CHAPTER 53: ELARA SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED

Elara walked behind the stage, exhaling sharply.

Her demeanor had changed entirely from the time she had left just fifteen minutes ago. Her eyes looked fiercer and more merciless, her confidence radiating through her stance.

The people who had been shooting all the contestants backstage and had stopped before phase one officially started, to conceal the artists’ identities and who was singing in which sequence, looked at the so-called nobody girl and at each other.

They forgot to capture her. Then again, was she even good or just someone who considered herself good? They all waited and quickly clicked a photo of hers to add later to the articles—no videos, nothing.

"Contestant number twelve. It’s your turn," the moderator said, a slight disdain in her eyes since she remembered what Noah accused Carla of doing earlier, and they almost messed up the show because of it.

Elara nodded and walked to the cubicle. She adjusted the mic as she sat on the seat behind the veil.

She clenched and unclenched her fists to calm her heartbeats before taking a deep breath.

She turned on the mic and then gave the musician a thumbs-up. She deliberately went to them directly to start the slow melody in the background, without notifying anyone, so that it could remain mysterious throughout.

Beatrice walked into the audience section before sitting beside Andrew, smiling sweetly at him.

Since they wanted to hear her sing and know what she was capable of, she was ready to give them a voice they wouldn’t be easily able to forget, something that wouldn’t need a name and fame to vote for her.

She began singing.

As the instrumental began, people realized it was a well-known ballad, the one for which the artist even won an international award. They gasped. Was this nobody really trying to pull that song?

"It’s the Angel’s cry," someone in the audience gasped, and Andrew looked at the person before shifting his gaze back to the stage.

He didn’t know what the hype around this song was about, but the way everyone gasped, it had to be a pretty tough song.

Just what the hell was Elara pulling with this?

Elara, on the other hand, least bothered by what anyone would think, closed her eyes and let the music run in her veins as she furrowed her brows to sing, putting her utmost concentration into it.

"Is it a tough one?" Andrew asked, leaning towards Beatrice.

Beatrice leaned even more as soon as she saw a camera flashing towards her.

"It’s a single covered by a legend. Even famous singers don’t try to imitate this. I don’t know what Elara is thinking. In her hunger to be superior, she might ruin herself," Beatrice expressed her concern.

Andrew turned to look at Beatrice, and as soon as he realized just how close they were, he leaned back before clearing his throat.

"Sorry about that," he said.

On stage, the hymn ended, and Elara finally began the main vocals.

She didn’t try to imitate anyone; she sang it like she owned it.

There was no tremble or hesitation in her voice. No one would’ve guessed she chose this song at the last second. It almost looked like she had practiced it all her life.

Her voice didn’t beg for anyone to feel her emotions; it forced them into the listeners, piercing their ears and striking their hearts straight.

Even people who weren’t much into music could feel goosebumps rising whenever she hit a high and almost impossible note.

The pain and purity in every line, describing the story of a person in a one-sided love, were too much for everyone to take. It was like sitting in VIP seats at an expensive concert without paying a dime.

Some technicians even lowered their headphones to hear better while the judges leaned forward subconsciously. The audience went quiet, even breathing slowly to avoid disturbing such a heartfelt melody.

Once Elara ended singing, the hall went silent.

Behind the veil, Elara turned the mic off and then took a deep breath, not because it was done but to step out of the world she had built around herself while singing.

The audience watching the livestream went wild, and the chat nearly exploded.

"Who is this number 12?"

"That voice? That control? And they are still holding a contest after finding someone like that?"

"Please rewind. We need tape for this. It almost sounded like the original, but with a different tone to it."

"I want to hear the chorus again."

"This is pure art. Pure talent."

"I need this to be played at my funeral. Lol."

People started commenting furiously.

But inside the hall, there was still silence until the judge stood from his position and started clapping. It began slowly, but then everyone stood and clapped for the contestant behind the veil.

Everyone was clapping, except for two people. Carla and Beatrice.

They sat frozen in their places in utter disbelief.

Andrew, in the audience, swallowed hard, his heart beating fast and erratically. He thought he had underestimated her when he heard her sing in the studio, but this surpassed all his misconceptions. He suddenly felt guilty.

She was so talented indeed. And to say he didn’t know that even after...

"We will now move to public voting," the host announced, letting the audience watching the stream vote for the contestants.

Beatrice thinned her lips and looked at someone in the corner of the hall.

"Hey! As good as it was, the last singer used a cover. Wasn’t that supposed to be about creativity, too? Where is the originality? She must be disqualified." A girl shouted from the crowd.

Elara stood and left the stage quietly.

In the hall, more voices chimed in.

"The melody Karishma used is copied too."

"The chorus of Katlyn is a mixture of two pop songs."

Beatrice stood frowning. This was supposed to be about Elara only. Why were they bringing more artists? It would only stir more trouble for them, and if Elara opened her mouth about the cover, things might turn ugly.

Carla understood this, and panic flashed on her face. She barely escaped the bullying scandal; this would affect her negatively.

"You have to help me," Carla said to Betarice.

Beatrice wanted to roll her eyes, but suppressed the urge and smiled instead.

"It’s okay. I have the perfect counter to her claim if she makes any." Beatrice said.

Andrew, who was about to tell Beatrice he was leaving, stood behind the wall, hearing their conversation, and felt conflicted.

Did they really steal Elara’s cover? No wonder it sounded so familiar. He thought he must’ve heard it at home, but it looks like it was the same one Elara was singing that day at the studio.

"Calm down, guys. We will review the rules and consider the complaints. Until then..."

[Round one results:

No winner.

No ranking.]

The message flashed on everyone’s screen who was watching the live stream before it was closed.

As Elara sat in her quiet corner, her phone buzzed with a few messages, one outshining everyone else’s.

It was from Daniel.

"I should’ve sent that fire extinguisher." The message was simple, but it immediately brought a smile to her face, easing her discomfort.