CHAPTER 4
1167 Words
07-01-25
Chapter Four
The backstage was colorful and noisy. Students were packed together—some already in costume, others rushing to finish their makeup. Teachers kept reminding everyone about blocking and lines over and over again. And then there was me… nervous as hell.
Wait—did I mention in a past chapter that I hate people? I mean, crowded people. Honestly, this is one of my weaknesses. I can’t help it. I kept biting my lip.
It’s a mannerism of mine whenever I’m nervous, sad, or feeling something intense.
Suddenly, Director Kuya Juls approached me, clearly stressed.
“Rance, your partner is absent. Rowena can’t make it. So I’ll have Trina replace her instead. Is that okay? She already knows the lines anyway.”
My eyes widened.
Wait—seriously? Trina? Trina is going to be my partner?
I stared at Trina.
She was smiling.
Damn. She’s really beautiful—like a goddess who came to life.
“Hey, Rance, are you listening?” Kuya Juls snapped me back to reality, waving his hand in front of my face.
“H-huh?”
“I’m asking if it’s okay for Trina to be your partner since she memorized the script. Or if you don’t want to, I can take her place myself.”
“Trina’s fine, sir.”
“Ouch, that hurt. But fine, Trina it is. Besides, we kind of look alike anyway.”
I cringed at his joke.
“You look handsome in that outfit, Rance. You really look like a prince.”
I shivered when a soft voice whispered near my ear.
“T-thank you.”
Damn it—why do I lose my brain cells whenever I talk to her?!
She looked so comfortable in the spotlight. All I could do was nod.
A few minutes later, it was finally our turn.
“Go, guys! Do your best!” said Ma’am Lily, one of the directors.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, even though my heart was screaming.
Before the curtain went up, I looked for my mom. I saw her sitting in the second row, smiling and giving me a thumbs-up. I swallowed hard before smiling back.
The play began. Loud applause filled the room.
Trina and I stood at the center of the stage. Despite my nervousness, my lines and movements flowed naturally—probably because of all the rehearsals.
Then came the most sensitive part of the scene—the kiss.
This was the part that made me uncomfortable, especially since we always skipped it during practice. I honestly thought it had been removed.
Trina stepped closer. Her eyes were closed, ready.
We were just inches apart when something crashed at the side of the stage.
The audience screamed.
We both closed our eyes. Truth is, this was going to be my first kiss—and with my crush, of all people. Even if it was fake, at least it was something… right?
That’s what I thought.
Because when our lips touched, I froze and opened my eyes.
I expected to feel something—kilig, excitement—but there was nothing.
Then suddenly, I saw a girl running away.
I wasn’t mistaken.
It was Amari.
---
Flashback in dream
“RANCE MOLINA, be my boyfriend.”
My jaw dropped.
“Are you crazy? We just met and you already want me as your boyfriend? And are you sure it’s me? I’m fat—”
I didn’t finish my sentence because she kissed my cheek.
“Just remember, you’re my boyfriend already,” she said. “And when you’re my boyfriend, you’re only mine.”
She was in her school uniform. She looked back at me, and even from a distance, I felt a strange chill from her stare. You know that feeling you get from killers in movies? That’s how it felt.
Creepy.
---
It felt like everything around me stopped. I couldn’t hear the applause anymore. I felt dizzy.
And there was only one thing I wanted to do.
Chase her.
But why?
What for?
Why did I feel like I needed to explain?
Why did it feel like I did something wrong?
When the curtain fell, Trina spoke first. She held the microphone and thanked the teachers, classmates, crew, and audience.
“This play wasn’t easy,” she said. “So many sleepless nights, so much stress—but look at the outcome. I’m so proud of all of us. This is my last play as a student because tomorrow… we graduate.”
She wiped her tears and bowed.
The gym erupted in applause and cheers.
But while everyone was happy, I froze at the side of the stage.
Amari running away before the curtain fell was still burned into my mind.
Just as I was about to leave—
“Rance Jallen Molina, thank you for that wonderful kiss. I just want to ask one more favor. Can you sing at our graduation tomorrow?”
Everyone looked at me. A teacher handed me the microphone.
I looked at my mom for permission. When she nodded, I nodded too.
“Y-yes.”
The crowd cheered again.
But my mind was somewhere else.
Where did I see her earlier?
---
The Next Day
Senior students and juniors have different schedules. While they had already finished their semester, we were still in third grading.
Instead of hanging out with Dilan and Deon, I was backstage again—about to sing, just like Trina asked.
“Are you ready?” Ma’am Lily asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Just a bit nervous,” I said, tapping my chest.
I took a deep breath.
(Song lyrics omitted here for brevity, but translated faithfully in tone and meaning)
I searched for Trina while singing. She was sitting in the fourth row on the right side, smiling brightly.
Some students were wiping their tears.
Graduation is always sad—the separation, the memories, the goodbyes.
When the song ended, applause filled the gym.
“Thank you, Rance Molina, for singing our graduation song!”
Thank God—I survived.
Backstage, Trina hugged me.
“Thank you so much, Rance!”
I didn’t want to assume… but did she like me too?
After that, she invited me to a small celebration at her house.
Her house was beautiful—modern with a European touch.
I asked where the bathroom was.
She told me to go upstairs, turn left, then right.
But when I opened a door, I saw a girl in a bathrobe, towel on her head, dancing while holding a mop like a microphone.
She slipped—but I caught her.
The towel fell.
It was Amari.
“I-I’m sorry!” I said before quickly closing the door and rushing downstairs.
Later, I found out—
“She’s my niece,” Trina said. “Her mom and I are half-sisters.”
What a coincidence.
That night, they said Amari was already asleep.
And for that—I was thankful.
Because I wasn’t ready to face her.
- Writer
