Ch.33: Theater and Music Department

Inside the auditorium, a large number of students sat in chairs as a man stood in the center on a vast stage. "So my darlings, as you know, Arcane's annual Trick or Treat Halloween Festival is coming soon."

The man spoke in a theatrical voice with added gestures. His elaborate choice of wardrobe, like the ruffle shirt that revealed his hairy muscular chest, fit his personality.

"For this year's stage play, I decided on a fairytale classic, but with a horror spin!"

The director of the Theater and Music Department dramatically snapped his finger, striking a pose as most of his students had grown used to his over-the-top ways.

"Which fairytale will we be doing?" asked a random female daytime student.

"I have decided on Cinderella! Remixing some of the scenes to fit the Halloween festivities. Now, to play fair, your roles will be based on luck." Mr. Alexander issued a series of small white envelopes to be passed around. "There are three main roles, Cinderella, the Prince, and one of Cinderella's stepsisters. Once you open your envelopes, please stand if you are assigned one of these roles."

The students opened their envelopes as they either groaned or cheered when they saw the role they landed.

"Looks like I got Cinderella." To no one's shock, Daphne was cast as Cinderella, but everyone reacted negatively when Alice stood up, holding the card that read Cinderella's beautiful but wicked stepsister.

"How can a vile person like her get such an important role!?" The one to make this outburst was Sarah; many of the other students agreed with her.

"Mr. Alexander, you can't forget what she did to the poor Daphne when she allowed her last big role to get to her head! Obviously, someone else is much more suited for the role! I refuse to act in a play with an ugly person like her."

Rubbing salt in the wound, proudly declaring his displeasure, was a handsome daytime student with light brown hair who stood up holding the prince card.

After their main male lead star left the club because his schedule in the actual show biz world kept him too busy. This handsome boy usually came off as the perfect gentleman with great charisma and considerate bearings, became their new male star actor.

While the other students mouthed bad words, Alice refused to show her pain. Yes, each word stabbed her deep, but she refused to give in, knowing she was innocent in the matter concerning her and Daphne.

Before Daphne had framed her, Alice had no problem with the other girl. She even idolized her as a great actress with an enchanting voice that could rival sirens. Too bad that underneath that mask of beauty and elegance lay a woman with an evil heart.

"Please stop bringing up matters of the past. Alice and I have talked about things. She deeply regrets her actions and just wants to get along with everyone to make this a fantastic play."

Alice mentally scoffed at the fake smile Daphne used to fool everyone into believing her. Her tone and voice showed not a fatal lie, which, when added to her beauty, did nothing but increase the other students' ire towards her.

"How can a goddess like her exist?"

"No wonder she's a Gifted Student. Her soul is too pure!"

"Not only is she gorgeous, but even her heart is overflowing with kindness~!"

Compliments continued to shower Daphne, who graciously accepted them with a gentle smile. Mr. Alexander had to clap his hands to get his students to calm down.

"Ms. Daphne is right. What happened between them is in the past and should no longer be brought up. If you have a problem with my methods, leave my class!" Mr. Alexander could be scary when he became grave, pointing to the door. No one said a word and reluctantly accepted his decision. Seeing no one moved, he continued with business.

Students had their names and the role they would play written on the dry sealer board. After this, Mr. Alexander handed out booklets to everyone. Alice looked at the cover that read The Tragic Tale of Cinderella. She flipped the book open and began reading the synopsis.

In this remake of the classical romance fairytale, instead of a fairy godmother, she was visited by a demon. Who, in return for granting her wish of attending the ball, made a deal that if the prince did not harbor genuine true love for her, she would take away her soul.

Cinderella accepted the deal. Things played out like the original classical fairytale, but when the prince began his search for the person who fit the glass slipper, he fell in love at first sight with Cinderella's beautiful stepsister, not the real Cinderella covered with dust and dressed in ragged clothes. Despite how much Cinderella tried to prove she was the actual owner of the glass slipper, the prince brushed her aside and married her wicked stepsister instead.

At the wedding, which was on the twelfth day, consumed with heartbreak and outrage, Cinderella poisoned the prince and lured her stepsister into the garden, where she stabbed her multiple times, killing her. When the clock struck twelve, the demon appeared, and Cinderella's soul was taken away.

"I take back what I said before, Alice. This role is perfect for a villain like you. Just like the evil stepsister, didn't you too steal another girl's boyfriend?" Sarah mocked Alice openly, causing other students to gossip about her again but one glare from Mr. Alexander shut them up.

"Ms. Sarah, please stop adding drama to my class. Not to mention someone with such low-class acting skills should not be acting arrogant. Let's see if you have improved since your last performance." Sarah's pale face flushed with embarrassment as Mr. Alexander had her come before the other students and rehearse her role.

"You act arrogant when it comes to backstabbing your classmates but not when it comes to the stage! Again! Put more effort into your voice and body language!" Mr. Alexander continued to point out Sarah's mistakes and demanded she correct them.

When it came to the stage, he was not one to be soft on his students, demanding absolute perfection. Watching Sarah burn with humiliation and anger as she continued to screw up, lightened the load in Alice's heart, but a part of her couldn't help but think back to the accusation the other girl had thrown at her.

'When Malik and I got together, he told me to my face that he and Daphne had peacefully broken things off, but what if he lied? Does that truly make me a mistress in someone else's relationship? Did our time together really mean something to him, or was he just using me?'

With so many fingers pointing at her like she was the guilty one, Alice's thoughts began to spiral. In the corner of her heart, she began to believe these words that painted her as a criminal.

She was mad at herself for being so naive and accepting of Malik's bold confession so easily when he hadn't that long broken up with Daphne, who many dubbed as the perfect couple.

__

When Malik walked through the door of the three-bedroom luxurious dorm he shared with his two best friends, he wasn't surprised to see Ethan seated at his gaming station, headphones on, deeply immersed in whatever RPG/MMO caught his attention.

Walking towards the plush black couch, Malik sat down and enjoyed a moment of silence before tackling the stack of paperwork waiting for him in his room. Reaching for his phone, Malik began scrolling through old pictures.

"Do you miss her?" Ethan's voice broke the silence in the room.

"What are you talking about?" Malik calmly asked when his eyes came upon a picture that made him pause and enlarge it.

"You're going through your photo album looking at old pictures of Alice. If you still love her, which obviously you do or you wouldn't be moping and moaning her name in your sleep, talk things out with her."

Ethan offered his suggestion, eyes glued to his computer screen as his eyes gloated with glee when his character defeated the boss.

"First time experiencing love, and you're an expert now? Don't you think I tried?"

"No, you put in minimum effort. Nothing compared to when you confessed and began dating her. I'm telling you now, swallow your pride and try harder. If you don't, you can forget winning her back." Having said what he wanted to say, Ethan returned all his focus to his game, leaving Malik to ponder over his choice.

"I won't let her escape. She's mine and mine only." The picture that captured his attention was of Alice standing on a bright stage, holding a bouquet as she happily received a grand applause for her performance.

Malik remembered how her singing voice and acting skills captivated him that night. She was radiant, lulling his attention and heart as a voice in his head screamed at him to make this precious rare jewel his.