January

Chapter 11

The school is already starting to get packed when it was time for recess. Other than the flag ceremony, there was nothing to do but to help prepare for the upcoming program. The teachers were being considerate and allowed the students to be given free time to help the participants.

Of course, not everyone complies. If you decide to roam around the campus, you will be surprised to see that most of the students are just hiding in unused classrooms or clubrooms. Some could even sneak to the backyard and hang out by the school's guardhouse.

At the same time, Erine helps Michelle with the play, alongside Elizabeth who just arrived.

"Erine," Elizabeth greeted. The latecomer was stared at by many but didn't comment on anything. "Can I help?"

It's hard being one of the latecomers, at times the entire class seems to have this silent agreement to leave you out or not inform you of any activities. It's like you've committed a major offense and you had to reap what you sow.

And that's not the worse thing you may experience, even teachers are obliged to embarrass you for missing a day. But Erine had gotten used to this.

Elizabeth looked like she was unsure if Erine was mad at her for showing up almost in the middle of the day. She couldn't blame her friend. The participants are giving her the eye at the moment. If they had the guts to open their mouth, which is less likely, they'd actually complain about how Elizabeth couldn't contribute anything to the activities.

Although it was harsh treatment, they had every reason to feel that way.

Still, Erine puts the materials in Elizabeth's hand. "Help me glue the ribbons on the flowers." It was actually an imitation of corsage, made up of flowers gathered at the school's flower garden.

Elizabeth nods, relief washing in her entire face as she grabs a glue gun and started attaching some leaves and orchids.

"Thanks," Elizabeth mumbles. "You didn't ignore me. Our classmates are being such a jerk."

Erine sighs, "You're my friend. There is no way I am ignoring you."

When Elizabeth looks at Erine, the latter only backs away. "What?"

"I think you've changed."

"You think?" Erine grinned. "Really? How?"

Elizabeth crossed her legs, eyes moving sideways, pondering on some things to say. "Like how you became of a less Luke fanatic."

Erine beams, "You're making me sound like I was once an obsessed stalker."

Elizabeth shakes her head, "I wasn't thinking that." But then her head swayed like a dancing daisy. "You're close though."

She gave her the widest eyes she could ever master, then shoves her by the shoulder. The two chat merrily as the time goes.

When the indie filmmakers came, it was already ten o'clock. The principal had to give the visitors a quick tour of the school's entire building before the program will begin.

Judging from the progress they made, Erine wasn't sure if a ten minutes tour is enough to finalize the whole set. There were just so many things that needed to be done and Michelle was already fidgety.

Erine thought if their homeroom teacher would have actually helped them, this might have taken only a few days to make. Instead, a little bit of announcement was made and some pressuring was contributed by the homeroom teacher.

Michelle couldn't organize the play well. What's worse is that because Michelle was just a representative and a student, there is no way the rest of the class will listen.

Some just couldn't take her seriously and just go on doing everything they wanted.

Just then, their homeroom teacher entered the class to check on their work. She was nodding at some finished works and was demanding a better presentation.

"Do not disappoint me, fourth years." She said. "You will be representing our class. The program starts after lunch. You must be finished before then." She said, looking at the wristwatch. "Double time, everybody!"

Students couldn't really say anything to complain.

Erine got used to this kind of behavior of teachers.

It's still wasn't half of the day but the students seem to be tired already. However, Erine thought that the main event hasn't started yet.

Minutes later they were forced to abandon the things they were doing and attend the thirty minutes program that the school prepared to the stage for a week-work of a lecture by the filmmakers. That is what they said, week-worth.

It was the students choice if they bring belongings or not so Erine decided to bring hers. Of course, without forgetting the diary.

"Erine, over here!" Among the crowd she spots Elizabeth, waving at her while pointing at the seat she may have saved for her. "Let's sit together!" She screamed in the middle of the crowd.

It was definitely fine to make noise at the moment because the program hasn't even started yet.

"Michelle?" Erine asked, taking the seat.

"Oh, Mrs. Principal told her that they should finish the preparation because they are actually going to perform now."

That explains why they went to the theater instead of the court, which was originally planned.

"It will be after the introduction. I think we will also view some clips of the indie films they made."

Erine felt relieved by the news. With the remaining time, she was sure that the students would be done preparing for the play.

"It's going to be hard," Elizabeth said, clearly worried about Michelle. "This has been her dream since elementary. And directing a play, there was no way she could correct if something went wrong."

One of their classmates must caught on to their conversations, "From what I heard, they came here to discover gems. Especially, actors and actresses. So, Michelle is less likely to be noticed as a director."

Erine didn't comment on this but only smiled as she thought, just you wait, jerk.

As someone from the future, Erine must keep quiet about things that are bound to happen. That is if she didn't mess up what was supposed to happen.

Thinking about it, if it's the past Erine were to be transferred into the future, she is sure that there was no way the secret would be hidden. What's worse is if it's going to be revealed in public, she would be called a weirdo.

She just hope that the scenario would not happen, considering that her future self travelled to the past, it might not be that impossible for her past self to travel to her future body. It would be a disaster.

For now, Erine was stuck with these thoughts, that even if the program had started for the lecture, she couldn't really hear what was being said.

Moments later, Erine stood up from her seat along with Elizabeth. The performers before Michelle are currently at the stage doing their play. Thinking that their friend is probably needing a hand backstage, both went to see their friend.

And when they get to the backstage, Erine approached Michelle who was currently looking like she was about to get a full blown panic. Then she looks up and stared to her friends, who gives a hug in return.

"It's going to be okay," Erine said, rubbing her back. "You rehearsed for a week. What could go wrong?"

Michelle may not show it and was quiet at the moment, but Erine knew that she was scared with the way her body trembled by her embrace.

"Mich, it will turn out good," Elizabeth reassured.

Michelle only snorted nervously, "It's not like I'm nervous. Stop it guys."

Erine and Elizabeth only exchanges glance as the latter thought of some jokes to make Michelle feel better. Erine was laughing along when she notices a person among the crowd.

Lana was busy pinning some ruffle laces for Margarita's dress. On the other side, there was the leader of the fashion club, and the two seem to be on good terms. 

Erine excused herself to her friends and approached Lana. The girl noticed her immediately.

"Hi." Lana greeted.

Erine nods, "Are you okay now?"

"Yes. Thank you, Erine."

Erine grabs a flower from the box and pinned one on the ruffles. 

Then Erine stands up and looked at the dress, angling her perspective to see if the gown was already over-decorated.

"About your design," Lana starts as she was standing up from the ground. "it was so good. It almost like you captured Margarita's character so well."

Even though Erine had a good feeling with the praise, half of her felt undeserving of it. She didn't even read the screenplay that Michelle has written. But hearing little details of the story, Erine just felt she knows it.

"Your up next!" Their homeroom teacher said as she emerged from one of the curtains, separating the backstage from the actual stage. "Double time everyone. You can do this!"

Hearing this, Erine says goodbye to Lana and went back to her friend who was now losing half of her color at the moment. Her lips were trembling and she was now biting on one of her fingers.

"Mich." Erine tried catching her attention by snapping her fingers. "You can do this."

"Yeah, you are Michelle. You are brave, right?" Elizabeth said."

Michelle shakes her head, "That's just how I wanted to be seen. But now that it's front of me, I don't think I can be brave as you claim me to be."

She was pacing back and forth now. Just then the first performers just finished their performance. The speaker then notifies the audience of the next performance.

Michelle backs away a little. The number of the crowd was overwhelming and she just can't think straight at the moment.

"Let's give her a warm welcome, Michelle Browns."

When her name was announced Michelle seems to hesitate even more. Elizabeth and Erine tried to convince her some more. But the announcer had already called her twice and there was no way a crowd could wait for that long.

"Mich," She says, trying to grab her attention. "You worked hard for a week just to be recognized. And if you are going to back down now, who knows what opportunities you might be losing."

"But what if their play is better than mine?"

Erine peeks at the crowd, who was now trying to ask the speaker what the problem is. As a bystander, Erine was also getting nervous at the moment.

Facing Michelle again, she tried to choose her words, "Look, this is not the time to be hesitating. You'll never know unless you--"

--try?

"Just what the heck is that?!" 

Erine went still for a moment as she experiences another one of those Deja Vu.

"When I first heard those words, it actually gave me high hopes."

It was the voices again, an unknown whisperer messing up in her mind.

"I actually believed that I am going to win. And when I lost, the disappointment hits harder."

Just like that, a picture of an unknown man mysteriously appeared on her mind. It was so fast that she wasn't able to catch a glimpse of the face.

"Erine?" Elizabeth called, worried at her sudden silence.

Blinking several times, Erine laughs a little as she waggles the thoughts out of her head. For some reason, her eyes are watering. It's as if it evoked unexplainable emotions out of her.

"'You'll never know unless you try' is what I should say, right?" It's as if her heart knows it, the words just spilled out of her mouth. "But you know, the truth is someone is going to be better than you, and that's just how it is, but it doesn't mean that you won't be as good as them someday. Or even greater than them. But how can you start moving forward if you can't even take a step away from where you are?" Erine says, and now Michelle was looking at her.

"Erine, I--" Erine only smiles as Michelle stutters through her words. "I never thought you could be this poetic."

Both Elizabeth and Erine laugh at Michelle's sudden attack.

"What do you think of me?"

"Stup*d I have to admit."

"So, mean!" Erine only blurted out as she smacked Michelle by the shoulder gently. And when she finally regained her composure, she grabs her friend by the shoulder and said, "So, instead of watching someone from backstage, why don't you be the one to be at the stage?"

"Besides, it's not like you are the actor," Elizabeth said laughing her head off.

Michelle could only smile at this. "But what if everyone walks away and thinks it was boring."

Erine said, "Then we will lock the doors so that no one could walk out."

Michelle could only burst out laughing at this.

"Both of you are crazy."

"Michelle Browns?" It was already the third time, and Michelle was now determined to go the stage.

"Go on." Erine urged.

"We will be here," Elizabeth said.

That was all Michelle needed to hear as she walks away from the backstage and seize the center for her own.

Looking at the crowd, overwhelming and scary, Michelle curbs her fears by taking a deep breath before opening her mouth.

"I'm Michelle Browns, and no matter how much this play bores you, you are not allowed to walk away."

The crowd laughs at Michelle's sudden joke.

Erine laughs alongside Elizabeth as they watched their friend start stepping forward and onwards to her dreams.