The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 16
Cheri finally arrived in front of the gates of the MoscovArt Theatre.
Kyle was still following him.
She this. Cheri groaned in his heart. "Don't follow me anymore!" Cheri. "I want to practice. The show's in a minute."
It's beautiful! Kyle's getting all over the crap. "I'm coming, '" he said as he slammed and grabbed Cheri's arm.
Cheri jerked his hand and broke away. He then rushed into the gate and ran as fast as he could.
Kyle caught up with him. "I want to help anything, you must lack the energy to transport heavy equipment. Anything can be!"
Cherry sped up her run.
"Hey, don't get me wrong! I am very interested in theater. Really!" Kyle insists.
Right at the same time, Mikail rushed out and intercepted Cheri.
"Marile!" Cheri lunged towards him. "Please tell this child that SMU's child is forbidden to enter."
Though he himself was also an SMU child, Kyle thought.
"Cheri! You better not come in!" Mikail.
"What?" Cheri looked in displeasure.
Along with that, there was a noise from within.
What the hell's going on? thought Cheri. And before he realized what was happening, Cyzarine lunged out and slapped him.
"Hey!" Mikail.
"Basic p e l a c u r small," spewed Cyzarine.
Kyle's choked.
Cheri was still confused.
"Did you sleep with Rafael last night?" Cyzarine shouted in wrath.
Mikail held him back and protected Cheri behind his back.
"When I warned you" Cyzarine stretched out his hand to grab Cheri.
Mikail.
"You are a cat thief" said Cyzarine. "I'll make you regret having been chosen by Rafael!"
"That's enough!" Demian grabbed Cyzarine's arm and jerked him. Keep the girl away from Cheri.
Cheri was still stuttering between confusion and being hit. What exactly is going on? Why did he go berserk and slap me?
Rafael stepped out and stood to mediate them. "Cheri," he said while crossing. "For the role of the Beautiful, I decided to make a double cast."
Double cast's?
"You and Cyzarine are going to play the beautiful one" Rafael added. "Play it with all your heart!"
Me…?
Playing as a Beauty?
Double cast with Cyzarine?
No wonder Cyzarine slapped me, thought Cheri.
Is this why Rafael told me to read the dialogue of the Beautiful One last night?
Kyle looked at Cheri with a concerned look on his face.
Mikail patted slowly on the girl's shoulder.
Cheri is still flinching. Not sure how he should react. Everyone will hate me more and more and forever make fun of me—Golden Child.
What exactly is Rafael thinking? Cher wondered. But before he could react, Rafael turned around and went back inside. "Please share the changed scenario!" He screamed in the room.
"Wait!" Cheri runs in and crosses paths with Evaline. The girl stuck out her leg as Cheri passed by.
Cheri fell to the corner of the room, hit a garbage can and knocked down several benches.
The entire room flinched and looked at him.
Mikail lunged inward and flabbergasted.
Kyle peeked out of the doorway.
A moment later the whole room was laughing and cracking up.
Rafael looked around, observing one by one all the faces with a warning look. But no one noticed. Everyone was laughing and closing their eyes.
"He deserves to be a cat" scorned someone among his laughter.
Rafael kicked through the door of the nearby administration room and shouted. "Quick share!"
Everyone closed their mouths and stopped laughing.
"The situation is not good" muttered Mikail while looking at Cheri sadly.
"Rafael.." Cheri pulled up his body and approached Rafael.
Rafael looked at him with his eyebrows intertwined. The murmur of bitterness implied from the look of his eyes.
"Please let me keep playing the cat" Pinta Cheri. I've been struggling to learn this role, he thought.
Rafael broke through the administrative room door once again. Harder than ever. "Share the script!" Deuteronomy blaring.
"Listen, Rafael!" Sesha. "Everyone questions your decision. Everyone is wondering, why do we need a double cast for the role of the Beautiful One? Does this have anything to do with your special treatment of Cherie?"
Rafael tightened his jaw.
"Yes," Saul chimed. "Why in times of emergency like this, do you seem to deliberately cause trouble? Isn't Cyzarine alone enough?"
Rafael is still flinching.
"Say something, Rafael!" Someone shouted again.
"You can defend yourself" the others added.
Gawat, thought Cheri. Why am I only thinking about myself? My rejection of Rafael's decision will further corner him.
"Say something, or Cheri will…"
"SILENCE!" Rafael exploded and threw the pile of manuscripts in his hand into the middle of the room. "You guys are so outrageous. Don't talk!"
"What's so outrageous?" Saul rebuked him as he charged towards Rafael.
"Saul!" Two boys held him.
"You don't want to talk when everyone is urging you to come up with an excuse, but you're screaming in anger when someone brings up Cheri's name!"
Mikail chipped into the middle of the room and pulled Cheri away from the crowd. "Go to your room, Cheri!"
Cheri groaned and sighed heavily.
The situation in the lobby is getting heated up. More and more people are trying to attack Rafael.
Hard to believe, thought Cheri. I used to think Rafael always monopolized this theater because of his extraordinary talent. I think everyone is bowing to him because Rafael is so influential.
"If anyone still has an objection, get out! Face me!" Rafael's screams were still heard as Cheri was about to enter the elevator.
Stopit! inner Cheri. The more you're a perfectionist, the more run down all the business!
Rafael walked on the ice alone, and one day the ice would break, then drown him in the lake.
Nah! Cheri pressed the elevator button and returned to the lobby. I can't escape and find safety while Rafael faces this alone.
"Stop, everybody!" Cheri shouted out loud.
"Cheri, why are you back?" Mikail.
"I'm not the type of woman who seeks safety under these circumstances" Cheri told Mikail. Then he slammed into the middle of the room.
Mikail looked at Rafael.
"I thought I was just Rafael's marionette doll, right?" Cheri shouted at everyone. "Is that true, Rafael?" Cheri turned to Rafael.
Rafael gulps.
The whole room stuttered.
"Say, Rafael! I want to hear it from your own mouth!"
Rafael remains unmoved.
"I don't mind being Rafael's marionette," Cheri yelled at everyone. "No matter if I have to act as a cat or a beauty, whatever I do!"
Everyone is now exchanging looks.
"I know my acting and performance skills are not comparable to Cyzarine's" Cheri continued. "But I'm willing to play the Beautiful in earnest. So.." Cheri suddenly bowed in front of everyone. "Please help Rafael!"
The whole room was strangling.
"We don't have much time anymore" Cheri added. His body is still bent. "Please cooperate!"
Momentary silence.
Then suddenly someone clapped. "Cool! I will definitely watch the Beautiful played by Cheri!"
Everyone now looked at that person.