Green-minded (EDITING) ✔

P R O L O G U E

My heart's racing like there's no tomorrow. I feel like my mind's going to burst. I'm confined in this small room or should I say box or booth or whatever. It doesn't matter.

The thing is, it's so hard to breathe. I'm not claustrophobic though. I've got a different fear. It's weird and haunting. I finger-comb my hair, feeling nauseated inside.

I hear voices chanting merrily, "Sing! Sing! Sing!"

This is not funny. Life is just full of many unwanted surprises. For the sake of my family and my career, I had agreed to be part of this Blind Date Show. I didn't commit to singing, though. I thought I was just going to answer some questions. It's a long story of why I'm here but the point is, I'm not gonna sing in front of these people. Never.

Breathe in, Breathe out, Ash.

It's like my lungs are already filled with air and there's no space for more. Just like a balloon that's about to burst. Who am I kidding? No one's going to recognize me. Duh. I'm inside a booth. They can't see me. Relax, take a deep breath.

I try to calm myself but failed.

The crowd won't stop shouting. Just my luck. Let's get this over with. I can sing, I will sing.

"Okay, Miss Happy, are you ready?" Steve, the host of the show, sounds excited. Overly frenzied, rather.

Miss Happy is the code name I chose for myself on this show. I can't think of anything else. It just blurted out from my mouth during the introduction. Maybe, just maybe, I'm indeed happy.

I cleared my throat. "Wait," I sighed. Ash, you can't panic here. You can't back out now. This is now or never.

It's been over five minutes since Tony Green asked all the contestants to sing. He said he admires girls who can sing. I don't believe him. He just admires all GIRLS. Typical player. Period.

I opened my mouth but no voice came out. The blinding light in the studio did not help either. A surge of panic ran throughout my body. I placed my hand on my chest. No. No. No. Not again. Not now. Please.

Now I know that it didn't matter if no one sees me, as long as I know that there are people watching me or wanting to listen to me, my fear comes in. Like a ghost from the past, it keeps coming back for me, wanting to swallow me whole.

Darkness consumes me, envelopes me into a state of nothingness. As always, it was not intended nor planned. It's like a curse for years.

What should I expect? I will lose consciousness.