Big Dreams

Hello To The World

Chapter 9: Hello To The World

The school was filled by press people. The seven students who have risked their future on the school are uneasy as their blood flows to their nerves with anxiousness. Everyone outside the backstage is waiting for the potentials of the Gaerim Arts School.

“Do you dream of being on the stage?” Mikaela asked Mira.

“Who would not want to be on the stage? That’s why we are here because we want to be on the stage, right?” Hannah entered the conversation.

“But do you think the stage will welcome you? You might be on the stage but you don’t know what will happen if you will be on that spot. You might be successful if you will work hard but for people like Mira, she will end up being cursed and yelled as pig, monster and other undesirable words,” Mikaela replied to Hannah.

“Susan Boyle, Adele, Jennifer Hudson –,“ Mira uttered.

“Don’t compare yourself to them. They don’t deserve it to be compared to you. You cannot even compare your lame performance to mine. You were just like an oil – shiny but actually not precious,” Mikaela interrupted and pushed Mira down.

“Don’t you think you should be busy practicing your song? Instead of seeing others’ inabilities, why don’t you try to look on yours? The stage is scary for people like you,” Suzy annoyed Mikaela.

“But what can you do? You are not on my place. Among all of you, I am the one who will debut likely the most. I thought first you can be a good rival but it ended to be that the fat lousy singer is my opponent,” Mikaela replied.

“Mikaela, stop arguing with them,” Michael saw them and asked her to stop.

On the other hand, Lewis was busy tying his shoes when he saw a chocolate on the table with a letter – “Do your best! Good luck with your performance!”

He grabbed it and smiled. On the other corner was Hannah giggling with excitement.

The conference started as Mikaela started to perform on the stage a song and dance number. Mira was ashamed looking on the performance. She knows she would not be able to beat her with her position today. No matter how she looks it, she is garbage. Suzy, conversely, does not care about it but admits that Mikaela hit the notes impressively while giving a sweat making dance number.

After the five minute performance, Lewis went out to perform. The crowd was surprised to see the rookie star performing on the stage of Gaerim. Blizzard, conversely, was sad and insecure as he was the only guy not performing. Michael soon went out and sang with his guitar.

After the performance, Lawrence and Alex introduced each student to the press. But one question welcomed the students – “Is it true that the school will be soon closed?”

Lawrence answered the question, “Definitely those rumors are not true.”

“But we have heard that all of these students-,“ the reporter continued but Alex started to talk.

“There is no reason for this school to close. I make sure of it to you,” Alex replied.

The tension calms as the press started to question each of the students personally but it is obvious that among them, Mira was left behind.

The press conference ended and everyone’s tired but it is not yet the end of the day as the third teacher has arrived.

“I see…” The teachers arrived with angst.

Alex and Lawrence asked the students to go home. The three teachers talked had a meeting and talked about on how they will group and teach the students.

The students went home with satisfaction except for Mira who is thinking a lot of things.

The next day, the students gathered on the room. Lawrence and Alex introduced “Kathy” to the students.

The teacher has a very strong presence with her short brown hair.

“I am Kathy Wilson. I would be your teacher and let me tell you that I performed in Moore Stadium a hundred times already. But that does not mean that I am already great. Talent is more than that. And I hope you will find bigger things than that while you are studying,” Kathy said.

Lawrence intervened and said that they will be grouping the students with 3-2-2 setup.

Under Kathy, Mira, Blizzard and Mikaela would be her students.

On the other hand, Lawrence would be training Hannah and Lewis.

Lastly, Alex will handle Michael and Suzy.

Lawrence shared and opened up an idea.

“A competition will happen at the end of the month. And I think it would be great if we will join the contest.” Lawrence started.

“However, only four of you would be able to participate. We have already talked about it yesterday. And the four performers are-,” Lawrence hanged the conversation and looked on the other two teachers.

“Mira, Michael, Hannah and Lewis,” Lawrence continued.

All of them were surprised when they hear their names.

Mikaela raised a question, “If you don’t mind sir but may we know what are your criteria on choosing them?”

“We feel that they will win the first prize,” Lawrence replied calmly.

Mikaela walked out the room immediately. Then Lawrence continued to talk, “Let’s just leave her for a while. The reason why we can’t pick her is that because she would have a hard time to work with a team. The concept of the competition is theatre plays. We have thought of doing Aida, a story about the war of Egypt and Nubia.”

Mira and Lewis would be taking the lead roles while Hannah and Blizzard would be on the supporting roles. On the other hand, Mikaela expressed her disappointment while throwing stones.

She saw her phone and remembered a call last night. Somebody from a mysterious agency called her and asked her and Michael to go on their agency.

Out of disappointment, she called the person.

“I want to know more about your offer. Let us meet later,” Mikaela said.

At the recess, Mikaela saw Suzy and Michael together as they talked with Alex a while ago for their personal training.

Mikaela wanted to talk with Michael so she went to him and asked if she can talk to him.

“I want to run away,” Mikaela opened up.

“Run away?” Michael replied.

“We cannot trust this school. Somebody called me last night and revealed the truth about this school,” Mikaela said to Michael.

Michael replied with nothing.

“Where is the old Michael I know? We are performing to do quality. And to perform with them is worse than playing with overrated singers. They would not even be overrated singer,” Mikaela continued to talk.

“I enjoy being here,” Michael replied.

“We are not like this before. Why don’t we just enjoy?” Michael added.

“It’s not me who changed. It was you who forgot me and our objectives. I don’t want to fail because this school cannot succeed,” Mikaela replied.