Chapter 8
1519 Words
“It depends on you, Samantha.”
***
SAMANTHA
"Hi, Diane. You look exhausted," Rica said. "Let's talk at home later. I'll fetch you," she added with a smile.
She kissed Diane on the cheek before walking away.
The other members started packing up, but Mich and I were still just standing there.
I really couldn’t believe it.
Are they siblings?
"Are you guys okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Diane asked while laughing.
Come on, Samantha. Stay awake.
"Just leave them, Diane. I'll handle them," Slade suddenly interrupted our conversation.
Wait, speaking of Slade...
"Hey Slade! What the heck! You kept me up all night!" I yelled, jumping on him from behind to grab his hair.
"Ouch! Ouch, sorry—ouch! Samantha, stop— I don’t want this!" he complained as I tugged at his hair.
"Sorry? No sorry, huh! I couldn’t sleep because of you, you jerk!" I said again, kicking him.
I think we’re close enough for me to pull his hair like that.
"Ouch!" I screamed when I suddenly tripped.
I braced for my beautiful face to hit the floor, but it didn’t happen.
Because Slade... caught me.
I looked around and felt embarrassed when I saw almost all the members of the theater club staring at us.
Most were smiling. Some were even teasing us, except for Diane, who now had a frown.
Could it be that Diane likes Slade? But she already has Chester! This is crazy!
"Sorry if I tired you out last night. I kept you up. I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you tonight," Slade said suddenly.
I blushed.
What is this jerk talking about?
Did he really say that to get my mind thinking in a certain direction?
I slapped his arm, and he just laughed. He’s such a jerk.
I glanced to the side and saw Chester, staring at Slade with a cold look.
"Chester..."
"Yieeee! Sam’s falling in love!"
"Slade’s your boyfriend now? You didn’t tell us!"
These were the teasing questions my co-members asked whenever I crossed paths with them.
What the heck, I’m the one with a “lovelife”? But I’m still a virgin, okay!
And what the heck again, Slade is not my boyfriend! I just want to stab him with my heels! Because of what he did earlier, we became the target of teasing!
I grabbed my script and was about to head to our venue when my phone beeped.
beep beep
I checked who texted me.
From: Mich
[I’m going to your place, Sammy. We need to talk. I didn’t like what I saw earlier. And I know your brother won’t like it either.]
I furrowed my brow as I read her message. Why does it feel like my best friend is being so serious? She knows that Slade isn’t really my boyfriend, because if he were, I wouldn’t hide it from her.
We practice in different locations, so we just text. And as far as I know, they’ve already left.
And she didn’t like what she saw earlier? And that my brother won’t like it? Pssh. He was so happy when he saw me kissing that stranger.
Aish, Samantha! Why can’t you get over that stranger?
I shook my head and typed back.
To: Mich
Okay, Mich. WE NEED TO TALK. About you, about my brother, and about Rica. Do you understand?
I waited for a few minutes for Mich to reply, but she didn’t. Seenzone. I deliberately gave her an attitude because she was the one who started it.
"Samantha, they’re looking for you. We’re about to shoot," Slade said from behind me.
"Ah, okay," I replied and walked ahead.
I walked faster so Slade wouldn’t catch up with me, but since his legs are longer, he caught up quickly.
"Are you mad, Sam?" he asked, but I didn’t respond.
I wasn’t mad at him. I was just annoyed and uncomfortable. Why did he have to do that?
"I’m not mad, Slade," I replied, leaving him behind and heading straight to Diane’s side.
I glanced to my left and saw Chester. He was just staring at me. I didn’t know why, but I felt a sharp pain in my chest when I saw a tear fall from his eyes.
When he noticed I was looking, he quickly wiped his tear and turned away from me. I lowered my head. I felt guilty, but I didn’t know why.
"Have you memorized your lines, Samantha?" Diane asked.
Good thing Diane and I were pretty close, so I could talk to her. When Mich’s not around, I tend to be a loner. It’s annoying. Her behavior is still weird, but I can put up with it. She can deal with her life.
"Yep," I simply replied as I tried to memorize my lines.
I was about to stand up to help the other members who were organizing the set when Diane grabbed my arm.
"Wait, I’ll fix your hair," she said and adjusted my hair. "There, it’s fine now."
"Thanks," I said and smiled at her.
Anyway, I was wearing a hanging blouse and simple jeans. My hair was down, but it was still styled properly.
I looked at the leading man and saw that he was already prepared. He seemed more prepared than I was. For some unknown reason, I was chosen as the main character for this play. They needed someone with a pretty, demure face and the ability to sing.
Diane, who had been a member of the theater club longer, didn’t get picked. I did.
The story was about a girl who was unaware of the world. She was walking home when a man suddenly pulled her and kissed her. She didn’t know that the man who kissed her was her childhood friend who secretly liked her.
Even the man’s brother developed feelings for the girl.
Everything was going well until the girl had an accident and lost her memory. The man tried to remind her of who he was, but it was too late because the girl had already fallen for his brother. Tough luck, right?
Diane called us to practice and said we were ready.
I looked at the scenes we were supposed to practice and was surprised to see that we were skipping a lot of them. Oh well, I’ll just let it go. It’s their life.
"One, two, three. Action!" Diane yelled.
The sad background music started playing. I counted to five seconds before I began walking while letting the tears fall.
You can do this, Sam. You can do this.
I sat on the bench, covering my face with my palms and sobbing. I expected someone to hug me, but I was stopped by the intensity of the hug.
Chancing.
"Spring..." he said sadly as he embraced me.
Okay, let the drama begin. Looks like my leading man, Slade, is also ready.
"Troy, why is this happening? I don’t even know him well. I don’t even know him, but why does it hurt so much?" I said while sniffing to make it more believable.
"I don’t know, Spring. I don’t know. Why didn’t you just love me?"
Honestly, this guy’s acting is amazing!
"I’m sorry, Troy... But—"
He pressed his finger to my lips. "Shh. It’s okay, Spring. I know why. I know you want him. I know."
He gently stroked my hair, and I closed my eyes.
Should I try to feel this scene? What does it feel like? What if the scene’s over, but I’m still crying?
"Sorry, Troy, I’m really sorry..." I cried and fully embraced him.
He didn’t respond. He just hugged me back before speaking. "I would sacrifice everything for you. Even my own happiness."
Being a member of the theater club is really fun, huh? I should’ve joined last year. Maybe I would’ve gotten more experience.
"I love you so much, Samantha..."
My eyes widened as I stared at him when he said my name.
Wait, Spring is my name in the story!
"I love you so much..." he said again.
"S-Slade, Spring is my name in the story, not Sam," I reminded him, but he just smiled at me.
"I know."
He stood up and extended his hand to me. "Come with me, Spring. Just for one day."
I pretended to hesitate for a moment, but then I took his hand.
And we ran away together.
***
"Good job, Slade and Samantha! Nice one!" Diane praised us when we finished practicing.
I just smiled. Slade had already changed into a different outfit.
"Diane," I called her. I was curious.
"Hmm, why?" she asked.
"Who’s going to end up with Spring in the end?"
The ending wasn’t written in the script. It’s so annoying, the writer left it hanging!
Diane seemed shocked by my question. She was about to speak when someone spoke from behind me.
My heart started pounding faster, so I knew who it was.
Chester.
"It depends on you, Samantha. It depends on you," he said as he walked away.
Meanwhile, I was left standing there, frozen.
- Writer
