I WAS LEFT in the classroom, so the only way I could think of to pass the time was to sleep. It was almost two o'clock when I woke up. I thought about leaving the room and going to the hall. Maybe the play was over because two hours had already passed.
"What scene is it? I'm here; I think it's almost over!" I heard the woman ask the man who was watching outside.
"It's almost here."
"Is that so? Okay, I'm in." She handed him her ticket, and then she went in. It seemed like they were really looking forward to this play, ah—even though it was almost over, there were still people who wanted to watch. The door swung open so I could see many people sitting there watching the play. I really didn't understand, what was going on with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? I have no idea.
"Wait, don't close it," I ordered the man as he was about to close the door.
"What are you doing? You can't even see it from afar. Here, I have a live stream." She showed me her cellphone. "That's just a secret. That link is confidential for our organizers." I just nodded because I understood them—that they wanted to follow the show even while they were at work.
The scene focused on a beautiful woman facing the mirror.
"Magic mirror, on the wall, who now is the fairest one of all?"
"Over the seven jeweled hills, beyond the seventh fall, in the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs, dwells Snow White, fairest of them all," the mirror said.
"Snow White lies dead in the forest. The huntsman has brought me proof. Behold, her heart," the evil queen replied.
"Snow White still lives, fairest in the land. 'Tis the heart of a pig you hold in your hand."
"The heart of a pig! Then I've been tricked."
I looked at the man when he cleared his throat. "Give it back; I guess you're enjoying it." He took his cellphone from me. But because of the loudspeaker on his cellphone, I could still hear the sounds of the play.
"But wait! There may be an antidote. Nothing must be overlooked. Ah, hear this! The victim of the Sleeping Death can be revived only by Love's First Kiss. Bah! No fear of that. The dwarfs will think she's dead. She'll be buried alive!"
"Why didn't you buy a ticket if you just wanted to watch?" he asked me while his attention was still on the screen of his cellphone. "It's a shame. The show is good."
"It seems like everyone is looking forward to this play. Why?" I asked.
"This is the last play of the star. Do you know her? Lyca. The news is that she's leaving the club, and this is her last project."
Ahhh... That's why so many people watched it. But why would she leave?
"All alone, my pet?"
"Why? Why? Yes, I am, but..."
"Then the little men are not here?"
"No, they're not, but..."
"Mmm, mm-hmm, baking pies?"
"Yes, gooseberry pie."
"It's apple pies that make the menfolks' mouths water. Pies made from apples like these."
"Oh, they do look delicious."
"Yes, but wait till you taste one, dearie. Like to try one, hm? Go on. Go on; have a bite."
"What's the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?" I asked out of the blue because I was also curious about the expression I saw on this man's face.
"You don't know? Are you sure? Haven't you seen the original cartoon version of it yet?" I shook my head.
"It's amazing! I feel sorry for you. Oh, here it is." He threw his cellphone at me. Fortunately, I caught it.
"And because you've been so good to poor old Granny, I'll share a secret with you. This is no ordinary apple; it's a magic wishing apple."
"A wishing apple?"
"Yes! One bite and all your dreams will come true."
"Really?"
"Yes, girlie. Now make a wish and take a bite."
"What will happen if she bites the apple? Will Snow White's dreams come true?" I asked and heard his chuckle.
"Just watch," he replied while grinning and shaking his head.
"Oh, I feel strange. P-poison..."
My forehead furrowed. Poison? Is the apple poisoned?
"Huh? Poison?" I looked back at the man who was now completely exhausted. It was as if he were checking something on his laptop.
"That's not in the script," he commented.
"What's not in the script? Isn't it in the script that she'll be poisoned?"
I turned my eyes back to the screen where I could see Snow White gasping for breath.
"Her breath will still. Her blood congeal."
"P-poison... P-poison... Apple..." Snow White drops onto the floor, and now the queen's cackling.
"Now I'll be fairest in the land!"
I was impressed by my classmate's acting skills. You would think she was really poisoned. I just found out now; it's not bad to watch plays like this even though they are really far from the truth. I was about to give the phone back when I noticed her frown.
"Is there a problem?" I asked.
"You know, in all the time I've been here at work, not once in the play has she ever done an adlib."
"Adlib?" I repeated.
"Lyca. She doesn't do an ad-lib because she's a good actress; she's good at mastering her lines. She's practiced the lines she'll say and the things she'll do, but why is she doing an ad-lib now? It's surprising. That's not in the script."
"What are you talking about?" She was about to take her cellphone from my hand when I pulled it away from her to look at the screen and Snow White's strange appearance again. If this was her real acting, I'd be so impressed.