CHAPTER 50: SMILE!

Time passed quickly for everyone except those auditioning for certain roles. For them, time was at a standstill. After all, they should’ve finished the audition the day before, but because of an incident, they all had to stay for another day and wait for their turn.

"Why did I even bother coming here?" Melissa’s lackey, the blonde woman, clicked her tongue as she fixed her things in the bathroom sink.

The short-haired one glanced at the blonde woman and pursed her lips. The two of them didn’t want to come today. They berated Lola, and now their chances of getting the role were slim. Even so, they came because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If they got the role, it could change their lives. They wouldn’t have to endure what they had been enduring in secret.

But now, that slim chance was gone. So, for them to come here felt like a joke. Especially when Lola didn’t even flinch or say anything during their audition.

"At least we tried," the short-haired woman murmured, also fixing her stuff on the other side of the sink. "Also... Lola Young said she’s fair—"

"Seriously?" The blonde woman rolled her eyes at the other one. "Pixy, do you really believe that? Lola Young could’ve said she’s Taz right off the bat, but she said nothing and let the misunderstanding go on."

Pixy—the short-haired one—pursed her lips. The corners of her eyes reddened as she looked at her friend.

"I just—"

"Lola Young is not a saint, Pixy," the blonde added, looking at Pixy sharply. "Do you think she’ll hire someone who tried to humiliate her?"

"..." Pixy didn’t say anything more, just watching her irritated friend throw her things in the bathroom irritably. "Meg, do you really think she was lying yesterday?"

The blonde woman, Megan, rolled her eyes. She didn’t bother answering as she was already pissed herself. Her anger, however, was mostly toward herself. Pixy and Megan were so eager to please Melissa and repay the woman’s kindness that they were quick to jump to protect her from her tormentor.

"We shouldn’t have done that," Pixy whispered to herself, but with the silence, it still reached Megan.

"Seriously, Pix?" Megan shot her a look. "You’re seriously regretting standing up for a friend?"

"But Melissa..."

"Melissa helped us get the slots," Megan stressed. "Let’s not blame her. After being in this industry for as long as I can remember, she’s the only good person who would do something like this for us."

Melissa only gave them the chance to get a slot to audition. It wasn’t much, but for them, it was more than enough. It was more than what their stupid agency had given them in years.

"Sorry," Pixy whispered, nodding in understanding. "You’re right. It’s not her fault, but ours."

Even so, part of Pixy’s heart regretted getting between Melissa and Lola’s problem. As for Megan, she didn’t want to think about it anymore. For her, she did what she thought was right, considering how Lola "tormented" Melissa for years.

Justice—that was what they believed they were doing.

But then, a second later, Melissa stepped into the restroom.

"Oh, you’re here!" Melissa smiled sweetly, joining them with a smile. "I just finished my audition. I’m sorry I couldn’t ask you earlier, but how did it go?"

Pixy and Megan studied the smile on Melissa’s face, who didn’t share the same worry as they did.

"Well, we don’t know," Pixy fidgeted with her fingers.

"How about you?" Megan didn’t answer, but asked Melissa instead.

Melissa smiled wryly. "I don’t know either," she sighed. "Lola is on the casting panel, and knowing her, she would do her best to make me fail the audition."

This time, Megan and Pixy didn’t say anything and just stared at Melissa. Even though the latter said all that, they just didn’t feel the same disappointment.

"Anyway, do you want to join me for dinner?" Melissa perked up a bit, smiling. "My treat!"

Slowly, her brows rose, seeing that the two weren’t responding and were just staring at her.

"Ladies." She took a step forward and gently held their hands, offering them a reassuring smile. "I know you’re scared—I am too. But we’ve been through this together, and we did our best! That alone is enough reason for us to celebrate, don’t you think?"

"Smile!" She squeezed their hands, cheering them up.

Pixy and Megan forced a smile and nodded while Melissa beamed.

"See!?" Melissa grinned. "Wait, let me just fix my lipstick and makeup. They asked me to cry earlier, so it got ruined."

Having said that, she let go of their hands and happily approached the mirror to fix her look. As for Megan and Pixy, they could only stare at Melissa.

Hah... don’t think about it, Meg. She is just trying to cheer us up. Megan looked away and went to zip her bag.

Pixy, on the other hand, just sighed heavily and also turned quietly.

A part of them felt... jealous. They knew Melissa wasn’t as disappointed as they were because, unlike them, Melissa had strong backers. Whether she did well or not, she would be a part of the project.

But that had always been their life. They were just glad that Melissa still helped them when no one else wanted to, without asking them for anything in return.

Unlike them, Melissa was in a good mood because she knew she had done a good job. Even Lola was stunned by her acting.

Even if she begged Director Sarian, there’s no way the entire casting panel will agree with her. I should tell Derek about it—hihi!

****

Meanwhile, in Function Hall Three, the audition for today was over. They were calling it a day earlier than yesterday due to some of the casting members’ schedules.

But while the crew was already packing up, the casting panel, including Lola and Director Sarian, remained seated. Their expressions were blank as if they had just seen something they couldn’t believe.

The last person who auditioned for today was Melissa, and after the woman left, the four casting panel members—even Ida—hadn’t said a word.

"That...." Director Sarian let out a scoff. "... is horrible."

No one said another word, but they all nodded while looking very traumatized. The worst of all? They were supposed to cast her just because of the money everyone put in here for her to get the role!

"Nope!" Director Sarian shook his head. "It’s either I direct this or don’t. I’m not giving her even a side character’s role!"