Sunsun au "Love at first sight [my idol, my lover]"

Chapter 5: Under the Spotlight

The day of the fan contest had arrived, and Alli could hardly believe it. The entire school was buzzing with excitement, and the anticipation in the air was palpable. Alli stood backstage, his heart racing as he clutched the microphone in his hand. He could hear the distant murmur of the audience, their chatter building as they awaited the performances.

"This is it," he whispered to himself, taking a deep breath. This is my chance to show him who I really am.

Ace stood beside him, giving him an encouraging smile. "You've got this, Alli. Just be yourself. Zildjian is going to be blown away."

"I hope so," Alli replied, his stomach twisting with nerves. He had been practicing for weeks, perfecting every move, every note. All he could think about was the possibility of impressing Zildjian — of finally standing out from the crowd.

The Contest Begins

As Alli walked onto the stage, the spotlight illuminated him, and the chatter of the audience faded into silence. He could feel a thousand eyes on him, but none of that mattered. His gaze drifted to the front row, where Zildjian sat with the other judges. Their eyes met for a fleeting second, and Alli's heart skipped a beat.

This is for you, he thought, gripping the microphone tighter.

The music began, and Alli poured everything he had into his performance. Every note, every dance move, was a reflection of his passion — not just for performing, but for Zildjian. As the final chorus echoed through the auditorium, Alli's voice soared, and the audience erupted into applause.

Backstage Nerves

Alli stumbled off the stage, his heart racing with adrenaline. He could still hear the cheers from the audience, but all he could focus on was one thing: had Zildjian noticed him? Had he felt the emotion Alli had tried to convey?

Ace rushed to his side, grinning from ear to ear. "You were amazing, Alli! I knew you'd kill it!"

Alli smiled, though the nerves still clung to him. "Thanks, Uno. I just hope Zildjian liked it."

Before Ace could respond, they were interrupted by the sound of the host announcing the winner. Alli's heart pounded in his chest, and he held his breath as the name was called.

"And the winner is... Aila Lindsay De Vega!"

The world seemed to slow as Alli's name echoed through the auditorium. His eyes widened in disbelief, and for a moment, he couldn't move. Did I really just win?

Ace grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the stage. "Go, Alli! You did it!"

Alli's Victory

As Alli walked back onto the stage to accept his prize, his eyes searched the audience for Zildjian. And there he was, smiling up at Alli, his expression warm and full of pride. Alli's heart swelled, and for a brief moment, everything else faded away. It felt like it was just the two of them in the room, connected by an unspoken understanding.

As the host handed him the microphone, Alli's hands trembled slightly. He looked out at the crowd, his voice shaking as he spoke. "Thank you so much. This means everything to me. I... I've always dreamed of performing like this, and to win... it's more than I could have ever hoped for."

His eyes drifted back to Zildjian, and he felt a surge of emotion. "I just want to say thank you to someone very special. Someone who inspires me every day." His gaze lingered on Zildjian for just a second too long, but it was enough to make his heart race. "Thank you."

The applause that followed was thunderous, but all Alli could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat.

Akinoa's Dilemma

From the sidelines, Akinoa watched as Alli stood on stage, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he was proud of Alli — his best friend had just won the contest, and Akinoa knew how hard he had worked for it. But on the other hand, he couldn't ignore the pang of jealousy that gnawed at his chest every time Alli's eyes found Zildjian in the crowd.

That should be me, Akinoa thought bitterly, his fists clenched at his sides. I should be the one Alli looks at like that.

Akinoa had always kept his feelings for Alli hidden, content with being the supportive best friend. But now, watching Alli's obvious admiration for Zildjian, he felt like he was slowly losing him.

You need to say something, a voice in his head urged. Before it's too late.

But as Akinoa watched Alli smile down at Zildjian from the stage, he couldn't bring himself to act. Instead, he forced a smile, clapping along with the rest of the crowd, pretending that everything was fine.

Backstage: Zildjian and Alli

After the contest, Alli found himself backstage once more, pacing nervously as he waited for Zildjian. He had overheard one of the staff members say that the contestants would get a chance to meet the judges, and Alli's heart was racing with anticipation.

Finally, Zildjian appeared, his tall frame casting a shadow as he entered the room. Alli's breath caught in his throat as their eyes met.

"Aila Lindsay? Alli!," Zildjian greeted with a warm smile. "You were incredible up there."

Alli's heart skipped a beat, his cheeks flushing. "Th-Thank you. That means so much coming from you."

Zildjian chuckled softly, stepping closer. "No, really. I could feel the emotion in your performance. It was... powerful."

Alli's mind raced, trying to think of something — anything — to say, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess. He could barely believe that he was standing here, having a conversation with the boy he had admired for so long.

Before he could respond, Zildjian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. "Here," he said, handing it to Alli. "It's my number. Maybe we can hang out sometime."

Alli stared at the paper in disbelief. Zildjian's number? His hands shook slightly as he took it, his heart racing. "Y-Yeah! I'd love that."

Zildjian smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Great. I'll text you soon."

As Zildjian left the room, Alli stood frozen in place, staring down at the number in his hand. Did that really just happen?

Alli left the contest with his heart soaring. Winning the competition had been incredible, but getting Zildjian's number — it was more than he could have ever dreamed.

But as he walked through the hallway, he noticed Akinoa standing off to the side, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Alli hesitated. Something felt different between them, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Noa," Alli called out, waving to his friend. "Let's go celebrate!"

Akinoa forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, let's go."

But deep down, Akinoa knew that something had shifted between them, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending that he didn't care.