You know that feeling like the multiverse is messing with you again? Yeah, that's me. I thought I was done with club-related disasters, but apparently, the universe was like: "One more for the clown in aisle three!"
I had just come down the stairs, still holding my lunch—which, FYI, I hadn't even finished—when someone suddenly pulled me. Literally pulled.
"Hey! Can you pretend to be part of the audience for a sec?" a girl with curly hair and hyper energy popped up in front of me. I had no time to say no. Next thing I knew, I was inside a mini auditorium.
Crap.
There was a stage.
There were lights.
There were people. Crying.
Drama club.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
"Uhm, miss, what is this—?" I asked, trying to hide my oncoming panic attack behind a smile.
"Open auditions! But don't worry, you're just the audience. Just sit and watch, okay?" She smiled, then shoved me into a seat right in the middle. The middle, not even the side.
Then the lights dimmed. Background music started. A fog machine turned on.
Oh wow, they're serious.
And then, he walked out.
Kairo.
KAIRO!!
Wearing a suit. Straight out of a K-drama. He had a slight smile, but with emotion. He didn't look like the nerdy robot from chem class. He looked like... the male lead in a love story.
WHAT.
IS.
HAPPENING.
"When I say I love you... it doesn't mean I'm ready to get hurt," Kairo said, glancing in my direction with full acting flair.
WHAT THE—WHY IS HE LOOKING AT ME?!
The others started clapping, but me? I was frozen. Stunned. Cringing.
"He's good, huh?" whispered the curly-haired girl beside me. "You're next!"
HUH?
"W-wait. Next?!"
"Yeah! We need to test the chemistry with the new lead. You two look good together—your height difference is so cute!"
Girl, this is not about height! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!
Before I could say "no thanks, I'd rather eat nails," I was pulled up to the stage. Then they handed me a script.
"Just read it. Don't be shy. Kairo will lead."
Whaaaaaat?
KAIRO.
WILL.
LEAD?!
I'm gonna evaporate like rubbing alcohol, huhu.
"Go," he said in his usual calm voice. As if this was just another lab experiment. Then he started his lines like a total pro. The delivery was amazing. Me? I sounded like a broken printer reading the script.
"D-don't leave me. I can't... take... being without you…"
Cringe overload, help.
But then I was shocked when Kairo chuckled softly. "Not bad."
I blushed. Like, actual skin-reaction blushing.
"Uhm. Thanks?" I replied, more like a question.
Then the curly girl said, "YOU'RE IN! WELCOME TO THE DRAMA CLUB!"
WHAT?!
"W-wait, wait! I didn't even sign up!"
"Too late! We need you. You're the perfect female lead!"
Then Kairo added, in full English mode:
"You don't have to be perfect. Just be real."
BOOM. I nearly fell off the stage.
So now.
I'm in the robot club.
And now, the drama club.
And Kairo? Leading man.
And me? Accidental leading lady.
Lord, why does my life feel like a full-on soap opera? I swear I'm not even that sinful, Lord, huhu.
-
I don't even know why I'm here.
Like, legit.
I'm onstage again, holding a script, under a spotlight. I'm sweating like a cold glass of water—dripping nonstop.
"Okay, okay! Scene 3. The confrontation scene. You and Kairo."
There goes the hyper director again. I want to hug her just to make her stop.
Meanwhile, Kairo? Calm as ever. Still wearing a jacket. Why isn't he sweating?! Maybe he has built-in air conditioning. He really is a genius.
"What's my line again?" I whispered to Kairo, who barely looked at me.
"'I'm not leaving you behind. You're the only constant I know,'" he said, then looked at me seriously.
I swallowed hard. Why does it feel real? In your dreams, Yeli.
"GO!" the director yelled.
We started. Kairo was all serious. Me? Seriously confused about how I got into this mess. We were just rehearsing lines, but it felt like I was the drama heroine betrayed by the scriptwriter.
Then suddenly…
CRAAASH!
Someone barged into the rehearsal room. River. With chips. And softdrinks. Zero warning.
"'Sup losers," he said, flopping into a chair up front. "Didn't know we were shooting a soap opera here."
Kairo froze. So did I. Only director Liora screamed. "No outsiders allowed!"
"Okay, okay. I'm joining," River said, casually grabbing a script.
WAIT. WHAT?!
"You're not allowed here," Kairo finally broke his cool-boy act. "You'll just mess around."
River smirked. "That's the plan."
I looked at the two of them. This feels like a K-drama scene. The cold genius and the smug bad boy, fighting over a script—and possibly, the female lead?
Wait. Am I the lead? AHHHHHH! Hold on, I don't want this!
"I'm good. Thanks!" I said, handing the script back. "I'm withdrawing from the drama club. Yesterday was a fluke. This is not a life choice!"
But before I could leave, Kairo spoke.
"She's good. She should stay."
Then River added, "I'll stay if she's here."
OH NO.
WHAT IS THIS?
A NEW LOVE TRIANGLE?!
WHEN DID MY LIFE GET THIS CHAOTIC?!
Then, out of nowhere, the robot club president—Pres. Lucan—showed up.
"Yeli, why are you here? We're supposed to calibrate Yelibot!"
I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMOOOOORE!
~•~•~