I didn’t want to talk, nor did I care to explain. Some people are rotten to the core—whatever they do on the surface is only pretense. She was only waiting for another chance to ruin me completely.
That Friday morning, we had an internal competition to decide who would qualify for the upcoming National Tour. Every one of us was eager—joining the tour was our dream. It meant traveling across the country, experiencing different cultures, and even earning cash prizes for outstanding performances.
By coincidence, Vanessa and I were assigned to neighboring groups—she was in Group 2, I was in Group 3.
Before going on stage, I glanced at her face. She glared at me with such venom it was as if her eyes alone could kill me. I turned away, regaining unprecedented confidence, focusing only on shining brightly on the runway.
As the music began, I walked gracefully down the stage, every step elegant, confident, and perfect.
Vanessa came up beside me, but her stride looked forced, and at times she nearly stumbled. Suddenly, she hurried to catch up, pretending to toss her hair while reaching for my zipper.
I spun just in time, dodging perfectly. She lost her balance and twisted her ankle.