A week had passed, and Emily found herself heading to the audition hall for Brave, where she hoped to secure a contract with the renowned company. Suzy, her friend and hopefully future manager, was visibly anxious as they awaited Emily's turn.
"Don't worry, I've already spoken to some of the judges," Suzy reassured Emily with a smile. Despite her attempt to project confidence, Emily couldn't shake the nagging feeling of hopelessness. She believed she would be rejected, no matter how hard she tried.
Suzy, however, was more concerned about Emily's appearance. "We should have gone to a salon to prepare you," she nagged, discontent with the seemingly casual approach to Emily's beauty routine. Unperturbed, Emily had done her best with what she knew about makeup, adding a touch of blush here and there. While she might not have been skilled, she was determined to be herself.
As they waited for Emily's turn, her expression shifted from anticipation to shock. A familiar figure caught her eye. "Isn't she...?" Emily wondered, recognizing a girl at the audition who bore a striking resemblance to the one she had seen with Mike in the supermarket. Although Emily couldn't confirm it was the same person, the girl from the supermarket hadn't concealed her identity then, and Emily vividly recalled that encounter.
Suzy, noticing Emily's strange expression, wondered what had captured her attention in the sea of auditioning ladies. With a curious expression, Suzy inquired, "Who are you looking at?" Since there were numerous women around, Suzy couldn't discern whom Emily was pointing out.
With an awkward smile, Emily replied, "The girl over there looks beautiful." She gestured towards the girl she recognized.
"Ah, her. Well, she's already signed with Brave. This is just, you know..." Suzy's voice trailed off, indicating her dissatisfaction. The thought of a vase-like beauty being signed solely due to connections rather than talent irked her. The girl's acting skills were worse than a child's play.
"I see," Emily responded, not surprised by this revelation.
"Don't worry about others; focus on yourself. Your turn will come soon." Despite the discouraging observation, Emily remained determined to give her best during the audition.
Despite entering the audition hall with a bright smile, Emily couldn't shake off the unnerving atmosphere inside. The people, especially Manager Joe, head of the recruiting team, looked at her with cold indifference. The audition commenced, and Emily showcased her versatile talents—acting, singing, and playing various instruments. However, her confidence waned as she observed the judges exchanging whispers, particularly Manager Joe.
"That's all. You can go now," announced one of the judges next to Manager Joe, sealing Emily's fate. She maintained a polite smile, thanking everyone for their time, but the disheartening expressions on the judges' faces, especially Manager Joe's, told her everything she needed to know.
As she exited the room, Suzy could immediately discern the disappointment on Emily's face. Attempting to lighten the mood, Suzy suggested, "How about a drink?"
"You know I'm bad at drinking," Emily responded with a small, awkward smile, reflecting the bitter taste of rejection lingering in the air.
In the aftermath of the disappointing audition, Emily and Suzy found themselves at a barbecue place they used to frequent during their college days. The welcoming owner recognized them and prepared the dishes they had always enjoyed.
As they savored the familiar flavors, Suzy lifted her glass of beer and declared, "They don't know what they've lost." Suzy expressed her conviction that Emily was a rare gem, someone whose potential had been overlooked by the judges.
"Haha, are you drunk already?" Emily teased, taking slow sips of her own beer.
"Emily, don't worry. I'll find a better company for you," Suzy assured, brimming with confidence. She believed there were excellent opportunities out there, but she also harbored reservations about Emily signing with just any company. She feared that Emily might end up being exploited or facing worse scenarios.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Emily replied, her calm demeanor contrasting with Suzy, who had already consumed two glasses of beer. The night unfolded with laughter, reminiscence, and a shared determination to explore new possibilities for Emily's career.
The night deepened, and the alcohol took its toll. Suzy, fueled by the intoxication, couldn't contain her emotions any longer. She shouted, "Why does that woman hate you so much? Doesn't she realize what they've lost?" Suzy's words cut through the air without concern for the people around them. Emily, slightly tipsy herself, rushed to pull Suzy back to her seat.
"Suzy, lower your voice," Emily urged, trying to maintain some level of decorum in the crowded establishment.
Suzy, fueled by frustration, retorted, "Why should I? No one knows who I'm talking about." Emily sighed, realizing that controlling Suzy in this state might be a futile effort.
As Suzy downed another glass, she suddenly looked at Emily with intense emotion. "Why must you suffer?" Suzy asked, her voice filled with an unexpected vulnerability. A tear rolled down Suzy's face, and she hastily wiped it away. She continued, "Emily, you know I'm your friend, right? And as a friend, I'm always here for you."
Emily was left bewildered by Suzy's sudden outpouring of emotions. A month had passed since the incident, and Emily hadn't spoken a word about what had happened. Suzy's concern grew, fearing that Emily's unspoken pain might hinder her ability to move on.
The night had deepened, and Emily found herself standing outside her apartment complex, illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. Suzy's younger brother, Jason, who had been their designated driver for the night, expressed concern as he prepared to leave.
"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Jason inquired, still in the driver's seat, ready to take Suzy home. Emily, slightly tipsy, waved off his worries, assuring him, "I can walk myself up. Don't worry about me, and take Suzy home already." She smiled, trying to project a sense of normalcy.
"Please message me once you're in your apartment," Jason insisted, concern etched across his face. With that, he drove off, leaving Emily alone. She stood in the dimly lit street, staring at the entrance to her apartment complex. But as she looked at the building, her expression shifted from one of casual acceptance to a cold disdain.
The weight of her circumstances hit her, and in a moment of vulnerability, Emily's tears began to fall. She collapsed onto the ground, crouching down, as the overwhelming sense of weakness and frustration took hold. The moon witnessed her silent struggle as she grappled with the confines of a place she despised but couldn't escape.
As Emily continued crouching on the same spot, her tears kept rolling down her cheeks. The weight of her recent disappointments, especially the failed audition, made her question the meaning of her life. In this moment of despair, something gently dropped onto her back, and she slowly lifted her head to see a coat being draped over her shoulders.
"It's cold. What are you doing here?" A familiar voice, cold yet concerned, reached her ears. Emily looked up to find the tall figure of Alexander standing before her. She couldn't help but smile, a seemingly random expression given the circumstances. As she attempted to get up and face him properly, her tipsiness got the better of her, causing her to lose her footing. In a slightly comical turn of events, she ended up collapsing onto Alexander's chest, who instinctively caught her.
"Why are you always there to catch me?" Emily mumbled, her words coming out unexpectedly.
Alexander, puzzled by the situation, let out a sigh and asked, "Why are you drunk, and what are you doing out here?" Concern furrowed his brows as he tried to comprehend the reasons behind Emily's current state.
Emily, still clinging to Alexander's chest, seemed to lose control of her emotions, mumbling something unexpected.
"You were wrong. I guess even you get things wrong?" Emily's words added to the confusion on Alexander's face. Before he could comprehend her statement, he felt his shirt becoming wet. Concerned, he gently pushed Emily away, embarrassment evident on his face.
"Hey, are you alright?" Alexander asked, but Emily, refusing to meet his gaze, pushed herself further away, avoiding eye contact.
"Don't look at me," Emily insisted, her tone almost childlike.
Hesitant but concerned, Alexander pressed further, "Tell me what happened? What do you mean by 'I'm wrong'?" Emily slowly turned, wiping the tears from her face. She looked like a wounded child, bullied for no reason.
"Why did you drink when you can't handle your alcohol?" Alexander continued, adopting a stern tone. Emily, frightened by his sudden strictness, pouted like a scolded child.
"Because I'm sad, alright? Why, I'm an adult; I'm legally allowed to drink." Emily retorted, her frustration evident. Alexander sighed, calming himself, and pinched the skin between his brows.
"Fine, you can drink. So what happened?" he asked, now adopting a calmer tone.
Emily attempted to explain, "You said I'll get it, but you..." Her words trailed off, and she swayed, feeling faint.