MY HEAD THROB DREADFULLY from the lack of sleep last night. It was unpleasant and excruciating, but I knew that I had to get up the bed made a crimpling sound as soon as I moved on my feet, ignoring the cold-as-death wooden floors I stepped on.

The sunlight crept against the window pane, and the tall, obscure trees of the university were seen through the tall, exquisite glass. I unconsciously glanced at the corner end of the room and was abruptly cussed when I remembered. This isn't Dominic's room. It was mine.

I expanse out my sore limb and turn my head in an awkward bend to put the stinging sensation away. My feet darted their way toward my bathroom. My mind still felt vague, but I tried my hardest to wake up, grabbed my uniform, and prepared my bathrobe and other necessities, taking a quick yet neat bath before I dressed up. I didn't bother brushing my hair and tidying my uniform, walking out of the wash before noticing that my bag was on Dominic's. I heave a sigh before glancing at the clock.

It was still early, one and a half hours till the first class started. My petite hands massaged my temple, and I walked out of my room, wincing with the faint pain building on the top of my head.

"Having an aftermath from our midnight tea?" Calvin smirked, standing in front of their room while his two brothers stood beside him.

"You haven't put any liquor in it, are you?" I asked, not even fully aware. My feelings felt as if I was already having a stressful grayish on my deportment.

Enrique shrugs, "That would be to platitude and our greatest disadvantage of our little camaraderie. We wouldn't risk that lamb,"

I eyed him distrustfully, and Darius held my hand, "We will be overjoyed if you walk around with us before the first class." His voice became smooth and cavernous, caging my arms over his own.

"Where will you and your fellow brothers take me?" My voice turned out to be almost an undertone.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Calvin smirked, kneading my back before gently pushing it forward.

My flaxen hair was sprawled out all over my shoulders, and I contained my frown when the three of the fraternal brothers were frequently drawing in my fragrance. They enjoyed my presence, but I did not enjoy theirs.

THE FIRST CLASS SEEMS to be the most passive one I attended. Our lecturer was absent, and we might be considered disaster-prone due to the pile of math work that needed to be done. My mind was now attentive, but the clutch on my pen tightened whenever I remembered the place that the triplets brought me. They really are a rabble-rouser.

"My brothers had done something mischievous again?" Alex asked softly, his head resting on his arms against our desk.

My demeanor changed back to my gentle side, "It's not as big as what they've done before, but it became clear to me that they wanted to tame my demure."

His throat made quiet laughter, and his silver eyes brightened, a boyish smile that could set any girl on edge. It's the first time that I've seen a boy laugh. I even fathomed that it was different from what I had expected.

"They are quite rabble-rousers, testing his patience," he whispered languorously, observing me.

"Perhaps," I replied, unsure of his words.

There's a slight pause, and I just noticed that I was enticed these past few days since I met him by how dark and long his eyelashes were, but his silvery midnight eyes were the ones that juxtaposed it all. "You're not going to the infirmary anymore. I would've guessed that you've already fitted in." He spoke in his same deep and luxurious voice.

I unconsciously tucked my hair behind my ears, putting my pen aside. "I was pretty occupied by the practice and the tutor and all. I think that it made me on the mend, I guess?"

"How was your practice then?" Alex seems to be bemused by my sudden mood.

"It was...good and fun."

"Jane, we both know that it wasn't true." He smiled gently.

My chest heaved from my sudden emotions; I could even feel the heat of my body start its way to crawl up against my cheeks. There's something about his kindness that was too good to be true.

"Then I will rephrase my sentence," I leer and place my hands on my lap.

"It was a bloody, dreadful practice."

He chuckled, and I stifled my smile.

"A bloody dreadful practice," he echoed my words; his eyes seemed to be conniving something. "That explains why Reid is always temperate."

My attention was abruptly caught by the ring of the bell in the hallway. It was already our second class. The time for our last practice in play and the time I was forced to confront Reid-Alex might've seen the sudden amendment in my reaction, "Good luck on your practice. I know that you can make it." He rasped before all of the students stood up to gather their things.

I stared at Alex one last time before we both reared up ourselves. I was quite surprised when he took my books and flashed an alluring smile that set me on edge. "Let me help you with these," he said before I paced up my haste and put the hair strands behind my ears.

The other students were too preoccupied that they didn't notice me walking alongside Alex, "thank you for helping me carry my books," I whispered too thinly.

His smile reaches up on his eyes lethargically. He turns back to his somnolent side and suddenly seems tired, fighting off his sleep.

Alex's dark brown hair falls gracefully above his head, and his features are too different than Dominic's. While his appearance seems bright, and he always seems to be smiling, Dominic, on the other hand, is the most beautiful among them. He always seems to be protecting me.

My thought brought me to our recent graze, and my cheeks flushed red. "Are you alright?" Alex asked restlessly, his hands touching my forehead.

"Yes, I'm alright. I just...remembered something, I guess."

He brought his hands down and smiled at my response; his warmth turned to be full of it. But he didn't impulse the matter further, letting it slip aside.

It's only been a day, right?

My hand unconsciously grasps the rose necklace. I missed him, even though we're not apart too long. I suddenly felt a void that I hadn't been able to see Dominic. But Mr. Gibson might've been watching us very closely, and I hope the Headmaster will finally decide.

THE THEATRE WAS already equipped for tomorrow's performance, and the cast and teams were visibly distressed, especially the propsmen. Mrs. Hopkins made today's practice cloistered, due to the performance level we will give today. And she alleged that it will be the main highlight of this year's most successful attainment.

I suddenly felt nervous and vile, clutching my stomach while the other staff fixed the dress and tried the cosmetics that I'd be wearing tomorrow. The most artistic one in our class, Elizabeth Proswell, didn't bother to help the other props men and decided to fix my flaxen hair into a series of effervescent locks with the help of her two other peers.

The three of them seem to be too fervent to dress me up. They told me that I was the epitome of perfection and I looked like a pretty porcelain doll.

I was feeling tired as I stared at my reflection. The mirror has several lightbulbs forming a sphere on the corners of the wood supporting the glass. The type of mirror that every famous actress has made my skin glow more than it should have as I stared at myself.

The cosmetics were placed on the table with organization, as every artist would describe it. Elizabeth and her other peers are visibly delighted and enjoying themselves as they brush every strand of my hair before wrapping it up in a silver foil.

"What do these do?" I asked softly, fighting the urge to turn my head around.

"It should work overnight. It will make your hair prettier and livelier during the play," The girl replied, still focused on her hairwork.

"Then, I will sleep with these on my head?" My voice sounded tremor, and Elizabeth chuckled softly, but she stopped when she saw the seriousness of my reaction.

"Sad to say, but you have to, sweetheart; it has to be done overnight, or it will be ravished badly." She tried to explain.

I inwardly whimper, and my blue eyes shone with mortification.

It was almost two and a half hours when Elizabeth finished her hairwork. She took a black robe covering the top of my fixed hair. The two other lassies put some foundation on my face, but they didn't bother putting other cosmetics, which made me sigh in reprieve.

"It's time for a run-through," Elizabeth spoke, ushering me backstage.

I was ill at ease as people kept staring in my direction. I'm still wearing my uniform, but the black hair robe made my exterior puerile and inapt. I saw Alda at the corner of my eyes as I conceded.

She stalked in my direction, and her eyes seemed worn out, "I need to talk to you in a sec," she grasped my arms, and we set upright at the corner end of the off-stage.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" My voice sounded more infuriated than I'd expected it to be.

"Are you mad about what happened?"

I took a deep breath, "I'm not mad. But you let me down. I thought that you were my friend; you know the reason why I was staying in his place,"

She recoils from my tone. "I'm sorry, but I don't know if-"

"Heathers, you're up!" The stage men reprimanded.

I glance at Alda, shaking my head before I ensued where the other actors were standing beside Reid.

He disparaged me when he saw me. His eyes seem impassive, but his bearing shows displeasure.

"I took acquiescence. We'll be both practicing till our last period ends."

"I understand." I softly replied.

The stagemen were on the trot in every direction. Some of them were helping the actors to prepare themselves, while the others were engaged in the props and setting. I just coveted that I wouldn't do something excruciating again. I thought vigorously.

I could feel the bilious on my throat, and my body rose in an icy malaise. We stood behind the thick velvet drape, and the lights were slowly becoming dim till the familiar soft spotlight of fuschia shot through our direction.

The first actors in the first scene made their appearance. And the placid yet warm instrumental music droned the speakers. I could hear the distant, over-the-top lines of the other characters, and I, without a sound, recited mine on my head.

"How you perceive hath no beauty in thine eyes..." He spoke vituperatively, making me cringe.

Is it written in the script?

Reid stared down in his hands while cocking his head on the side. His impudence is becoming callous and more sardonic. I will ask him when the stageman calls out for me. I readapted myself and made my entrance. The other characters were too tense enough that they didn't guffaw at my hair robe or get distracted by the heavy amount of face residue.

"Eyes open, Ms. Heathers," Mrs. Hopkins presaged before she beckoned the other stagemen.

The soft spotlight turned to scorching white, and the people before me were barely visible. It's only me now and the other actors as I looked down at the polished wooden floor of the stage before reciting my line.

"Now Ms. Heathers, if you are paying attention in every minute of our play, which I know you did. You must recite all of your lines, from the top to the last, so I will be assured there's nothing to worry about." She said curtly.

My mouth left agape, and I stared at Mrs. Hopkins without conviction. The other performers seized their scornful sneer as they observed me.

They thought that I hadn't memorized it.

I took a deep breath...

Closed my eyes...

Miranda, I am...

Then I step on stage...

...Opening my eyes.

"If by your art, my dearest father, you have

Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them....

O, woe the day!

More to know

...Did never meddle with my thoughts.

You have often

Begun to tell me what I am, but stopp'd...

Certainly, Sir, I can.

'Tis far off

And rather like a dream than an assurance...

But that I do not.

Sir, are you not my father?

O the heavens!

What foul play had we that we came from thence...?

O, my heart bleeds

To think o' the teen that I have turned you to...

... Sir, most heedfully.

O, good Sir, I do.

Your tale, Sir, would cure deafness.

O the heavens!

I should sin

...to think but nobly of my grandmother

Alack, for pity!

I do not remember how I cried out then

Wherefore did they not

That hour destroys us?

Alack, what trouble?

Was I then to you!

How come we ashore?

Would I might?

But ever see that man!

Heavens, thank you for! And now, I pray you, Sir,

...For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason...

The strangeness of your story put

Heaviness in me...

'Tis a villain, Sir,

I do not love to look on.

Abhorred slave,

Which any print of goodness wilt not take...?

What isn't a spirit?

Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, Sir...

I might call him

A thing divine, for nothing natural...

No wonder, Sir;

But certainly a maid...

Alack, for mercy!

Why does my father speak so ungently? This

Is the third man that ever I saw the first...?

There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:

...If the ill spirit have so fair a house...

O dear father,

Make not too rash a trial of him, for...

Beseech you, father.

Sir, have pity;

I'll be his surety.

My affections

Are then most humble; I have no ambition...

Be of comfort;

My father's of a better nature, Sir...

Alas, now, pray you,

Work not so hard: I would the lightning had...

If you'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that...

It would become me

As well as it does you: and I should do it...

You look wearily.

Miranda.-O my father,

I have broken your heart to say so!

I do not know

...One of my sexes; no woman's face remember...

Do you love me?

I am a fool

To weep at what I am glad of.

At mine, unworthiness that dare not offer

What I desire to give, and much less take...

...My husband, then?

And mine, with my heart In't; and now farewell

Till half an hour hence.

Never till this day

Saw I he touched with anger so distemper.

Sweet lord, you play me false.

Yes, for a score of kingdoms, you should wrangle,

And I would call it fair play.

O, wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here...?"

The personages on the stage froze. They were stunned and their mouths agape-I exhaled before I roam my eyes one last time, and I bowed my head gracefully, holding my skirt.

The silent theatre was suddenly bombarded by the loudest applause I hadn't experienced. My chest heaved, and I elatedly smiled at their actions, "Ms. Heathers," Mrs. Hopkins spoke full of pride, "a very gifted actress I have, I must say." She said as she stood up and applauded her hands dreamily, envisioning the play tomorrow.

I subconsciously glance on the other side of the stage...and there I saw Reid. His hands were covering his torso. And there's a flicker of amusement in his eyes.