Grace's POV
The auditorium still echoed with applause even though most of the performances had already ended. Bright lights reflected across the polished stage floor while students whispered among themselves, waiting for the final announcements to end so they could finally go home.
I sat quietly in my seat, fingers lightly gripping the edge of my bag as the host continued speaking into the microphone.
"And now… the Best Artist Award of the year…"
My name appeared on the screen behind the stage.
For a second, I just stared.
Then the clapping started.
I quickly stood up, trying to hide the smile that escaped me as I walked toward the stage. The spotlight felt warm against my face, cameras flashing from somewhere in the audience while the principal handed me the trophy with a practiced smile.
"You've done very well this year, Grace."
"Thank you, ma'am."
I bowed politely before turning toward the audience.
And that was when I saw him.
Joy.
Sitting beside another girl.
The same girl.
His expression wasn't admiration.
It was jealousy.
Pure jealousy.
As if my happiness irritated him.
The smile on my face faded slightly, but I still tightened my hold around the trophy and stepped away from the stage.
Soon the next announcement began.
"The second prize for Best Performance goes to… Iris and Kaizer."
The auditorium erupted into applause again.
"The judges especially appreciated the emotional depth and unique mother-child theme portrayed through music and dance."
I blinked slightly.
Kaizer?
Wasn't he the same quiet boy who had come to the café with Iris and Anya that day?
I had never really noticed him before.
The host continued speaking.
"As the participants are currently unavailable, their awards will be handed to them later."
I quietly stepped down from the stage and moved toward the exit.
I had wanted at least one of my parents to see me receiving the trophy today.
But obviously…
my younger brother's parent-teacher meeting was more important.
Honestly, while listening to Iris's performance earlier, I hadn't related to any of those lines about mothers.
Not even one.
My mother had never held my forehead when I was sick.
Never waited for me at the door.
Never looked at me like I was precious.
With that thought lingering heavily in my chest, I pushed open the auditorium door,
only for someone to suddenly block my way.
Joy.
I immediately tried to walk past him.
But his fingers wrapped tightly around my arm before I could move.
Pain shot through my wrist.
"Leave my hand."
"Why are you running away?" he asked casually, as if nothing had happened.
I looked at him in disbelief.
"Why would I talk to you?"
He scoffed softly. "Because you're a stupid little bee, Grace. Stop pretending you don't care."
A sarcastic laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
"I do care," I replied coldly. "About your mental health."
His expression darkened.
"And don't follow me around anymore."
I forcefully pulled my arm free and walked away before he could stop me again.
Honestly…
I didn't like being around him anymore.
Not even a little.
---
By the time I reached home, the excitement from the award ceremony had already faded.
I stepped inside quietly, holding the trophy carefully in my hands.
Mom glanced at me from the dining area.
"You're late."
"I stayed for the award ceremony."
Dad finally looked up from his phone.
"What ceremony lasts this long?"
"I won the Best Artist Award," I said softly.
For a moment, neither of them reacted.
Then Mom sighed.
"That's nice, but it would've been better if you focused this much on studies."
Dad nodded absentmindedly.
"Your grades matter more than these activities."
I stood there silently for a few seconds before lowering my gaze.
"…Okay."
I walked toward my room before either of them noticed how tightly I was holding the trophy.
The moment the door closed behind me, the room became painfully quiet.
I placed the award on the table and sat down on my bed before unlocking my phone.
My thumb stopped over a contact.
Iris.
I had never messaged her before.
Not once.
And honestly…
the thing stopping me right now was guilt.
The memory of the things I had said to her still made me uncomfortable.
Still…
before I could overthink it further, I opened the chat window.
> Hii… I'm Grace.
No reply came immediately.
I sighed softly and placed the phone beside me.
Maybe she didn't want to talk.
Maybe she shouldn't.
But around ten minutes later, the screen finally lit up.
> Heyy.
For some reason, my shoulders relaxed a little.
I stared at the keyboard for a moment before typing again.
> Why did you leave the program early?
A few seconds later,
> Got a little injured so had to leave
I frowned slightly.
Injured?
Then I quickly typed another message.
> You and Kaizer got second prize.
No reply came for a moment.
Then suddenly,
> REALLY???
I couldn't help the small smile that appeared on my face.
> Yes.
The chief guest especially praised your theme too.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then,
> BABESSSS
I blinked at the screen in complete surprise.
A second message immediately followed.
> Sorry I got too excited ,
But thank you for telling me.
A small laugh escaped me quietly.
> No problem.
And somehow…
after talking to her for just a little while,
my chest felt lighter.
---
Iris's POV
The moment Grace told me we had gotten second prize, I nearly forgot that my foot was injured.
I immediately grabbed my phone and called Anya.
She picked up before the first ring even ended.
"What happened? Why are you calling like the world exploded?"
"We got second prize."
There was silence.
Then,
"SECOND?"
"Yes!"
"What do you mean second? Why not first?!"
I burst out laughing despite myself.
"Anya..."
"No because excuse me, your performance literally made half the auditorium cry."
"It's okay," I said softly, adjusting the pillow beneath my leg carefully. "Second is still good."
"Good? GOOD?" she repeated dramatically. "Do you know how offended I am right now?"
I smiled faintly.
"You're acting like you performed."
"I emotionally supported the performers."
That made me laugh again.
But the smile slowly faded as my eyes drifted toward the hospital papers lying beside my bed.
Half the prize money…
combined with my salary…
would barely cover the hospital expenses.
And rent still remained.
Anya's voice softened slightly on the other side.
"…It's still not enough, right?"
I stayed quiet for a moment before answering honestly.
"No."
Silence filled the call briefly.
Then I spoke again before she could worry too much.
"It's okay though. I'll manage."
"You always say that."
"Because I always do."
Anya sighed dramatically again, probably trying to lighten the mood.
"Grace told me this..."
"Why are you even talking to Grace?"
I blinked.
"Huh?"
"She literally used to act so weird around you."
"She texted first," I replied honestly.
"And?"
"And… I don't know."
Anya groaned loudly.
"You forgive people too easily."
"Not really."
Anya clicked her tongue.
"Hopeless."
After talking to her a little longer, I finally ended the call and stared at my phone again.
Right.
I still had to tell Kaizer.
For some reason, just thinking about messaging him made my chest feel strangely lighter.
I quickly typed:
> We got second prize.
The reply came unusually fast.
> Congratulations.
A small smile appeared on my face immediately.
> The chief guest praised our theme too.
> Then the real winner is us.
I stared at that line for a second longer than necessary.
Then another message appeared.
> Why are you still awake?
Your foot is injured.
I unconsciously glanced toward the bandaged area.
> I could ask you the same thing.
After a few seconds,
> Fair enough.
I laughed softly.
Then another message came.
> Does it still hurt?
For some reason…
that simple question felt warmer than it should have.
> A little.
This time the reply took longer.
> Don't walk unnecessarily tomorrow.
I smiled faintly while typing back.
> Yes sir.
> Good.
I stared at the screen after the conversation ended.
The room suddenly felt quieter.
Softer.
Then reality slowly returned again as my gaze shifted toward the hospital documents beside me.
Right.
I still had things to do.
I picked up my phone and finally called the hospital reception, asking them to send the final breakdown of the medicines and remaining fees so I could calculate everything properly.
After that…
rent still remained.
Which meant tomorrow,
I would have to talk to the house owner too.
And honestly…
that thought alone felt heavier than the injury in my foot.
Kaizer's POV
The house felt unusually quiet after I returned.
Lux had gone home after walking Anya back, and for the first time since morning, there was no noise around me except the faint ticking of the clock near the kitchen.
I sat on the edge of my bed silently, still wearing the black shirt from the performance.
My gaze slowly dropped toward my wrist.
The black rubber band was still there.
For a moment, I just stared at it.
A strange warmth lingered around the simple thing, even though it was just a normal rubber band.
"To keep bad energy away…"
A small smile appeared on my face remembering the way she had said it so seriously.
Then the smile slowly faded.
Because the next thing my mind replayed,
was her limping.
The tiny patches of blood on the stage floor.
The way she still forced herself to continue dancing without stopping once.
My brows furrowed unconsciously.
Why didn't she stop?
Anyone else would have.
But Iris…
I leaned back slightly, exhaling softly as my thoughts drifted toward the performance again.
The stage lights.
Her white dress moving with the rhythm.
The moment she had stood near the microphone and spoken those final lines.
> "In the next life… I can be your mother too, mamma…"
For some reason,
those words still refused to leave my mind.
A strange heaviness settled inside my chest.
Not painful.
Just…
restless.
As if something inside me was trying to remember something I couldn't fully reach.
My fingers absentmindedly touched the rubber band again.
And then,
suddenly,
a voice echoed faintly inside my head.
Not a thought.
A memory.
A child's voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
"You sing nicely."
My breathing paused.
For a second, the room around me blurred slightly.
Sunlight.
Wind.
A playground swing moving slowly.
And a little girl standing there,
her face unclear.
Gone in the next second.
I immediately straightened slightly, my heartbeat uneven now.
Again.
That same feeling again.
That same voice.
My hand slowly tightened around the rubber band.
And somehow,
without even realizing it,
the first person I thought about…
was Iris.