Lyla woke them up after secretly taking a picture of them. She then told them it was time to have dinner. The expressions on both of their faces upon waking up were priceless.
"Yahh~! why are you here!" Eva screamed in Jake's face, who was still in a trance waking up.
"What? Why are you screaming in my face? And if you don't remember, this is my room, my bed, so of course I'll be here only.
"You-"Eva started but was cut off, "No, no, stop it guys, before you start, let me remind you it's already dinner time. If you want to eat with everyone then come down now. And DON'T FIGHT AGAIN!" Saying this Lyla left the room leaving them frightened because angry Lyla is a no-no. They hurriedly left the room, following her.
Then all of them ate dinner together, having small talks in between. Later they all sat together as Evan talked about the competition. He told them how the competition went and the various categories or disciplines included. Jake decided to compete in a sport and, of course, his favorite things: photography and painting. On the other hand, Eva chose to participate in dancing and singing, and her specialty was sculpture-making. Both were confident about their talents and were sure they would win.
Later that night they all said goodnight and went to their own home.
Next Day
As usual, the Smith house was once again filled with bickering. Jake, who was waiting for Eva, sat with his head in his hands, listening to his parents' incessant arguments. He had grown tired of his parents' constant fighting, but his deep love for them prevented him from speaking up. He knew that if he said anything, his parents would join forces and confront him for interrupting their argument.
"Hello! Good Morning fellas! Eva is here to make your day better~" Eva said as she hopped towards Jake, who was seated on the couch with Evan and Lyla on the opposite couch.
"Oh Eva you are here, let's go," Jake said as he jumped up from the couch and dragged Eva without even letting her greet his parents.
He hurriedly told the driver-uncle to start the car, and within twenty minutes, they reached the park near the college. They stepped out and thanked the uncle, then started walking towards the college. That day was the day when they had to give their names for the competition and the category they were participating in. The day went as usual for them.
The next two to three weeks went by very quickly as they immersed themselves in their practice. As a result, they saw each other very little. Unknowingly, they began to miss each other's presence and bicker, slowly realizing the feelings that were hidden deep inside them.
The day began like any other for Eva. Excitement filled the air as students eagerly discussed the approaching competition. That day, the professor called Eva to her office to discuss some things about the competition. "May I come in, Professor?" Eva asked, as she knocked and stood there waiting for the professor's reply.
"Oh yes, Eva. You can enter and take a seat, dear," the professor said as Eva sat down. "Is there any problem, Professor?" Eva asked. The professor sighed and said, "Eva, did you enter your name for the competition?" Eva nodded her head in confirmation.
The professor continued, "The category you entered now requires you to have a partner. So, it's either you find a partner or drop out of the competition, as they are not allowing solo contestants, as the majority have participated in duets or groups. Please let me know before this weekend, and I'm sure you will do what you think is best."
Eva thanked the professor and left. She was determined not to drop out of the competition and waste her hard work. Hoping to find a partner, she approached her classmates. However, a feeling of unease settled within her as all the people she asked told her to drop out, mainly because they had other items to participate in.
This left Eva alone and disheartened. A sense of isolation enveloped her, and she couldn't help but wonder if her skills were insufficient to attract a partner's interest. Rejection like this can feel like an accusation of one's abilities, casting a shadow on even the brightest of spirits.
Throughout the day, Eva's melancholy continued. The usually cheerful girl now appeared distant, her once vibrant smile replaced with a faint glimmer of sadness. Her classmates noticed her changed demeanor, offering words of encouragement and attempts at comfort. However, their well-well-meaning gestures only served as a reminder of her dilemma. This change in her did not go unnoticed by Jake, but he waited for her to tell him the reason for her sadness.
As the day unfolded, Eva's search for a partner grew increasingly desperate. She approached other classes, acquaintances, and even strangers, hoping that someone would be willing to join forces with her. Each rejection carved a deeper wound, intensifying her feelings of inadequacy. It seemed that no one saw her potential, leaving her to question her worth.
The emotional toll of seeking assurance and acceptance threatened to overwhelm her. Soon, it was already Friday, which meant she only had this day to make a decision, and with a dejected heart, she was forced to decide to drop out of the competition.
Jake, who had been analyzing her for the past few days, was losing his patience seeing her sad. It felt as if he was the sad one. Leaving the situation to ponder later, he decided to ask her the reason behind her sadness today.
As they reached the park, he stopped Eva and dragged her lightly towards a tree shade, making her sit while he sat beside her. Eva remained silent all this time, which was unusual for Jake. This again made him desperate to know the reason. After five minutes he lost it and said.
"OK, that's it!" Hearing this, Eva gave him a bored look and looked away.
"What the hell happened to you, Eva?" Jake asked, and this surely surprised Eva because Jake usually doesn't call her by her name, and it had been like that since she could remember. Jake waited for her to say something and after a couple of minutes, she asked, "Why are you asking me this? Am I, not your enemy now."
"Huh? What? Enemy? Why do you think I see you as my enemy?" Jake asked. Eva blinked rapidly and said, "You are the one who always tells me that I am annoying and all. So, isn't it because you think of me as your enemy?"
Jake just looked at her rolled his eyes and said, "Oh shut up! we have been friends since childhood, and I always love teasing you. And also our bickering is what makes my day, so tell me do you think that we are enemies?"
"So you don't think I'm annoying!?" Eva asked as Jake hooked his head as a no, "Bad girl?" she asked. "No" he replied.
"Selfish?" "No."
"Arrogant?" "No."
Cruel?" "No."
"Then why do you always keep calling me a witch?" Eva asked with a pout on her face.
Jake chuckled and replied, "Because I love annoying you." He then booped her nose with his own, causing their hearts to race and Eva's face to become flushed with shyness. Despite this, she couldn't help asking, "But really, why do you think I'm a witch?"
"It's because you are sometimes," he replied with the most serious expression he could muster to hide his playfulness. She understood that he was again teasing her and playfully hit him on his shoulder. Then she asked suddenly.
"Then... do you think I'm not talented enough?"
Hearing this, Jake looked at her puzzled, and said, "Why should I think of you as an untalented person? If anything, you are really talented, more than our whole college." He then wiggled his eyebrows, and she just smiled a little and looked down, feeling her face heat up. "What the hell, Eva? Why are you blushing?" Eva thought to herself.
"Now, tell me what is the reason you have been upset all week?" He knew she could not escape him as he was asking seriously this time. She told him everything and even about how others see her as an untalented person. Listening to her, he was filled with rage. "How dare they tell her these things and hurt her?" he thought inside. But he decided to calm down for her.
"You want a dance partner, right?" he asked her, and she replied with a yes. "So... what are you waiting for? Let's go and practice," he said as he stood up and walked away, leaving her stunned.
'Did I hear him say that he wants to practice?' she thought, but decided to ask him to clarify. However, when she looked up, she noticed that he was already walking out of the park. She stood up hastily and ran after him, shouting for him, "Jake stop!".