I saw Tsubaki runs backstage and some of the cast follow too. I look so awful in front of them I guess. Indistinct chatter starts to echo in my ears.
"What's going on? Why does not the prince show up?"
"I wonder about it too."
"This is the worst play I have ever seen."
"Look at Snow White, she looks pale."
"What are they doing? They want her to stand there forever?"
I can't take all of their comments. My chest wants to burst out. I look in Cho-Cho's direction and our adviser has joined her there already. She too has a wretched face. I know our teacher has been under a lot of stress lately.
I look at the crowd once again and their eyes are on me full of criticism. Their stares feel so heavy that it makes me want to cry. Grains of tears are in the corners of my eyes. I can't hold them back anymore and they finally come rushing out to my cheeks. I run away from their scathing eyes. I rush off the stage without looking back. I could still hear them shout my name and the crowd starts to fuzz again.
I run away from them as fast as I could still crying, I don't even know where to go. I just let my feet bring me to nowhere and I end up running off to the rooftop. I open the door and a strong gust of wind welcomes me that makes my hair and gown flew into the air.
I run outside and I stop in the middle. I was down on my knees crying and I couldn't help myself from screaming. I am so disgusted I think this is the worst day of my life. I cover my face with both my palms and start to sob again. My chest hurts so bad.
"Why all of these misfortunes were given to me? What did I do wrong to deserve all of these?" I shout still sobbing.
"Why would Boruto help someone to get those stickers glued up the wall and end up hurting his leg?"
"Why does someone has to be a jerk and act so stubborn and ignorant?"
"Why is he like that?"
"Why is it so easy for him to hurt other people's feelings?"
"I hate him so much. I hate him!"
"Of all people, why me?"
I am helpless that I need to question myself for all the unfortunate things that happened to my life. I am pathetic for expecting too much and become disappointed so much in the end. All I want is to be closer to my dreams but, why life is so cruel to me?
"All that I have worked hard for are over now in just a blink of an eye..."
Kawaki's POV
I just finished putting on my shoes and I grab my bag which lays on the shiny floor. Today is our preliminary examination. Well, another usual day for me. I stare at the door because I am about to leave the house.
"I'm off, mom. See you later."
"Take care, Kawaki. Good luck on your exams," she waves goodbye at me.
One old memory of me and mom suddenly appears in front of me but now... She's gone and I'm all alone.
I locked the door before leaving for school. I saw some students passing by our house already with their friends talking to each other. A few are reviewing their notes for the exam and some are just chatting with one another.
Bell rings and everyone sits on their desks. Our adviser enters the room with a pile of papers in her hands. She slams them on the table and switches her eyeballs from left to right of the room. She moves in front of the table to say something before the exam starts.
"I guess everyone is here now. Let's start the first half of your exams," she says then grabs the pile of test papers from the table and starts disseminating them to everyone.
I look around and I saw some of them are nervous about the test. Some are not even bothered and here I am who do not care at all. I didn't bother to review last night instead I went to sleep early.
"When I say 'go' you can start answering your test, okay?" she instructs, and after everyone receives their test papers, she says the magic word and I start to read what's on the paper.
A headache.
The bell rings and everyone rejoices. It's the sign of the first half is done and it's time to relax a bit and fill our empty stomachs. I pass my test papers with bare answers written on them.
Instead of going to the canteen for lunch, I go to the rooftop and settled on top of the water tank. It's my favorite spot because it's peaceful and away from all annoying people.
I put my arms behind my head and rest on them while watching the clouds floating in the air and stare at the clear blue sky. I waste my time staying in that position until the bell rings again.
"The bell is more annoying than the chatters of nonsense people," I utter in annoyance.
The second half started and everyone gets back to their old positions. I glanced at the annoying Iwabe who rubs his head while he struggles to answer the test.
Why struggle that much if you can just leave it blank forever?
"Ten minutes left."
The adviser reminds us and I stand up thereafter. Coincidentally, the dork and the blonde idiot stood up at the same with me.
And our adviser utters, "oh" when we three stood up simultaneously. I walk past by the dork with my bag rests on my shoulder and I pass my test paper and immediately leaves the room. I don't know what happened next because I walk straight off and did not look back.
Today is Saturday and I woke up early to cook my breakfast. I head off straight to the refrigerator to get some water to drink and when I am about to open it there is a note pinned on it.
"So, he did come home last night, huh? Tch, what a stupid old man," I ignore the note and opens the refrigerator and get some water and eggs. I decided to make an omelet.
I settled on the table while eating all alone. I peek at the pinned note again and think.
Should I go or not? I debate in my head.
Well, I don't care about what he thinks or what he does. He is annoying and he sucks.
I lose my appetite already and stand up from the dining. I put the plate on the sink and head back immediately to my room.
I lay on the bed and stare at the ceiling then a memory of mom appears.
"Dad loves us so much that he has to work hard for us to survive. I hope you understand, Kawaki."
"He worked hard for us to survive? But why did you die, mom?" I ask in my mind.
He works for his own selfish desires to achieve his dreams even though neglecting his own family. Those stupid dreams are more important than his own family.
"I am doing this for your own sake. Why can't you understand?"
I hear him say in my mind.
"For my sake? Or for your own self-interest?" I retaliate then a red blush appears on my cheek, he slapped me.
I recall the old times when he and I used to argue. So, it's better that I should not bump on into him. I look at the clock and it's forty-seven past seven in the morning.
I am in between the thought of staying in the house or go see him at the mall. My fingers fiddle until I finally decide.
I go to the bathroom to get a shower and I get casually dressed after. I don't know but I am urged to go to the mall and see the movie.
An hour later...
The mall is crowded. I didn't know that the premiere would be this big. The theater queue is unbelievable.
"I am not going to add to the long file of idiots," I murmur.
I shove my hand into my pants pocket and grab a piece of paper. It's my ticket for the movie. With this number of people watching, I don't want to go anymore.
"The tickets are almost sold out."
"Hey, please left some for us!"
"I will pay for that one!"
I watch people go crazy over a movie. What's with the movie though?
"Here! I sell this one here!" I say and all eyes look at me.
"Really?!" they ask all at once while eyes are enlarged.
"Yes and I am selling this to that girl," I say and point at the young girl.
"To me? Are you sure?" she asks almost crying. I nod and she smiles widely. She runs to me and I hand over the ticket to her.
"Are you sure about selling this ticket to me? Don't you like Mr. Martin's movie?" she says while her eyes glitter.
"I am not selling that. It's yours. I don't feel like watching the movie today," I say and she smiles.
"Thank you so much, mister," she says and waves goodbye at me.
I don't want to see that stupid old man.
"Tickets! Tickets! Last two!"
I glimpse at the man shouting and I saw the dork and her fatso friend running in his direction.
"Tch," even them are crazy over that movie. So weird. I turn my back and head out of the mall. I don't know where to go so, I shall follow my feet to where they want to go.
I end up coming to the park. This is the place where mom and I used to hang out. I miss her so much. I wonder if she's doing alright in heaven or does she even think of me?
"I'm sorry mom, I failed to save you..."
"Results are out!"
Someone shouts and everyone races to the bulletin board and I was left standing here and watch them crowd together in front of it. They started to make a noise.
I have seen the results already so, I think there's no need to hear them chatter. I walk away.
"Kawaki, I don't know what's the matter. You failed most of the tests and in fact, you only passed two subjects," she tells me but I am watching outside the window not focusing much at all.
"Now, I have decided to assign someone to help you out with your failing grades," she adds.
What? Seriously? I don't need that. I don't like the idea. And the class starts to buzz again like bees in my ears.
"I'm sorry, Yodo but I have already picked someone to do the job," she tells the long blonde idiot, and the latter frowns.
"And who's that?" she smirks at her.
"Of course, the top student of this class," she responds.
Just what the hell does she talking about?
"I actually picked Sarada to help him out," she continues and I almost stood up from my seat.
With the dork? No way. She is annoying as ever. I look at her and she seems to look shocked she points to herself and utters, "me?" in disbelief.
I know her face questions her and our adviser explains to her why and it's not justified enough to make her do that or do this to me.
"I'm fine. I don't need help from a dork," I say with a boring look. She frowns at me and she scolds me for calling her like that.
"Otherwise you want to get to a new school," is she trying to threaten me? Well, if I keep getting failed grades maybe I will be dropped out and I don't want my father to show his angry face and berate me again.
They are annoying.
"Any objections from you two?" she asks.
"No," we answer at the same time.
She tells us more about the details and reminds us not to fight when the tutorial comes.
"We have a new activity as part of your next lesson in literature and you will be going to perform it next week," she announces. I know for sure that is boring.
"You will be doing a play which entitles Snow White and Seven Dwarfs," she continues.
As I said, it sounds boring. I think everyone agrees with me, they sound bored too but not with the dork she looks interested anyway. They start to make noise the usual scenario of this classroom.
"We will have an audition for the lead roles which are Snow White and the Prince—" I stop from listening and flips the pages of the book. I'm damn bored. When will this discussion end?
After her long talk with everyone, our adviser leaves the room immediately and I stand up from my seat right after to leave the noisy room too.
"Hey, Kawaki! Are you going to audition for the role of the Prince," who is this guy again? The guy with glasses. I stare at him for seconds and turn my face away.
"Not interested," I respond and completely walk past him. They keep chattering and I walk my way to the canteen.
I am walking my way in the direction of the rooftop. I bought something to eat from the canteen first just some sandwiches and soda.
I settle on my favorite spot as usual and open the bag where my food is in and get the first bite.
"Meow..."
"Huh?!" I look at my side where the sound of a cat's meow comes from. There is a small white cat beside me looking at my sandwiches.
"Are you hungry?" do I look stupid for talking to a cat?
"Meow...Meow...Meow..."
I picked some from my sandwich and drop near it. The cat moves closer and sniffs onto it first then gets a bite. I pet on its head down to its body. Its fur is so soft like cotton. The cat looks up to me and meows.
I grab my soda in a can and sip from it. I feel refreshed. The cat stays with me for a while until the bell rings. I pet on its head once again and leave straight off.
When I arrived, the audition has already started and it's the long blonde hair pesty who is currently on the stage. After she is the dork.
Plays and dramas are boring. Why are they enjoying them though?
"Are you going to audition for the role of the Prince?" the other peevish girl asks me. I am talking about Tsubaki. I don't know if it's really her name. I don't bother memorizing all their names.
"No. It's boring," I answer and turn my back at her. I am not interested in all of this nuisance. I just want to go home. Glad that she didn't say anything stupid to stop me.
The next morning, our adviser announces the casts for the play. First, are the lame seven dwarfs. The role of Snow White will be played by the dork and the blonde idiot is the Prince. Good for them, they look good together. The pair of dorks. And the rest of the class are the facilitators.
"The practice will start this afternoon, same time and place. Everyone must be there, understood?" our adviser commands and everyone responses with 'yes' and I just keep silent.
"It's about time. Let's go!"
The dork's fatso friend yells. She meant by going to the practice and everyone follows her. I have no choice because this is a whole class activity so, I go with them.
Upon our arrival, our adviser calls for names and she seems to instruct them then we decided to clean the room first before we start with the practice.
"Tsubaki and Kawaki, you two come here," she calls out to us so we walk closer to her. She was smiling and she taps both our shoulders before speaking.
"I have witnessed Tsubaki's skills in the directory and she was the assistant director of the Beauty and the Beast play during the Winter Festival last year and it was a success. And for Kawaki, I assigned him to assist Tsubaki in this play," she states and I get agitated when I heard that I will be assisting this peevish girl.
"What?!" I snap. I don't like the idea of being her assistant.
"Is there any problem?" she asks looking at me. I stare back at her for a second before speaking again.
"I don't have any idea about the play and it's not my subject of interest at all," I explain and that's true. Did I found all of this stuff boring now I have to do that nonsense?
"It's okay Kawaki. You'll just assist Tsubaki in the flow of the play. All you need to do is follow what she has to say," she adds. Seriously? Just like ordering me around?
"Like her watchdog?" I retaliate. I think I sound sarcastic when I said that but I don't care. The job they are giving me looks like it.
"Kawaki, that's not what I meant," she berates me. I need to cooperate, right? So, I should say, 'yes, I understand?
"Whatever," I utter. I don't want to argue with her anymore.
I go to the corner and watch them do what they are told to. I saw the peevish girl stare at me as she has something to say to me. I ignore her. To my surprise, she is already walking in my direction and stops in front of me.
"You," she points at me.
"Just because you're cool and handsome does not mean that you can do whatever you want to do and become stubborn. You have to follow what I have to say, it's needed in the play," she says and gestures being so bossy in front of me.
"You're annoying," I tell her and she frowns in front of me.
"What did you say?!" I think I made her upset.
"I don't want to repeat it," I answer.
"Well then..." she says and moves closer to me. She grabs my arm and pulls me to stand up.
"What are you doing?" I ask her while she still grabbing my arm.
"I am dragging you to our place and no complaining or else you will regret it," she threatens me. She keeps dragging me in front of the stage as they are about to start the practice. This pesty girl is annoying.
The next day, the same thing happens. This peevish girl is instructing me how to use the camera and how to perfectly get the video shot of the scenes. The recording will be played during the Winter Festival that is a few months to go by now.
"Are you listening?" she asks me while pouting.
"Shut up, I am!" I retaliate.
"What a grumpy, you can switch places with Iwabe," she utters.
"Not with that bastard and just mind your own business," I tell her.
"Tch," she murmurs. She did not say anything after that.
The Big Day
Everyone seems busy with the preparations. They are decorating the stage and some are preparing their costumes.
"Hey, will you start preparing the cam? The play will start a few hours by now," she reminds me. Her bossy attitude is damn annoying.
"Just shut up, will you?" I rebuke.
"How rude," she whispers. I ignore that or she will bicker with me until the play is over.
I prepare the tripod for the camera. Then I make sure the camera is ready before putting it on so there will be no problems occurring during the recording and I don't want this annoying girl to yell at me again.
"Ahhhh!"
A scream echoes inside the room.
"Boruto!" I hear them yell his name and everyone dashes in his direction. The blonde idiot slipped and fell. He was hurt. His ankle is swollen.
"Call the nurse!" the dork yells and someone rushes to the clinic.
"Boruto, hang in there. Everything's going to be fine," our adviser tries to calm him down.
"I-I... can't move my leg," he complains still in pain.
"We called for help," the long blonde pesty says.
"T-The play..." he stammers due to his painful leg. He is more concerned about the play than his leg? He sure is an idiot.
"Don't worry about the play. We need to attend to your safety first," our adviser responds to him.
"I... I think... I won't make it..." he hardly speaks.
The nurses came rushing to fetch him up and check his condition. They slowly put him on the stretcher and rush him to the clinic. Everyone's worried it's written on their faces.
"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. She is too exhausted from all the mess of this play.
People start buzzing again upon her absence. They talk about him, all about him. I go to the corner to avoid their buzzes. They hurt my ears. I don't know if this play is still on without the Prince.
After an hour, our adviser returns and immediately informs us about the jerk'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.
And the atmosphere has become sadder and the chances of the play to happen have lessened. Maybe it will be postponed or something.
"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," her voice sounds exhausted and she worries a lot about the play. I think there will be no postponement happening here.
"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 continues. I think he badly wants to get in the drama club that he desperately wants it to happen no matter what.
Now, they worry about who is going to play the role of the Prince as the blonde idiot's replacement.
"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," the peevish girl states.
"So do you have any recommendations as to whom is going to play the role of the Prince?" someone asks her.
"Actually, I have someone in mind," she is very confident that someone is capable of replacing the idiot.
"I recommend Kawaki to take Boruto's place."
What?! What did she just say?
"You can't be serious," I squeak and she just rolls her eyes. Damn this pesty girl.
"I am serious though," she is persistent, damn it!
"I am not doing that stupid fantasy of yours," I scoff. I did not want such a lame role. I don't even want this play at all. Our adviser questions her about her recommendation but she is really confident about it.
"I am. Kawaki knows everything. He is my assistant, remember?" she says while rolling her eyes. What the hell? I was paying attention to the camera, not to the play.
"I am not doing that nonsense just pick someone else," I refuse and aim to walk off.
"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 me but I am not doing it.
"I am not doing it," I say for the last time, and totally walk away from them.
"Hey, Kawaki!" I hear the annoying girl call out to me but I ignore her. I leave the room and I decided to go to the rooftop.
"Hey, stop!" why does she like pestering me around? I turn to face her.
"What do you want? I told you that I am not doing it," I tell her again.
"Listen, if you won't show up at the time of the play and Boruto will not make it to the drama club, you should start looking for a new school by then. I will make sure that you will be kicked out from here," she threatens me. I look coldly at her. Anyways, that was lame bait. I don't care. I turn my back at her and proceeds to the rooftop.
I wonder if it is coming here...
I am talking about the cat. I bring a piece of bread if ever the cat comes here again. I don't know what happened there. I gaze at my wristwatch and it is ten past one in the afternoon. It might have started now.
"Meow..."
I suddenly get up when I heard the sound. The cat jumps up the water tank and rushes to me. I carry the cat in my arms. I make it face me and I figured out that it is a tomcat.
"I will call you Kiwi from now on. Your name is Kiwi," I mutter while rubbing on his fur. I think he already likes me. I grab the bread inside the bag and feed him. He enjoys munching on it. He is so cute. I want to bring him home but maybe he has his family somewhere and he was just straying around.
I amusingly watching him enjoy the bread when suddenly I heard someone scream. I sneak to see who is underneath and it surprises me when I saw the dork still wearing her costume. She falls to her knees.
"Why all of these misfortunes were given to me? What did I do wrong to deserve all of these?"
"Why would Boruto help someone to get those stickers glued up the wall and end up hurting his leg?"
"Why does someone has to be a jerk and act so stubborn and ignorant?"
"Why is he like that?"
"Why is it so easy for him to hurt other people's feelings?"
"I hate him so much! I hate him!"
"Of all people, why me?"
I heard everything. She's crying helplessly.
Why does my heart feel heavy all of a sudden?
"Meow..."