THE BET 🦋

XXIII.

I'm sure that it took a lot of strength for Bitna not to tell me all the news on the way to the tent. Basically, she didn't have much of a choice, because people often stopped by and asked me how I was doing. I was glad that they were interested, but the one I hoped would be most interested did not come.
Eventually we successfully fought our way to our tent and Bitna helped me put down my crutches and sit down. I could see how nervous she was, but at the same time she was burning with anticipation.
"So, talk," I said.
"Actually, I don't even know how to begin. It all happened so quickly..."
I sent encouraging signals to her.
"I know I said that there was nothing between Gyun-hyun and I, but maybe I just got confused. And maybe I didn't want to admit my own feelings that I was hiding inside. I started to notice it in small things, like when he was talking to some other girl and I was jealous. I thought it was just from a friend's point of view, but it turned out that maybe not quite..."
I started to smile because I felt like I knew exactly where he was going. But I didn't want to interrupt her.
"And then... when I saw him kissing some senior of ours yesterday, that was the last straw for me. You know how I am when I drink a little and mix in a little jealousy and we have a recipe for disaster," she sighed.
"It sure wasn't that bad," I said with a sympathetic look on my face, even though I know exactly what it must have looked like. However, I didn't want to worsen her mood even more than she obviously had.
"So then he basically dragged me into the woods where the others couldn't hear us and he wanted to talk about it all. I know that on the one hand I said that I didn't want anything to do with him and that he was just a friend, but I was on my own confused at the moment. He was obviously too..."
"So?" I asked expectantly.
"So basically... I guess we're dating?" she said with a smirk on her face.
"I'm really happy for you Bitna. Gyun Hyuk is a good guy and he won't break your heart, we both know that. He likes you too much for that."
"Yes, I know that too. But it's a new feeling for me. The fear when I see another girl around him, the radiance that breaks me. I don't know if I like it or not", she said with a frown.
"Love is like a roller coaster of emotions. It's not easy. One moment you're on top and the next you're down, but trust me, it's worth it," I said and hugged her.
I was really glad that she confided in me about everything like this and got it out of herself.

I had no idea what awaited me on this day, but I knew one thing for sure. I didn't want to face either Jea-eon or Tae-jin. All I wanted was to enjoy a peaceful trip, but as I see, even this one innocent wish of mine cannot be fulfilled. They planned activities for us every day, and for today they planned a play. Each grade had to prepare performances and it didn't matter if it was a dance or a singing performance. Then a barbecue was planned where we would all gather around the fire and play games. I was really glad for that, because I probably wouldn't be able to do another hike.
Designated professors gathered the individual classes to tell them the details about today's whole day and how the individual activities will take place. First, the teachers drew lots in which order the individual classes would go one after the other. We drew the last place, which I was glad for, because at least we had room to fine-tune the details while looking at the other performers.
Unfortunately there was a complication in the form of my leg so now I'm a backup singer who will be standing near the front stage. I'm not going to pretend I'm really sorry, because I dance a bit like wood and I wouldn't want to embarrass myself in front of everyone on stage. According to Bitna, of course, this is not true at all, but I think otherwise.
"Okay, listen to me," the professor leaned towards us, "it seems that more or less everyone has chosen dance-singing performances, so the competition will be mainly in that. It's only up to us to choose a good song and put together good steps. I'm not afraid that we won't succeed, because we have a lot of smart people here, and I believe that we can do it."
It wasn't that I doubted it, but there was something off about our lead singer Yoojin. She looked pale and weak.
I came closer to her and tried to whisper, because I didn't want anyone to hear.
"Yoojin, are you okay? You're not sick?"
"No Nabi, thank you," she said with a weak smile. I didn't really want to believe it, so after the professor's speech I went to see Bitna.
"Didn't you notice that something was wrong with Yoojin?" I told her with concern in my voice.
"Yes, I noticed, but maybe she just overeat or something else and felt a little sick. She will be much better with the training, you'll see."
Unfortunately, these few sentences did not calm me down, so I told myself that I would keep a closer eye on her.

We spent countless hours perfecting our dance routines and harmonizing our voices. Yoon-Sol, with her natural rhythm and grace, became our unofficial dance captain, leading us through the intricate choreography with patience and enthusiasm. Seo Ji-wan, the talented pianist, provided the musical accompaniment, ensuring that our performance was pitch-perfect.
The pressure was mounting, and I could feel the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders as the backup singer. Yoojin, the main lead, was an exceptional vocalist, and I knew I had big shoes to fill. Bitna, always the bubbly and encouraging one, would often pep-talk me during our breaks, reminding me that I had the talent and the support of everyone.
Seo Ji-wan, with her keen eye for detail, would gently correct our mistakes and offer advice on how to improve our performance. Yoon-Sol, with her infectious laughter and boundless energy, brought a sense of joy and camaraderie to our rehearsals.
During a particularly challenging rehearsal, I hit a wrong note, and frustration overwhelmed me. I stepped back, my eyes welling up with tears, feeling like I was letting everyone down.
Bitna noticed my distress and immediately rushed to my side. "Nabi, don't worry. It's normal to have some hiccups. You've got this, and we're all here to support you."
Seo Ji-wan chimed in, giving me a reassuring smile. "She's right. You're doing great. Just take a deep breath and try again."
I took a moment to compose myself and took a deep breath before trying again. This time, I focused on the music and the emotions behind the lyrics. I let myself be carried away by the melody, and soon, my confidence started to return.
But as fate would have it, just hours before we were scheduled to perform, our main lead singer was feeling really sick. Panic spread through the class, and everyone started to brainstorm solutions. That's when our teacher, Ms. Lee, turned to me with an encouraging smile.
"Nabi, you have a beautiful voice. I've heard you sing during our rehearsals. Would you be willing to step in as the lead singer?"
My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a mix of fear and excitement. Me, the lead singer? It was a daunting task, and I wasn't sure I could handle it.
I shook my head frantically. "No, I can't do it. I'll mess up, and everyone will be disappointed."
Bitna put her hands on my shoulders, looking me straight in the eye. "Nabi, you have an incredible voice, and we all believe in you. This is your chance to shine, and we're here to support you every step of the way."
Yoon-Sol chimed in, her voice soft but encouraging. "You can do this, Nabi. We all know how hard you've worked, and we believe in you."
I looked at my friends, their faith in me evident in their eyes, and I felt a surge of determination. Maybe I could do this. Maybe I could step out of my comfort zone and give it my all.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Okay, I'll do it."