Chapter 57: Chapter 57
"Absolutely not, you know right now I should be at the theatre, getting ready for my audition," I told him
"what audition?" he asked
"well our stage performance lecturer just decided to make us do an impromptu audition for some kind of school presentation, and I should have been there like 5 minutes ago. I just got here to get my lunch and go back. Can I get it now please... I don't want to be the top model who goes to class late," I said to him.
"Alright, here's your food," he said "one more thing. I don't understand why you ordered four cheeseburgers and two cans of Pepsi,"
"it's not just for me dummy, Ariel is eating it too," I told him
"yeah that not withstanding, how can you take two cheeseburgers alone? you know you are a model, well, an upcoming model. you should check your weight"
"what? ok... let me get this straight, if checking my weight means not having to eat all these delicious things, I'm sorry I'll prefer to grow fat," I told him
"you know nobody would like a fat models"
"that's their business because I am keeping my body the way I want it, I know that if I gain weight you'd be ashamed to show me off as your girlfriend, I don't care. I am going to be Mr Jaden Kale's fat girlfriend," I told him.
" I don't want a fat girlfriend, if you become fat I'll throw you out of my house," he said playfully
"you wouldn't dare! Alright I'll talk to you later I have to go," I said giving him a peck and then I left with a bag containing our lunch.
when I got to the theatre, I was told to write my name on a notebook placed at the entrance of the theatre before going in, luckily for me the audition had not yet started, in fact our lecturer wasn't even in the theatre.
"Over here!" Ariel said standing and waving her hand for me to easily spot her, "that was quick," she said when I got to my seat.
"shut up!" I said, threatening to kick her with my fingers like I did before. I gave her her lunch
"thank you" she said and started munching on her cheeseburger. About 10 minutes later, our lecturer came in holding The Notebook that we wrote Our names
alright people, let's get to work. when you hear your name please come up the stage and begin your presentation," she said and then sat on a seat in the first row. she started calling each student's names one after the other and they made their way up the stage, presenting whatever they could come up within the short period of time.
After each student had finished his or her presentation, she would tell the person to sit either on the left side of the theatre or on the right side. from what I saw, it was obvious that the people who sat on your right side of the theatre were does who were able to present better than the people sat on the left side of the theatre.
when it was Ariel's turn, she rendered one of William Shakespeare's Sonnets, Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?
"marvelous! marvelous!" our lecturer said and told her to sit on the right side of the theatre.
About three more people presented before I was called ,"good luck" Ariel said to me."u... uk...p...no, I'm sorry I really can't pronounce this name it is spelt u...k...p...o...n...o, please if that's how your name is spelt could you please come out. I am really sorry I can't say the word," our lecturer said.
" I'm right here!" I said standing up "what's your name?" she asked
"Ukpono Udofia, but you can call me UK, that's an easier way of calling me,"
"you are the UK from Emy's fashion show?" she asked
"yes ma'am," I answered
"impressive, mount the podium and show us what you can do," she said and I climb the stage.
" so what are you going to do for us?" she asked
"I'll be singing a song," I answered
"ok begin," she said.
I cleared my throat lightly and started singing "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I was once lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. T'was Grace that brought..."
"enough! I've heard enough! move to the right side of the theatre," she said and I breathe out in relief
"thank you," I said bowing and went to sit beside Ariel
"that was amazing," she said
"of course, it's amazing grace. that's the song isn't it?" I said
" yeah I know it's the song, what I meant was that you really did a great job with it being impromptu and all of that, you really are a girl with so much talent I'm so jealous,"
"be quiet ladies, if you have finished your presentation I would like to hear what others have to do without any chit chats distracting me," our lecturer said and we kept quiet.
At the end of the audition our lecturer announced that those on the left side would have to redo their audition the following day while those of us at the right side of the theatre will not have to redo their audition. "our next class is on Wednesday, when I come to class I'll tell you guys what exactly the school presentation is," she said before leaving.
On Tuesday I had just one class, after my class I made arrangements to meet Claudia and the ladies it's been a while since I saw them it was just a 30 minutes lunch without the children. We chatted but most of the discussion was about me and Emy's fashion show obviously, in all these things I was happy for one thing that people didn't disturb me about my love life .
Wednesday our lecturer announced that our school presentation will be on William Shakespeare's Macbeth, character's names were written on pieces of paper and we were made to pick one with her eyes closed, to choose which character we were playing. I chose the character Lady Macbeth, who was macbeth's wife. after everybody had picked their characters and announce it our lecturer told us that we will start rehearsals the following day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. "I would suggest in your free time you guys come together and rehearse your lines, it will be easier to flow in the drama during our official rehearsal time, she said to us before leaving the class.
A cute looking guy approached me ," sup UK," he said
" good afternoon," I answered
"so you are Lady Macbeth?" he asked "that's the role I'll be playing," I answered
"that means you are my wife," he said
"EXCUSE ME?""Hold it right there! she's acting as Macbeth's wife, not your wife" Ariel jumped in
" I am Macbeth you nitwit, and I wasn't talking with you but with UK so scram!" he said to Ariel but she stood her ground.
"excuse me dude..."
"Collins, my name is Collins," he interrupted me
" I don't care what your name is, you have no fucking right to insult my friend, especially in my presence. the next time you try it again I'll cut off your tongue got it!" I said to him
"my bad, I'm sorry. Jeez... you look totally different from the person I saw on Emy's fashion show, you are really scary," he said.
I rolled my eyes and turn to leave but he stopped me "we don't have another class today which means we are free throughout today, why don't we make the best of our time together," he said smiling
"thanks but I'll pass I'm a really busy person but we'll see tomorrow," I told him and his face brightened up
"your place or mine?" he asked
"the school's Theatre during rehearsals tomorrow," I answered
"Oh... yeah how about today? we can grab lunch together and y'know, talk about the book," he said
"not happening dude, I don't want to die at a young age," I said and Ariel laughed, understanding what I meant. "come on let's go," I said to her and we went out hand in hand
" That Colin of a guy really have some nerves you need to keep some distance from him," Ariel said
"of course, you don't have to tell me that. The only problem now is that I'll be seeing him everyday but you don't have to worry, I know what to do with people like him," I said to her. Everyday after class we would go to the theatre for our rehearsals and everyday Collins flirted with me. our lecturer announced that the show had been postponed to the following month because of how difficult it was for us to make the drama look as real as William Shakespeare did.
My regular food had become cheeseburger and Pepsi from DANIES PLACE because I had no time to get a better lunch before rehearsals. Coming back from school 7.30pm had become the norms for me, most of the time Jade and Juliet would be having dinner when I come back. I will just shower, eat a little and go to bed. It was a Thursday evening, eight days to the school presentation, I came home feeling really exhausted. Our lecturer had extended our rehearsals time to 8 p.m. and I had two assignments due the following day, when I came back, Hannah was waiting for me downstairs. "my poor baby, you look like a walking corpse," she said
" I feel like a walking corpse Hannah, I never knew acting was like this," I said "go to your room I'll bring your food for you," she said
"no Hannah, I'm not hungry. I'm so tired that I don't think I can eat anything," I said to her
" UK, you are not treating your body well, you don't eat in the morning before leaving, you have only cheeseburger and Pepsi for lunch and when you come back you eat little or nothing. this isn't good for your health I'm really worried about you," she said "thanks Hannah but you don't have to worry," I said to her.