I stared into the distance without particularly looking at something. It felt as if everything stopped and even in those boo's from all the crowd, I could hear my own heartbeat, my blood pounding in my veins.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion as I saw Ryan whose jaw twitched but he still held up his face and stared at the judges. No vestige of disappointment or hopelessness was on his face anymore. It was all loathe that his eyes radiated off.

We all simultaneously looked at Ryan then at each other as if we lost our words. Then finally, Yang stood up and shouted swearing words so loudly that Mia eventually had to pull him back to shut him up.

The crowd was so eager and wild that it took the judges and teams at least fifteen minutes to calm the crowd down to proceed further while the cameras were cut off.

Finally, the lightenings were turned on, the judges' make ups were corrected and the cameras were on. 'Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to The Forte where we just shared a very er ... quite less submissive situation. Apparently, we have our contestants who will be proceeding in the next round—the Final round, and the ones in red zone.'

'Out of two contestants sent in Red Zone, will reach the Finale with judge's votes.' John continued as he pointed at the two contestants who were Ryan and a dance group. 'Ryan O'Neil,' A spot light was shone over him, ' and Soul City, will you please step forward.' They all did after a spot light was on them.

'Let's start with Alisha.' George took over.

Alisha's eyes flickered between Ryan to dancers then she lent in the mic and said, 'I really love how you guys portrayed your new dance moves and added a new twist to dancing, but to be honest, I'll go with the one whose voice touches my soul every time he opens his mouth.' Alisha looked at Eric and gave them a 'duh' look. 'It's, obviously, Ryan.' Noah clapped so hard at Alisha's remark that I was scared he'll hurt his hands.

'Thank you. I appreciate it.' Ryan said in the mic.

'Harrison, what about you?' John asked him. Harrison glared at both of the contestants and it felt as if he was actually thinking to change his mind but then he leant in and said, 'I loved the new twist you guys gave in dancing and Ryan, well you need to bring something new in your acts. I'll go with Soul City.'

'Fucker.' Yang murmured but Mia shushed him again.

'We still have Charlotte and Eric. I bet he'll go with Ryan and Charlotte's a fan of Ryan since the beginning so no problemo. We're good guys.' I assured them but Ryan's face told me something else.

'Hell yeah, he's gonna be fine.' Mia piped in.

'Eric, Who will you vote for?' George asked Eric Who leant in his mic and spoke ever so slowly.

'It's kinda hard deciding between two exceptionally talented people. Soul City, you guys presented an act according to the callibar of Semi-final and your each move illustrated your hard work you guys had put in and no doubt, I was thrilled with your act.' He paused and I thought he'll gonna vote for them but then he added, 'but singing and dancing are such elements that should only be judged with heart. Singing is very difficult you know? It's not about hitting high notes and clearing your vocals, it's about the voice that touches your souls. Moves, they can thrill, they can move us to places but we always come back from those imaginary places. It's only singing that can let you have the whole world and actually feel that world.'

Everyone clapped at Eric's speech except for the Soul City supporters and obviously, Harrison.

'And Ryan, you suffered such a great loss but you still came back and I appreciate that. Even though you went with simple song, your performance was magical and on that base, I vote for you.' I clapped loudly.

Harrison who wasn't aware he was so close to mic, murmured something to himself that was actually heard by the whole crowd, 'You could've just said Ryan. Why giving so long-ass speech.' And on this, the whole crowd laughed.

Only Charlotte was left but I was so satisfied that Ryan will be moving to the Finale that I lent back my chair and took a satisfactory breath.

But everything doesn't go as planned. That was what I learnt as Charlotte spoke. 'I vote Soul City.'

'What? No.' Noah groaned. 'You loved Ryan man. Come on! What's wrong with them?' Noah spoke out my exact feelings while I watched Ryan giving a death glare to one of the judges.

'Okay, its a tie tie. Seems like things more filtration.' George said.

'Now that it has tied, some more drama is coming right over as we'll move on to the votes and the one who'll have more will proceed in the next round.' John told us all.

They both moved in between Ryan and Soul City and held up their mics. 'Ryan O'Neil and Soul City, you both have reached up to this level and have received such a high level of love from across the world. We both wish you best of luck.'

'Thank you.' One of the member from Soul City said.

The music changed to intense one and the lightenings were all red, doubling the panic already growing in my chest.

I was infuriated at John who opened the envelope slowly but grateful at the same time as I was afraid of what might happen.

My leg began shaking again. I wasn't acknowledged until Noah placed his hand on my knee again. 'Relax.' He said.

'The act going in the next round is... ' there was a dead silence that had swaddled the whole hall. Each breath, every beat, each passage of blood through my body was audible. These were the moments I didn't like. These were the moments that killed me inside. Thrill was not my thing but being with Ryan, I experienced it too. 'Any guesses?' And people shouted out their guesses which was incomprehensible. After a few minutes, the crowd settled down.

John looked down and then up and then George did the same. 'RYAN O'NIEL!'

At first, I didn't get what had happened or who won. A uncomfortable beep sounded in my ears and then Noah was shaking me up and telling me that Ryan has made it through and he hugged me so tight and the Mia and Yang and we all both yelled whatever seemed good to us at Ryan and when I concentrated, Yang was yelling, 'Get their asses your motherfucker.' And then Mia shushed him again and it all happened so quickly yet so slowly.

I couldn't entirely put the actions in order but one thing I was sure of, was of Ryan with no smile on his face.

The dancers of Soul City came forth and hugged and patted Ryan on his back while we waited for the cameras to turn off so that we could join them too.

'Ryan O'Neil, congratulations. You're in the finale. Care to share your feelings with us?' John said over the loud happy music and yells and shouts after they had asked about Soul City's feelings. Strangely though, they were quite okay with the results either because they wanted to pretend good in front of the camera or they were genuinely happy with Ryan.

Ryan stepped forward and lowered his head to talk in the mic. 'Thank you all for voting for me and loving me. I wouldn't be here without you.' He glanced around the crowd.

'Yes, without any doubt, it's the people and you've come out so strong after your grandmother's death. I'm sorry about her by the way.'

'Thank you John, means a lot to me. You know what John, theses past days have taught me more than I've learnt in my whole life. It's that some people are so two-faced that for one second, you believe them and then boom! Here there's ugly face in front of you. So ugly that you can't even look at them.' His eyes went back to the judges.

'Those people really hurt.' John was trying to direct the conversation back to the point. 'I hope such people stay away from you and if they won't, then well, screw them.'

Ryan chuckled humourlessly. 'Yeah exactly, this is why,' Then Ryan did what I thought he'll never do. The cameras were still on and I knew they were about to cut but Ryan was quick as he said. 'I know this is going to be on National Tv and that it might be offensive but still, Charlotte, this is for you.' He said as he held up his middle finger to her.

oOo

SAVAGE AF!

A quick short chapter! So I have always two options. Either to make the chapter this long or that long which is insanely long and actually takes me four hours.

So yeah, here it is. What do think about Charlotte and Ryan going on between them? What could possible must've happened? Any guesses?

Comment me down them below. I'm actually going to write the next chapter after posting it so it means, the next chapter will be there soon.

Like not today, but soon.

Love 💕, huz