RHYME DIZON
"Alright, let's have a break!" said the casting director. I made my way towards one of the theater seats beneath the stage and sat down, feeling completely drained. I hadn't intended to participate in this play. But then, when I saw Night auditioning, I couldn't resist getting involved. I chuckled as I remembered those moments. That girl. What was she thinking when she decided to audition for a male character?" I'm certain she'll face the same struggle as I am currently.
I didn't expect it to be this exhausting. With the school festival approaching, our rehearsals have become more frequent. Instead of relaxing during the weekend and visiting Moryn at her house, I couldn't do so because I needed to go to the university just to practice. There was a moment when Leah came home and informed Dad about my participation in the upcoming school festival's production of Romeo and Juliet. But all I received from Dad was a nod. He didn't utter a word, as if he didn't care about me, as usual.
To prevent myself from getting too upset, perhaps I'll choose to believe what my older sister Leah always tells me about our Dad being someone who struggles to express his emotions. As to her, Daddy is actually proud of me, he just can't show it. I'm no longer a child, so I don't fully buy into that notion. But for now, I'll play along with it. Leah even mentioned that she'll try to convince Dad to come and watch me perform. Just the mere thought of it, I already know that my old man will refuse. Besides being too busy, it's simply not his cup of tea.
The first day of the school festival arrived, and it seemed like Charbelle was even more excited than I was. She reminded both Night and me about entering the horror booth. She emphasized that we couldn't miss it because she had worked hard to help organize it. She even discreetly gave me tips on what to do when entering the horror booth. Honestly, I didn't need them. I'm not a scaredy-cat, knowing that the ghosts inside aren't real anyway.
She's overly supportive of me, and I know why. It seems like she's genuinely interested in seeing Night wearing girls' uniforms. What's worse is that she claims she can't sleep well at night because she's constantly thinking about it, and she also wants to be the one to sew Night's uniform herself. Sometimes, girls' minds are just so weird. Detective Conan was right, girls are the only mystery that's hard to decipher.
When I started performing, I didn't see Dad anywhere, but luckily, Moryn, Leah, and Mommy Vanessa were there. Night didn't seem to attend. What a waste. I wanted her to see how good I am, how deserving I am to play Romeo. When I entered the backstage to change costumes for the next scene, I paused when I saw Night. She avoided my gaze when I approached her.
"I was just assigned to help out here." She answered what was on my mind even before I asked. I smirked. "See, Night? I'm really more suited for this role." I said with a hint of boasting just to tease her. However, she remained silent. I expected her to get annoyed with me again and shout at me. She helped me fix my costume while the other staffs and cast members were busy backstage. "it's okay. I can do this alone," I told Night without looking at her. I went into the dressing room and continued fixing myself there.
I put on my black tailcoat, buttoning it up to my chest. I tucked in my white shirt, making sure the collar was stiff and neat. I pulled up my light-colored trousers, adjusting them for comfort and style. I slipped on my dark boots, lacing them up to my calves. I looked at myself in the mirror, I sighed. To be honest, I'm not comfortable with what I'm wearing right now. "You wanted this, Rhyme, so endure it." I said to myself.
I stepped out of the dressing room and approached Night, who was also busy preparing other props we would need. She handed me a foil made of plastic and placed a black top hat on my head. I adjusted it, sensing she might be displeased with how she initially placed it, or perhaps I'm just overthinking it, considering that our height difference is making it difficult for her to reach my head. Even after we made eye contact for a few seconds, she remained silent. Maybe she's genuinely upset with me. But why? Is it my fault if she can't surpass me?
After the exhausting performance, Charbelle greeted us in the corridor and reminded us that the horror booth would open at 1:30 PM. It seemed to be the first time a booth was delayed in opening, even though it was already the first day of the festival, all because of Charbelle's whims. "My gosh, Charbelle! Can't you just move on?" Leah exclaimed irritably. "Oh no. Everything is already set, so it can't be revoked," she replied.
After lunch, we headed to where the horror booth was set up. We were still outside, and we could already hear the scary sound effects from inside. As we entered the entrance, I noticed Night's surprised expression upon seeing the interior. I secretly smiled. So, she's actually easily scared. It seems Charbelle might finally have a better night's sleep tonight.
But hold on. Why are the three of them here with us? "I thought the horror booth was meant to be exclusive for me and Night at the moment. What are you guys doing here?" I inquired. They closed in around me, with Leah and Charbelle on my right, and Night and Moryn on my left. "Of course, I'll be the judge between you and Night, so I need to observe properly," Charbelle replied. "Me? I'm just curious about what's inside," Leah said. "I just want to accompany Night," Moryn also said.
We continued walking slowly. I wanted to quicken my steps, but I couldn't because the four of them were holding on to me. We were now in front of a narrow cave with bat sound effects. There is dim lighting, but it's insufficient to see the surroundings clearly, so I used the flashlight on my phone. "Where are we going?" Leah asked. I furrowed my brow. Why is she even asking when there's only one path through the cave and it's extremely narrow? I glanced at her. That's when I saw her tightly shut her eyes, along with the three other girls with me.
"Here's the map," Charbelle said, handing me the map while still keeping her eyes closed. "Guys! How will you enjoy if you keep your eyes shut?" I said, causing them to immediately open their eyes. Honestly, I wanted to laugh at them, but I was afraid that laughing might make my life in danger at the hands of Leah. The surroundings were chilly, and the fog intensified the sense of fear. I looked at the map I was holding. They really came up with a map, huh?
As I read the map, I couldn't help but grimace. The horror booth was divided into three sections, and according to the map, we were currently in the Shadowed Depth, which was the cave we were standing. So we're still in the first zone, which means we still have two more to pass through. I told them what the map said. I also shared the unsettling detail that failure to find our way out would result in being trapped here forever. Observing the fear evident on their faces, I suppressed the urge to laugh.
We continued walking until we noticed a shadow suddenly appearing in front of us. "Oh my gosh! I wanna go home now. Let's go back," Charbelle said fearfully. "Stop it! You wanted this, so stick with it!" Leah retorted. "Why are you frightened when you're involved in organizing this?" she added. "I didn't expect it to be this scary in actual," Charbelle defended herself.
As they kept arguing, we walked at a slow pace. I couldn't walk faster because all four of them were holding onto me tightly. Out of nowhere, a skeleton came crashing down in front of us, still dangling in the air. The suddenness of the event, coupled with the loud sound effect. it wasn't the skeleton or the sound that surprised me the most, but rather the piercing screams that escaped from their mouths. I glanced to my left and noticed Night, who was gripping onto me tightly, struggling to speak because of fear. The smiles on my lips just can't be wiped away. I already have an idea that I'll be the one to emerge victorious in this game.