Chapter 14

Again. This is so not in the novel.

"Miss Student, can you please not sing a love song once you're on?" The male teacher told me as he hurriedly came back after putting a mic stand on the stage. "This ball is for Halloween, not Valentines."

"Yes Sir." I grumbled as I rack my brain for all the songs I know and heard.

The two little dimmed lights that Ma'am Avelya had said are set up on the bottom, next on the mic stand. And like she said, they're only illuminating just a bit, enough for me to see where I am going.

"Good luck Miss Student!" Ma'am Avelya cheered me on.

I forced a smile. "Wait, Ma'am? Do you have a um.. something that I can use as a cape?"

"Cape? For what?"

Gonna use that to cover myself, hello? I had this perfect plan to make sure no one will recognize me -- Mielle -- but what do I get? I ended up singing on top of the stage! Of course I have to cover the majority of my dress and whatever I can cover.

"For um, uh, dramatic effect. Like, Dracula, Ma'am."

She studied me for a second before smiling then nodding. "Right, right. That way it really compliments with Halloween! Wait, there's a black cloth here but a bit long for you." She went to the side and rummage the things over there. "Gotcha! Here. Will this work?"

"Ooh, this is perfect Ma'am! Yes, thank you! I'll return it right after."

"Awesome, good luck again!"

I unfolded the black cloth and tie the end of it to the side of my neck. Thank God that almost all of the students are still busy chatting with each other, while the rest I couldn't see as it's really dark on their sides.

The mic is cold when I touched it's body. Then, I tapped it.

Togsh togsh.

"Phew, okay, we can do this Mielle." I whispered as I bow down while I hold the mic up. I really can't remember if Mielle is good at singing. I know I'm not -- unless I'm in the shower, which was what the novel had only said too about Mielle and singing.

I glanced to my right and there's Ma'am Avelya, urging to start. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened my eyes, I caught a tall guy's figure walking towards Nariza's direction.

Let the show begin, Jace and Nariza.

I inhaled and sing the song, "Creep."

Jace finally went to Nariza.

And the crowd made way for him.


~ I wish I was special
You're so freakin' special.. ~


Jace bowed to Nariza and from the looks of it, asked her for a dance. She took his offered hand and he led her to the center of the quad.

Their hands joint first before Jace put Nariza's hands on his shoulders, as his to her waist.

Unexpectedly, I feel something warm inside me. I mean, I am happy that Jace and Nariza are dancing right now, like how the novel said, but it's like, my happiness is twice than before.

Mielle is happy for her best friend. That's what.


~ I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around.. ~


Seeing them together, makes me feel alone for some reason -- reminding me how I'm not supposed to be here and that I used to have my own life.


~ But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here? ~


My eyes feel hot.


~ I don't belong here.. ~


I had to close my eyes as I feel the sharp pain in my chest. This is not my world, and I'm living as someone else.

And this is my harsh reality: to live and do things for Nariza Vander. But what about me? What about Mielle? I'll just set aside mine, but what about her happiness? Her life? Her love?

Can I really change what the author wrote for Mielle's future?


~ I wish I was special.. ~


A lot of couples now are dancing but my eyes went to them.

I've decided. I will make the two of you get your happy ending..


~ What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.. ~


But Mielle will get hers too.

I put down the mic and covered it. "Damn, Filipinos are such good singers!"

Little did I know that there's more to the novel that I knew of.





@~@





I immediately went to the food table after I gave back the black cloth, and grabbed a plate. I filled them with hotdogs, pigs-in-the-blankets, donuts and brownies. Then I grabbed a cup of water and headed back to the hallway.

But this time, a bit farther from the stage.

"Freaking Ma'am Avelya and those teachers." I grunted as I eat the donut while walking. She was really impressed with the performance, enough to let me do whatever I want now.

Thank goodness.

I sniffed putting the plate and the cup on top of the hollow blocks wall.

"Now, where is my live drama?" I scanned the crowd but I couldn't find them, so I tried to recall this scene in the novel (minus the singing part).

The scene is after the first dance, so they would stay like that for a few more songs, then would walk to the food table. They would eat, chat, and all those cutesy, lovey-dovey moments.

"So, technically, right now, they're still dancing as the music system is now fixed. Hm, okay. Works for me. More time for me to eat."

I was in the middle of eating my hotdog when I got chills. I turned left, nothing. Turned right, nothing.

"Alone?"

I did a 180 degree turn.

There's a guy, leaning on the wall right behind me.

Since when did he get there?

I swallowed. "Yes?"

His hands are still on his pockets as he started to make his way to me. He stopped when he's a foot away from me. That's when I realized how tall he is.

"You alone, little girl?"

T-This... c-can't be..

"H-How can I help -- I mean, who are you?"

Like Jace and Nariza, he also has a Venetian mask. But unlike Jace that was royal blue and Nariza's color dark orange, his is black.

His hair that is touching his nape is styled into a half-ponytail. He is wearing a black suit with orange neck tie. Did I mention that he's tall?

"Does it matter who I am?" He asked with such a deep, velvety voice.

"Yes." I wet my lips, feeling the crumbs of the food I was munching.

"Why?" His voice is hypnotizing.

"Because my mami told me not to talk to strangers." Even though as Aice, I had to meet a lot of strangers for potential business partners.

I think I saw the corner of his lips lifted, but I might be wrong.

"Is that so?" I nodded as my eyes still trying to see his despite the darkness. "I see. Well, I guess I should go."

"Aww." Woah. What? "I-I mean ohh, okay. Take care." I looked down and turned back to my plate and stuffed my mouth with a brownie to stop myself from saying anything.

Gosh. What do I do? What do I do? This is really not in the novel!

I sensed him moved but I didn't know it was to lower his mouth right next to my ear.

"Do you want me to stay?"

I yelped and slapped his arm, distancing myself from him. "Mister what the heck? That's invasion of personal space! Don't do that! If someone sees us they might say that we're some sort of couple, ugh." I pushed him away. "Go over there! They might think that I'm with you and I ain't nor we close-close."

That's when I heard him coughed. And it wasn't the one that sounded like he's sick or something. It was the one that sounded as if he's covering a laugh.

"Congratulations, again... You made me cough... again."

Chapter end