Ryan was announced on the stage and I instantly clutched Noah's laying on my seat's handle. I was looking straight at the stage but from the corner of my eye, I saw him looking at me and then at our hands but he did nothing.

Everyone in the audience clapped as Ryan, wearing his black shirt with black pair of pants holding his guitar, walked on the stage. Yang whistled causing Ryan to look at us. A wide yet nerved smile crept on his face. I waved at him as he waved back.

He stood in front of the mic. 'Ryan O'Neil,' Charlotte said in the mic. 'How excited I am to see you again.'

'Thank you. It's pleasure to be here.'

'I still haven't forgotten your audition Ryan. It was one of the auditions that stood out to me.'

Ryan's smile sounded in the mic and it was one of the pleasant sounds. 'Thank you so much.'

'Who have you brought with you today?' Eric asked him.

'I'm here with my friends.' Ryan answered. 'Very special,' he looked at me, 'friends.'

'Nice. I can't wait to hear you Ryan. Good luck.'

'Thanks.' Ryan said again as he positioned his guitar and this time, I noticed, he hadn't had a stool there but he chose to stand.

He eyed me again. His warm brown eyes seemed so scared as if he'll fail. I gestured him to take deep breath. He took but he still look scared so I formed a heart with my fingers and winked. He chuckled and closed his eyes. His body began relaxing.

Ryan kept his eyes closed. The music hasn't started yet. He opened his mouth and I clutched Noah's hand more strongly.

Not tryna be indie
Not tryna be cool

The crowd cheered at hearing their favourite song. It relaxed Ryan further more.

Just tryna be in this
Tell me are you too

He paused and then the music started. The mood was already built as the throng hooted and clapped.

Can you feel where the wind is?
Can you feel it through
All of the windows
Inside this room

When Ryan sang the interlude, people around me sang with him too but in a very low voice. Though, it created a good harmony combining with the voice that acted as a background in the music.

Cause I wanna touch you baby
And I wanna feel you too
I wanna see the sunrise
On your sins just me and you

'He's going there. He's going there.' A man behind me remarked. 'He'll kill it.' He said to his wife.

Ryan sang slowly, lively.

Light it up, on the run
Let's make love tonight
Make it up, fall in love, try

As the pre-chorus ended, the music stopped, Ryan took the mic out of the mic's stand, flipped his guitar behind him, looked at me with scary eyes and I gave him a assuring nod as I mouthed "do it."

He moved forward and in the silent hall, his footsteps were highlighted.

And then, the music started, Ryan brought his mic up to his mouth and just as he sang the chorus, everyone was on their feet.

But you'll never be alone
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
Baby, I am right here

He brought the mic down only to take a breath and then he brought it back to his mouth.

I'll hold you when things go wrong
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
Baby, I am right h-e-e-e—r-e

On 'here', he did the longest run with highest pitch he had ever done in his life and the ones who were not already standing, stood up too including Eric and Charlotte. The man behind me said. 'Told ya he'll kill it!' I smiled so widely as I wiped off the tears from my eyes. I felt so proud of him.

We were shut like a jacket
So do your zip

The second verse started and he began moving across the stage.

We would roll down the rapids
To find a wave that fits

The music halted for a mere second for the dramatic affect. Ryan stomped his foot on the ground and then the strong music reverberated in the hall.

Cause you'll never be alone
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
Baby, I am right here

He placed his hand up in the air and the crowd followed as we all clapped over our heads trying to stay with the rhythm.

I'll hold you when things go wrong
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
I'll be with you from dusk till dawn
Baby, I am right h-e-e-e-e-r-e

On 'here', there was the epic run again. He did it so well that I was practically jumping as I clapped.

Cause you'll never be alone
I'll hold you when things go wrong

Ryan slowed down his tune.

The drum was beaten and the beat continued.

I'll be with you from dusk till dawn

On the 'dawn', for the sake for his cover, he added the high note that touched the sky and caused the third judge, Alisha to stand on her feet too. Only Harrison and KB were left and I was certain they'll be giving Ryan a standing ovation too.

Baby I'm right here

Now all Ryan was doing was his signature runs to conclude the song on a good note.

Baby, I'm right here.

He slowed down again and then, like a whisper he said the line again.

Baby, I'm right here.

And the music stopped, the song ended but no one gave him any reaction. After a while, KB's store up and clapped. Everyone were so quiet that his clap echoed in the hall.  Then, the crowd followed. We all clapped so loudly, so happily.

'Did my bud nailed it or not?' Yang asked me.

'He sure did.' Mia agreed while I simply stared at Ryan with wide smile and happiest eyes.

'I have underestimated for his whole life.' Noah whispered.

The ovation lasted for a while until everyone got seated. 'Ryan Ryan Ryan!' Charlotte was the first to say enthusiastically. 'What was that?!'

We all hooted. 'I mean when I had your first audition, it felt that you were more like a acoustic-type guy but tonight, oh my my my,' I was laughing on her reaction because it was exactly the one I wanted. 'Nailing seem so underrated word. Very well done.' She gave him the thumbs up.

'Thank you, Thank you so much.' He placed his hand on his chest and bowed.

'Ryan is that you?' Alisha said in the mic. 'You were so amazing on the stage. When you were singing, the whole stage was on the fire.' She chirped. 'You stepped up your game. This is the best move to reach to the finals. Excellent.' She said and Ryan again said thank you.

'Eric.' Charlotte asked Eric to give him the remarks.

'You know what is my favourite part of this show? Is this,' Eric pointed at Ryan. 'This passion, this enthusiasm. Your singing is the one that touched us and that's what's the most important part of singing. I'm glad you have mastered this part. I can see a future star in you Ryan.' We all applauded.

'Harrison.' Charlotte directed the remarks time to him.

'You know what Ryan, I'm glad you stepped up your game. But I think that you can do much better than that. You need to give more attention to your skills and see what you can do.' Noah , Yang, Mia and me and the people behind and in front of us booed. 'But you performance was good.'

'Thank you.' Ryan still smiled.

'KB.' Charlotte said.

'Ryan you know what man, I have been doing singing for eight years. It took me eight years to understand what really music is. How can you make others feel it? How do you find happiness in it? And now I think that I was a slow-learner cause you just crashed all my struggles right there.' Ryan laughed. 'All I can say is that if I had one more Golden Lever, it would be for you man.' we hooted at KB's comment.

The crowd gifted his departure another applause.

The next performance was of a comedian whose jokes weren't actually really funny but still, he managed to receive good remarks from the judges.

After the comedian, came an escape artist. His performance was so thrilling that eventually, I was shrunk in my chair clutching the life out of Mia's and Noah's arm.

Yang's mobile rang but without even looking, he shut it off. The show was stopped as the judges stood up from their chairs and moved on to the backstage or to other room to make the decision for the contestants going in the semi-finals.

I used my mobile while it was the break. After the while, It was the time for results. All the contestants were announced on the stage.

Ryan , holding his guitar was the last to arrive on the stage. He smiled at us and I smiled back. He was looking so dashing on the stage.

In the very first call, the three women—who performed with their dogs and cats— and two brothers —the dancers — were asked to move forward. They were again praised for their performances. After that, John said the results.

'The act going in the semi-finals is ...' John slowly opened the envelope and looked up. 'The Three Two's.' Who were the three women. I clapped for them. Though they received a buzzer from Harrison, their performance was pretty clever.

The two brothers hugged each other, hugged the hosts and still managing to keep a smile on their face, left the stage and so did The Three Two's.

The next call was for The dance group and for the Escape artist. George read the results and surprisingly, the escape artist couldn't make any further.

The next and the last call, was for the comedian, Matt Donovan, for the contortionist, Tallie, and one and only, Ryan.

They all stepped forward. Ryan's feet were all just being dragged by an invisible force. He seemed too nervous and panicky. His agitation was underscored as he almost tripped over his own step.

'Tallie, Matt and Ryan,' George said. 'Congratulations for reaching here but sadly only one has to make it in the finals. The judges have chosen and now, the results are in my hands. Good luck to three of you.'

We clapped as he opened the envelope. 'The one going home is,' George gave a dramatic pause. I clutched Noah's hand again. 'Matt Donovan.'

I let out my breath and Ryan looked up. George And John hugged Matt and downhearted, he walked off the stage.

This left Tallie and Ryan. Tallie's performance was so magical and she received such nice remarks from judges but Ryan got the standing ovation from three judges but for Tallie, the crowd cheered the loudest but Ryan sang so well  ... there were so many buts going on in my head. Trying to figure out who'll gonna make up in the next round.

Yang cursed as his phone rang again. He put it in a silent mode and looked forth. 'Tallie Aceline,' George said. 'Harrison said that your magical performance was one of the few performances he'll remember for long.' Tallie nodded and from this distance, I could see her body trembling.

Ryan O'Niel, Eric just saw a future star in you.' Ryan pursed his lips and bobbed his head. 'And KB was determined to give you his Golden lever.'

'You two were great, but only one has the go to the semi-finals.' Ryan swallowed and looked at me.

I gave him an assuring nod with my scary eyes. I had never been this scared before.

Yang, frustratingly took his phone out and looked at the caller ID. 'I have to take it.' Yang said.

'What? No, it's just time.' Mia protested.

'I have to babe. Its James, I'll be back.' Yang said this and moved out of the hall. Mia looked at me and then, she too got up and moved out of the hall leaving me and Noah.

'The contestant going in the semi-final is ... ' suddenly, my mind reminisced all the practice we did. All the sore throats he experienced. All the tiredness we shooed away with the coffee for we needed to practice. All the fun  and joy we shared in it.

And it was the moment when I realised how badly I wanted to Ryan to win. It was not only for the sake of the money anymore. It was the crave for the feeling of winning. It was the lust now.

And I decided that for this lust, I will work harder than this. I knew that the only reason Ryan was standing there was because of his grandmother and maybe, if her grandmother was not sick in the first place, he will never, I mean like never, signed up for this.

'RYAN O'NEIL!' He shouted and I shrieked. I didn't care if I had to preserve the manners, I simply sprang up to my feet, jumped up and down, and hugged the life out of Noah. 'He did it! He did it!'

'Yeah I know,' Noah laughed with me. 'And for this, don't kill me.' He said.

I pulled back. 'What?'

'I can't ... ' he pointed at his neck that was wrapped by my arms. 'Breathe.'

'Oh sorry!' I instantly let go of his neck.

'No sorries man, our bud just did it!' He then hugged me again. I had never had a laugh of happiness but at that night I had. I looked at Ryan on the stage who was grinning at me with a did-I-just-passed? look. I nodded again and again telling him that he did it. He looked so contented, so blithe that I wanted to seize his moment in my heart forever.

I looked at Noah to see his happy face again to know that it was not a dream but his smile was not on his face anymore. Shockingly, he was looking behind me and so I turned around to find Mia in tears and Yang, trying so hard to pull himself together.

Seeing Mia cry, I furrowed. For a second, I thought that they broke up but it was not just that. 'What happened?' I asked them and when I got the answer, I wished I never asked.

My face paled as soon as I heard his answer, my mouth fell open and my eyes widened as mush as they could stretch. My mind stuttered as if the time had paused.

'Ryan's grandma has passed away.' Yang said.

***

Woah, whoa, what happened? Did she die? It means that Ryan won't take part in the competition anymore? It means that the Fobes has died for him? It means the story has end? It means the writer is dead?

Hold on Afartherers, it's OK man. Chill. It's just a cliffhanger.

But now I have posted it. Why you ask? A. I love you guys.
B. Because Afar just reached 1000 READS! Yay! Yay! And yay!
🎉 *jumps around* 🎊

Thank you soooooo x100 for reading it guys, I mean like, actually I don't mean anything, all I mean is thank you. Again and Again. I almost lost my spirit, but it's your love that helped me write even at four in the morning.

I love you guys. Like so much.

Thank you.

Also, I wanted you guys to let you know that this story would be on hold for like two months. I'm sorry for leaving you with this cliffhanger but it's exams we're talking about. The very damn exams. I wish I was a witch only so that I could use the magic to make the teachers and the principal to forget about the exams. See? I hate exams so much that I am even ready to become a witch.

I'll try to post the chapter as soon as I could.

Till then, don't leave me. We'll continue our journey soon.

Love 💕, huz