020: BATTLE OF SOPRANOS

"I just want to be a part of his life, to be beside him, to have him smile at me and to love me dearly. . . ." 

- Bae Rona

. . . . . . . .

020: BATTLE OF SOPRANOS

Eun-bi pov:

Heavy.

The air around the room is too heavy.

Everyone is seriously reviewing. 

Even Seo-jun is seriously skimming through his notes.

'This idiot actually studies. . .'

Seok-kyung looks cute on her frowning face.

'At least she doesn't look like she'll be cheating today.'

The bell rang, and our adviser came in with the papers we'll be answering.

"Everyone, hands on your head."

. . . . . . . . .

I giggled at everyone after the examination.

They are practically dead.

"I know I studied, but everything flies off my brain while taking the test." Jenny complained, snaking her hands naturally around Min-hyuk.

"I can't be too smart with a handsome face like this. It's gonna be unfair to all the men in the world."

'Why don't you just admit you zeroed the test again.'

I laugh dryly at that.

"How'd you do?"

Seok-kyung leaned her head on my shoulders.

She looks down.

"I'm sure it went well."

"I feel like all my answers are wrong."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you can't be more idiotic than Min-hyuk or Seo-jun."

I tried cheering her up and earned the ire of the idiotic men instead.

"Just because you're smart doesn't mean you can mock us."

"Yah! Telling the truth isn't mocking. It's honesty." I grinned at them.

Seok-hoon naturally intertwined his hand with mine while leaning his head on my head.

"Next is practical. I'm sure all of you are ready for that."

"NO!!!"

I laughed loudly as they all complained about their song choices.

As if it was really their song. Their tutors definitely chose that for them.

"Let's practice more Seok-kyung. . . I have to at least raise my score in practicals."

Seok-kyung nodded quite aggressively, agreeing with him very much.

They left together holding each other's hand, very eager to be practicing together.

"Should we do our own practice?"

"My place. . . ?"

"Yeah, I'll be there at 8."

"See you."

"So this is the new set up now. . . ."

I turned to Min-hyuk, who grinned at us sheepishly.

"Seok-kyung with Seo-jun and you with Seok-hoon."

"What's wrong with that? Those two really match with each other."

I answered Min-hyuk before taking my bag and leaving with Seok-hoon, whose hands are intertwined with mine.

"Just shout it to the world already!!"

I smiled happily at Seok-hoon as Min-hyuk shouted his approval.

. . . . . . . .

Rona pov:

I kind of had an inkling.

I kind of know.

The entire school knows.

But I wanted to keep my hope.

Because deep down, I know he feels something for me.

If it's just because of my status,

When I win the Cheong-ah trophy, I know he can finally be proud to have me beside him. So I'm gonna win!

Against all of them.

"Who's gonna begin?"

I raised my hand.

"I'll start."

'I will make sure my voice becomes unreachable.'

'I'm going to be the standard and make sure no one ever reaches it!'

I went to the stage first and started my song.

I researched about this.

A strong song with a profound meaning of love.

I look at Seok-hoon, who's paying attention.

I smile as my voice reaches higher and higher.

'I can reach even higher.'

I sang even deeper and higher.

'I can do more.'

"AHHHHHHHHH.. . . . ."

As my voice reached the end, I extended some more. . . and stopped with a bow.

I held my breath as I smiled before releasing it all as the applause started. All my classmates stood in the ceremony, clapping at my performance.

I can see it.

I can hear it.

"Well, I guess you did a good job."

I only smirked at our adviser and turned to Seo-jin, who was watching us perform.

'I can do this!'

'I will show everyone that my mother and I are the real ones and Cheon Seo-jin and Ha Eun-byeol are the fake ones.'

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I fisted my hands in annoyance.

She did that on purpose.

To raise the expectation.

To make all other performances look like chicken compared to hers.

"You can do this."

Seo-jun smiles at me, holding my hand and comforting me.

"We can do this." He emphasized the word we and held my hand tighter.

"Let's do this."

I raised my hand next and stood proud and confident.

"Good luck!" I smile back at Eun-byeol.

. . . . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

Seok-kyung started her song soft, like hum to a rising morning.

She went deeper with the song, interpreting a sad love song into a solemn one.

The way she sang the broken love song into a solemn one seems like she's saying goodbye to all the heartbreak and pain.

I smile as her voice reaches higher.

She sang higher, deeper, and better than in her previous performances.

"Ahhhhhh. . . . ahhhhhhh. . . AHHHHHHHHHH!"

She ended her performance with a triple high pitch and the highest rise.

I stood first, clapping my hand with a smile.

The other followed suit as all of us cheered for her.

"Amazing!! Fabulous!"

I shake my head at us over acting adviser.

But I also think this is her best performance so far.

I guess she and Seo-jun really suit each other. The way they performed together was perfectly synchronized and harmonized.

'You found your muse, Han Seo-jun.'

I noticed her intensely staring at someone, so I turned in the direction and saw a very dissatisfied Rona.

'I just hope that this only ends up in a glaring contest.'

. . . . . . .

"The last performance would be Ha Eun-byeol."

I stood up with Seok-hoon as our adviser called my name.

Seok-kyung held my hand.

"Good luck!"

Seok-kyung cheered for us as Seok-hoon prepared for the piano.

I prepared myself in the middle as Seok-hoon also prepared himself for the piano.

"This is a different combination."

I only smiled at our adviser, who noticed Seok-hoon was accompanying me, not his twin.

I glanced back at Seok-hoon, and he nodded, signaling he was ready.

I breathed deeply as the song started. I also began to pace myself into the piece.

. . . . . . .

Rona pov:

I bit my lips as she sang.

How can anyone sing like that?

How can she sing it like that when I can't.

She sang it beautifully and piercingly.

She's been hitting every note perfectly without missing a single beat.

She's singing a difficult song, but she doesn't even look tense.

Her vocals and her expression looked really calm.

'I hate you!'

'I really hate you!!'

I am more talented.

I am better than them.

I know that I am more talented than any of them.

I know it, yet, I also know that she is. . . . better than me.

And it makes me feel so wretched.

'Why are you more talented than me?'

'How can you be more talented than me when I am the daughter of the real Primadonna!'

'I HATE YOU HA EUN BYEOL!!!'

The song hasn't even ended, but all of them are already standing and applauding.

Clapping their hands and shouting in glee.

I tighten my fist more.

'That's my place.'

. . . . . . . . .

The entire class cheered for her.

I frowned as all the attention was shifted to her in a matter of seconds. The girls were asking her to go out with them, to enjoy the end of the examination week.

While the boys keep on inviting her to go to their family hotels and villas for some relaxation.

I watch as Seok-hoon glares at the boys, keeping them at arm's length while Seok-kyung chases away the other girls.

'I heard that they weren't like this before.'

'Some students even said that they were simply faking it and just trying their best to look like friends because their families are business partners.'

'I guess money really is a powerful thing. It can buy you friends, attention, and even love.'

'She looked really nice at first. I guess that's fake as well.'

After classes, I trailed her, following her everywhere she went.

'This time, I will make it clear to her.'

I followed her to the restroom, waiting for her outside, pacing back and forth.

'I'm just gonna talk with her. I'm not gonna do anything bad!'

I was waiting for her outside the restroom when I was suddenly taken from the back.

A handkerchief covered my nose, and suddenly, I felt sleepy.

'Help me, Seok-hoon-ah. . . .'

. . . . . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I've been watching her as she glares at Eun-byeol all the time.

I smirk as her own insecurity and jealousy reek out of her.

'This is why poor people are detestable.'

'They don't know their place!'

I followed her, following Eun-byeol going to the restroom. I saw her linger in front of the bathroom with her hands in a fist.

'What are you planning now, bitch!'

I called some of the boys who work for me and asked them to take Rona to the club. I also called Min-hyuk to have him ready.

"Min-hyuk, are you and Jenny free?"

"Just meet me at the club. I have a surprise for you guys!"

'If you think I will let you get anywhere near Eun-byeol, you're damn wrong! Bae Rona!'

I smirked as the boys I called took Rona by force.

I followed them from behind as they brought Rona to our hideout.

'I'll protect you this time, Ha Eun-byeol.'

After the boys tied Rona to a chair, I waited for Min-hyuk and Jenny to come while Rona stayed tied and unconscious.

"What is this about?" Min-hyuk arrived with Jenny.

He stared at Bae Rona, who was sleeping on the chair.

I smirked at him.

"She's not dead, is she?"

I raised a brow at him.

"No! But I'll be happy if she ends up killing herself."

"That's right! I thought you really were going to let her be! It got me scared for a while!"

Jenny looked excited at me.

"Of course not! However, it is high time she knows the hierarch in our school!"

"no one taught her, so we'll do it."

"Good people teach the dumb ones!"

I smiled joyfully at Jenny, turned to the sleeping Rona, and glared at her.

"Since she doesn't know her place. We will personally put her to it!"

Jenny's eyes glittered at that mention, and I only nodded in approval.

Jenny knocked on Rona's head with her hand to wake her up.

"Eww! Ewww!"

"Just wake up already."

Min-hyuk already started filming her as I watched Jenny wake her up while being disgusted in touching her.

'She is dirty anyways.'

"Where am I?"

I only looked down on her while she was tied to the chair, with her messy hair.

"Rise and shine, biatch!"

"Seok-kyung? What are . . . you doing?" She tried to get out of the chair, but the rope was tight.

"Hi! I already warned you before, didn't I?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Since you're so dumb that you won't put yourself in your place, I will put you in your place myself."

"My very last warning."

I glare at her as Jenny and Min-hyuk only smirk at Rona's "pitiful" look.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I told you, didn't I? You have no chance of ever getting into our world!"

"Let me out! Now!!"

"You had the nerve to post that disgusting photo and get Eun-byeol and me against each other!" I hit her head with my long finger.

"You had the nerve to flirt with my brother knowing he likes someone else!" and again.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Seok-hoon likes me! He really does!"

We all laughed at her delusions.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"You really are delusional!!"

"Seok-hoon and Eun-byeol are together! Everyone already knows that, you pathetic lunatic!"

"NO!!! Seok-hoon likes me! He loves me!!! I can feel it!!"

"It's you guys that are getting in the way!"

"You just can't accept that I am better than you! That I can be loved by someone as great as him!"

I gave her a hard slap to her left to wake her up to reality.

Then another to her right.

"BIATCH!!"

"Should I tell you a little secret?"

I smirk at her before leaning and whispering it into her ears.

"I asked him to make you fall for him."

I stood away from her again and smirked devilishly at her defeated look.

"And I WON!!"

I smirked as Jenny and Min-hyuk followed me as we all left.

'Know your place, bitch!!'

. . . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED