Chapter Text
“It’s him.” Sori said softly, catching Sopan’s attention. “The school’s jock.”
The boy strided in, confidence emanating him as he was surrounded by girls and guys flocking over him, admiring his talent and popularity.
Gentar.
One of the school’s popular guys besides Supra. If Supra is famous as the school’s heartthrob, Gentar is famous as the school’s jock.
“I thought Frostfire was known as the school’s jock,” Sopan commented casually, his eyes going back to the book. It was rather peaceful before Gentar entered the room. Now the noise was building up, but not something he can't handle.
“He is. Frostfire’s jock No.1, Gentar’s jock No.2.”
Sori took a piece of potato chips and popped it into his mouth. And right at that moment, Frostfire walked into the cafeteria, heading straight towards Gentar and the crowd.
Sopan watched as the two famous athletes bumped fist and exchanged greetings. Gentar, being more on the loud and overexcited side, much to the other's amusement. Gentar opened a bottled water and dunked it all over his face, earning excited cheers from his fans.
He couldn't get the hype though. Sopan thought, as he flipped another page of his new poetry book. Though maybe it was because he didn't really bother to pay attention to them in the first place.
Sopan is a silent observer, ever the peacemaker in the group. Wherever there’s a conflict, they all just seemed to expect him to say words of advice like some sort of therapist. Not that he minded though.
His life is quite peaceful, away from the hustle of parties and trouble.
He likes it very much.
****
There’s a school festival approaching, and the class has decided to do a play. Something related to a fairy tale of sorts. Of course, Sopan instantly gained the highest votes to be Prince Charming, and Gentar—
“Why am I the villain??!” Gentar slammed the desk, his face full of dissatisfaction.
“Would you prefer to be the wolf then?” The class president deadpanned, an eyebrow raised.
“No!” Gentar rejected, “But why am I the villain?! Why can’t it be—Fang?”
“Oi!”
A retort from the guy and incoherent noises in reply later, Gentar was still met by a refusal from the class president.
“Please, we all know you suit best to hold this title.”
“What’s that supposed to mean??!”
“You have the biggest build among all our classmates, and your rough nature would surely make a great villain.
“I know a better position I can handle.” Gentar’s eyes glinted, a confident smirked etched on his face. “Let me be the hero.”
The class president shook his head, “No can do. That’s already been taken by Sopan.”
Gentar shot a look towards the silent boy seated near the window, who looked startled at the piercing stare from the other.
Right. It’s always Sopan. What does he has anything special about him anyway?
“I’ll trade roles with him.”
“What?” Before the class president can counter, Gentar already shouted.
“Hey, Sopan!”
Gentar’s shout caught everyone’s attention in the room. “You wanna switch roles with me?”
“I, uh…” Sopan began, not knowing what to say. He was too speechless by the sudden shout from the guy he never interacted with before.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Sopan can’t be the bad guy. He’s too nice for that role.” The class president scoffed.
“Oh please, you’re so confident that I’m the bad guy, why not let him try?”
“Nobody would believe Sopan can pull off a villain. Why do you hate that role so much anyway?”
“Because I should be the hero!” Gentar slammed his hands on the desk again. “I’m strong, handsome, and I can fight well!”
“Exactly why you should be the villain.”
“So you agree that I’m handsome?”
“What? No–”
“Frost, back me up here.” Gentar turned to his best friend who’s also his deskmate.
Frostfire just stuffed another potato chip into his mouth, shrugging. “I don’t care what role you play.”
“Tch. You’re not helping.”
“We’re getting nowhere, Gentar. Do you want this role or not?” The class president clicked his tongue.
“We haven’t even auditioned yet!”
“There is no audition, this is a school festival.” The class president pressed his nose bridge, slowly growing irritated at the boy’s stubbornness. “Every other roles has been decided and we casted them based on who can play them the best. You will only get the villain. Either you take it or you leave it.”
Gentar narrowed his eyes, glaring holes into the president’s eyes, though the latter remained unfazed, not an ounce intimidated by the boxer.
“Fine.” Gentar said begrudgingly. If he cancels out on this play, he won’t be able to gain popularity and would lose out against Supra as the coolest, strongest, bestest social king. He heard the guy is playing as a guitarist for their class’ performance. No way is he going to lose out just because he can’t be the hero. “I’ll show everyone that I can be the most awesome villain ever HAHAHA!”
“Whatever.” The class president rolled his eyes as he scribbled something on his clipboard, walking back to his seat.
*****
And so, the class began their practice for the play as the school festival approaches. Sopan was given his script, acting as the Prince Charming who would save the princess from the evil villain.
It all boils down to a duel at the end where the prince faces off against the villain who has been terrorizing the kingdom.
“Who on earth wrote these lines?!” Gentar threw the script to the floor. “They’re too cheezy!”
“Watch it. Gopal and I worked hard on them.” Fang warned.
“Well maybe you should hire someone with actual feelings to write them.” Gentar retorted.
“What did you say, you punk?”
Gentar huffed, crossing his arms. He ignored Fang who was being restrained by Gopal from lashing out on him. He noticed Sopan approaching from a distance, one hand holding the script.
“I don’t mean to bother… but shall we practice the confrontation scene together?”
Gentar gave him a once-over. His smile that seemed too nice to be sincere. Eyes that seemed too bright to be kind.
He was supposed to be the hero.
He was supposed to be the main character.
So why is—why is—
Gentar wanted to throw his hands in frustration.
He let out an exaggerated exhale, earning a confused expression from the play’s hero himself.
But…then again, if he can make out as the strongest villain, then wouldn’t that mean that he would be successful either way?
Perhaps they have no choice but to show that the evil side would be the advantage after all, despite him liking when the good side wins.
He just has to outshine the hero himself.
“Alright,” Gentar bent down to pick up the script again. “How do you wanna do this?”
****
Working with Gentar was…challenging to put it in a nice term.
He was aggressive with his words, voice lashing out with every syllable as if Sopan had been the one to provoke him.
His eyes burned with determination, glaring holes into the script with fierce intensity. If eyes could burn, then the paper in his hand would have burst into flames by now.
Gentar came off too strong for Sopan.
By the end of their practice, Sopan was exhausted, though he tried not to show it on his face. He leaned his back against the wall, conserving his energy in silence. Gentar sat on the floor next to him, resting his hands over his knees.
“Perhaps if you could lower your intensity, we may be able to carry this practice for longer.”
“Are you telling me to be soft?”
“That is not what I meant,” Sopan clarified.
“Villains aren’t soft, idiot.” Gentar scoffed. “They’re supposed to be rough and scary, unlike you.”
“You seem to harbor hostility towards me. Have I done something wrong to arouse your anger?”
“Can you not speak so complicated for once?” Gentar clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
“Is there a problem with the way I speak?”
Gentar didn’t know if Sopan was joking when he said that. He stared at him with pure confusion that made Gentar want to pull his hair out. “You–haaaaa….”
Before Sopan could respond, Gentar already raised his hand. “Forget it,” He stood up, grabbing the script and folding it in a wrinkled mess of half. “I’m going back to my seat. We’ll continue this tomorrow.”
Sopan could say no more as he watched the back of that person walk further from him, leaving behind traces of doubt and confusion that disturbed his calming peace.