"That's a wrap for today," Grace ended our first practice. There were not so many people at the library in the morning. I nodded, smiling from ear to ear as I found spending time with her was relaxing. Grace was something new after weeks I spent being around Desiree and her group.
"I don't understand why you have to practice. I thought you said you're done competing," she remarked.
"Yeah, well, I'm not competing for the competition's sake," I told her. She looked at me questioningly. I was dying to explain to her about Desiree and Mazmur and everything that happened last night, but I just knew she wouldn't understand. She was one of those who worshipped Desiree with all her might. I waved my hand, showing her I didn't want to discuss it. Not now. Not ever, probably.
"How's Desiree? Does she also participate?" Grace asked out of the blue. I told her yes, she also did. "Wonderful! She's surely going to perform flawlessly with such perfect accent. . ." Old Grace with her songs of praise for Desiree made me roll my eyes. I was collecting my scattered papers when Grace signaled Mazmur's arrival. I looked up and saw him walking in steady steps toward us.
"You hang around him a lot these days."
"Zip it, Grace. He's here!" I panicked. There's a limit to bluntness, for God's sake! To my relief, she bit her tongue. When Mazmur reached our table, he made the same remark Grace had made but for a totally different reason: "I don't understand why you have to practice. You're good enough! You'll make it."
"I told her so," Grace chimed in. Um, no, you didn't. "But with Desiree participating, I understand Aruna needs to struggle."
It was devastating. It was devastating because first, I was actually avoiding to mention Desiree around Mazmur, and second, being compared (not to mention being on the lacking side) simply hurt. Oh, and third, the bitterness of last night event still lingered.
"Oh, well, it's not like they'd only choose one of you. They could pick both," Mazmur said.
VERY encouraging, Mazmur. Right, you were friends with her first. What do I expect, for him to solely support me?
"In fact, that's why I bring her along today. So you can practice together!" He grinned. That was one blinding grin. And one lethal sentence. I was paralyzed with shock. I didn't know which shocked me more: his uttermost foolishness or Desiree's coming there. It felt like a betrayal.
A cheerful "Hi!" was heard not so long after, and there she was.
"Hi, Desiree, what are you doing here?" . . .killing me with your presence?
[M]
