There were two problems for those who would present the play: studying for the exams and continuing to rehearse the play.
It was a Spartan task in every way, since the exam syllabi were quite heavy due to the topics that were reviewed in all the time that it was taken from class.
For about a month and a half, in that time many things were seen, just that coincided with the arrival of low temperatures, which made the study work much more complicated.
As Ringo walked through the corridors, he saw that everyone was extremely worried, studying like crazy to pass the exam that was worth half of the partial grade.
In the classroom things were not indifferent, everyone kept running and running through the corners of the classroom, trying to understand even the slightest bit of the class of letters, which had been complicated in more ways than one.
Ringo accepted that he didn't understand a damn thing after a few hours of trying to study, giving up that he could pass the exam. Even so, he did not allow defeat to beat him, he had to give the minimum effort to make things go well.
Just like that, he took out his notebook and gave him a review of the study program, which he did not understand in the least.
-You know this?! -One of the girls sputtered.
-No, I thought you did!
-Damn, we're done!
When Aimi's heels clicked near the hall, that was a sign that the final judgment was about to happen. Only Ringo's blood didn't run cold when he heard that sound, on the contrary, he got quite excited.
The moment she walked in, everyone gave a cry of pure dread seeing that Aimi had the exams on her arm.
-Good Morning teacher. -Ringo said.
-Good morning, guys. Take a seat and prepare everything you need for the test.
-Can it be in pairs? -Aimi didn't look at the boy who asked that, she just giggled.
-Of course, you and God. Those who are atheists or agnostics will make it individual.
-We are done...
She put the exams on her desk, peeling off the tape around them. He took them back and distributed them among the group.
When he reached Ringo's bench, they both smiled. -And how have you been? -He asked.
-Better better, although now you should only be concerned about your exam. -She smiled.
Time was running out, more than one was desperate because he didn't understand in the least what was being asked.
Some others were reassured because, as they progressed through it, they realized that the exam was not as difficult as they thought.
The one who had difficulty answering was Ringo. In the open questions he had answered what God gave him to understand. He was taking the test as a team, after all.
Already in the simplest questions, there he did remember the most practical ... but at the time of him having to do some exercise ... nothing else came to his head, having no idea what to do during the forty-five minutes that the session lasted famous exam.
The first to finish was Juro. He had gotten smarter than everyone and it occurred to him to study with Kazumi, who understood teacher Aimi's classes perfectly, especially the arts classes.
They all stared at him with suspicion and envy, since he had a factor that the others did not. After Juro, another companion followed and then Yumei, who was very adept at languages and lyrics, due to her study of songs.
Yurisa finished almost five minutes after Yumei, both studied together: one asked and the other answered. In that study session, Yumei benefited from all of them, knowing how to answer what was required.
One of the last to deliver was Ringo, who more than anything did it because he no longer knew what else to distract himself and felt extremely bored.
Aimi watched his exam with hardly any answer and sighed heavily.
-I expected more from you. –He thought, seeing how Ringo opened the door to leave, but not before saying goodbye with her hand, drawing another sigh from her.
When she realized that Ringo had made her sigh, she put a hand to her mouth and blushed a lot. A boy six and a half years younger than her put her like that? That left him a lot to think about.
After that, he remembered when the two of them almost kissed, why did Aimi come to him for a kiss? She didn't wonder if he was wrong for being a teacher and a student, she wondered if he pushed her to try to kiss him, she didn't understand that.
Instantly, she thought it was because of her melancholy state ... she wanted an exit whatever, she wanted to stop feeling like an idiot for everything that happened to her that day, but that could affect the boy.
-See you later, teacher. –The last girl in the classroom said goodbye. Out of nowhere, no one was in the room anymore than her and the exams just finished.
-What's happening to me? - She was questioned.
The most difficult test was over, but the chaos of the situation did not stop anywhere. The students were still running and shouting everywhere, worried that more could happen on that day.
-Who here knows about sociology?! -A boy yelled.
-I'm sick of this shit, I can't take it anymore! -Another boy tried to jump from one of the second floor windows, but was knocked down by his friends.
-Think you're doing an idiot, if you don't take the exam you're going to fail the year!
-Damn!!!
Ringo watched all the chaos, sitting on the stairs and having a can of soda. -Dramatic, not even the end of the world. He took a long swig of his drink.
-There are people who do care about their grades, colleague. –Juro was going through his notebook.
-I respect that ... but these people take everything to the extreme, don't you think, buddy?
-Meh, without a doubt. Even so, do your best.
-I already did it at my house. Besides sociology is easy, it is pure interpretation.
Professor Tadashi passed whistling through the corridors, he was going to give Kazumi's group an exam. Even she was a little nervous.
When he entered the class, everyone was scared giving a cry of terror, to which Ringo gave a small laugh, raising his head to look at the ceiling of the academy, mocking everyone with the enormous calm that he carried on his shoulders.
-Slugglers, Professor Tadashi always helps us in the exam, what do you worry about?
Aimi took advantage of the fact that she had no class to teach to grade the exams. He realized that he hadn't done so badly. Pure seven up, something that could be better ... but added to the exam, the truth is that things looked for an eight, something that was an acceptable average.
Without hardly realizing it at all, Ringo watched her from the doorway, guiltily and frowning.
-Why so serious, Ringo? -She asked.
-Are promises important to you? –The boy asked him.
-Of course they are, what comes the question?
-If you remember that you promised me that you would stop smoking?
-Of course I remember, that's why I no longer do it.
-You don't do it anymore?! You are cynical!
-Hey, don't disrespect me, we may trust each other, but they exist in everything! ... -Aimi was smoking a cigarette without realizing it in the remotest place. -…Limits.
-There are limits, of course. And boy did you overcome the trust I had in you. -Ringo made a disapproving gesture and left instantly.
Aimi immediately removed the cigar from her mouth, stubbing it out and throwing it away. She couldn't explain how she smoked ... without realizing he was doing it.
After a long time ... she realized that something with her was out of place. Somewhere in her body a part was removed, but which one?
-And what happened to my coffee? -Tadashi asked.
-There was not. –Ringo answered angrily.
-Something happened to you?
-Nothing, I'm fine.
Tadashi knew that "I'm fine" translated as "keep asking and it broke your soul." So he himself went to the teachers' room to see what had happened.
Surely, Ringo got burned by the coffee pot, which is why he got so upset that he didn't want to hear from anyone. Upon entering, any doubts that could be resolved ... were not resolved. More questions were created.
What yes, is that there was a slight whiff of cigarettes, something that made him very strange, and according to what he thought, he was the only one of the teachers who smoked.
-Hi teacher, grading exams? How are your students doing? -Tadashi asked.
-If I continue like this, the general average of the group will be eight point two. Something tells me that I am not so bad. Aimi was glad.
-That's an excellent sign. –Tadashi poured coffee into his cup. The coffeepot was full and hot, so she still didn't find out what Ringo's anger was. –And tell me, teacher, what is the brand of cigarettes that you smoke?
-I prefer not to talk about that topic ... I no longer find much sense to it.
-I see smoking as a luxury that I give myself. Millionaires buy luxurious cars to kill themselves in an accident ... and I bought a small cigarette to kill myself by taking the oxygen out of my body.
-If that kills him, then why does he keep doing it?
-That's supposed to take five minutes off my life. That being the case, he took ten minutes off my life each week, although I gain another two with each time I smiled. You know, silly rumors running around the internet.
-Silly rumors?
-What guarantees me that for each cigarette I smoke it took five minutes of my life? It can be three, it can be ten, even twenty; Who guarantees it? The only thing that if it is that it takes some of my life, although it does not matter much for now ... just like you, I no longer find much sense.
-Wow ... you are quite wise.
-I'm not wise or smart… I just ask myself too many questions. Tadashi took a sip of his coffee. -Damn, it's hot. -Finally, he withdrew from the staff room, leaving Aimi thoughtful.
The next test Juro and Ringo's class had was the sociology test. Now he really had been waiting to take a real exam. It wasn't impossible to answer, but it did take some thought.
Just as I had mentioned before, they were wondering too much to know any other opinion.
When he got to the room, everyone shouted except Ringo and Juro, who felt focused and confident that they would do well.
Aimi, for her part, came to Ringo's exam, which had quite a few blank spaces, which she filled in with a question mark.
The boy was concentrating on his now sociology exam. Everything was going smoothly without much difficulty, until it was the reading part.
Professor Tadashi's exams had the peculiarity of being quite complex on the reading side. Almost all were trick questions or could have more than one interpretation.
He did not do this to screw his students, he did it to put their fucking brain to work, which was in a state of strike at least in his class, which was quite a play.
When Aimi got to the answered part of the test, she carefully read the answers. Many of them were correct in their own way, the pure and authentic definition had not been said but something that was quite related.
In short, it was the correct answer, but in different words.
Twenty-seven out of fifty points… things weren't going so well with the boy.
After twenty minutes, Ringo got up from his place and placed the exam on Tadashi's desk, to whom he waved a quick wave of his hand.
The days of the week happened normally: chaos here, desperate and stressed students there. Anyway, what happens during the week of evaluations.
Although the only ones who were erratic and stressed were not exclusively the students, but also a certain teacher who taught the subjects of Letters and History.
Her routine was simple: five in the morning to wake up to bathe, get ready, comb her hair, put on makeup; have breakfast, smoke some cigarettes to "complete" her breakfast, go to the academy, teach her classes, rehearse for the play, go home to grade exams, go to her dance classes; return again to grade exams and pending work, have dinner and prepare the next day's lunch.
Although there was a problem in all that routine, where was the food and sleeping for eight hours a day? Apparently nowhere far from under the rug.
Among that routine was also the one to stay a while longer to explain to the students that they were regular in the matter, eat with Ringo from time to time and play a quick game of cards.
The small unfilled spaces with a break or a small snack were filled entirely with cigars, which could be said to be an "essential" part of Aimi's diet. Smoking practically took away the desire to sleep and rest, so he could follow his routine with a certain "naturalness".
When the routine was broken, it was because she suffered a drop in blood pressure or was already reaching the point of being close to fainting. Those were the days when she bothered with herself for not giving what was still left of the day.
She knew perfectly well that rest and eating were vital to have a good performance and not to faint every time her body gave more than one hundred percent, but he always repeated himself: "Next week things will calm down, I will be able to rest ." And yes, maybe if he could rest, but as Tadashi told him that time "What do you guarantee?"
Although those issues were unimportant when she realized ... that tomorrow was the big day of the play, the one for which she had given more than one hundred percent.
The premiere was to take place an hour before the usual school outing. Yurisa dressed like Frida Kahlo, looking quite beautiful with all the colorful touches that the huipil and the colored ribbons in her braids gave her.
Eiji looked quite curious with his messy hair like Alfaro Siqueiros had, in addition to his characteristic painter / muralist robe.
Juro had on Trotsky's glasses and mustache, looking quite similar to the revolutionary, except for the wrinkles that the boy did not have.
Kazumi looked almost identical to Natalia because of her blonde hair and the dress she was wearing, clearly age was the least alike.
It was the opening scene, Trotsky and Natalia entered the stage looking everywhere, quite surprised, which was followed by Kahlo and Rivera.
Several were surprised to see Yurisa dressed in typical clothes from far away Mexico. As mentioned, she looked quite a bit cuter.
The play was performed in the gym of the academy. The full was absolute. Tadashi observed what was happening in the front row, being quite surprised by the performance of Juro, who kept looking at Yurisa almost as if he had true love for her.
Ringo and Aimi were backstage, he was practicing the final scene with an ice ax made of cardboard. He imagined that he had Juro's head in front of him and was landing a blow, but he stopped when he saw Aimi looking at him.
-Are you nervous? -He ask.
-Not that much. I learned the lines and am used to being in front of crowds.
-Good point…
In one scene, Juro and Yurisa were left alone on stage, looking at each other seductively. "Trotsky" would stand behind "Kahlo" to hug her from behind, giving her a kiss on the cheek. The spectators simply blurted out an "Ah" from the surprise that it caused them.
Honestly, Juro was very ashamed to have to kiss Yurisa because of how shy he was. And she ... enjoyed that shyness by provoking you a little tenderness.
-I may go now, Frida ... but I have to tell you that I have always loved you and in secret.
-I know that, Mr. Trotsky. -Although I would like to do something with you before you go. –Yurisa took Juro by the hand, leading him off the stage.
Trotsky's sack and Kahlo's Huipil were thrown onto the stage again.
-Let's show me you're a lion! –Yurisa moaned while some spectators laughed or were amazed more than they already were, listening as if those two were making love.
-And you paint me how you know how to do it!
The truth was that Juro moaned in a very sorry way, while Yurisa tried to contain her laughter at the grace that this caused her.
Both returned to the stage adjusting their clothes, Yurisa wiped her lips, looking at Trotsky so passionately that it almost pierced the heart of the person behind the costume and the role.
Juro took his jacket and, after looking at Yurisa one last time, left the scene.
-Goodbye ... my dear Frida.
-I prefer to say goodbye to you, my beloved Lion.
Now it was the part where Alfaro Siqueiros tried to assassinate Trotsky, who entered the scene shouting:
-Long live the true revolution and long live Stalin! - When "Siqueiros" activated the pistol, it did not fire. -But what? ...
The stuntmen pounced on Eiji, knocking him down for real, who screamed in part because of the blow to his head and why it was part of the script.
Juro and Kazumi got up from where they were sitting, watching in surprise at the knockdown Eiji suffered.
-Hijo de la chingada, your head must be exposed in Moscow and then be thrown to the dogs!
-What would Frida say to you if she saw you right now? -Trotsky asked.
-What would Stalin say to you if he saw you right now? –Asked Siqueiros.
-Surely, I'm a bloody traitor ... when in truth he was. –Juro sentenced, to which Eiji tried to free himself to take him by the neck. -Take him away now.
-Trotsky must die, you and the traitors who follow you! -Eiji sputtered as the other stuntmen removed him from the scene.
-Well, just like we rehearsed it! –Yumei muttered, with much emotion.
-Follow Jacques and Silvia, hurry up! -They both went on stage even though the curtain had not yet risen.
The scenery was well placed, it really gave the impression that the scene was in a hotel room ... except that the curtains were half disarranged and badly placed.
But the bed was unmade, to which Aimi took off her shirt ... not before blushing as she looked at Ringo, who made eyes that she didn't know, to turn her back, whistling.
She quickly removed her blouse, tucking it under the covers. –You can turn around now. –She whispered, to which the boy did immediately.
Before the scene started, Yumei muttered at him. -Take off your coat and hat, and also get off! -So he did, Ringo threw the hat and the jacket out of the picture, taking off half.
Already the reflector was shining on both of them, that was the signal.
-Then what? –Asked Silvia.
-Can we go to breakfast? The truth is that I wasn't going to leave for a long time.
-Don't be a liar ... you can go now, we did what we wanted, let's leave it at that.
Ringo sat down on the bed now to take Aimi by the hand. –If you think you can get rid of me… you won't have it easy at all.
-I thought you only wanted my body for one night.
-I didn't want your body… I wanted your feelings. –The whole audience threw an "awww" while Yumei puffed up her cheeks with courage, to which Eiji pinched her arm.
-Comportant, hell. –He muttered angrily.
They were already going to the final stretch of the play, where Jacques and Silvia were in a cafe, preparing everything for the wedding that was never going to take place since it would be the penultimate time they would see each other.
They were located in what was supposed to be a restaurant, standing in the center of the stage, sitting on two chairs and a small table that had empty plates and, between them, a red rose in a metal vase.
Ringo took the rose and gave it to Aimi, partly for the performance and partly because he wanted to give it to her from the heart.
What he was going to do was complete madness, but he preferred to take a slight chance. It is assumed that only one more line was missing to finish the scene.
-Hey Silvia, do you like roses? –Asked Ringo, behind Jacques's character.
-What? -Aimi looked at Yumei, who was searching and searching for that line in the script, making a gesture of not knowing what the hell.
-The roses, do you like them?
-Hey ... yeah, I like roses. –She answered, uncertainly. Now Yumei was beckoning her to tell him to play along. –I really like the red ones. -She said, really.
-Being so. -Ringo took her hand. -When I return from what I have to do I will buy you a bouquet of red roses, now I hope you can settle for this little one that I gave you.
-I'll try to settle ... -She put her arms on the table, staying very close to Ringo's face.
-See you at the hotel at five, try not to be late, okay? -That was the line of the script.
-I will do it. –Aimi gave him a kiss on the cheek, so that Ringo would leave the scene. When that happened, she looked at the boy, put her hand to her heart and sniffed the rose, giving a huge sigh.
-God… but how well the teacher acts.
-She really seems to be in love….
She opened her eyes in surprise, blushed and hid her face in the rose that was the same color as the skin on her face. Luckily for her, the curtain was already closing.
Aimi left the stage in a hurry covering her face, she didn't want anyone to see her saddened by something that had just happened, much less when Ringo was present.
The next was the penultimate scene: the assassination of Leon Trotsky. The set was arranged as a private office office, with the table facing the spectators, who would see the assassination head-on.
-Come in, come in. –Asked Juro, who walked with enough regret, as if he were really sixty years old.
-Here is the article, I already corrected it and everything.
-I'll give you a read. -Juro sat in the chair, looking straight at the spectators, to pretend to read a blank paper. He had gloves on - Aren't you hot or anything?
-No. In the afternoon it will rain, I prefer to prevent myself ... although I could use a glass of water. –Ramón answered.
-Natalia, can you give our guest a glass of water? -Trotsky exclaimed.
-I'll go right away –Natalia shouted, from off the stage, to enter with just a glass of water.
Ramón drank, without stopping for a second. -Thanks a lot. –He said, giving the glass to Natalia.
-You're welcome. If anything else is offered, I will be watching the rabbits. –Natalia took the glass and left the scene.
Juro sighed heavily, gazing at Kazumi in a daze. -I have the best wife in the world, she is much more than I deserve.
- Without a doubt Natalia is a good woman. -Ramón began to move to stand behind Trotsky, who was discreetly removing his gloves.
-Let's see ... What does it say here?
Ramón began to breathe heavily, pulling the cardboard ice ax out of his bag. You could see a truly indecisive Ringo from leagues, he even touched the tip of it to make sure for the last time that it was nothing dangerous and that it could really hurt his best friend.
He had already made sure that there was nothing dangerous about the ice ax. Even so, he was still undecided by the insecurity of hurting Juro's head.
While he was preparing, the spectators remained on the edge of his seat, whispering "No", "turn around" "that in the end, regret it."
But Ramón had to carry out the work, putting a hard face and nodding his head, hitting the cardboard ice ax above Trotsky's right ear, who immediately gave a cry of pain.
Ringo really got cold when he heard again the very true cry of Juro, who got up from the seat to look at his hands, which were already stained with paint from before, screaming again.
Trotsky quickly grabbed Ramón by the neck, who tried to defend himself, without success. He knocked him down and knocked him to the ground until he was unconscious.
Several doubles and Kazumi entered instantly, the men went to hold Ringo by the arms, Juro dropped into Kazumi's arms, so that they both fell in the center of the stage, being illuminated by a searchlight.
-Oh Natalia ... only God knows how much I loved you. –Trotsky dropped his arm when he was going to take Natalia by the cheek, who was mourning the death of her husband.
Many thought that this was going to be the end of the play, but Aimi entered the scene, watching with horror that tragedy.
-Miss, do you know this man? -Ramón avoided looking at Silvia, but she took him by the chin so that he could see every detail.
-Yes… he's a coward and a traitor. –Silvia slapped Ramón. Ringo really resented it. -Coward, traitor, you took advantage of me, you damn coward!
The policemen took Ramón Mercader off the stage while Silvia kept yelling at him "Coward."
The curtain closed, ending the play to which all those present rose to applaud.
Tadashi was extremely proud not only of his students, or for reliving memories of when he was in high school, but because they did something much better than he was capable of.
-Total success. –Yumei sentenced, who entered the scene to also receive the applause of the public, who admired her work as director of the play.
At the end, and in the living room, the crew was eating pizza and drinking soft drinks and juices from the vending machine in the hall.
They flanked for the enormous success of the work and for the results in sociology and letters ... or well, almost all: Ringo had failed letters with a five point nine average. Ah, but yes, in sociology he got nine points two for his excellent exam.
Aimi came over and ruffled her hair like she used to sometimes.
-Nice job. -Told him. –I almost forgot that those in the play have an extra tenth for participating in it, so your average is six point four.
-Thanks teacher. I suppose now you're going to scold me because you shouldn't give me that chance, and surely I won't have another… -Aimi covered her lips with her hand.
-I won't, I'm too happy for the success of the play. We will save it for tomorrow. -She winked at him, then went to hug Yumei, congratulating her for her great contribution to the work.
-For our great director. –Eiji mentioned.
-Kanpai!
-Thank you very much, I'm sorry to have been so demanding with you during the rehearsals ... but the process was worth it, everything was so spectacular, don't you think? –Yumei asked.
-Of course we do… although, the truth is that we planned to get even with you. –Kazumi raised an eyebrow, Aimi and Yurisa took her by the arms.
-W-what are they doing?! -Yumei looked at them with eyes of real concern.
-Now you're going to be the one who's going to scream. –Juro opened a bottle of almost frozen water.
-Oh my God... -Yumei yelled was heard as far as Osaka when he felt the cold water run over his head and back.
At the academy exit, Yurisa sheltered Yumei, who had a towel on her head so that her hair would dry, Eiji walked along with them, smiling at the revenge they dropped on Yumei.
Juro and Kazumi walked around talking about how cute the scenes they had together were, even wondering if they hadn't been actors in their past life.
-And how did you make him scream like that? –Kazumi asked.
-No no no. How come you cried in the final scene? It was just incredible, I can't explain it at all.
-The magic of being a woman. –Kazumi winked at Juro and stuck out his tongue. -See you tomorrow.
-See you tomorrow. –They both kissed goodbye, something that was already quite common.
-By the way, you look very handsome in a suit, Juro.
-H-handsome? -He blushed slightly.
Lastly, Ringo and Aimi were in her car, waiting for Juro to say goodbye to Kazumi.
- We did not do it badly, the truth is that it was something impressive. -Ringo commented.
- Without a doubt it was something wonderful. –Aimi put her hand on Ringo's lips again, to which he raised an eyebrow. –I thought you were going to say something else, don't listen to me.
-OK see you later. -She put her cheek wide to receive the boy's kiss, who finally waved goodbye and smiled without showing his teeth.
Being at a safe distance, Aimi kissed the hand she had placed on Ringo's lips, something that was quite unlike her. Realizing what she had done, she blushed a lot and wiped the same hand on her pants.
Her heart beat fast at what just happened. Again the question would be asked:
-Why am I doing this? -Seeing the rose that Ringo gave her, she opened the window and threw it into the street.
The poor rose was left in the middle of the cars without being crushed by any of them. If she had life and could talk, she would say to Aimi: "Bitch."
In truth she wondered what was wrong with her. It all started from the time he told Yurisa and Yumei that Ringo seemed attractive.
First there were the gestures, then the beautiful words ... then when they almost kissed, when he was there to help her when she had fainted at home, that which was undoubtedly the best gift of all her birthdays and when she fell down pressure in dance classes.
Something strange was happening to her heart. Is it that Aimi felt love again after ten years? She wished he hadn't, mainly because of what that would represent.
Being in love with a student of her, that could not be more than a fantasy love story, something that did not really happen ... however, the truth is that the love of that class is given more than one would think.
However, Aimi did not want to think about it, according to herself, she did not feel ready to love again, much less someone who was her student and who was almost seven years younger. It would simply go through some state of mere transitory illusion that would vanish in a matter of days or a very few weeks.