I must be damned. That thought crossed my mind when I saw Desiree that morning. It was my first day practicing - the first of not many days left being apart from Desiree - and then that very person showed up. Could my life be any more miserable than then? She was so bright, as always, and in contrast to her dark intention. Oh, I bet she had persuaded Mazmur to let her come. Or could it be that it was Mazmur's idea? I could never know because I could never ask, but if so then it would assuredly hurt me.
Grace, without doubt, almost squealed with happiness and switched to fangirl mode the moment she met her, who then treated her in an achingly friendly manner. Don't worry, it was rather entertaining. Mazmur seemed satisfied with the arrangement, and from the smile on the corner of his lips I knew he believed he had done good deed. Nevertheless, I finished the day with no-bullshit attitude. And the day after. And the days after the day after. Whenever she was around. I just had to put up with this until the selection's over. Still. . . a bad pretender that I was, I refused to act like a goody-goody.
Up until then, I still didn't buy Desiree's pure ambition to be selected for the debate competition. When she first came with Mazmur, I was dead certain she planned to use the opportunity for her benefits such as, say, making a statement meant strictly for me that they were close. The days after that were her making sure I was not forgetting that. I simply couldn't trust her.
[M]
