Pandora's Heart | d.cx ✓

CHAPTER 2

The fans went wild as Apogee made their way to the red carpet. Pandora still couldn't get used to the fact that millions of boys and girls all over the world enjoyed their music.

All the girls were put in lovely floral dresses matched up with heels, except Pandora who had been placed in a pair of knee-length boots. They all paused with smiles on their faces, with Nikita being in the middle because she was the leader.

After many camera flashes, the girls were finally done and were led into the auditorium. The place was beautifully fixed, and the chairs were all arranged just like they had been year after year. As Pandora looked at the scene, she couldn't believe that she was actually there. She had watched several award shows and saw her biggest idols sitting in the same room with the arrangement like it usually was, and now she was the one who was there and was going to win an award.

A lot of groups would never get to win for song of the year in the year she debuted, but they were one of those rare few who were delivering music almost everyone loved.

The three girls sat together nervously on the round table and waited for the function to start, as they conversed time and time again. More stars made their way into the room and sat down on their designated seats.

Subsequently, after a few more minutes of waiting, the host of the awards made his way onto the stage in a sharp black suit. It was Hu Yitian, one of the actors Pandora admired. When she used to have more free time, she watched his dramas whenever she had the chance to.

'This night is a special night, because it is a night where we honor the power of music.' He spoke once he had made his way behind the microphones and looked at his cue cards. 'For most of us, if not all of us, we can't imagine a world without music. And neither can we say that we have never been emotionally impacted by music. Neither can we say we haven't enjoyed specific music. Which is why, tonight, we would like to award all the artists who gave us the gift of their melody.'

Pandora listened with interest, while Rio was now busy on her cellphone like she usually was. Nikita tried to pay attention, but she could be seen looking around the auditorium to see if she could the idols she had seen on TV several times.

'But before we begin, let's enjoy a performance from one of the most popular groups in the country. Their album exceeded 500,000 pre-sales. Ladies and gentlemen, TNT.'

Rio immediately looked away from her cellphone and unto the stage. Nikita also seemed to stop being distracted and focused on the performance that was about to begin.

'Oh no,' Pandora rubbed her temples. 'I wish I could leave and come back when it's over.'

'Come on you can't do that, people are watching you and noting your actions. Smile and watch the performance.' Nikita advised.

The moment the boys made it on the stage, Pandora tried her best to keep her facial expression neutral. She tried not to frown as she watched them perform. Worse still, her group mates were so excited and dancing along to the TNT song which had made it to several charts. Everyone knew that song.

'OMG it's Chengxin,' Rio grabbed onto Nikita's shoulder and shook it excitedly.

'I know!' She immediately answered, eyes still set on the stage as Chengxin performed his part.

'Okay girls, calm down. We're both celebrities, we shouldn't have to go crazy for fellow celebrities.' Pandora stated in a bored tone. She found herself getting distracted and looking everywhere else other than the stage.

When the electric performance had finally ended, Pandora couldn't be more relieved. She watched as TNT, the boy group she hated the most, made their way off the stage. Hu Yitian returned to the stage and took over.

The girls seemed to lose focus again until a pair of actors started to announce nominees of their category, Song of The Year. They were the ones who were going to present for one of the most prestigious awards of the evening. It felt almost unreal when they mentioned their group name as one of the nominees, and they could have squealed if they weren't advised to be professional. Pandora couldn't believe it; a song she had co-written was going to win an award.

'And the winner is...' the actor said.

Pandora could hardly think, she was too lost in her head and her daydreaming. Before the actor announced the winner, Pandora had already rose up from her seat to receive the award. People were shocked with her action, but nobody said anything.

'...Is It Just Me by TNT!' the actor finally announced, leaving Pandora frozen in her spot. People were murmuring to each other as TNT made their way to the stage to receive their award and give their acceptance speech.

'Sit down,' Nikita lowly said to Pandora, softly pulling the hem of her dress so that she could sit back down.

'I can't believe this...' Pandora said to no one in particular.

TNT finally made their way to the stage as the excitement died down and Jiaqi was holding the award trophy in his hand. He smiled before he started to speak. 'This is really a great achievement...'

'You didn't deserve that!' Pandora's voice cut through the silent audience, and everyone once again turned to her. She was still standing in her spot and hadn't sat down.

Jiaqi gave an awkward smile, not sure what to do next. Was he supposed to continue talking or let the girl vent out her emotions?

'You guys cheated! And if anyone is a real Apogee fan, they will know the manipulation that happened here and never waste their time voting for these useless awards again!' she balled up her fists. 'I am out of here.'

Pandora walked away from her seat and made her way towards the exit. Her temper went over the roof, and that wasn't exactly something new to her group mates.

They looked at each other for a moment while Jiaqi slowly continued the acceptance speech.

'I think we should go after her.' Nikita said to Rio.

'Well what if everyone thinks we're part of it? I don't wanna seem like I'm against TNT winning this award.' Rio answered.

'We need to check on her though.' Nikita replied and got up from the chair while Jiaqi was still speaking. She bowed slightly. 'Sorry about that!' she cut his speech.

Without waiting for a response, she rushed out of the auditorium, and Rio had no choice but to follow after her. The clicking of their heels made a loud sound as the girls made it to their vehicle which was parked outside.

Nikita sighed in relief once she spotted Pandora at the back of the van when she had opened it. She had her arms folded and her eyes focused on her laps. The driver was sitting in the front, waiting for the rest of the girls before he drove off.

'Pandora,' Nikita said standing outside the door. 'That was not nice!'

'I only spoke the truth.' She answered, eyes still on her lap.

'No, you spoke your opinion and that was not nice. Just because you think our song was better, it doesn't mean everyone thought so.'

Instead of replying, Pandora started to sniff, proof that she had started crying. Rio and Nikita were surprised, Pandora was not someone who usually cried. Even in the toughest situation, she never dropped a tear. So seeing her cry over losing an award was something unexpected.

'Are you crying?' Rio wondered.

'I'm not.' Pandora answered with a toughened up voice and quickly wiped her tears.

Nikita suddenly felt sorry, and being the big sister she was, she got into the car and joined Pandora who was sitting at the center. She put an arm over her shoulder. 'I know you really wanted to win...'

'Can I just go back to the dorms?' Pandora cut her.

Nikita looked at Rio who was still standing outside of the car awkwardly, then back at Pandora. 'I guess its fine for us to go since you're really sad. I understand.'

'Oh man, I really wanted to stay.' Rio complained as she walked over to the other side and entered the car. She sighed heavily. 'Anyway, I guess we should really go. I don't want to see the looks people will give me if I return in that auditorium.'

Hearing the instruction, the driver started the van then drove away from the scene, going straight to the girls' dorms.