Risk is the Spice of Life

Chapter 9

*Author's Note: Click the song above if you want to hear the song Pendriel sings*

I spent the week leading up to the Sixth Trial avoiding Namjoon. It had occurred to me at the last minute that maybe he hadn't tried to kiss me since the first attempt because he'd decided that he only wanted to be friends, and that was why I ran. I knew I'd have to talk to him about it eventually, but I wanted to put that off for as long as possible.

He had called the room again when I hadn't shown up for our morning walk. I'd made the excuse that I'd stayed up too late working and was too tired. He'd tried again the next day, but I'd said that I wasn't feeling well. He offered his assistance and asked what kind of soup I liked, but I told him that I just needed rest and that I didn't want to chance him getting sick as well. He'd stopped calling after that.

I'd ended up spending a lot of my time in the dance studio with Hobi, and sometimes Jimin. Hobi was a great teacher and I was feeling more confident in my abilities. However, despite the fun I was having and the new skills I was learning, Namjoon was constantly on my mind, and I was constantly on edge and alert to make sure I didn't run into him. Hobi had asked me about it one day; he'd said that I seemed tense and that Namjoon had been irritable recently. Hobi was more perceptive than I'd thought. I'd inquired what Namjoon had told Hobi, but Hobi said that Namjoon wouldn't talk about it. Hobi didn't press me further when I'd said that I didn't want to talk about it either, but he did say that he hoped we worked out whatever the issue was soon.

"Namjoon's happier when he's with you" Hobi relayed to me. I had a habit of overthinking things; was this another instance where I'd given my brain too much control?

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The day before the Sixth Trail I'd received some good news; I was called into the main conference room to speak with the Trial judges. I smiled a greeting at everyone, though I'd quickly diverted my eyes from Namjoon; I still hadn't been able to bring myself to talk to him even though I was fairly certain I'd been overthinking too much.

The judges sat in a half circle around a round table in the center of the room. On the table was my original concept project. It was wet, covered in old food, and partially destroyed, but it was there. They told me that one of the staff members had found it in and out-of-the-way dumpster and brought it to them since every contestant was told to keep theirs. The judges had remembered how distraught I'd ben during the Trail and wanted to give me a real interview with work that was actually mine. I was happy to answer all the questions they had about it. They seemed particularly interested in why I'd chosen a light an airy theme instead of the common dark and heavy theme that accompanied the portrayal of the winter season.

When the concept interview was completed, the judges asked me why someone wanted to sabotage me in the Trials, who I thought it was, and if anything like this incident had happened at all during our stay there. I relayed the room break-in incident and that I didn't know who was targeting me or why. I had no doubts about the culprits, but there was no solid proof and it was pointless to accuse the Lone Drones without proof. It was clear that they didn't believe everything I'd said, especially since I'd kept glancing at Namjoon despite my efforts not to. However, they didn't press me further and wished me luck on the next Trial.

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The Sixth Trial took place in the resort's main lounge. Kestrel had decided to give herself an urban street look for this challenge while dressing me in an ambiguous style that could've been pop, street, rock, punk, or punk-pop. The lounge was mostly full when we'd arrived, but Antonia and Corbyn had saved us seats at a high top table. Before we were allowed to sit down, Kestrel and I were required to fill out a performance sheet. Kestrel immediately signed her name on the last spot. I was lucky that a spot near the middle was available. Next to our names we had to list a song to perform. The Sixth Trial was a karaoke session.