[b]Chapter.o4[/b]

The auditorium was filled already when she took a peek from the backstage. Medyo namumutla na noon si Shane.

It was her first time to act on stage with so many people. Though hindi naman siya kabilang sa lead characters, she felt an extreme nervousness. Naalala pa niya ang sinabi ni Mrs. Valdez na bawal nang magkamali after nung general rehearsal nila. Naging madalas kasi ang pagkakamali naiya nung huling practice nila.
Her phone rang.
“Ma?”

“Shane, okay ka lang ba jan?”
“Ma, kinakabahan po ako.”
“Shane, okay lang iyan. I know you can do it, anak. Relax ka lang jan, okay?”
“Pero, ma...”
[b]Tooot. Tooot. Tooot.[/b] Lowbat na si Shane.
“Ugh...”
“Everybody, please get ready. We’ll start in 5 minutes!”
That was Mr. Pinera. Shane tried to approach him but he was too busy. Tama nga naman. Hindi na aatupagin ni Mr. Pinera ang kaba ni Shane. He had lots of things to do. Things that were more important than her needs like words of wisdom and words to calm her down.
“Shane!” exclaimed Belinda. Belinda was mRs. Valdez’s assistant that time. Kasali sana si Belinda sa play pero nagkaroon siya ng injury sa braso nung naglaro sila ng basketball sa P.E class nila.
“Belle, tulungan mo ako. Kinakabahan ako, Belle.”
“Huh? Hindi ka pwedeng kabahan Shane. Relax ka nga lang. Maghanda ka na. Malapit na magstart ang 1st scene. Shane, presence of mind okay? Wala ka lang naman ibang gagawin kundi ibigay ang inumin kay Sophie at konting lines lang. Ayos na. Exit agad.”
“Belle? Oka-kay.”
“Okay talaga. Oh sige, hayan na... Humanda ka na jan.”
[.....]
“[b]Hahahahahahaha!!![/b]”
The audience was so silent except sa malakas na tawa mula sa isang kutong-lupa na nakaupo sa harapan.
[i]Pinagtatawanan niya ako[/i]... Shane had thought.
There were tears from her eyes. Nagkamali kasi si Shane sa linya niya.
Sinasabi ko na nga ba, e... Then Shane let herself to the backstage at umiyak sa mga balikat ni Belinda.
“Belle, ito na nga yung sinasabi ko. I have told you already diba? Ilang beses na kitang sinabihan,Belle.”
“Shhh.. It’s okay, Shane. Tahan na. Ganyan talaga kapag baguhan. Shane...”
“Pinagtawanan ako, Belle.”
“Hindi Shane. Hindi ka nila pinagtawanan,”
“Pinagtawanan ako ng lalaking yon, Belle! Tawa siya nang tawa sa akin, Belle.”
“Sino ba iyang tumatawa sa iyo?”
“Si Kyle,, Pinagtatawanan niya ako Belle. Ayoko na, Belle. Uuwi na ako,”
Natigilan si Belinda. Si Kyle? Si Kyle na close friend ni Shane?
Lumapit si Mrs. Valdez kay Shane. Everybody in the backstage went to her.
“Shane. Tahan na. Ihanda mo na ang sarili mo para sa sususnod mong eksena,” Mrs. Valdez said.
“Ma’am, ayoko na po! Nakakahiya po ako. Dapat di niyo na kao isali dito.”
“Shhh. Wag kang ganyan Shane. Sige na, tahan na. We need your presence and cooperation, Shane. Hindi mabubuo ang play without you. And, your parents are watching you. I can see that they were anticipating for your appearance on stage.”
There... Shane lifted her face up, wiped her tears and faced Mrs. Valdez.
“Pasensya na po, Ma’am. Ihahanda ko na po ang sarili ko.”
“Okay.”
[...]
The play was successful. Yes it was, though nagkamali nang konti ang baguhang si Shane. But that was okay. The staff comforted her and appreciated her, as well, because her other scenes were done PERFECTLY. It was a night worth remembering, and so as Kyle. He was her close friend but, she didn’t think it would be the same since then.
Shane was struggling with her paper bags and back pack while on her way to the parking lot. Naghihintay na kasi ang parents niya sa jeepy nila.
Biglang sumulpot si Belinda at hila-hila pa si Kyle.
“Belle?”
“O, heto si Kyle, Shane. Bugbugin mo kung gusto mo, okay? But Shane, kailangan kong umuwi agad. Malayo pa yung bahay namin, alam mo naman. Sa iyo ko na ipapaubaya ang lalakeng ito,” Belinda said at itinulak sa Kyle kay Shane.
“Ano ba?!” sigaw ni Kyle.
“Mag-sorry ka sa kanya, Kyle,”sabi ni Belinda.
“Bakit ba?”
Binatukan ni Belinda si Kyle and said, “Mag-sorry ka.”
Belinda went home at naiwan sina shane at Kyle sa may bench malapit sa parking lot. Her mama had called her that they would be back in a few minutes dahil kakausapin pa sila ni Mrs. Valdez.
Katahimikan ang namagitan sa dalawa. Hindi sila sanay nang ganun. At dahil sa murang kaisipan ay hindi nila alam kung saan magsisimula.

But Kyle noticed that Shane was crying silently.
“Huy, Shane. ‘Wag ka ngang umiyak jan,” Kyle said.
“Hindi kita mapapatawad sa ginawa mo sa’kin, Kyle.”
“Shane naman,”
“Akala ko ba magkaibigan tayo? Tapos ikaw pa itong pinagtatawanan ako?!!”
“Hindi naman kita--- I’m sory Shane. Nakakatawa naman talaga kasi.”

Umiyak lalo si Shane.
“Sorry na. Joke lang naman yun, Shane.”
In a sudden, Keely, Kyle’s younger sister went to him.
“Kuya, hanap ka na ni mommy. Kakain daw tayo sa restaurant ni Tita Racquel.”
“Okay. Shane?”
“I’m sorry, Kyle, but this would be the end of our friendship.”
And Shane walked out struggling with her paper bags and back pack.