Your Lie - A Rina Fic

Chapter 8

Stepping into the lobby, Gina took a deep breath, the air thick with a mixture of nervous energy and fading adrenaline. The performance wasn't her best – not even good, by her own perfectionist standards. Yet, a strange sense of peace settled over her, a lightness she wasn't used to. Shame usually followed her like a shadow, a constant reminder of every missed turn and imperfect step. But here, in the quiet aftermath, it was... strangely absent. Maybe it was the raw vulnerability she poured into her final message; a message directed solely at him.

As she gathered her belongings, the familiar weight of her bag felt strangely comforting, an anchor grounding her to the present moment. Rounding a corner, the murmur of voices caught her attention. She peeked around, glimpsing the judging panel strolling down the hallway. Gina instinctively shrank back, hoping to melt into the background.

But fate, or perhaps a misplaced glance, had other plans. Her eyes met the head judge's – a towering woman with a face etched in permanent scowl and salt-and-pepper hair pulled back into a tight, unforgiving bun. The woman's scowl deepened, morphing into a grimace that could honestly curdle milk. And trust, Gina's seen her fair share of grimaces directed towards her. Gina simply shrugged it off, a secret smile playing on her lips.

Reaching the waiting area, Gina settled onto a bench, her foot tapping out a silent rhythm against the cold tile floor—a habit from countless rehearsals. She hadn't dared do it around her mom, who always reprimanded her for it, but today, it felt strangely comforting. A sudden tap on her shoulder jolted her from her thoughts.

"Finally! Why do you guys always take so—" Gina's words froze. "Missed you too, Gigi," her brother Jamie said, grinning from ear to ear.

Without a second thought, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, as if he might vanish if she let go. The familiar scent of his cologne, a mix of cedar wood and something uniquely him, triggered a flood of memories—late-night talks, shared laughter, and the comfort of his presence. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him in person; their conversations had dwindled to brief texts, snippets of his life in the city, and her updates from school. His demanding schedule kept him away, and his avoidance of anything related to their mother often meant avoiding her by proxy. But right now, none of that mattered.

Questions tumbled in her mind, a jumbled mess of 'how' and 'why' threatening to spill out. But before she could voice any of them, Jamie chuckled, pulling back to look at her.

"Look, I was in town for some business," he began, his grin spreading from ear to ear "And when I saw online that you were performing today, I had to come. It was a bit of a shock, though. Didn't realize my baby sister was back on stage." Gina's smile faltered as she took in his words. It was bittersweet to see him again after all this time.

"Yeah, it's a surprise to me too," Gina admitted. The stage lights, the roar of the crowd, the nervous energy that crackled in the air – it had all felt so foreign, so distant, until tonight. Part of her hoped she would never return to this world again. But maybe another part of her had always known she'd find her way back.

Before she could delve deeper, a flash of movement caught her eye. Nini, EJ, and Ricky were rushing towards them, their excited chatter cutting through the monotonous lobby noise.

"Jamie?" Nini and EJ exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with surprise. Before Jamie could react, Nini was a blur of motion, launching herself at him in a hug that squeezed the air from his lungs. "Oh my gosh, Jamie! How are you? What are you doing here? This is amazing!" Her words tumbled out in a rapid-fire succession, each one punctuated by a delighted squeal. Her smile could have lit up the room on its own.

EJ, on the other hand, approached with measured steps, his eyes narrowed in what could have been suspicion or surprise – it was hard to tell. "Jamie," he finally acknowledged, his voice low and even. He extended a hand for a handshake, his posture more guarded than welcoming. "It's been a while. Didn't expect to see you here." He glanced at Gina, a silent question in his eyes. What's going on? Gina just shrugged her shoulders in response.