When the applause finally started fading, Ethan and I bowed quickly.
My heart was still racing.
The stage lights felt warmer now.
Or maybe that was just the adrenaline.
We walked off the stage together, and the moment we stepped backstage—
Chaos.
"AYANA!" Nena screamed first and practically tackled me in a hug.
"That was amazing!"
Jake clapped loudly. "Okay, I admit it. That was actually insane."
Liam walked over grinning. "You two almost made me cry."
Emma nodded excitedly. "Your voices blended so well!"
Mark adjusted his glasses, smiling softly. "Your harmony was perfect."
Even Regina crossed her arms and said, "It wasn't terrible."
Everyone looked at her.
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. It was good."
Mr. Rick looked like he had aged ten years in ten minutes. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful," he said breathlessly. "If we don't win after that, I'm retiring."
Jake laughed. "You say that every exam season."
Nena grabbed my shoulders and shook me lightly.
"You were glowing out there!"
I laughed nervously.
"I thought I was going to faint."
Then everyone slowly started talking among themselves about the performance.
That's when Ethan and I drifted a little to the side of the room.
Away from the noise.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
I looked down at my hands.
"They were all watching…" I said quietly.
"You did fine."
I looked up.
Ethan was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, calm as always.
"But I was nervous."
He shrugged slightly.
"I know."
Then he added,
"That's why I held your hand."
My cheeks warmed a little.
"…Thank you."
For a moment neither of us spoke again.
Then he smirked faintly.
"You also didn't step on my foot."
I blinked.
"That was part of the plan?"
"Yes."
I laughed.
Across the room Liam noticed and nudged Mark.
"Look. They're having a moment."
Mark sighed. "Don't start."
Emma smiled softly.
"They worked hard for that."
Regina rolled her eyes again but glanced toward us anyway.
Nena leaned on Jake's shoulder.
"Think they'll win?"
Jake shrugged. "If they don't, these judges need glasses."
Mr. Rick suddenly clapped loudly.
"Everyone quiet!"
The room immediately went silent.
"The judges are about to announce the results."
My stomach flipped again.
Through the open backstage curtain we could hear the announcer's voice echo across the hall.
"All schools, please prepare for the final results."
The lights on stage brightened again.
The judges had finished deciding.
And now—
We were about to find out who won.
We all walked back onto the stage.
Every school originally had six contestants, but for the final announcement they only called the main performers forward.
Which meant…
Just Ethan and me.
The stage suddenly felt ten times bigger.
And ten times scarier.
I stood there trying not to shake, but my hands were trembling anyway.
Beside me Ethan stood calm, hands in his pockets like this was just another Tuesday.
The announcer stepped forward with a bright smile and a long envelope.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. The judges have made their decision."
The crowd quieted.
In the front row, Luca leaned forward so much he was almost falling out of his seat.
"Will they win?" he whispered urgently to Mr. Ronson.
"Will they win?!"
Mr. Ronson chuckled softly. "We'll see."
Beside them, my mom was glaring at both of them like they were personally responsible for my stress.
The announcer cleared his throat.
"Let us begin with third place."
My heart thumped.
"Third place goes to… Silver Crest Academy!"
A boy and girl from another school ran up to the stage looking relieved and excited.
They were given bronze medals, flowers, and a small plaque.
Everyone clapped warmly for them.
Then the announcer continued.
"And now… second place."
Everyone leaned forward.
"Second place goes to… Han River International School!"
The crowd gasped.
Those two contestants ran up laughing in disbelief.
Their performance earlier had been completely different from everyone else's.
Their song had been in Korean—Trouble Maker—and their dance was playful, cheeky, and bold. The audience had loved it.
They received silver medals, a gift box, and a large bouquet of roses.
More applause.
Now only one result remained.
My hands felt cold.
For a second I didn't even breathe.
There's no way we actually win…
The hall went silent.
The judge opened the final envelope.
He smiled.
"And the winner of tonight's competition…"
My heart stopped.
"…Mystic Heights Academy!"
For a moment I didn't even process it.
Then—
The students from our school exploded with screams.
Backstage Liam, Emma, Mark, Regina, Jake and Nena practically burst through the curtain cheering.
"WE WON!!"
I stared in shock.
"…We won?"
Ethan grabbed my hand suddenly.
"We did."
The judges walked forward and handed us a gold trophy, gold medals, a huge bouquet, and an envelope containing the prize award.
Flashes from cameras lit up the stage.
We posed for photos.
I was still smiling like my brain had stopped working.
Then the announcer said, "Would the winners like to give a speech?"
Everyone looked at me.
"…Why me?"
Jake shouted from the side, "Because you talk too much!"
The audience laughed.
I stepped forward to the microphone, still holding the bouquet.
I cleared my throat.
"Hi…"
More laughter.
"I honestly… didn't think I'd be standing here tonight."
I looked at the crowd.
"My life was actually really confusing before this. I thought I was just… invisible."
Some people quieted.
"I was the nerdy girl with glasses who mostly talked to one friend online."
I smiled a little.
"And then somehow… life started giving me people."
I glanced toward the crowd where Mr. Ronson, Luca, and my mom were sitting.
"I grew up without a father… but now I have people who care about me like family."
My voice wobbled slightly.
"And this… this is actually the first big achievement in my life."
Some people in the audience wiped their eyes.
I laughed awkwardly.
"So yeah… I still don't know how we won, but thank you for believing in us!"
The crowd clapped loudly.
Then Ethan stepped forward.
He kept it simple.
"Thank you to the judges, the school, and everyone here tonight."
He glanced at me briefly.
"And thank you to Ayana… for trusting me."
More applause.
The announcer smiled.
"Now please invite the rest of your team for a final photo."
Immediately Liam, Emma, Mark, Regina, Jake, Nena and Mr. Rick rushed onto the stage.
Everyone squeezed together laughing and cheering.
Just as the photographer lifted the camera—
Suddenly a tiny voice shouted.
"WAIT!"
The little boy from the first challenge came running across the stage.
Emma gasped and scooped him up into her arms, laughing.
The photographer laughed.
"Perfect! Everyone smile!"
Click!
The flash went off.
Liam raised his fist in the air.
"FREE CELEBRATION DINNER!"
"YEAHHHH!" we all shouted together.