A day before the event, we have a general meeting to finalize the activities. For volunteers, our final task is to wear a Halloween costume. We were asked to see the costume department to get our own costumes, do a rehearsal fitting and make ups. For my costume, I get to play Casper - the friendly ghost. I will be wearing a white full body fabric and white make up all over my face. No one should recognize me once I wear the costume and make up during the event. I think I am still lucky to get that costume compare to the costumes that my friends will be wearing. Cleo will get to play witch, Marcelo will get to play Frankenstein and Marvin will be playing wolf. I think they will look funny but I don't think are happy with it though.
The day of our event falls exactly in the eve of Halloween. It is a full day event with lighter activities during the day. There will be live bands in the afternoon and the highlights of the event will happen in the evening because of the light and mini rides the student club hire for the event. Also, in the evening this is when we will appear in costume and mingle with the crowds. It should be a fun day to every one but I didn't realize it would be a horrible night of my life.
My friends and I all come out from the costume department altogether wearing our costume and make up. As anticipated, we hardly recognize each other. The make up artists they hire for the event were all very good. Those who are done with their costumes and make up are ask to leave the room and start to mix with the crowds. Some are scary while some are enjoying seeing us and a lot of them are taking selfie photo with us. The Halloween costumes help a lot to make the event more fun and enjoyable for everyone.
My friends and I decided to split up and mix with the crowds. We enjoy it a lot if we get to play with our friends from the class. We try to scare them and they are all surprise and amaze to see us because of the transformation.
I have to leave my friends for the meantime as we are still on duty and need to perform our task for the event. I was in the middle of the crowd when I saw Gilbert from a distance. He is not with his friend or fellow officers but definitely he is not alone. Some fans are coming to him to touch him and have a selfie photo with him. He was in all black tonight. Wearing black shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. Oh yes, I was mesmerized by his gorgeousness. No wonder his fans were all charmed by him. I was standing still when he walks towards me. I thought he is coming to see me but he just walk by pass me. And I laugh because Gilbert did not recognize me at all. We both turn around and he staring at me for a few seconds. He walks a little bit closer to me and still staring at me deeply this time. When he was a bit closer, I said, "Boo!" Gilbert laughs and said, "Toni?" I said, "I am Casper! Your friendly ghost!" He said, "I have been looking all over for you. No one wants to tell me who are you going to be playing with tonight." I said, "That's the plan. We are not supposed to be recognized." And give him a big smile.
He pulled me away and said, "Let's go!" I said, "Huh? Where are we going?"
He took me to one of the rides called Mini Ferris Wheel. Each cabin can accommodate 2 persons sitting and facing each other. We were both holding our hands as the Ferris wheel is rolling up and down. We had a great time.
After the rides, we decided to just walk around because all the rides are busy. The booths are all crowded as well. He is always teasing me with my costumes and my make up. He said I should let him clean up my face later. Adam interrupted our conversation and asked Gilbert to come with him on the stage, as he needs to draw a raffle for the winning tickets and get the chance to win some gifts from the sponsor of the events. Adam also asked all the volunteers who are in costume to come to the stage as well because they also have some surprises for us.
We are all in the back of the stage while Gilbert is already in front with some senior officers and they started to perform the raffles. While the other officers were left with us and help us to fix our costumes and retouching our make up as we need to go in the front and face the crowd. The host of the event called us in the stage and will announce to the crowd the three winners of the best in costume and make up of the event.
We were all on the stage standing next to each other. Standing besides me are Cleo, Marcelo and Marvin. Some of the senior officers are standing behind us. Gilbert, Marivic and Adam still in the front but standing on the other side of the stage with the host of the event. They will hand over the award to the winners of the best in costume of the Halloween event.
The first winner they called was Cleo. We all hug her and cheering for her. The second winner was Jacob, another volunteer from different class. Everybody keeps on clapping until the host is ready to announce the last winner. After a few seconds, the host finally announced the last winner and he shouted, "Casper!" As the crowds are cheering with a loud noise I was not able to hear clearly what the host just said until Marcelo & Marvin were shouting and said to me, "You are the last winner!" Go ahead and get your gift."
I could not move from where I stand. I am stuck. Gilbert and the host are now in the middle and ready to hand me my gifts. I tried to move again but I can feel something from behind me preventing me to step forward. I can feel that something or someone stepping in my costume from behind. I turn my head around my back to see what was going on and I saw Ben and Gabby were standing behind me and I tried to look down and I saw that they were both stepping on my costume. With all my strength, I push hard to pull back my costume to get away from them until my costume break apart in half. The next thing I heard, every body was laughing. The crowds were laughing at me. My body was exposed to every one. I was only wearing a white short and white sando/singlet under the costume. When I realized about what just happen I tried to cover myself with my two arms and my face was very shocked and truly embarrassed. Quickly, Gilbert came to my rescue. He pick up my costume and wrap it around me and grab me and pulled me away from the stage.
Gilbert took me as far as away from the stage, too far away from the crowd. We ended up in a very quiet corner of the campus in a bench under the tree. I was just quiet; head is down as he tries to put me in the bench. He was quiet too. He is not sure whether he can talk to me at this point. I am not crying actually, I'm just shocked. After a few minutes, he said, "I am sorry about what happen." I said, "Why are they doing this to me? What do they want from me?" Gilbert said, "It has nothing to do with you. I am sorry I should be blame for what is happening to you." I turn my head up and look at him and said, "Don't blame yourself. I know I should stay away from you. But believe me, I enjoy every moment being with you." Gilbert looks at me in the eye and said, "I promise you it will never happen again. I will deal with them. They have no rights to hurt you." I said, "Okay!" And he asked me if I will be alright if he leaves me and will come back as soon as he settle the issues.
I was alone for a few minutes when my friends came. They were looking all over for me until they found me. My brother sat beside me and tried to comfort me while my friends were trying to cheer me up as well. They also started to tease me especially when Gilbert came to my rescue.
For the meantime, the event is still going on. There is a band playing at the moment in the stage. Gilbert comes back to the stage and looking for everyone. He could not find what he was looking for so he walks to the club's office and was hoping to see whoever he was looking for. The office is close but he overhears people talking inside. He placed his ear against the door and tries to listen what are the people were talking about. One person said, "Nice job, the plan was executed very well." The next person said, "Well, I am very good. If Toni thoughts he already got away from what I did to him in the costume department, he was very wrong." Another person said, "True, he has no idea that the painting job is just a warning for something bigger, he is really very wrong." And the last person said, "I am jealous of you guys because I was not able to do something against him because Gilbert took him to his team. Adam, you should have not allowed him." Adam said, "If I didn't, Gilbert will be suspicious of our plans."
Gilbert could not believe what he just heard and cannot take it anymore. He could not believe that Adam - his best friend betrayed him. He pushed the door very loudly and everybody inside were shocked and surprised to see Gilbert. He swiftly jumped to Adam and punched him. Marivic, Gabby and Ben hold Gilbert tightly and tried to stop him in attacking Adam. Adam stands up and slightly wipes the blood from his lips. Gilbert was very strong and they let him go and pushes Gabby and Ben away from him. Marivic quickly asks Gilbert to stop and tries to hug Gilbert. Gilbert quickly avoids Marivic from touching him and pushes her away. Adam said, "Hey don't hurt her!" And he pushes away Gilbert very hard. Gilbert shouts at Adam and said, "I know you like Marivic a lot! Well, you can have her. She is all yours! I never like her in the first place." Gilbert turns around and faces Ben and Gabby together and said, "If you will not leave Toni alone, I will make sure I will hurt you big time." Every one are speechless and Gilbert kicks the door and leaves the office.
Gilbert came back but I was not longer there. I am already hanging out with friends and just want to enjoy the rest of the event. I have already changed my costume and wear my casual clothes and have clean my face as well. We were with the rest of the crowd and watching the band currently playing on the stage. Gilbert tries to look for me and never give up until he found me. He said, "It looks like someone is already enjoying himself." I said, "I am, the evening is short. I cannot just sit and feel sad while every one is enjoying." He said, "Good on you." His face looks a little bit annoyed. I said, "Come on, we can talk about it later. Lets just have fun. Here follow me!" And I start to wave and jump following the rest of the crowd. He reluctantly tries to imitate what I was doing even though it looks boring but its good enough for me. Finally, he is enjoying the evening. He is not just hopping with me but also with my friends. As he is enjoying the company of my friends, I had a moment to stare at him and a lot of thoughts came to me and said to myself, "I never thought I would be close to this guy. I never thought that day, the day I spilled drinks on his shirt would lead as something as wonderful as tonight. He made an effort to be friends with me or even greater than what we are right now. This guy is always there for me, become my silver linings to my darkest moments. He became my protector and my knight and shining armour. Isn't that I should reward him for everything? Isn't he deserves someone's love and affection? I think its' about time that I should do my part. He keeps on giving but never receives anything from me. I promise I will also take care of you from now on!"