Chapter 15: D Day

Third Person POV

The school ground was jam-packed with students, parents and visitors, all with the objective of either watching the performances or performing on stage. Colorful banners are plastered, flyers are distributed, stalls are put up. Each club has their own stall for their own products, tricks, games and mischievous shenanigans that could and would convince new students and transferees into signing up for membership. After all, the bigger the number of members, the higher the chances of survival, funding and activity approval from the school.

Backstage, the performers are anxiously awaiting their turns when two sophomore students barged in, holding three bouquet of roses in red, white and yellow. It was usual for performers to receive gift prior and after performances from their family and friends and those who admire them. The flowers looked elegant and selectively chosen. It elicited murmurs from the onlookers.

Mitchelle and Breana are both surprised after each receiving a bouquet. Breana glanced at the older woman only to be met with the same confused look by the other. As if by understanding that they both got the same roses but with different colors, Breana’s is white while Mitchelle’s is red they simultaneously looked at the attached card.

To my Sun,

Red signifies passion. The color reminds me of how determined you are in doing and reaching what you want. I hope you know I’ll always support you from the bottom of my heart.

-A

Mitchelle is touched despite how short the message was. She held the flowers and basked in their beauty, thinking about how much Alex must have thought about the flowers and spent for the flowers. It came as a surprise to her how much the younger one can be so attentive and helpful at times despite her cool and carefree dominant characteristics. Alex even called her ‘her sun’ – how sweet. She definitely can make Mitchelle laugh with her antics and be reliable when needed. Usually she acts smug and greasy just like when she wrote her initials “A” instead of a name but Mitchelle sees the sweet and caring part of her as well in those words. She couldnt help but smile at the realization and reminded herself to thank Alex after the performance. She is sure the black-haired woman would be watching and one way to thank her is to awe the girl with her performance.

On the other hand, Breana is reading her note that goes with the bouquet of white roses.

Bree,

I’m deeply and sincerely sorry for being a shitty person before. I hope we can still be friends or even start anew if that’s what it would take for me not to lose you. You are one of the few if not the most trusted person I could count on. I’m proud of what you’ve become.

-Alex

Breana already knew she had forgiven Alex. What stops her from saying it is the fear that she’d start falling for her in a way that the other cannot reciprocate once they start interacting again. It was clear as day as to how much Alex respects and treats her. Breana realizes she is Alex’ confidante. An alter ego she could never look at romantically. Yet, she has to treat the girl fairly and lift the guilt out of her. That’s what she plans to do, after the performances, when there’s nothing to think about. Also, she might as well ask her about her relationship with their leader. She is curious of the two’s dynamics.

Then I’ll have a serious talk with Ari. Breana internally added.

Meanwhile, Maria is panicking. Selena was nowhere to be found and not picking up her phone. She has been trying to contact her member since the start of the program but to no avail. Her other members are starting to get anxious as well. She is pacing around, thinking, not even bothering to see who sends her the bouquet of yellow roses left ignored at the corner. That could wait, she thought.

Then she remembered something. She quickly went to find Sunny and discovered her smiling over a bunch of red roses she holds. The sight piqued her interest but she had more pressing concerns to address.

“Sunny! Hey sis!” She caught the girl’s attention. “By any chance, do you have Alex’ number?” The cheerleader uttered in between puffs, her chest heaving after looking for the girl.

“Uh, yeah, why?” The older girl replied, curious as to why the bob-haired brunette wanted Alex’ number.

Truth is, Breana was Maria’s first choice but their last exchange were far from friendly so she had hoped Mitchelle is close enough to Alex to have her number. Alex would be her last attempt at finding Selena’s whereabouts after remembering the two worked at the same café.

“Can you call her?” Maria muttered.

“Yea-”

“I mean now.”

Mitchelle’s response was cut off by Maria’s unusual request. Sensing the younger woman’s worry over her forthright attitude, she didn’t probe further and just did what she was asked for. Alex picked up at the second ring.

“Hello, my Sun. Miss me already?” The cheery voice of the other greeted her. She could her the crowd in the background.

“You wish.” She playfully countered back then continued in a different tone, a serious one. “-Uh, Ari seems to have something important to say. I’m giving her the phone.” She handed it out to the agitated girl.

“Hello Alex. Do you know where Selena is right now?” Maria quickly inquired, not even bothering to wait for the other girl on the line to greet her back.

“Oh, Selena? Yesterday she declined hanging out with me saying she’s experiencing stomach problems so she’d just take meds and sleep it off. That’s the last time I saw her, she’s probably at their house. Didn’t she tell you?” Maria heard the voice on the other line say.

“No, she didn’t. Thank you.” That was all she could utter before ending the call and returning the phone to Mitchelle. The panic causing her stomach to recoil. She feels like vomiting.

A train of questions starts to lead her into anxiety.

No. No. She’s probably still sick but why didn’t she tell me?

How are we supposed to perform without Selena?

No.

The performance can’t be put to waste.

The thoughts just keep running in her mind.

“Are you alright Ari? What’s wrong?” Mitchelle had to ask when she saw that the younger girl looked like blood was drained out of her body turning her pale white. She put her hands on Maria’s shoulders to support her just in case. She appears like she’d collapse.

“Yeah, yeah. I-I just…” She hesitated for a moment. “I need to change some roles and make adjustments with the group. If you could, please, Sunny, stall the performances. Give us more time.” She pleads.

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.” Mitchelle replied, reassuring the girl.

Then Maria went to her teammates as fast as she could to remedy before they’d be called up to perform. Good thing they will be second to the last in line but that doesn’t give much to their predicament. Still, she has to try.