The Price of Pride

[Drago Cesar]

The scene opens with the reigning Women’s Pride Champion Dragana Cesar taking a seat backstage with a backdrop of OCW’s sponsors present. She places the Pride Championship on a table in front of her. The Silent Queen carefully undoes her headband, folding it neatly and placing it into her gym bag beside her, all while reporters are taking photos and asking questions.

 

She reaches in her bag and pulls out her signature purple azalea, looking at it for a moment before fastening it to her hair. She looks back toward the reporters and pulls her phone out, a hint of sadness in her eyes. 

 

Reporter #1: Dragana, how does it feel to retain the Pride Championship against one of your former students?

 

Dragana: …

 

She taps her phone once, but stops herself.

 

Speaker: I…..

 

Reporter #2: Do you see a future where you and Harper LeRoux are on good terms again?

 

Regina Tacet looks lost, her eyes drifting off before meeting her phone screen again.

 

Speaker: I went to hug her but she was gone…..

 

The Pride Champion drops her phone, holding her hands out, staring off into the distance…reaching out for a hug she’ll never get.

 

Reporter #3: Do you think Bobby Minio will be upset now that his Pride title reign has been eclipsed?

 

Dragana stares into the abyss, her eyes filled with tears. 

 

???: Hey!

 

Clickbait jumps onto the seat next to Dragana, motioning for all the reporters to go away.

 

Clickbait: Yo, it’s ya boi! Hey, can’t you see she’s in no mood for questions? This conference is over! And Happy Pride Month.

 

The reporters talk amongst themselves and start to disperse after a few minutes. Clickbait turns their attention to Dragana, who is still looking lost with her arms outstretched.

 

Clickbait: Hey.

 

Clickbait gently places their hand on Dragana’s; Regina Tacet snaps out of it and slowly turns her head to them. 

 

Clickbait: You did nothing wrong. She’ll figure it out eventually. 

 

The influencer looks up at the azalea on Dragana’s head.

 

Clickbait: You look cute with that flower.

 

Dragana’s face turns red and she squeezes Clickbait’s hand. She wraps them up instantly in a hug.