Loving A Triple Threat

Ms Ling and Mr Head listened to the rehearsal intently, and rather than interrupt, they furiously took notes. Too much interruption damaged the flow and the time for that had passed. They were on the last stretch now before the opening night in three weeks.

Gi's performance had dropped since the incident, but Ms Ling kept her in the play, while advising Mr Head to change the boy if he had an issue. Gi would either sort herself out, or she would learn. Either way, she backed her girl.

Ms Ling looked back at the camera, she pondered sitting through the entire performance with Gi in the pretence of instruction, but actually, she would give her life advice. With a face, body and aura like Gi's, she had to learn how to deal with devious creeps, and soon. Or, she was in for a life of heartbreak and pain.

She was the flame and the moths would come.

"You will talk to her," Mr Head suggested softly.

"Do you think me incompetent Mr Head?" Ms Ling retorted.

He sighed, "No, of course not, I am just concerned, there will be important people attending opening night, and I would rather the students praised than have myself derided."

Mr Head was correct. If the students did well, they were praised. If they did poorly, the Teachers were criticised. It was the only thing she hated about being a Teacher, but, it was worth it most of the time.

"Mr Head, I appreciate and understand your concern, have faith that I will not let you down. But if you want a guarantee, remove your boy. The girl is staying."

Her counterpart hung his head and said softly, "Ms Ling, that is impossible, with his parents and brother attending, I would be fired tomorrow for such a move."

"Then Mr Head, I am your only hope," Ms Ling said smiling and thinking he wasn't so bad a man.

He lifted his head and smiled back, "That you are, that you are."

<break>

She walked briskly towards the exit, as Ren chased after her.

"Gi," he said as if in distress. When he caught her, he grabbed her wrist from behind and pulled, turning her around.

"Let … me … ," she pulled her arm free, "Go!" She glared at him.

"We need to talk, your performance suffers, and I cannot do my role if you hate me so,' Ren said.

He had been trying to apologise and woo her for weeks, but she saw through his lies.

"I was hoping they would replace you by now," she said savagely. His continued attention did not mollify her, it incensed her. Day by day, week by week her resentment towards him grew.

Ren hung his head, "I've said sorry so many times. If it takes me quitting for you to believe me and to save the play I'll do it. I'll do it to prove to you I care."

He turned to walk back to the Teachers and against her better judgement, she followed

"Mr Head," Ren called. "Can we talk, please Sir."

Gi now stood just out of arms reach of Ren and inspected her wrist where he had grabbed her.

Ms Ling followed close behind Mr Head peering at Gi with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Mr Byun?" Mr Head enquired using the formal address as the Teachers did at Daeil.

"Mr Head, I need to resign to my understudy. If I could have another part, I would wish it. I have learned all the lines. But if that is impossible, my decision still stands," Ren said.

Mr Head look worried, "Ren,' he said dropping formality, "This is not good. You are our best actor, and I would be blamed. It wouldn't save the play, and not only would you be harming my reputation but letting down all your fellow students. I cannot accept your resignation."

"Oh, Pfft, of course, you can. Stop being dramatic. An imbecile could do his part," Ms Ling said savagely. No one noticed her wink at Mr Head, other than the recipient, as she moved past him.

"Ms Ling!" He protested while following her lead. After another moment he bowed his head to her and proclaimed, "I will do as you instruct Ms Ling, you are senior here."

Ms Ling turned to face Gi, ignoring his sly slight that she was older, "If this is what you want Gi, it shall be done."

Gi panicked. They had just laid this all at her feet. She wanted to scream. "Ms Ling!" She protested finally finding her words.

"Gi, it has to be. You," Ms Ling then turned to Ren, "or Him," and then she turned back to Mr Head with her back to the students she said, "Or you fix this." She then mouthed to Mr Head, 'watch this.'

Time passed.

"Fine!" Gi exclaimed. Before grabbing Ren's wrist, and savagely pulling him towards the exit for a private chat.

After the two students left Mr Head informed Ms Ling, "You are my hero."

<break>

Gi sighed, she was conflicted. But when she considered Ms Ling's obviously manipulative words she knew that her problems were hurting everyone. Not just Ren. Not just her. She finally realised that she was like a spoiled child, and she was hurting the other students, and even her Teachers who would lose face with a bad performance.

All because Ms Ling supported her to the death.

She sighed again.

Ren sat there quietly. It was wise of him. Any word or sound from him could disrupt the peace.

"Okay," Gi declared and stood. She held out her hand and looked Ren in the eyes.

He stood, smiled and shook her hand, "Okay." He said. He looked happy.

For the next week, they rehearsed and grew closer again. It was like their handshake was a new beginning.

Ren was kind, respectful, thoughtful. He didn't try any stunts like bringing her flowers or chocolates she couldn't eat. But he did small things, like bring her water or a clean towel.

In two weeks they were joking, and when he flirted, she was not angry anymore. She had moved past his betrayal, in the end, everyone makes mistakes.

Gi watched Ren performing a scene with the other actors from Daeil, he was very talented, and she was glad she ended up making the right decision. Everyone would have blamed her if he was allowed to resign. He was the star of their little group.

She watched as he dashed across the stage, he could do comedy as well as serious dramatic scenes, his range was excellent. His blonde hair bobbed as he landed on a knee while another actor berated him as part of their scene.

After they finished he flashed her a smile from the stage. He knew she was watching from the wings, and it was just a friendly smile, but it sent a thrill through her which she quickly squashed.

She was wary of falling for him again. Gi schooled herself. And shook her head at him as if he was misbehaving.

He ran off stage and passed by her, too close.

She could smell him. Although he was working hard, it wasn't an unpleasant smell. It was musky. It was the smell of a man.

He approached her from behind and held a water bottle, "Want some?" he asked politely.

She shook her head.

He was offering her first sip before he put his lips to the bottle and drank heavily.

She spoke to herself again. 'Be strong. Do not fall for him.'

<break>

Gi was sweating, Ms Moon was working her hard as usual. The choro was intense, and all the girls were dying.

"Again!" Ms Moon clapped to a multitude of groans.

They worked through the routine one last time before Ms Moon finally relented. "Okay, warm down, wipe down and head to your next class." She ordered. Ms Moon was the Master Sergeant of dance.

They just started to head to the next class when a fire alarm sounded.

And Misha approached her, grabbed her hand and announced, "Follow me."

They ran out the front of the school where a number of girls collected at the designated area. There were men there already in high vis standing around with a bright orange rope.

They were checking names.

Gi looked at the man checking her name, he looked very young. He only looked eighteen or so.

As soon as he took her name he got on his phone and spoke to someone.

"Young Ladies," one called. "Please stay behind the rope. Please watch the top of the hill."

Almost half the school was there now, kept behind the ropes and for some reason, they were asked to look up the grassed hill away from the school. Even the Teachers found this strange, they didn't know what was happening either.

But the men were wearing Hi-Vis, and doing no harm. It was a fire alarm, after all, so no one questioned them.

At the top of the hill, a singly boy appeared. He was a Daeil boy.

It was Ren.

He began to walk slowly down the hill with the eyes of most of the girls at the school on him. And he began to sing in a loud clear voice.

***Ren sang and walked slowly down the grassy hill

.

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

I did wrong by you

You didn't deserve it

.

***After the first four lines, more boys appeared. They sang with Ren. There were five now.

.

We're sorry

We're sorry

We did wrong by you

You were right to be angry

.

***After the next four lines, more boys appeared. They sang with Ren. There were ten now.

.

We're sorry

We're sorry

We did wrong by you

Please forgive us

.

***As they sang a third set was a never-ending stream of boys appeared. They sang with Ren. There were over fifty, the over a hundred.

.

We're sorry

We're sorry

We did wrong by you

We made this song

To show we care

We made this song

To show we learn

We made this song

Cos our heart still burns

.

They kept closing the distance and repeated the last refrain, three times, as they drew closer. The boy wearing Hi-Vis that took her name stood by her side with his hand held high until Ren spotted him.

Ren walked directly towards her with hundreds of Daeil boys behind him. They were apologising to all the girls of Branksome, but Gi felt this was just for her.

It was such a beautiful gesture a tear escaped her eye as Ren drew close.

She could see he was crying. He had been for a while. His true feelings were showing.

This was not an act.

He stared directly into her eyes as he sang, and all the girls could see she was the focus of the entire event. Some were in awe while others were incredibly jealous.

Miss Gi Reyn drew all of the Daeil year twelves out and made them sing an apology.

She would be a legend tomorrow.

But right now she only had eyes for Ren.

She fell into his arms and they embraced.

He whispered in her ear, "I really am sorry."