The next day, I arrived early at the university for my art club audition. I was nervous, but I focused on what Asher said—he believed in me, and that was enough for me to believe in myself.
I entered the art club room, where other students auditioning were already waiting. Before it started, I prepared my art materials and the canvas I would paint on. Soon, the audition began. We were given 30 minutes to complete our painting. I chose to paint a mountainous landscape. Time flew by quickly, and we submitted our work to the audition judges.
"Thank you all for participating in the art club auditions. You may leave now; we know you have classes. Later, during lunch break, we will post the names of those who passed the audition on the bulletin board outside. Good luck, everyone." said Carissa, the President of the art club.
I left the art club room, uncertain if I would pass the audition. All I knew was that I did my best. I went straight to my classroom since I still had classes.
"Ms. Gozon, have you joined any art club?" our adviser asked again.
"Yes, I have. I won't know if I passed the audition until later." I replied.
"Good. Which club did you join?" the adviser asked.
"I joined the art club." I answered.
"Ah, good luck to you, Ms. Gozon." the adviser said.
"Thank you."
Time passed quickly until lunch break arrived. Instead of going directly to the cafeteria, I wanted to know if I passed the art club audition. I wanted to end the anxiety I was feeling, so I went straight to the bulletin board where the results were posted.
Many students were gathered around it, so I squeezed through the crowd and looked for my name among the list of those who passed.
I read through the names, but I didn't find mine. I turned around and started walking out of the building. I didn't make it, maybe I wasn't as talented as the other students.
I couldn't help but feel sad. I headed to the cafeteria, planning to drown my disappointment in food. But more than that, I was thinking about how Asher was counting on me to pass. How would I face him? Sigh.
Before I reached the cafeteria, I ran into Asher. I didn't know why, but I wanted to avoid him because I didn't know how to tell him I didn't pass. It was embarrassing.
"Aria, how did the art club audition go?" he asked immediately. I couldn't answer. I looked down. How should I say it?
"Silent means yes?" he asked.
"I didn't pass, Asher. Haha, but it's okay. I didn't really expect to. I guess I was just trying to convince myself that I was artistic. Maybe I shouldn't have auditioned for the art club." I said, forcing a smile and laugh.
I then looked up at him. Our eyes met. He just looked into my eyes. I tried to smile. He stared at me for a while, and unexpectedly, he pulled me into a hug. My eyes widened in surprise.
"It's okay, Aria. Don't force yourself to be happy if you're sad. And it's not true that you don't have talent in the arts; they just didn't see it in you. They have the problem, not you." Asher said while hugging me.
I felt like crying, and it was frustrating because I was trying not to be sad, but he was like this. Huhu.
"Yeah, I'm really sad. That's the truth of what I'm feeling. Sorry I didn't pass, especially since you believed I could." I said, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling, but I quickly wiped them so Asher wouldn't see.
"What are you talking about, Aria? Whether you passed or not, I always believe in you." he said, pulling away from the hug.
He held my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. "So promise me that you'll always believe in yourself," he said. I nodded and smiled at him. He smiled back and patted my head.
"Let's go to the cafeteria; let's have lunch together." he said.
"Okay." I replied, and we walked to the cafeteria together.
____________________________
Hannah's P.O.V.
I was super bored in class; lunch break was taking forever. I wanted to visit Cairo to discuss the welcome party on Sunday. I also needed to make sure that he and Asher would attend since they were the most important guests.
When the bell finally rang, I quickly packed up my things and hurried out of the room. Fortunately, it was lunchtime, so I could catch Cairo in his department's building. I was already in the corridor near their room when I saw him coming out. I ran up to him and grabbed his arm, walking alongside him.
"What do you need, Hannah?" he asked, sounding bored and emotionless.
"I just wanted to remind you not to miss the welcome party on Sunday." I said.
"I've reminded you about this so many times already. Of course, we'll be there." Cairo replied with a sigh.
"Hmm, I just wanted to make sure because you've promised before and didn't follow through." I pouted.
"Well, this time, I'll keep my promise." he assured.
"Yay!" I said, and he just laughed.
"You haven't had lunch yet, right? Let's go have lunch together in the cafeteria." I suggested. Cairo nodded, and we headed to the cafeteria.
As we walked, I overheard students whispering around us.
"Ms. Hannah looks so beautiful."
"True, they're the perfect match."
"And they're both wealthy."
"Hannah suits Cairo better. That Aria girl is just an attention-seeker."
"Exactly, I'm so annoyed with her. She's too nosy around the four princes."
Why were they talking about Aria? I didn't understand why she was being mentioned. I had a feeling something was going on between Aria and Cairo that I didn't know about. That was all I could think about as we walked.
I was lost in my thoughts when Cairo suddenly stopped, causing me to stop as well. I was still holding onto his arm and looked at him. Following his gaze, I saw Aria and Asher not far away from us. We were close to them, but they didn't notice us because of the plants around.
"I didn't pass, Asher, haha, but it's okay. I didn't really expect to, after all. I guess I was just forcing myself to believe that I'm artistic. Maybe I shouldn't have auditioned for the art club." I heard Aria say.
We could hear their conversation. So Aria auditioned for the art club and didn't make it. Asher just looked at Aria, and unexpectedly, he suddenly hugged her.
"OMG Cairo, is there something going on between Asher and Aria?" I asked Cairo, unable to believe what I was seeing.
But Cairo didn't answer; he just kept his serious gaze fixed on Asher and Aria.
"I am really sad. That's the truth of what I'm feeling. I'm sorry I didn't pass. You believed in me, though." Aria said to Asher, and tears started to fall, which she quickly wiped away.
I noticed Cairo clenched his fist. From what I saw, Cairo seemed irritated. What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm missing so much about what's happening between the three of them—Cairo, Asher, and Aria?
"Aria, whether you passed or not, I always believe in you." Asher said, releasing Aria from the hug, holding her face in his hands, and looking into her eyes.
"So promise me that you will always believe in yourself." he added.
Aria nodded and smiled at Asher. Asher smiled back and then patted her head.