The Hush Agreement

Today would be the first rehearsal for the play. And it also meant I could meet Clayton at the campus!! Yaaaay!! I woke up very early today, and I couldn’t wait to meet him. I took a longer time in the shower, washed my hair, and used chocolate-scented body butter that Sasha gave me last month. While I was busy picking clothes that I’m going to wear, Sasha looks at me from her bed and smiles.

“I never saw you picking clothes for so long until now. Usually, t-shirts and jeans did just well for going to the campus. What’s up? Got a date with Clayton again today?” she asked, a teasing smile curled on her voluptuous lips.

“Not a date, Sass… Today is the first rehearsal, remember?” I answered.

“Aaaah… the first rehearsal. Are the neck-biting scenes going to be rehearsed today as well??”, she teased further while curling her beautiful wavy red hair with her index finger.

“OMG Saasssss... Thanks for reminding me about that thing. Now I’m nervous.”

Sasha burst out laughing and ran into the bathroom before I took her for revenge.

I picked a brown off-shoulder oversized top and tight khaki trousers, then wore a wooden necklace and bangles. This will match my brown espadrilles. It will be okay wearing wedges today since we will be rehearsing barefooted as usual and would take that off before we start rehearsing.

After getting everything ready, I rushed to campus as the class would start in half an hour.

As soon I got myself into the class, Georgina, Jess, and Caddie called me and I sat beside them as usual.

“Anita, I heard that Clayton is going to play in the same play with you. Is that true? You get Lucy's part, right?”, Georgina asked.

“Yes, I saw his name on the list. But I didn’t know yet, we would only start rehearsing this afternoon. Why?”

“Is there any chance that we, I mean the three of us, can watch the rehearsal?” Caddie asked.

“Umm… I don’t know. We usually have a closed rehearsal; they forbid anyone outside the club to go into the hall.” I answered. I didn’t make that one up, though. The theatre club is indeed always having closed rehearsals because nobody can’t see the scenes or read the script of the upcoming play because it will spoil the good surprise.

Ugh, the rehearsal didn’t even start but they already asked me this. I’m sure it’s because Clayton will be playing. I wonder what they gonna do if they found out the secret guy that I was going out with was actually Clay.

In the middle of the class, my phone vibrated from an incoming text. It was Clay. “Hey, can’t wait to see you this afternoon.”

Oh, how sweet… I smiled when I saw that message, and Jess, who's sitting beside me asked why I was smiling. I said it was the theater guy I was going out with and he said see you this afternoon. But when they asked to see my phone to read the message, I smiled and put my phone away. If they look at the message, they’ll see Clay’s name on the sender list. I think it somehow irritates them a little, and I saw Jess curl her eyebrow when she turned away.

I realized it’s going to be bad if one of my girls saw his name pop up on my phone, so before I reply to his text, I decided to change his name on my contact with ‘The Theater Guy’ to make it safer.

“Can’t wait to see you too. You’re at work? Or already at the campus?”, I replied.

“Already at the campus. I have a morning class too. Mr. Chang asked about you this morning when I dropped by for breakfast, where’s the pretty short-haired lady that was with me the last time. I said you’re probably still sleeping in your dorm room, I was there at 5.30.”

“Why did you have to embarrass me in front of him, pleaseee :(((. You are so mean!”

“Sorry :((( But I told him you’re a very nice one, though. He said he sensed that too when he saw us holding hands.”

I chuckled and blushed when I read his reply. The image of us holding hands in that small restaurant and the feeling of his big, warm hand when he held mine came back into my mind.

I heard Caddie coughed intentionally to get my attention. “Earth to Anita… You’re blushing like crazy, he sent a dirty text?”, she asked teasingly.

“No… “ I chuckled, then showed his last reply for the girls to see. “His reply made me remember the way we hold hands.”

“The Theater Guy. So that nobody figured out his name?”, Jess commented.

“Especially people at our club. If they saw our text, that would be bad,” I reasoned.

At lunchtime, they asked me to go to the cafeteria together. While we just got into the packed dining areas, someone called my name. It was Pax, sharing a table in one corner with Clayton. He looks exceptionally cool, as usual. and wears a white plain V-neck t-shirt, jeans, and a black unzipped hoodie jacket. His hair was untied, and his wavy shoulder-length black hair fell down to his cheek, making him look more mysterious and arrogant, but definitely more appealing to my eye.

I said to the girls I will catch them later and walk to Pax and Clay’s table. I said Hi and sat across from them.. He said Hi but didn’t even look at me at all. He looks so cold today and busy looking down at his phone. It’s really disappointing seeing him act this cold towards me, especially after those text exchanges and the fact that we haven’t seen each other for the past few days.

“Hey, why are you two acting like strangers? You both are seeing each other, right?” Pax asked Clayton on his side, and then looked at me.

But Clay was still busy looking into his phone. I looked at Pax, shrugged at him, speechless. I really didn’t know what to say. But I’m sure Pax already knows about what happened between us from him.

“Ssssht, Pax, don’t talk so loud. People will hear”, whisper him coldly while still fixing his eyes into his phone. “Anita, sorry, I didn’t mean to do this, but… I don't know how to explain this. Please allow Pax to explain this on my behalf, okay?” he said. Still not looking at me at all, only looking down.

What is this about, exactly?. A question popped inside my mind but I didn’t say it out loud.

“Okay, I’ll explain. I know you’re seeing each other, Clayton told me everything yesterday. But he wants to ask you something. He thinks it’s better for you two to keep interacting as friends in public, for your own sake. But as we will have closed rehearsals, it will be okay for both of you to act as usual when we rehearse, because all of the members of the club always can keep their mouths zipped for the sake of the play as. Is that right, Mr. Sommers?” Pax turned his face to him.

He nodded.

“Okay, it’s fine. I understand. But why didn't you even look at me? Is it also prohibited for friends to look at each other?” I asked Clayton straightforwardly.

“It’s nothing… I’m.. just.. nervous. I’m afraid if I look at you I won’t stop staring,” he said.

But I can see him smirking a bit from the side. I know he just doesn't want to lose a single chance to tease me.

“Clayton, please stop teasing me. Look at me”, I said, rather demandingly.

“Okay, pretty lady”, he said. Then he raised his face and smiled at me. It was my favorite smile, a cool smile, not too wide, but with a devilish glint in his eyes. There it is, my secret Clay who likes to tease me a lot, who is unknown to most people, not Clayton Sommers the celebrity.

“Clayton, stop calling me that. You know I don’t like being called that. Ugh!”. I curled my lip, pouting, kinda ruffled.

“Why? You ARE pretty for his eye. Right, Clay? He told me so ”, Pax said and teased him back.

“She’s even looking prettier like that”, said Clay to Pax, pointing at me who was still pouting.

Pax almost burst out laughing when he heard Clayton’s reply, but then laughed soundlessly while tilting his face down and hiding his mouth with his hand. Clay starts to grin devilishly and look at Pax and me (who already felt more annoyed by their acts).

“Hmph.. you mischievous duo”, I said. “Guys gotta go. I gotta catch up with my friends and have a quick lunch. I have another class in less than 30 mins. See ya later!.”

I stood up and left them, but as I walked away from the table, I saw him smiling and mouthing "See You" then smiled back at him.