The Truths Behind the Life of Maeve Sun Lively

23

EVEN AS GOOD AS PRETENDING as I was, I couldn't hold in the stress in me as the announcement for who had made it into the eight started.

Klarise had her hair brushed down, no makeup on or whatsoever, and it almost looked like she was prepared to leave if she wasn't called upon. I wanted to scold her myself, tell her to get a better hold of herself, maybe I'd even walk over there and start doing her makeup for her. I was just so tempted, so worried about something that wasn't even about me. I could have almost laughed at myself for being so ridiculous, but I couldn't help it. I needed her to be alright, and I knew making it into one of the eight was going to make her happy. I wanted her to be happy, and if she's happy, I'm happy.

When Ron gets to the fifth place, (the eight girls are chosen by the highest eight votes, counting down from the last highest to the top highest number of votes), I was particularly going to jump out of my seat. Klarise still hadn't been called, and we were already three spots in, meaning five more spots left.

"And the fifth highest vote, spot five goes out to..."

I just needed to hear her name, I didn't care if she had to be first or anything, she just needed to be in one of the eight.

"Cheng No!"

The girl was in tears as she went up to the microphone next to Ron to retrieve the card in his hands, blabbering her thanks and a long speech about how she has made it so far. I couldn't tear my eyes away from Klarise, she didn't budge. She sat on those row benches, one girl clinging onto her arm, without much of an expression on her face as spots by spots passed by, given away to anyone but her. As best as she tried to stay calm, even only within the short span of time I've known her, I had found myself bound to her in some way. Able to notice every single detail of her, every part of her small habits marked into my head like a forever remaining scar. She was tapping her index finger in a rhythm on her leg, and I knew at once she was just as worried as any other girl in the room.

When spot three came in, her name did not come out of Ron's mouth.

"Alright now." Ron says as the third girl goes over to stand next to the six already chosen girls. "Let's start with the second spot, or should we start with the first spot?"

Jenny cuts in, half smiling. "Oh Ron, this is such a moment, why, just tell us who the last two spots go to!"

Nathan Ma, for once not sitting beside me, smirks. "Aye aye, let old Ron have his moments."

The remaining girls force out half-hearted laughs, clearly none of them in for a joke.

Ron leans toward me, microphone and the card of the last two names in his hands. "What do you say, Instructor Sun Xue Li?"

Everyone looked at me, and as much as I wanted to, I don't dare to look in Klarise's direction. Why? Because now there was something to hide, I—we, had to start hiding it.

"Well," my grip on my microphone slightly trembles, but not enough for anyone else to notice. "How about I will announce the first spot and Ron, you can announce the second spot at the same time with me?"

Everyone is dead silent as Ron lets his own silence hang. But finally, he nods. "Hm, that would be a great idea."

Before I knew it, as much as my thin legs could carry me, I was out in the broad space next to Ron, a sealed card labeled with the number one in my hand.

Ron leans close to me and whispers into my ear. "Her talent will grant her a spot. You've taught her well, Maeve."

And I wished more than anything that he was right.