REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 29: "You dare..."

Several days passed, and in the blink of an eye, Elara realized she had already spent two months in Starfall City. Although some changes had happened within the Voice system, she still could not say she could rely on it completely. She needed a job. Not because she was starving, but because she wanted control over her own life. There were things she needed to do. The most important was changing her phone. After that, saving money. Just in case.

Over the past few days, she had applied for part-time jobs in different places. A supermarket not far from Voice. A restaurant in a busy district of Starfall. The restaurant is a bit far but still trekable. And the third is another supermarket close to the restaurant.

Out of the three, only the restaurant had replied. She did not wait for the others to reply. She was fine with it.

Everything had already been prepared online. Today was her first day.

After finishing the important sessions at Voice, Elara quickly changed into her work clothes. She told Ziva she that she could leave. She had already told her about finding a job, and Ziva had agreed without hesitation. She said it was wise to rely on oneself instead of others.

Thinking about "others" made Elara remember Adrian. She had not seen him since that night. Not even his shadow. Despite him saying she can’t escape him, Elara was not afraid. Not even a little.

When she arrived at the restaurant, she was directed into a small office. The manager spoke briefly with her, confirmed her details and explained the rules. He also reminded her that she would be working as a waitress and Elara said she was satisfied with it.

After that, she was handed an apron and sent out.

The restaurant was called Moonlit Table. It was not the best in the district, but it wasn’t bad either. The area itself seemed dedicated to food businesses because almost every shop around was an eatery of some sort.

Elara was surprised to see two people from Voice working there. One was a Grade Three singer, the other is Grade Two. The remaining workers were middle-aged. Including herself, there were seven workers in total.

She was told the owner was out of the country, and only the manager was in charge.

Though that’s her first day there, she never fully rested for several customers kept going and coming. But she found it somewhat exiting. And by the time Elara returned home, it was a few minutes past eleven at night.

She was so tired that the moment she stepped into her room, she dropped onto the bed instantly. After lying there for a while, she gathered a notable amount of strength to force herself up. Slowly, she walked into the bathroom to freshen up.

Tomorrow would be another long day...

–

When Elara woke up the next day, she felt very much energized. And by the time Ziva’s powerful knocks could start raining on her door, Elara was already dressed, expression serene as if she had slept inside a dream instead of a bed.

After breakfast at the cafeteria, Ziva escorted her to the rehearsal room. It was already lively. Several grade three singers were present, each with their assistants hovering around them. Mr Kain had yet to arrive, so the room buzzed with all sorts of conversations.

Elara walked toward her usual spot. The lonely piano. It was far from the center, away from too much attention. But before she could reach it, three girls quickly walked over like they had been waiting for her to come. One of them dropped into the piano seat first, crossing her legs leisurely and tilting her head as she stared straight at Elara.

"I want to sit here."

Just like that.

Elara recognized her immediately. Perri. The oldest-looking among the grade three singers. Elara wasn’t fond of gossip, but even silence have ears. She had overheard whispers before, from some girls that Perri had been in Voice for years but she was still stuck at grade three. That she had arrived even before Relanie.

Ziva took a sharp breath, clearly ready to speak but Elara knew nothing good would come out from her mouth so she lifted her arm a bit to stop her.

Ziva gave her a quiet look before shutting her mouth again.

There were no assigned seats or borders in the rehearsal room, but still, Elara had used this piano since her first day. No one wanted it before for it was too far from the center. Also Perri and her friends already had their own usual place. So it made everything look very intentional to Elara.

They wanted to make trouble for her.

But she knew she hadn’t offended them nor anybody here. Elara looked at Perri and spoke calmly. "I use this spot often. You can sit elsewhere."

At first the girls didn’t react. But then laughter exploded. It was so loud that even other trainees who had been pretending not to see anything finally turned. But still, no one said anything.

Perri leaned back, laughing so hard that she even had to wipe the tears that were almost falling from the corner of her eyes.

"Did you hear that? The little singer from Lorien says this seat belongs to her." she said to her friends.

Her friends responded by laughing more harder. Elara wondered what was so funny about everything happening.

Though she didn’t react. Ziva had already frowned. "Watch your words."she said with gritted teeth.

The girls who had been laughing suddenly stopped to look at Ziva. Then they started laughing again.

"Wow, Lady Onion told us to watch our words. Guess she’ll beat us into pulp with her sleeves." one girl said clapping slowly while the others laughed more hysterically. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Elara’s heart turned cold instantly and she stepped forward out of instinct, but she quickly stopped.

"You can mock me, but don’t talk about Ziva." she said calmly.

The girls barely listened listened to her for they were busy joking.

"I swear let’s give her some time. Soon she’ll also start dressing like her assistant."

Perri then turned back to Elara, as if she had never talked to Elara badly. "You’ve gotten very used to Voice. Congratulations. But it’s all thanks to the Vales, isn’t it?" she said with a mocking smile.

Elara clenched her fists, her anger boiling, but her face only flickered for not more than a second before returning to normal.

Perri studied Elara’s face but when she saw that Elara wasn’t reacting as she had thought. She scoffed annoyingly.

"You always pretend to be calm," Perri sneered. "As if you’re some sort of—"

"Thank you," Elara said, cutting her off smoothly.

The word landed like a slap. Perri blinked. "What?"

Elara tilted her head slightly. "For noticing." She said. Perri’s smile froze.

"Being very knowledgeable about other people’s matters and personality requires deep practice."

Perri’s jaw tightened but the two girls beside her snorted to Elara’s words.

Elara continued, not caring about their reactions. "Yes, I’m sponsored. I don’t deny it. But it’s because of my abilities."

Perri laughed sharply, regaining her voice. "Of course. Your abilities in bed."

Elara’s lips twitched for a second. Then she smiled again. "Oh?" she said softly. "So that’s how it works?"

Perri frowned while Elara folded her hands behind her back.

"That must be exhausting. Spending so many years here, watching people come and go... and assuming they all used shortcuts." she said.

The room went quiet immediately. Of course, everyone knew what Elara was insinuating. Perri had spent so many years at Voice but never moved forward or go backwards. In a word, they knew Elara was implying that Perri is talentless.

Someone coughed to hide a laugh and Perri’s face flushed red.

"You, how dare you talk to me that way!" she snapped.

"What way?" Elara asked calmly. "Did I pull any strings".

The two girls quickly tried to interrupt.

"She thinks she’s clever."

"Acting all mighty and superior. Hmmph"

"Acting?" Elara asked tilting her head. "If I were acting, I’d be tired by now."

By this point, Perri’s eyes were burning. From the beginning until now, Elara hadn’t raised her voice once, and that was unbearable.

"You little—!" Perri stood up so abruptly that the piano bench scratched the floor. Her hand swung forward furiously aiming straight for Elara’s cheek. "Let me teach you a lesson."

But before it could land. A cold voice cut through the room like knife.

"You dare."