SCENE 1
Setting: Outside the lead’s house on a sunny afternoon
Narrator: Once in our lives, we’ve been left by someone we cherish. May it be for the betterment of ourselves or not, we know that it hurt a lot, a lot, a lot. This is where our story begins. It was another sunny afternoon outside the lot of this petite girl wearing her common get-up—a pair of jeans and shirt. Her black hair flows through her shoulders right to her back as she was gazing on a blue sky thinking very, very deep that not even the biggest shovel can ever dig.
Chessy is a girl who had been left by her parents, both literally and figuratively while she was young as eight. Five years had passed since then, she’s now a struggling teenager left alone with her fraternal twin sister, Chessa. And yes, their names may sound as close as you might think but no, not their personalities. And by that, we mean really, really not. Their father died from a car accident and their mother, their only parent now, went abroad to taste what she preferred to call “greener pasture” and she’d send some foreign money to her twins once in awhile. If they got lucky, it would be packed with a letter.
Background Music: Maybe by Yiruma
Chessa: Oh, Cheeessy… I need to get my nails done and I can’t do the dishes! Come and do it for meee!
Chessy: Oh for crying out loud. No, thank you. I’ve got plenty of things to do. *disgusted voice* Solitude destroyer.
Chessa: Hm, like what? Write one of your cheesy songs and sing like a frog when you think nobody hears you? Aww, cheesy Chessy.
Narrator: Oops, did I forget to tell you that teeny-weeny detail? Yes, Chessy is an aspiring singer and composer but she’d never let others find that out. Yet now, she was dumbfounded by her quote and quote “twin sis” who apparently knew her little secret.
Chessy: The hell you care?! It would be useless to fight something with a b-word like yourself, so *imitates Chessa’s slutty voice* do your nails *back to normal voice* and leave me alone!
Chessa: Yeah, sure. I know, right. (Walks away and Chessy follows her in)
SCENE 2
Setting: Kitchen sink with dishes asked to be made done by Chessa
Background Music: Maybe by Yiruma continues
Chessy: *in mind* Daddy died. Mommy left. And I’ve been stuck up with my fraternal twin. Yes, fraternal. Aside from our names and birthdates, and well biological parents, there’s nothing much common between us. Not anymore.
Chessa: *distinct* Chessy, someone’s at the door. I believe they’re yours.
Chessy: Right, coming right there. Hang on for a sec. (goes to the door and answers it)
David: Hey there!
Narrator: David. He’s half Indian and is a math nerdie, if you can’t tell.
Chad: How’s it going, Chess?
Narrator: And well, he’s Chad. He kinda loved carbs too much.
Chessy: Hey buddies! I’m good and you…?
David: (Enters) Terribly, awfully looking forward for this school year!
Chessy: Ah, what a weird choice of adjectives. Was that meant to be positive or not?
Chad: Now, Chessy, you act like we haven’t been friends since pre-school!
David: How I miss Ava back during those days!
Chessy: Right. My “best friend” during those days. Simply Ava.
Chad: You mean not the hot popular girl we know today, right?
Chessy: Yeah-uh.
David: She’s still good, isn’t she? Look at her physique.
Chessy: Ha-ha! Funny. So what are you doing here anyway?
Chad: Nothing special, really. We just checked you out to see if you’re ready for tomorrow and yep, we see you’re good so we gotta go now and do some “beauty rest.”
Chessy: Hey, I should be the one saying that, you know.
Chad: I know. Whatever. Let’s go, buddy.
David: Right, see ya, Chess!
Chessy: Bye.
SCENE 3
Setting: Classroom. First day of classes. Chessy arrives with Chessa but the moment they enter the room is as if they were never together.
Chessa’s Circle of Friends:
Chessa: Hey Karen, how was summer?
Karen: Nothing special. My dad bought me this pair of Jimmy Choo Flip Flops and Christian Louboutini heels. I like it better when it’s pink, and I believe he knows that. And I got this new phone as a gift from a relative. I’m actually fed up by it and I want it to be thrown away.
Narrator: She’s Karen—a rich, rich girl. Apparently it was because his father was a successful business tycoon at some designer company. No wonder she got those designer clothes, shoes and other stuff.
Chessa: I see. Where’s Ava?
Karen: Dunno. Pretty sure she’s gonna be here any moment though…well, and steal away our thunder!
Chessa: That’s why we love her. *giggles*
Karen: I know, right.
Chessy’s Circle of Friends:
Chessy: Well… another heck of a year of schooling!
David: Hurray for us, Social Outcasts!
Chad: Hurray for you. I promise to become a jock this year.
David: I believe they starve new recruits by giving them a no-carb diet!
Chad: Say what?! We’re Asians and they know rice is our staple food! And rice is one heck of a carb!
David: WeeEeLll…
Chad: Urgh, forget it!
Chessy: *giggles*
-SILENCE overthrew the room-
Narrator: Whoa! Undefined silence. I believe she’s here. Who, you might ask. She’s just the queen bee with an army of skanks behind her with her delicious physique and popularity. A rich girl with looks, a definitely big fish in the sea for almost all the guys out there. She’s here—Ava. Chessy’s ex-bff and Chessa’s current.
Ava: (Goes to Chessa and Karen while all the other people seemed to be drooling) Hey, girls. How was summer? Oh forget that basic question, how do I look?
Chessa: As usual. Pretty. Duh! Or we won’t be friends with you.
Ava: *Stares*
Chessa: Joke. That’s a joke.
Ava: *Rolls her eyes* Anyway, let’s go shake the geekiness out of those social outcasts over there. (Points over Chessy’s table and walks with her “friends”) Hey losers!
David: Hey, gorgeous.
Karen: Ew.
Chessa: Ew, ew, ew.
Chad: Dude, they speak alien-ish!
Ava: Duh! I mean, like gross. Quit flirting you dirty little bandit and stay to the level where you are: g-e-a-k. Geak!
David: Do you even know how to spell GEEK? G-E-E-K, ring a bell?
Ava: OK, irregardless. All I want to say is that, I f-ing don’t want to see your fugly faces in here.
Chessy: Well, sorry to break your ice but we have brains that’s why we’re here in the star section unlike you, you and your little friends are just here because you’re rich and you think you can buy anything, well, you’re wrong! Definitely ultimately absolutely wrong!
Karen: Well, you know, not because we’re rich and well… you don’t act like one, it’s not our fault.
Ava: Yeah, why not be like your sister? She acts more humane.
David: Whoa, she knows the word humane.
Ava: *Glares*
Chessy: So that’s what humane is to you. O-K. I wonder if you even spell that word right.
Ava: Whatever major losers. *walks away with her friends*
SCENE 4
Setting: A rather secluded spot at their campus where the three usually hanged out after classes.
Chessy: I mean, we’re like BFFs that time. I wonder what could have possibly gone wrong with our friendship. Everything was fine. We could tell each other secrets. And we’d never let anyone know anything about it…
Chad: Even us?
Chessy: Yeah…
David: They’d have to keep it from us, especially me, because they had a secret crush on me. I was freaking hot back then.
Chessy: Oh please, we all knew you never were.
Chad: Let the guy dream. Hehehe.
Ava *distinct*: Again? I thought we’d be altogether for dinner for my birthday next week.
-caught the three’s attention-
Narrator: The three then wondered about what the queen bee’s sad about. Who knows it might be her weakness, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she was like all the other girls—you know, encounter problems and difficulties.
Ava: To Russia? Again? Why did it have to be on my birthday? Business? Daddy, we’re rich and you know that, don’t you? Is it more important than me? (Pauses a little while, then hanged up)
Chad: Maybe her Daddy said yes.
David: *Giggles*
Ava: Who’s there? (Sees them and comes near) How long have you been standing there and what did you hear?
David: Oh freaking nothing, just you, being dumped by your own father for a business trip in Russia on your birthday, that’s all.
Ava: You- -
Chessy: So he was still like that? You know, Ava, we might have opposite interests now but I want you to know that we’re still friends after all and you can talk to us if you like.
Ava: And what? Gossip it around the campus? Well, no, thank you! *Runs away and hides herself somewhere she believes no one can see her.
SCENE 5
Setting: A place Ava believes no one sees her.
Background Music: River Flows in You by Yiruma
Ava: He was still like that, after all. And I’m not the only one who knows that now. I hope the losers don’t spill. Oh, God. I wish I was given a happy family. You know I’d give up my popularity day or night just for that.
Narrator: Now, now, she believed she was all alone. One thing she didn’t know was her old best friend, Chessy followed her. She knew Ava would react hysterically but she was assured she’ll get over it and would want to talk, just like the old days.
Chessy: Ava, you OK?
Ava: What are you doing here? Go away and get lost. You would never understand me.
Chessy: But you know I did. You just stopped confounding in me, that’s all.
Ava: …
Chessy: Come on, spill the beans.
Ava: Promise not to tell?
Chessy: Promise.
Narrator: The conversation turned out just like what Chessy planned. It was as if they were back to childhood, when they were the best of friends.
Ava: He never changed. He’s still busy. He says he gives me everything I need. Well, yes, that’s true but those are just plain things. One thing he can’t give is his time, I don’t even know if he loves me. Ever since Mom died, he has been busier. Doubled after her death, so I tried to be popular, so that everyone will look up to me, as if I were the best—the perfect.
Chessy: That’s why our friendship deteriorated. As if it never existed.
Ava: …
Chessy: Now I understand. Don’t worry, we’d make your birthday as splendid as it can be.
SCENE 6
Setting: Classroom—very early in the morning. There are three plans written on the whiteboard: 1. Befriend Karen and Chessa, 2. Plan the surprise party, 3. Call Ava’s Dad
Chad: You kidding? We’ll befriend the plastics??
Chessy: Plastics?
Chad: Oops. Sorry, I just watched Mean Girls.
David: Anyway, you haven’t forgotten they’re popular and we’re social outcasts, right?
Chessy: Yeah… To wrap up, our first plan is… (underlines the first plan)
SCENE 7
Setting: Chessy and Chessa’s house, living room, while Chessa keeps herself busy texting.
Chessy: Hey Chessa, can I have a minute?
Chessa: What?
Chessy: You see, uhm, I hope it gets easy but, uhm…
Chessa: Just say it.
Chessy: I want us to be friends, you know, like before.
Chessa: No, thanks.
Chessy: This question has been haunting me for years: why did we grow apart?
Chessa: Simple. Because you’re uncool and I’m your opposite.
Chessy: No, I know there is something much deeper than that.
Chessa: You know what? Because you consume my time, you consume everyone’s time!
Chessy: What do you mean?
Background Music: River flows in You by Yiruma
Chessa: It’s as if you’re the only daughter and I was never your twin! Mom comes here once in a while for occasions that are important to you. Like our 10th birthday! It is ours but it seemed like it’s just yours. Simple as it seems, Mommy just let you blow the candle, but it hurt for a ten-year old like myself back then! And our graduation. She only climbed the stage when you got tons of medals but then she “got a call” from her boss when she was about to claim mine. It hurt, it just hurt!
Chessy: It’s not true! We did not do that intentionally, I swear. We’re sorry. I’m sorry.
Chessa: Your sorry’s just not good enough!
Chessy: If there had been times that you felt an outcast in this family, well I am really, really sorry. Believe me, I wasn’t aware! I didn’t mean to do that to you, because you’re my sister after all, you’re my twin. We might be opposites but that doesn’t change the fact that I love you.
Chessa: Really?
Chessy: Really. *extends her arms for a hug*
Chessa: I wonder if Mommy feels the same.
Chessy: I’m sure she does. She loves us both equally. Mothers don’t play favoritism, you know. They love their children, no matter how much we think they don’t.
Chessa: Thank you, Chessy.
Chessy: For what?
Chessa: For being the way you are.
SCENE 8
Setting: Classroom, in the table of Karen.
Karen: Wait, what? We’re gonna hang out with those? OMG! Is it the end of the world already?
Chessa: No, it definitely isn’t. Ava and I just came to a realization that our thoughts about them weren’t right. Besides, the more, the merrier, right?
Ava: Yes. And we’d be the best of friends. Remember when we were in pre-school? We’d hang out together and have fun.
Karen: What’s with the sudden change of heart?
Ava: Uhm. Maybe it’s time to change. You know, we’re sophomores and it would be absolutely not so pleasing to fight and bully others.
Karen: Oh well, I guess you’re right.
Chad: So we’re cool?
Karen: Absolutely.
Narrator: Now they’ve been back to the way they were when they were kids. They’d hang out together like what they used to do back then. They’d confound to each other, seek advice and give each other a hand. They’d laugh, they were blissfully happy.
SCENE 9
Setting: Classroom, with the plans.
Narrator: But most importantly, they have fulfilled their first plan.
Chessy: The surprise party! We are all aware that it’s Ava’s 14th birthday this coming Saturday, and there’s nothing she wish more than a happy celebration with her family and friends.
Chessa: And we’d surprise her.
Chessy: Absolutely.
Karen: I go give a hand for the things needed.
Chessa: And I’d arrange our house for the venue.
Chad: And I’d go eat?
David: No, silly. We’d go shopping for the necessities!
Chessy: Right.
SCENE 10
Setting: The preparation. Everybody is busy decorating stuff for Ava’s birthday 2 days from now.
Background Music: River Flows in You, upbeat by sori400jy.
SCENE 11
Setting: Back to the classroom.
Chessy: And for our final plan…
Chessa: Call Ava’s father for the celebration!
Karen: Here’s his number. I personally asked Daddy’s help to get Mr. Brown’s number.
Chessa: Yay!
Karen: Now Chessy, the proponent of all these plans, do the honors… (hands the cell phone)
David and Chad: *Cheers*
Chessy: Well, here it goes…
-riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing-
Background Music: Kiss the Rain
SCENE 10
Setting: Chessy and Chessa’s house, everything was set and Ava was blindfolded
Narrator: Curious you might be, about what happened with the conversation? Well, it went not exactly the way they wanted but here they are, they still continued the planned occasion. And if there’s one thing that cannot be broken, that’s Chessy’s promise to make it memorable.
ALL: Surprisee!!!
Ava: Oh, thank you... I love you guys.
Chessa: Group huggg!!!
Narrator: Well, they had fun. Ava’s father might not be around but atleast Ava felt important and wanted. This, I believe, is the best birthday she had ever experienced—with her true friends.
