Xyrine Jean's POV
2nd Day of the School Festival
I pulled my cap down as low as possible, hoping to shield my face from the world as I walked around the university campus.
"You know," Ella started, her tone laced with amusement, "sometimes I think Spade likes you."
I nearly choked on air. "Where did you even get that ridiculous idea?!" I sputtered.
She smirked. "Oh, I don't know… maybe from what happened yesterday in the gym? Do you know how many times I've wished for something like that to happen to me? Being fought over by two team captains—right in the middle of the court? That's every romance novel's dream! I wonder how you felt in that moment… Maybe next time, it won't just be two fighting over you. Maybe four."
I groaned, gripping my cap tightly. Argh! Why does she have to bring that up?!
A rush of heat flooded my face as the memory crashed into me.
FLASHBACK
"Hey, do my words have no effect on you?"
"S-spade?" I blinked in shock.
He didn't answer—just stared at me, his face blank but his presence suffocating.
"Is there a problem here?" Lucas asked, his voice edged with tension.
Spade turned his gaze to him, his expression sharpening. "Why? Are you looking for one?" His previous blankness twisted into something dangerous.
Lucas scoffed. "If you're offering, then why not?"
Before I could fully process those words, Lucas grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him in a silent claim.
"Be my guest, then." Spade's voice was eerily calm—right before he yanked me back with such force that I spun behind him. Then, without warning, his fist crashed into Lucas' face, sending him to the floor.
My breath caught as my jaw dropped. The air in the gym thickened with stunned silence. I swallowed hard as I looked at Lucas, dazed and winded.
Ah, crap. What kind of drama is this? And Spade—what the hell was he doing? Had he completely lost it?
I tried to wrench my hand free, but his grip tightened like a vice.
"This is just a warning," he muttered darkly. "Next time I see you again..." His foot pressed against Lucas' chest. "You'll see your end."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but before I could react, Spade turned sharply and started dragging me away. The weight of countless eyes burned into me as we moved. My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Hey! Seriously, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind?!" I snapped, yanking at his grip. But the moment I did, he pulled me back with such force that I stumbled into his chest.
"You."
His voice dropped, the shift in tone making me freeze. I looked up—only to be caught in his gaze, paralyzed as if he had cast some spell on me.
"Is driving people insane one of your hobbies?" His voice was low, almost accusing.
Thump. Thump
I knew we were in the middle of a crowd. I knew all eyes were on us. But for some reason, I couldn't hear anything—nothing except the deafening sound of my own heartbeat. I couldn't look away from his piercing gaze. I couldn't even move.
"Why aren't you answering me?" His voice was low, teasing. "Is your heart pounding too loud again?"
"What?" I breathed out, barely processing his words.
He tilted his head slightly. "I'm the reason for it, aren't I?"
My lips parted, but no words came out.
What is he even saying—My heartbeat is so loud!
Then, it struck me—I recalled the very words I had spoken to him in the cafeteria.
A mortified groan echoed in my head as I remembered what I blurted out earlier in the cafeteria. Heat rushed to my face. "W-what nonsense are you talking about?" I stammered, trying once again to pull my hand free. But instead of letting go, his grip tightened.
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Well, it's no big deal," he murmured. "I mean… we're the same."
My breath hitched.
"You're driving my heart insane too," he whispered. "Right now, it's racing like crazy."
Thump. Thump
Before he could hear my heartbeat, I pulled my arm away with all my strength and pushed him. "You know what, you're insane! And... and... You're... (Confusing!) Aahhh!" I screamed and ran off.
"You're driving my heart insane as well."
What the hell does he mean by that?! He's really crazy, annoying, and freaking confusing!
END OF FLASHBACK
"Hey! You totally spaced out!"
A sharp tap on my shoulder snapped me back to reality. I blinked, turning to see Ella staring at me expectantly, arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on her lips.
"Huh?" I muttered, still caught in the haze of my thoughts. "Oh… I just remembered something."
Ella let out a dramatic sigh. "Psh! But seriously, what did Spade say to you yesterday? I'm dying to know! And it's not just me—everyone who saw you two is buzzing about it!"
I forced my expression to stay neutral, though my fingers twitched at the memory. Instead of feeding her curiosity, I leveled her with a blank stare.
"He asked me where he could get an anti-rabies shot," I deadpanned. "Apparently, he's losing his mind."
Ella blinked. Her brows furrowed slightly, lips parting as if to process what I just said.
I barely held in my laughter before it burst out. "Yeah, so if I were you, I'd keep my distance. You never know when he might start foaming at the mouth."
"Ugh! Whatever," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Let's just go booth hunting!"
With that, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, weaving through the crowd gathered around various booths in the pavilion. The scent of fried food mixed with the crisp scent of autumn leaves in the afternoon air. Laughter and excited chatter surrounded us as students moved between stalls, exchanging tickets for snacks and trinkets.
I had just started to relax when two young women stepped into our path.
"Hi, Miss Xyrine," one of them greeted with a polite smile. "Can you come with us?"
I hesitated, eyes darting between them. "Huh? Why?"
"It's for your costume fitting for the play," the other one explained.
My brows furrowed. "What play?"
"The Florante at Laura play," she said casually, as if I was supposed to know what she was talking about.
A strange sense of dread crawled up my spine. Wait… don't tell me this is the play Spade mentioned before. That was just a joke, right? RIGHT?
"Hold on—what's my role again?" I asked cautiously, already fearing the answer.
One of the girls flipped through the clipboard she was holding. She scanned the list for a moment before her gaze landed on my name.
"You'll be playing the tree where Florante is tied."
Silence.
Pure, earth-shattering silence.
I stared at her, utterly speechless. WTF?
Beside me, Ella clutched her stomach as she doubled over in laughter, gasping for breath. "AHAHAHA! Oh my gosh, cous!" she wheezed between fits of giggles. "Your first roleplay ever, and you're literally a TREE! Be grateful you even made it into the cast!"
I shot her a glare, but she was too busy wiping away tears of laughter to care.
"I swear, I'm watching this later!" she cackled.
"Wait. Hey! Hold on!" I tried to protest, but before I could escape, the two women latched onto my arms and started dragging me away.
I twisted in their grip, shooting Ella a desperate look, but she only waved at me, grinning.
"Miss Xyrine, please wear this for now while waiting for your play costume. It hasn't arrived yet."
I turned my gaze to the woman holding out a folded piece of fabric. My brows furrowed. "What's that?"
"A white dress," she replied matter-of-factly.
"Uh, o-okay..."
I hesitated before taking it, the fabric feeling oddly soft in my hands. I had no choice but to head to the restroom and change.
The moment I pulled the dress over my head and looked at myself in the mirror, my face scrunched in disbelief.
"Ugh! Why is this so short?"
The hem barely skimmed past my knees, leaving most of my legs exposed. I tugged at the fabric, trying to stretch it lower, but it was hopeless. It wasn't just the length—it was also sleeveless, leaving my arms bare. This was not the kind of outfit I ever imagined wearing at school.
With a deep breath, I cautiously stepped out of the restroom, my fingers constantly pulling at the edges of the dress in a futile attempt to make it longer. I quickly spotted the woman who had given me the dress and approached her.
"Miss, excuse me, what time will my costume arrive? I'm not comfortable in this outfit," I muttered, still fidgeting with the dress.
She paused and stared at me, her eyes slowly widening as if taking in my appearance for the first time.
"Miss?" I called again, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Wow!" she finally breathed, her eyes sparkling. "I didn't expect the dress to suit you so well. You look beautiful!"
My cheeks flared with heat. I averted my eyes, completely unprepared for the compliment.
"But I think you'd look even better without the cap blocking your face," she continued, reaching toward my head. "You won't need it for the play, right? Let me take it."
I flinched as she swiftly plucked the cap off my head before I could stop her.
"Hey! It's not—"
"Anyway," she cut me off cheerfully, "your costume is finally here. It's over there. I'll put your cap and uniform in the locker. You can get them after the play, okay?"
She handed me a piece of paper, which seemed to be the cast list.
I barely paid attention as relief washed over me. Finally, this damn costume is here.
Without another word, I grabbed the costume and hurried back into the restroom. Once I had changed, I turned to the mirror and—
Pfft.
A laugh bubbled up from my throat. I wiggled my body playfully, watching the costume shift with me. I looked ridiculous—like a low budget version of Groot from The Avengers.
Wiggle wiggle~
Okay, maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Wait. Who are my fellow cast members again?
I unfolded the paper the coordinator had given me earlier, my eyes scanning the list.
Florante and Laura Cast:
Spade Inigos Sy as FloranteMonique Hernandez as LauraLouren Choi as AladdinRen Nagasa as MenalipoTennessee Stanphil as Minandro
I froze. The paper slipped from my fingers, fluttering to the ground.
Suddenly, my body felt weak. My knees wobbled as a terrible realization dawned on me.
What kind of nonsense is this!?
Panic shot through my veins like a lightning bolt. My breath hitched. My hands clenched into fists. My entire existence screamed NOPE.
I had to get out of here.
It's not too late, right?
Yes. I just needed to leave. Now.
I spun on my heel and bolted toward the restroom door, ready to make my escape.
But the moment I pushed it open, I stopped dead in my tracks.
The world outside blurred, but the faces stood out in horrifying clarity.
Ren.
Ten.
Louren.
All of them were already in their costumes, casually preparing as if this were just another normal day.
Meanwhile, my soul was actively trying to leave my body.
This wasn't happening.
No, no, NO! I need to back out!
But then a horrifying thought struck me.
If I walked out without the costume, they'd see me in this damn dress.
A chill ran down my spine.
I paled.
"Shit!" I whispered under my breath, heart pounding. "What do I do?"
Out of time and out of options, I resigned myself to my fate. Fine. I'll just go through with the play.
As long as I kept my head down and didn't show my face too much, maybe—just maybe—I could make it through this without anyone noticing.
With that thought in mind, I exhaled deeply and took a slow step back, retreating toward the shadows of the corner.
"Xyrine?"
What the hell?! My body stiffened at the sound of that familiar voice.
"Xyrine, is that you?"
Yes, it's me. Now can you shut the fvck up?!
A lump formed in my throat as I felt his gaze drilling into me. Knowing I had no other choice, I turned around slowly, already regretting my existence.
The moment Ren got a full look at me, he doubled over, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"HAHAHA! It is you! Wait—what are you doing here? HAHAHAHA! And what are you wearing?!"
I stared at him blankly, debating whether to strangle him on the spot or let him live just to suffer later.
Before I could decide, another voice chimed in. "Xyrine, why are you dressed like a tree?" Tennessee barely managed to get the words out through his laughter. "What happened to you? HAHAHAHAHA!"
Should I just tie these two together and throw them off the stage? I clenched my fists and squeezed my eyes shut, willing my embarrassment to disappear.
"I thought this play was going to be boring..."
A different voice—calmer, smoother—cut through their laughter.
I opened my eyes to see Louren stepping forward. Unlike the other two, he wasn't laughing. He simply studied me for a moment before saying, "You're cute."
The words hit me like a slap. I had no idea how to react, so I did the only thing that felt safe—I looked down, my fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of my costume.
"What's cute about her?"
The teasing tone sent a shiver down my spine. Slowly, all of us turned to face the owner of the voice. The moment my gaze landed on him, my heart betrayed me, pounding faster than I could control.
Spade.
He stood there, his presence commanding attention as always. And of course, he looked stunning in his costume. What else did I expect?
I quickly tore my gaze away, but not before he smirked.
"As I expected," he mused, arms crossed. "The costume suits you well."
Is he mocking me again? My eyes narrowed. His tone was different from yesterday. Did he lose his mind? One second he acted like he didn't care, the next he was—
I shook my head. I don't understand him. At all.
Deciding he wasn't worth the headache, I turned my attention elsewhere.
"Spade, we have a problem."
A new voice joined the chaos. One of the backstage crew members hurried toward us, looking panicked.
"What is it?" Spade asked.
"The two people cast as the lions backed out when they found out the four kings are part of the main cast."
Spade barely reacted. "That's not a problem," he said coolly. "Ren and Ten are here. Their appearance as lions is at the end anyway, so they can sub for another role."
Ren and Tennessee's eyes widened in pure horror.
I, on the other hand, cackled.
"You guys are really something," I said between chuckles.
Their glares could've set me on fire. Unfortunately for them, they didn't get a chance to argue, because right at that moment, the coordinator's voice rang through the backstage area.
"Alright, everyone! Get to your places!"
And just like that, there was no turning back.
Florante and Laura Play
(This is the scene where Prince Aladdin (Louren) saves Florante (Spade), who is tied to a tree (me), from being eaten by lions (Ren and Ten).)
The heavy curtain loomed ahead, swallowing the last slivers of backstage light. My fingers clenched into fists at my sides, sweat already forming at my temple as I felt the tug of the ropes binding my wrists. I could barely make out Spade's silhouette in the dim light, his posture annoyingly relaxed despite our situation—despite the absurdity of the entire play.
"What does it feel like being tied to me?" His voice was low, teasing.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes even though I knew he couldn't see me. "You're the one tied to me, bastard."
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "I bet your heart is pounding like crazy again."
I stiffened. Even though I couldn't see his expression, I knew—knew—that he was smirking, enjoying the way he got under my skin. It made my fingers twitch with the urge to elbow him in the ribs.
I was about to shoot back a retort when he spoke again, voice softer this time.
"You know what's funny?"
I hesitated. "...What?"
"It seems my heart races in tandem with yours, beating as one."
My breath caught in my throat. What cringe is he spewing about.
Before I could even react to his words, the curtains were yanked open, and the blinding stage lights flooded my vision. A thunderous wave of whispers and murmurs washed over us from the audience, their presence pressing against my chest like a weight. My knees nearly buckled.
Oh, god. There were so many people.
I barely had time to adjust before Spade delivered his first line, his voice steady, rich with the confidence he always carried. I tried to focus, tried to let my mind slip into the role I had been assigned, but then—
Ren and Ten appeared.
Dressed as lions.
Crawling on the floor.
PFFT.
I nearly choked on my own laughter.
"You guys really look ridiculous now," Spade muttered under his breath, but the slight quirk of his lips betrayed his amusement.
I bit the inside of my cheek, struggling—desperately struggling—not to break character. Ren and Ten's faces twisted in barely-contained irritation, and just as I thought they would say something, Louren strode onto the stage as Prince Aladdin.
"You! Face me instead!" he declared, aiming his sword at the so-called lions.
His delivery was utterly lifeless.
Pfft—no, no, hold it in.
And then—
Snap!
The sound of something breaking echoed through the stage.
We all turned just in time to see Louren staring blankly at his sword. Or rather, at the sword handle still clutched in his grip. The blade itself was still snugly secured in its sheath.
He blinked. Then, in the most monotone voice imaginable, said, "Oops. My bad."
Silence.
And then—
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The dam burst.
The curtain abruptly dropped as Ren, Ten, and I dissolved into uncontrollable laughter, our shoulders shaking, tears forming in the corners of our eyes.
"Guys! What the hell?! Why are you laughing? Is this play a joke to you?!"
Monique's shrill voice cut through the chaos. I wiped at my eyes, still chuckling, as she stormed toward us, her expression twisted with irritation.
"Sorry! Hahaha! It's not our fault the cast and props are such a mess," Ten wheezed, still trying to regain his breath.
"My bad. I didn't know I'd pull out just the handle," Louren admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Geez! Get it together! There's a huge audience out there!" she snapped.
"Okay, okay," the three of them echoed, though I wasn't sure how serious they were.
After a moment to collect ourselves, the curtains lifted once again.
Louren 'defeated' the lions (Ren and Ten, who were still snickering under their breath) and approached Spade and me, pretending to untie the ropes binding us together. As he worked, he glanced at me and smiled.
"You being cute is very much illegal," he whispered, his voice smooth and teasing.
I shot him a flat look. "Haha, you're one to talk."
"The audacity. Can't you see I'm right here?" Spade's voice cut in, sharp and laced with irritation.
I turned, catching the flash of something unreadable in his eyes, but before I could decipher it, Louren reached out, brushing the back of his hand against my forehead.
"You're sweating a lot. Are you uncomfortable in there?"
I froze.
What the hell is this guy doing?! We're literally in the middle of a play!
"I dare you guys to continue," Spade muttered darkly, his voice dripping with warning.
"Hey, we didn't—"
"FVCK! STOP THIS!"
Monique's voice cracked through the air, and the stage fell silent.
Her eyes burned with rage as she stomped toward me, fists clenched at her sides. "Dammit! It's over! My play is ruined! I worked so hard to get the role of Laura!"
The bitterness in her voice was palpable.
Then, suddenly, she pointed at me.
Huh?
"You! This is all your fault! You always steal the spotlight! You're such a scene-stealer!"
Before I could react, she grabbed at my costume, yanking it down slightly—revealing the dress I had worn underneath. Gasps erupted from the audience, their whispers a chaotic hum in the background.
My chest tightened. I couldn't move.
Humiliation flooded through me as I stood there, rooted to the spot. The sheer weight of the stares sent a chill down my spine, making my fingers tremble at my sides.
Then—
A warm hand clasped around mine.
I lifted my gaze to see Louren standing beside me, his grip steady, reassuring. "It's okay," he murmured. "Let's get out of here."
But before I could take a step, another hand latched onto my other arm.
"No," Spade's voice was firm, resolute. "She's coming with me."
The tension crackled between them, electric and suffocating.
Monique's face twisted in frustration. "THIS IS FUNNY! What kind of play is this?! I'M LAURA! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE THEY'RE FIGHTING OVER! NOT THAT EXTRA!"
She stormed off in a huff, and in the silence that followed, the audience suddenly burst into laughter.
The absurdity of it all finally hit me, snapping me out of my daze.
I exhaled shakily, looking at the two boys still gripping my arms.
When are they going to let go?
Neither of them moved. Their gazes locked like two lions squaring off in a battle neither of them was willing to lose.
Then, a voice rang out:
"Sharina Zaragoza had an accident!"
The atmosphere shifted in an instant. People began to scramble, panic flashing across their faces. I turned to Spade instinctively, but his gaze had already darted toward the commotion.
And then, without hesitation—without even a glance back—he let go of my hand.
"I'll be back," he said, his voice curt, before disappearing into the chaos.
I remained still, staring down at my now-empty hand. The warmth he left behind was already fading.
"You're driving my heart insane."
His words echoed in my head out of the blue, cruel in their weightlessness.
I swallowed, a bitter smile creeping onto my lips.
Fool.
What chance did I have against a girl like Sharina…
…When I'm just an extra?