Have you ever fell face flat, in front of hundreds of parents, teachers and staff? That too, while delivering your only line?

See, I was sleeping peacefully, okay. I was the Snoring Tree, you know. Best role Preksha ever gave me in like, forever. I think she made it specifically for me, being the Head of Cummens Prep's Drama Committee. Yeah, she knew I couldn't be forced, even though the whole class of 2023 had to participate. Some lame reason of us being juniors at this stinking school. Irritating, right? Can't even let us live in peace.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, sleeping. So, I was sleeping at my post, which was at the corner of the stage, my face barely recognizable from the nest of glaze paper leaves dangling from my crown. The play was about some lame prince who meets a forest boy when he's finding his way back to the kingdom and falls in love with him. Supposed to be a play to support the LGBTQ community.

Look, I'm not against gays. My older brother's gay and he's my best friend. Well, after Roshini .

But, shouldn't the play be cool? Like, the prince is downright selfish and rude, but he gets the good guy. Not cool. And it's just pure romance. Why would a school wanted to do that?

So, this current scene of the play. Listen carefully, it's very important. Not because it's the first scene, no no.

It's where I - Maddie Sharma - come in.

Prince Harry, or whatever his name is, is looking for food and a place to stay. So, he spends a whole day wandering the forest. Then he meets me, the golden Willow Tree, who's snoring. He's supposed to wake me up since I'm blocking his path and ask me to move (I know it's nonsense, but it's a first year high school play, which is supposed to be dumb and illogical).

But like in real life, I don't move an inch. The prince continues to ask, then plead(which I think is over-the-top sarcasm). But I don't move. Then, the prince forgets he's one and plans to chop me off when the most kindest person walks in. Forgot his name, but he's sweet in real life too.

My only dialogue was "Thank you for saving me, Forest King." After that, I surprisingly move to the side, and the grumpy prince storms off.

Except, I never did.

You see, I'm very loyal to my sleep, as it rarely visits. Like, I could only sleep for twelve hours this past week. So, I couldn't help but give in when it finally arrived today.

And, as you know it by now, the grumpy prince couldn't share his spotlight with me, and so he kicked me. Several times.

By the time the teachers came, my face met cold marble. The effect was not pretty.

Now, I'm standing backstage, an ice pack over my swollen nose. Ms. Ahuja, the school nurse, was grateful my nose wasn't broken, although I doubt it. My nose wasn't as crooked as it was before. Heck, I think it became longer.

See, I don't like participating in anything. Stupid things like this happen.

As I glare at Ravi (yeah, he's the awful prince), many piercing squeaks fill my ears.

"They seriously got him!"

"Am I dreaming? Is he really there?"

"Gosh, he's so hot."

Let me introduce you to the three babies of Cummens Prep. Rina, Mina, and Tina. Always behind the trending male K-pop idols and K-drama stars.

As I rub my ringing ears, I gently nudge the heavy red curtain in front of me to see who the chief guest is. Apparently, he's some K-drama star who's done beauty shows.

Wow, there are loads of people tonight. I can't seem to find the chief guest because of that and the stupid neon lights.

"Ya, Madvita," Rina calls, making me turn back in a flash. I hate it when people call me that.

Rina Chakraborthy, Cummens' No. 2 in Academics and way behind my bestie Rosh in basketball (who's No. 1 by the way), approaches, her white lehenga sweeping the heavy dust laying on the backstage floor. Her face is unusually red for the 200 - year ghost she's playing tonight.

"What?" I say, standing firm in my place. I can't move anywhere anyways; one step back and I'm visible to the crowd again.

"Where's Roshini?" she asks. This causes my forehead to crinkle.

Rina doesn't care about anyone.

"I don't know," I say.

Rosh did really wanted to attend this year's annual fest, and not her ageing uncle's fourth wedding- wait a micro.

I spin around, my face near the curtains and my eyes squinted at the max to detect the chief guest.

Bingo!

How did I forget him? Thank God Rosh isn't here right now, or else she'll again scold me and begin her non-stop lecture on her favorite K-drama star. No no, she wouldn't know I'd said this. She'd be melting silently while watching him.

He's dressed in a casual shirt and jeans. That's how I didn't notice him before; most of the audience is wearing that. Also, he already seems bored, a faint grim on his clear face. And, oh my, his black hair is just how Rosh wished he'd try - the T.O.P haircut.

Don't ask me what T.O.P is. Maybe some other Korean idol, Rosh said. It's just parted slightly at the left, with a clean buzz cut on the exposed area and bangs on the right.

Damn it. If I knew Cha Eun-woo was going to be the chief guest, I'd definitely found a way to drag Rosh in here. Heck, she'd be here right now, with me fanning her as she melts to see her star.

"That's too bad." Rina's voice pulls me back. Right, we were having a conversation.

My eyes bulge out when I see Rina holding THE BOOK.

The DICON boy issue N1 Cha Eun-woo HAPPYDAY fricking magazine!!

The same one I gifted Rosh on her birthday two weeks ago. The only one in this city, heck this state!

"Good then," Rina says, toying with the carefully wrapped magazine. A wicked smile forms on her lips.

"Where did you get that?" My voice is shaky at this time. Rosh couldn't have left her favorite book in this dingy auditorium.

Rina glances down at the magazine, my blood boiling when her fingers brush over my bestie's future husband. "What do you mean? It's mine."

"Heck, no," I say, reaching out. But my fingers brush past the magazine, for I trip on one of the wires and stumble. My nose would be broken now if I hadn't caught the thick curtain rope.

Rina and her friends scramble away as I race toward the precious magazine. How dare they steal this?

And, how did this land up here? The last time I saw this was when-

Thud!

It's not me. I mean, I heard a thud behind me.

Following by a thousand echoing shrieks.

But I don't turn back. Rina dropped the magazine right before the thud occurred. So I hurry and grab the magazine from the floor, dusting it off. Phew, it's not torn.

My gaze falls on the approaching mob of dressed-up students, hurrying to see what happened on stage. I turn too, expecting the 'Annual Fest' placard dangling from the roof to fall on the pompous prince.

But it doesn't turn out that way. Not at the least.

It all happens quickly. Heartbeat rising. Eyes widened but sight blurried. A screech emanating from my throat. My feet scrambling toward the fallen body onstage.

My best friend. My only friend. Roshini Kulkarni.

The ropes from the stage coil around her neck, arms and waist, strangling her completely. Her eyes are open, but her light brown irisis are frozen. 

Neither do I realize the shrieks muffling down, nor do I notice the students and fest attendees  scrambling toward the exit. I need to get her out now.

"N-no," I say, trying to tug the rope out. Instead, it tightens more around her neck, which is already purple. "Damn it!" I scan her body, there must be a knot somewhere.

"Help!" I scream, tears rolling my cheeks. How is she here in this state!

"Move," a voice says, pulling me away from Rosh.

"No- What are you doing?" I shout back, trying to get out of their grip. But I get pushed off to the corner of the stage, slamming hard onto the wall.

I blink away the tears that arise from my aching back, when I see a man crouched beside my best friend.

"Stay away-" I stop, watching him untie the knots. He's relieving her of those strangling ropes.

My hazy gaze shifts to the man's face. Shit!

What's Cha Eun-woo doing here!? I mean, I'm very grateful for what he's doing, but HE'S doing it.

Oh, Rosh's going to be damn impressed. She has to come back now!

I sprint toward my unconscious best friend. "Roshini!"

My smile cracks into a hollow hole. Several red marks graze her neck and arms. Her eyes still unresponsive.

"It's too late," Eun-woo says, moving his fingers away from my bestie's wrist. He slouches his back and looks down, muttering something.

No. It can't be. My Rosh can't be dead.

I grab her right arm, and check the pulse. No, this can't happen. I must be checking it wrong.

I place my fingers on her neck, shaking my head when I don't sense any pulse. F*** no! Roshini, you can't leave me!

"Stop!" A voice shouts.

I find myself over my bestie, my hands placed over her chest. What in the F***ing hell am I doing? I don't know CPR!

"I've called for help," Eun-woo says, holding my arm and slowly pulling it away from her. "They'll come soon."

My gaze is still stuck on her eyes. The eyes that would roll when I rap about the latest political dramas. The eyes that would squint while she studied beetles and ladybirds near our school park.

The same goddamn eyes that lay lifeless before me.

"We need to move out, agassi," Eun-woo says over the continuous ringing in my ears. "Agassi? "

I blink, the ringing deafening down. The auditorium is awfully quiet.

"Agassi? "

My eyes meet his. He's more scared than me, more hurt than me, but a tinge of sanity still lingers in his ebony eyes. That calms me down for a moment.

"I'm sorry that you lost your best friend Roshini," he says. "But we need to move for the medics to take her."

I sniff, my gaze dropping to the floor. My best friend's- wait a micro.

"How do you know Roshini?" I demand, though it comes out as a wail. Shit, I've been crying.

Eun-woo glances at my bestie before me. "I've been receiving letters from her." A small smile appears on his lips. "She's my No. 1 fan."

"W-what?" I blurt out.  Rosh's never ever sent a letter, even though she's obsessed over him.

Or maybe she did. I'm not sure.

"We need to find out what caused this, Agassi."

I flit my gaze to him. Right, I need to find out before the police come and lock this auditorium. 

I don't remember how, but I'm behind the stage now, glancing around while Eun-woo comes, waving off the dusty curtains in his path.

"Agassi," he calls. Why does he keep calling me this?

"It's Maddie," I say, scanning the floor. Rosh definitely didn't commit suicide. All the ropes bound around her prove that. She's not good with ropes.

So the murderer must have left some trace.

"Maddie," Eun-woo calls. "I need some help."

"What?" I turn to see him trapped between the curtains. "Hang on, I'm coming."

This auditorium has loads of curtains surprisingly. And plenty of rope. This could've been easier for the murderer to kill my bestie. Nobody could've spotted them. And he could've easily muffled her voices.

Damn, why didn't I notice anything?

Suddenly, Rosh's clothes flash before my eyes, the ones she wore today. Her favorite grey tee, her most preferred jeans (the blue knee length ones), her black jacket (we both bought one each last Friendship's day), and her blue ASTRO bracelet. Nothing else, nothing torn actually.

"Ah!"

I snap out of my thoughts, eyes widening when I see Eun-woo on the ground, wrestling with the curtains. I completely forgot about him. 

"Hang on, Eun-woo," I say, hurrying to him. I realize how weird it is, me spending time with Eun-woo and not Rosh. She would've been over the moon by now.

Just then, a slight breeze brushes past me. Like, Rosh walked past me just now.

I shake my head. Have to get Eun-woo out and catch the murderer before the police comes. I'm seriously going to kill that bastard tonight.

It takes a whole minute for me to get Eun-woo out. It's dark, he's tall, plus I don't want to fall in this maze myself. 

"Thanks, Mads," he says, letting out a sigh of relief.

I nod, getting back to my train of thoughts. Right, didn't find anything from Rosh's clothes, and the floor here. How about the ceiling? Yeah, there are a lot of curtains and rope too, to cover the stage and all.

Wait an effing microsecond.

How does Eun-woo know my nickname? Like, nobody, including my brother can call me that. Except Roshini. And I bet she didn't talk about me, let alone share my nickname.

I glance at Eun-woo who has a small smile on his face.

Don't tell me...is he the-

"Don't jump to conclusions, Mads," Eun-woo says, rolling his eyes. "Nobody's murdered me."

"What?" I blurt out, taking a step back. "What are you talking about? Did you hit your head or something back there?" 

"I did," Eun-woo replies, fiddling the curtain with his fingers while looking above. "But a few hours before the Vasant Utsav started."

My jaw drops. How did he say that so fluently? Like, what the f*** is going on?

Eun-woo shakes his head, exhaling sharply. "I have very limited time, Mads. So I can't explain how I got into him." He glances at me, and casts a lopsided grin.

I blink. "R-r-rosh?"

"Come on," Eun-woo says, pointing to the ceiling. "I need you to explain to the police what happened to me. Coz I definitely know Mrs. Kulkarni's going to tell them her step-daughter's committed suicide." 

It's her! It's fricking her!

She's even standing before me, her skin glowing a sickly grey.

I don't believe in ghosts....but I'm so happy I can see her.

I race toward my friend, oblivious of all the rope traps I can get into. She's fricking here!

"Rosh!" I wrap my arms around her tightly, sobbing. "You scared me!"

"Mads," she says, patting my back as she hugs me back. She whispers in my ear, "Quick, look there."

I wipe off my tears and look up at the ceiling. "What?"

"See the ropes hanging from there?" Rosh says.

I nod. "Yeah."

"I used that to climb onto the roof," she says. "You know there is one, right?"

"Yeah," I reply. I grit my teeth, smacking her shoulder. "You psycho! Why would you go there?! It's all bamboo."

"Sorry," Rosh whispers. "I wanted to see him without getting caught."

I sigh. "God, Rosh. You could've called me-"

"I know. What's happened happened," she says. "Now, remember one thing. When I want to come back down, I stumbled upon the curtains."

"Shit," I say. "Which made you tumble over those ropes..."

"And left me choking," Rosh says, glancing down. "I couldn't even call for help."

I turn to her, and I see her brown eyes glimmering with tears.

"Please, Mads," she says, clasping my hands in hers. "Please make sure my case ends up as an accident, and not suicide."

Tears roll down both our cheeks.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you when I came here," Rosh cries. "I was so stuck in my head, wanting to meet Cha Eun-woo so badly-"

"Don't," I say, hugging her. "It's not your fault. What happened was an accident."

"Mads, I didn't want to die," she wails onto my shoulders. I barely can stop myself from breaking.

"I'm sorry." I don't know what else to say. Damn this day, this auditorm, the f****ing ropes!

"Missus," a voice calls.

It's been a long time since Rosh and I hugged.

"Missus, this is the police. Step away," the voice says. He sounded like a local shopseller, no offense.

I step back, breaking the hug. But it's not Roshini that I see.

Damn it! It's Cha Eun-woo.

"It's okay," he says, when the police officer rushes to him. There are a few others here as well, all dressed in coffee brown.  "She's just lost her best friend."

I glance down, my face burning up.

So I've been hugging a guy much older than me (eight years, I remember Rosh saying) for an hour?!

A wide grin appears on my face.

Don't get me wrong. I don't have a crush on Cha Eun-woo. He's Rosh's, even after her death.

It's just that my best friend, Roshini Kulkarni did get to meet her idol after all. Heck, she even controlled him.