"That was great acting. Everybody was moved. It was really heart-wrenching." Jess remarked while I was busy washing my mascarra streaked face on the sink. The parade ended a while ago, but the scene I made involuntarily was apparently well loved and became the talk of the town.
"You know, if it was actually acting, I would really clap my hands and be so proud of you."
While patting my face with a dry towel Jess very nicely brought with her, I cocked an eyebrow at her. "What are you talking about? Of course it's acting. I got a little carried away with my character. It was embarrassing." I nervously chuckled. Please believe me. Please believe me.
My best friend scoffed at me, putting a hand on her hip, she told me. "Don't lie to me Reena. I know you. But if you can't tell me yet, it's okay. Take your time. Tell me when you're ready. I'm warning you though, I'll get really pissy if you don't tell me okay?"
She's the best. She makes me want to kiss and hug her. But I can't tell her anything.
I just playfully shoved her out of the restroom. "Y0u're crazy. I don't understand what you're talking about. Shoo! I'll get dressed!" She looked at me meaningfully, she knows I'm hiding. She laughed anyway. "Alright you nerd. Here's your clothes. Change fast, the Mayor wants to talk to you. And, a hot guy with a leg cast sits beside him. So hurry!"
---
I walked down the hallway to the event room where the Mayor invited all of the members and staff of the parade, the teachers and few high up people of the city to eat together in the celebration of Amy.
Personally, I don't even know why she's an important person for our city. Like, what did she do exactly? Her story's vague at best, but still taught in school. From what I remember, the last time she was formally discussed as a lesson in school was in values education. Ms. Hanah told us that there came a big fire in the old plaza while there is a celebration for the newly elected Mayor, Anthony Kindson. She said that Amy, the Mayor's lover saved everyone from the fire. She risked herself to save the townspeople. A heroic deed that etched itself in our city's history.
Anthony...
Ah!
"Witch!" Then a torch flew and ignited my dress.
That Anthony... Oh my God.
My realisation was cut off by my best friend's voice.
"Reena! Hurry! Mr. Curtis is waiting for you!" Jess was running waving at me to run as well. So I did.
When I got to the main room of the event, I felt really underdressed. I was wearing a black shirt and fitted jeans paired with white sneakers while my surroundings look posh, grand. The teachers were wearing formal, Tiffany and her posse are always wearing outfits fit for parties like this, even Jess is in a soft pastel sundress. But she likes sundresses. Then there's me, jeans and sneakers. Ugh.
The Mayor went towards me with a big smile on his face, his hands outstretched to me. "Reena! Reena right? You did a splendid job earlier, dear. Thank you." I blushed, even as an old man, he is still quite charming. His slightly wrinkled face did not hide the fact that he used to be a good looking man.
"I... uh... thank you?" I stammered shaking his hand.
The Mayor's face became of nostalgia and sadness. "You looked exactly like her." He held on my hand tighter. His eyes are nearly teary. That's odd. Were they related?
But he seemed to catch himself and shook his head lightly. He beamed his bright smile at me again. "Thank you for accepting the role, I heard things have been hard for you these past few days."
"It's already something I agreed to before anything else happened, so...yeah."
The Mayor's eye crinkle when he smiles. It's endearing. "I was right to choose you as her." My eyes widened in surprise. He chose me? Is that why Ms. Hanah kept on insisting for me to be the Amy?
"Ah, where could my son be? Hmm... I would like you to meet him. But I can't find him right now."
I interrupted him and told him I'd love to meet his son but I would like to eat first. It was kind of rude when it came out of my mouth, though he doesn't seem to mind.
I walked towards the buffet where there are whole wide selection of food. Most of them are food that my mother likes, luxurious and high class. The kind of food that my tastebuds dislike. I chose random food, just stacking it on my plate, got juice and went my way to the table.
Wait. Where does Jess sit? Uhhh... She just disappeared when the Mayor talked to me.
I just walked towards a free table, hoping nobody already sits there. I sat down and began eating. Because of all the things that happened today (they're all stressing), I felt the hunger eat my stomach. I paid no heed to the person who sat in front of me, even if this table might be his.
"Easy Amy. You might choke." A rumbling deep voice told me. The voice's familiar. Like a voice I have heard in passing. Hmm...
I looked up to see who it was and what I saw nearly clogged my throat with food. "You?! What are you doing here?!" I dropped my spoon on the table and pointed at him accusingly. He's that guy who almost hit me with his motorcycle!
"I'm a guest here so tone down your voice, it's embarrassing." He claimed, raising his brow at me.
"Guest? So what, you're an important person here? Like the son of Mr. Curtis? Yeah right." I haughtily pointed at him with my fork, a piece of meat attached at the end of it. He shrugged. "Yeah. Basically."
I rolled my eyes at him and resumed eating my food. It's quite delicious, I guess if I don't dine with my parents food will taste alright.
"So Amy..." He started with a slight drawl. I got irritated when he kept calling me in that name. It doesn't do me good when I just experienced being her in a worst case scenario for a few minutes. "It's not Amy you dolt. It's Reena."
"Rina. Hmm... Quite a common name too." I think my eyes would never come back if I roll them again. But I can't help it. "It's Reena. E-E not I. Re-ena."
He chuckled and shook his head lightly. "Great performance you fid out there. I'm impressed." I only muttered a "Thanks." in return. He makes me uncomfortable.
We did not talk for a while, the only sound between us is my loud chews because I'm trying to get on his nerves.
"Can you eat more like a lady? That's disgusting."
I only stared at him with a deadpan face, still chewing loudly.
"Yuck." His face contorted into disgust, gagging slightly. Ha! Points for me.
"Princess."
"It's called manners, miss." It was his turn to roll his eyes. "For all the talk my Dad says about you being Amy, this sure is not one of them. " He pointed my food while wrinkling his face then sat comfortably in the plastic chair, looking at me directly in the eye. "Though, the fact that you look exactly like Amy is really on point."
I finished my food and set aside my plate. I looked back at him, eye for an eye. I think he's trying to rankle my shackles and doing a good job in it. I gave him my version of stink eye. A much more intimidating one than Tiffany's (I hope). "What do you want you jerk?"
"The name's Andrew." He said and he seemed very proud of his name. It's a common name too!
"Andrew." His name dripping from my tongue like soiled milk. "What do you want from me?"
He blinked at me, feigning innocence. He actually had the guts to pretend to ponder when he just said "None." The nerve of this guy. "But I'm intrigued." He added. I only raised a brow to indicate 'I'm listening but this better be good'. "Why do you dislike being Amy? Or Amy in general? From what you have been acting since earlier, you seemed a little pissed when I call you Amy. Shouldn't you be proud to be compared with a city hero?" He asked, emphasising each question leaning towards me.
"It's none of you business. Don't be nosy." I countered. It was quite lame I admit, but better be lame than be called crazy. It's not so normal to say, "I don't like that I look like her because I just became her for a few minuets and it was horrible and the fact that if I look like her, I might be related to her and that won't be good because either of my parents are not. That would make me like adopted or something."
See? It's like a bag full of cats story.
Andrew appeared to have understood that I don't like him and his questions, raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine."
"Andrew! There you are!" Someone said behind me and he sounds like the Mr. Curtis. Andrew grimaced but smiled anyway.
Oh. So he's telling the truth? He's the son of the Mayor? Wow.