REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 43: So you’ll compete tomorrow?

Elara returned to Voice not long after leaving the Vale Group building. The sky above Starfall City had already began to grow dim, but she did not pay attention to any of it as she walked through the gates and into the building.

Ziva had not come with her. After they left the company earlier, Ziva said she needed to handle some matters first and might still come later. Elara had simply nodded and taken a cab back alone.

When she reached her dorm door, she unlocked it and stepped inside quietly. She changed out of the clothes she had worn earlier and put on something simple and comfortable.

Her movements and expression were calm. She did not rush and she did not pause to think either. Anyone who looked at her would think nothing important had happened today.

After changing, she walked to her desk and pulled out her music book. The notebook was already filled with small lines of lyrics and random thoughts she had written to use for the Rising Voice Challenge live showcase.

She sat down, opened the book, and began writing a few new lines again, though it’s no longer necessary.

On the surface everything looked calm. But even while she wrote, thoughts continued to move in her head.

She did not allow herself to think about the kiss in Adrian’s office. She had pushed that memory to the back of her mind. It did not deserve space or attention. Instead, her thoughts returned again to his words.

Sponsored artist. That’s your position here.

She kept thinking of it over and over again. Though this is already a known fact. He was the sponsor. She was the singer receiving support.

But knowing something and hearing it spoken so clearly were entirely two very different things. For some reason hearing those words directly from him had left a small uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

She stopped writing. After a moment she closed the music book and pushed it slightly aside. Then she reached for her phone and unlocked it. She opened the page that contained the details for the Rising Voice competition. The information about the challenge tomorrow filled the screen. She stared at it for a long time without moving.

Finally she made a decision.

She would withdraw.

It was the most reasonable choice. Mr. Kain had already filed a complaint against her and the director has suspended her from participating in external activities or events. She understood strategy well enough to know that stepping back is the best option now. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

She opened a message window and began typing a formal withdrawal message. She finished the first sentence. The second. Then she began writing the third.

But before she finished everything up, her fingers suddenly stopped. She stared at the message on the screen. Yet something inside her resisted the act of pressing send.

In her first life she had stepped back many times. She had allowed others to decide how much space she deserved. She had accepted unfair treatment quietly and told herself it was the safest choice. She had made herself smaller so that other people would feel comfortable standing above her.

She stared at the unfinished message for a long time.

Her thumb hovered over the send button, but she did not press it. She also did not delete the message.

After another moment she simply locked her phone and placed it on the table.

Almost an hour passed like that. Until eventually a knock sounded on her door.

Elara stood up slowly and walked over to open it. When the door opened she saw Ziva standing outside. Her expression looked neutral, very different from the look she had earlier that morning when she first came to inform Elara about Mr. Kain’s complaint.

Ziva looked at her for a moment before speaking. "Can I come in?"

Elara stepped aside without saying anything and allowed her inside.

They moved into the room together and sat down. Ziva did not waste time. She leaned slightly forward and spoke in her usual serious tone.

"I got a call from Director Han," she said.

Elara looked at her quietly while she continued, "Mr. Kain’s complaint has been officially dismissed. You participating in the challenge is now accepted."

Elara did not answer immediately and she didn’t felt too excited. She simply sat there for a few seconds while the words rang in her head.

"Director Han called you directly?" she finally asked.

"Yes, she said the matter was already handled and there was no need for you to do anything further."

Handled.

Elara thought about it carefully. Her mind moved quickly to the most logical guess. This should be Mrs Vale.

She did not think about Adrian at all. The man who had just told her that she was nothing more than a sponsored artist would not suddenly turn around and solve a problem for her in the same hour. That would make no sense.

"I see," Elara said calmly.

Ziva watched her face carefully, then she asked. "So you’ll compete tomorrow?"

Elara paused, then reached for her phone again. She unlocked it and opened the unfinished withdrawal message. She looked at them once, then calmly highlighted the entire message and deleted it.

"Yes, I’ll compete." She said.

Some of the tension left Ziva’s shoulders. She had been worried that Elara might still choose to withdraw even after the complaint was dismissed. For the short time she’s known Elara for, she understood her well enough to know that sometimes pride and strategy could pull her in two different directions.

"Good," Ziva said quietly.

They talked for a short while longer about the schedule for the next day. Ziva reminded her about the arrival time and a few small details about the event. After making sure everything was clear, she eventually stood up to leave.

After Ziva had left. Elara returned to her desk and began preparing for the next day. She did not rush or panic. First she looked through her clothes and chose what she would wear for the performance. She placed the outfit neatly on the chair so she would not have to search for it in the morning. After that she reviewed the song she had already selected.

At some point she looked down at her phone again. Without thinking too much about it, she opened her contacts and pressed a familiar number.

The phone rang for a while, then finally the call connected and an older voice answered from the other side.

"Hello?"

"Grandpa," Elara said.

There was a small pause before the voice on the other side brightened with surprise.

"Elara? It’s you! You finally remembered this old man?"

She smiled faintly even though he could not see it.

"I call sometimes. At least."

"Sometimes means once every few weeks," he said with a small laugh. "Are you eating properly over there in that big city?"

"Yes."

"Are they working you too hard?"

"No."

"Are you sleeping well?"

"Yes."

Her grandfather hummed thoughtfully on the other side of the call.

"Well, if you’re calling just to say yes to everything, this conversation will be very short."

Elara hesitated for a moment because she suddenly realized she did not actually know why she had called him. She had only dialled his number without thinking.

"So... how are your plants?" she asked after a second.

"My plants?" he repeated, sounding amused. "They are plants. They grow. They sit in the sun. They are doing very much well."

Elara also asked of Zia and her mom. Then she leaned back in her chair while listening to him talk. He began telling her about the garden behind the house and other stuffs.

Before the call ended, the heaviness in Elara’s chest had become much lighter.

"Call again soon, and remember to eat properly." Her grandfather said before hanging up.

"I will," she replied.

After the call ended she sat quietly for a moment, then stood up and prepared for bed.

When she finally lay down, she drifted off easily..