Chapter 6 : Not Herself on The Stage

As if hit by a big rock called disappointment, Eiffel showed her protest to Gele. This is the first time she is not enthusiastic about playing her role on the theater stage. For some reason, she was disgusted by an Adeline who was weak, selfish in love and didn't think long. Apart from that, she felt that Adeline was very different from the tough roles she had played before. Adeline is very gentle, motherly and fragile.

Unfortunately, Mr Gele didn't seem to want to know. Instead he said, "Never mind, Eiffel. A talented player must be able to play all available roles." Then, he left Eiffel and asked all his students to start practicing the first scene.

"Come on, Eiffel... Our first scene!" Reno opened his hood and took off his jacket. Her hair in a ponytail and silver piercings caught Eiffel's attention. This man in a t-shirt with loose sleeves and jeans ripped at the knees is actually quite cute. It's a shame that he likes to act cool and is very emotional.

Eiffel read the script again on stage:

Adeline: (Surprised & holding her husband's arm) Honey, are you going to war again?

Alfred: Yes...My dear wife. However, I will soon return to meet my angel who is faithfully waiting for me to fight."

Aduuuuuuhhh...How come it's a bit cheesy, isn't it?! Eiffel scratched her head. Beside him, Reno was ready to act.

"Ready, yeah?" Gele started giving commands under the stage "Start!"

"O my wife, Adeline..." Reno really appreciates his role. His glazed eyes turned frightening like the description of King Alfred in the script. He studied the script well. The volume of the sound is very large and loud. He is indeed the only student of Gele who is able to make stomach sounds. No wonder he became 'The Best Actor ' this year.

"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Eiffel, who plays Adeline, salutes the king.

"Soon spring will end, the flowers growing throughout the palace gardens will wither in the heat of the sun. The foliage will dry out later in the summer. But, my love for you will not wither and dry." King Alfred looked at Adeline with warmth behind his fierce eyes.

"Your Majesty…" Adeline should have smiled sweetly "So does my love, Your Majesty. I will always pour it out all season, all time, all my life." she looked down slowly.

"Then my queen." King Alfred turned his body, facing the audience. "I will not doubt your love." He grabbed Adeline's hand "I'm sure that with your love, affection...and loyalty...I will succeed in achieving it. Therefore, my wife….I beg you….let me go."

"Where are you going?"

"When summer comes, I will go to war….I will go to defend my people…." He tilted his head.

"Honey... are you going to war again?"

"Yes, my wife..." Alfred kissed Adeline's hand.

"My King…." Adeline touched the King's lips with her trembling index finger "Never make a promise full of..."

" CUT !" shouted Gele.

"Why, bro?" Reno felt like his understanding was falling apart.

"How come I don't get the taste? Try again!" his protest which turned out to be a bit offensive to Reno. Reno felt like he had tried his best. Why does it have to be repeated?

But what can you do? Reno is just a student. Finally, he repeated the dialogue.

"O my wife Adeline..." The start is full of emotion.

"What is it, Your Majesty?" Eiffel started to memorize the text. her memory is extraordinary. Even until the end of the first scene, she had memorized it. Everything is smooth and flows well. The part that was originally cut by Gele, is now left to flow. But that doesn't mean it was successful. A few moments later, Gele stopped it again.

"Never make a promise full of possibilities." Adeline let go of her finger on the King's lips. "That possibility is just His power which we cannot predict."

"But darling..." Alfred touched Adeline's face. "It's possible that it's just something that..."

" CUT !"

"What now?!" Reno glanced annoyed. His red glazed eyes were very scary.

"The taste hasn't appeared yet!" Mr Gele protested angrily.

"What taste?! I'm at my maximum." Reno protested back, not wanting to lose.

"Already! Already! Try it again!" Gele sat in his chair "This time it's serious!"

"O my wife...." Reno no longer reads scripts. This is one of Reno's advantages. He memorizes dialogue very quickly.

"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" The seriousness of his co-star influences Eiffel's acting .

"Soon it will be spring..." The two senior players began to show off their talents. They no longer read scripts. His memory, which was used to memorizing dialogue, worked optimally.

"That possibility is a mystery that we must accept. Don't give up on the possibilities He gives us." The king stepped out.

"You are not satisfied with His grace?" Adeline chased him, intercepting her steps "Fertile land, prosperous people, gradually expanding territory... Are you not satisfied, my king?"

"I'm not a person who is easily satisfied." His gaze upwards "But I am also not a power-hungry and savage human being." he looked at his wife again "Calm down my darling! I know what I should do!" He took his wife's hand and hugged her body.

The lights are turned off, the opening scene is over.

"How are you, bro?" Reno let go of his hug. His dry lips smiled slightly because Gele didn't comment on his acting anymore.

Gele did not answer his student's question. He got up from his chair and walked towards the exit of the auditorium. It seems that Mr Gele still feels something tasteless from the scene earlier.

"So according to Mr Gele it's still not enough?! But why just keep silent?" Reno feels underestimated. He threw the script full of emotion. Since his acting was widely praised by other coaches, he became big-headed. He often doesn't accept it when Gele criticizes him. According to him, Gele was just jealous or idealistic about his game.

"Heh! Why are you yelling?!" Gele's voice echoed. The atmosphere became quiet and tense. No one dared to say a word.

If you think about it, this quarrel is actually based on a very small problem. Unfortunately, Reno didn't seem to accept it. Gele's mistakes, who used to belittle him, seemed to have pushed him to become very angry this morning.

"Gele!" Reno picked up his backpack in the corner of the stage. "I've always tried to make Gele proud, but you never appreciated me one bit!" His glazed eyes looked at Gele sarcastically, "Until I won the award yesterday, Mas didn't realize that I had good potential!"

"Heh! I have many years of experience in the theater world. He has twice been assistant to the head of the famous Zamrud Khatulistiwa theater group since independence! If I say it's ugly, it's ugly!" Gele approached him "You were just a kid yesterday afternoon and you're already arrogant!"

Reno was silent. His red eyes stared at Gele behind his bangs.

"There you go home! Rest and think! Maybe you're tired!" As angry as Gele is, he still cares about his students.

Reno took the script he had thrown and left the practice room. Hopefully tomorrow he will be better.

"Well that's that then! Practice the next scene. Look for a scene that doesn't have Alfred's dialogue first!" Gele wiped his sweat with his green handkerchief. He tried not to depend on his student who had high blood pressure.

Eiffel and the actor Rozlard alias Gilang climbed the stage and began to show off their potential. Eiffel hopes that Gele won't be angry anymore when he sees the two of them acting out one of the scenes in the story 'Rule or Love'.

"You..." Adeline raised her index finger slowly, "my husband's confidant?"

"Yes…" the young man nodded. His face was very impressive.

"What's your name? Have you served my husband for a long time? Why am I only meeting you face to face now?"

"Rozlard…."

"Rozlard? Good name." Adeline stepped away from Rozlard. her eyes were closed. she should have felt a new power touch her heart.

"Empress…." Rozlard started to open his lips. He began to be fascinated by Adeline's beauty. "Your… His Majesty Alfred gave...…"

" CUT !" Eiffel and Gilang gasped when they heard Gele's shout.

"How is it?!" Gele clenched his fists "Ouch! Why have you been dataaaaarrr….continue?! Since then I haven't gotten anything!" he approached Rozlard and Eiffel "This is the first time you two have met! And you've fallen in love! You know?! Try again!"

"Sorry, Sis Eiffel..." Gilang poked Eiffel.

"Eh?!" Eiffel was surprised. she has said many times that she doesn't like being called 'Sis Eiffel'. Gilang is too polite.

"His name is also a new actor, bro... It's a natural mistake, right?" his smile was uncertain.

"Relax, Gilang. Gele is probably still annoyed with Reno." Eiffel tried to smile at Gilang. Even though her heart... Wow... burning hot. 

Finally, a little forced and tired, Eiffel repeated the scene.

***