The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 55
This is the worst time in Cheri Dutchkova's life.
It was bad enough that he lost his father to his selfishness, his guilt had not even been completely cured.
Now Rafael also left him to protect himself. Meanwhile Mikail was also not on his side as usual.
Cheri really felt so alone.
And worst of all, he is now trapped in the clutches of Vladimir Vallensky!
Worse, an article contains sensational news by making itself a target of intrigue.
The big headline listed on the news column in the entertainment segment of the day reads: DISPUTE AROUND NEW ARRIVALS ACTRESS.
Below it are smaller inscriptions: Joan d'Arc, Tsar Dramy's play and MoscovArt Theatre.
Then a photo of herself with Rafael was posted with the caption: Rafael Moscovich (right) and Cheri Dutchskova (left) in the performance of "The Beautiful and the Ugly" hosted by MoscovArt Theatre.
That was more than enough to make Cheri Dutchskova the target of the ire of all members of the MoscovArt Theatre.
Who will protect him now?
"What the fuck?" the loud screams blared in the rehearsal room of the MoscovArt Theatre. "Why did Cheri even play in Vladimir's theater group?"
"Our theater is dying" murmured another voice.
"Say she'll play Joan at the same time" said another.
"So we're going to compete with Tsar Dramy?" There was a shrieking sound between rage and disbelief.
"If Cheri is not around, we have no chance of winning!"
"Cherry is so outrageous!" talk about some people.
Their voices sounded like the buzzing of an agitated bee.
Sesha Montrosecova was sitting limp on Rafael's bench, bowing her face with her mouth clenched. The look on his face was calmer than the others, but it was clearly his heaviest inner burden.
Kyle was standing beside her back to the table, crossed hands with a grim face.
"Who actually sold Rafael's manuscript to Vladimir?" A male member threw the newspaper in his hand at Rafael's desk in front of Sesha. "Marile?"
Sesha glanced at him at a glance, but did not say anything.
"That's impossible!" sergeant other boys.
"I'm not even sure he knows about this, he's abroad" the others chimed in.
"Maybe Cheri sold himself all over with the script," the circus cat girl.
"Stop!" Kyle immediately rebuked him. "Cheri couldn't have done that. Aren't you ashamed to say such a thing?"
"I don't want to believe it either" the girl said. "But why did this article get out?" The girl threw the newspaper in her hand at Kyle's face.
"You—" Kyle growled impatiently. He picked up the newspaper, "Omong is empty!" his screams boomed, then retorted throwing the newspaper into the face of the cat-acting girl. "Name is also a newspaper. The average story is just bullshit!"
The girl was flabbergasted between anger and surprise. "You defended Cheri because you liked him" he said cynically.
"Enough!" Sesha breaks down Rafael's table to calm them down.
The whole room spontaneously froze. Then came the sound of someone's slow steps approaching the door.
The whole room turned towards the door. Some gasp, some grunt unhappily.
"He's coming" whispered some people sounding cynical.
The move stopped at the doorway.
"Cheri," Kyle's hiss choked.
The frozen Cheri stared at the entire room one by one with a sad and desperate face, while the entire room stared at him with a searing intensity of gaze.
"I called him here" Sesha told him. "I wish he could give an explanation to all of us."
"Come in!" Sesha said to Cheri.
The girl gulped and bowed with a bitter expression.
Kyle approached Cheri, crossing the room with wide steps. "Say, Cheri. This article is a lie, right?" he demanded that he hold the newspaper in front of Cheri's face.
Cheri fell deeper.
"Say!" Kyle gripped next to the girl's shoulder and shook her a little rough. "It's not true, is it?"
Cheri lifted his face and looked at the boy with teary eyes. "Kyle.." he sighed softly. Then suddenly the girl dropped herself to her knees on the floor. "I'm sorry!"
Kyle stuttered and bowed with round eyes. The entire color was drained on his face.
The entire room looked at them with a reproachful attitude.
"But I myself proposed the re-establishment of the MoscovArt Theatre" Cheri bowed to the floor with both hands resting on his trembling shoulders.
Kyle inched a step back as he tightened his jaw and gulped, staring at Cheri without blinking.
"I—" Cheri looked up at Kyle's face. "I will move to Tsar Dramy," he sizzled.
The whole room is grinding teeth. Looking at Cheri coldly.
Sesha was bowed with a clearly harbored furious expression.
"I'm really sorry, '" whispered the helpless Cheri.
Sesha let out a heavy sigh and folded her hands in front of her chest, then stepped towards Cheri with slow steps. "I know the dirty way Vladimir used to take Demian," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Say, Cheri. In what way did he set you up?"
Cheri opened his mouth slowly, preparing to say everything that stuck in his heart. He really can't bear to spill all his misery now. But then just stammer.
You can't say it! He warned himself. It was the same as betraying Rafael!
"In this newspaper," Sesha raised the folds of the newspaper in her hand. "In the entertainment segment, there are articles about you. But I don't want to believe it."
Cheri remained unmoved.
Kyle frowned holding back the bitter.
"Give us at least a good reason, Cheri." Sesha urges Cheri.
Cheri shook his head quickly. "I can't," he said.
And that very second, the newspaper scroll in Sesha's hand floated towards Cheri and slapped him hard in the face.
"Sesha—" Kyle screeched restrained.
The whole room looks satisfied.
"Take that as the anger of the entire MoscovArt Theatre!" sesha shouted, unable to pretend to be calm anymore. "Go away from here and never try to set foot in the MoscovArt Theatre again!"
Cheri bowed without a fight.
Kyle rubbed his face in despair. For your sake I joined this theater, she recalled bitterly.
What can I do, thought Cheri helpless. They must not know Rafael's secret.
The real Cheri could hardly bear it.
They'll never see me as a friend again. They all completely misunderstood.
If he could choose, Cheri would die more than having to team up with Vladimir Vallensky.
Be it Tsar Dramy or whatever his name was before or after, as long as it was led by Vladimir Vallensky, Cheri would place him on his list of things he hated most.
Even if one day he had to have a visual impairment, he would probably avoid wearing glasses. The glasses alone might remind Cheri of Vladimir Vallensky.
He hates anything that has to do with Vladimir Vallensky!
But above all, he was willing to do anything for Rafael.