| Original Chap— Lookism ep. 27 |
Ep. 24 Formation

"Today's last performance! Is a collaboration between both Fashion and Vocal Department!" The announcer said excitedly, his voice carrying loudly through the speakers, "Featuring Daniel Park, Y/N L/N and Duke Pyeon!"

My heart is about to explode.

The entire crowd goes wild as their screaming voices was deafening. Many recognized those names, as some die hard fans of Daniel and yours stood at the foot of the stage. And it was no surprise when you saw Zack screaming through a makeshift paper megaphone while Mira was cheering joyfully. And from the stage you could see Zoey in their group too, cheering and sneering at other girls who were ogling over Daniel.

"She's so beautiful"
"Who is that?"
"Looks like a celebrity"
"Her skin is so dewy"

They're all staring.

The announcer (who isn't bread boy) ran up quickly next to Daniel and you, basically shoved a mic in our faces, "You both are way too good looking! Are the two of you dating?"

Daniel smiles at the announcer sweetly as he was ready to open his mouth to say 'maybe', just to tease it a bit.

But you had a different thought coursing through your head, you had to keep the record as straight.

You didn't want to lead Daniel on or make him feel like you're leading him on. Even through you've made it as crystal clear to Daniel that you wanted to be friends more than anything.

A/N: aka it's too early in the script for Y/N to settle we still have a few hundred more chapters to cover y'all. I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it.

"Nah" You butt as you crossed your arms. "He's my friend, and I'm not trynna be romantically involved with anybody."

You could hear a crowd of people sigh in relief but some got their hearts broken even before they had the chance.

"Ooh friendzoned! And everybody in the crowd must be disappointed. Sorry everybody, seems like she's off the market!"

You felt Daniel shifting, it felt almost like an electric shock as you glanced over at him.

You could see him hanging his head down low, but this time, you finally got a good look at his face. His jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes almost a pitch black as a shadow fell over them, ugly wrinkles making his face seem monstrous.

You were so disturbed by this, that you were just frozen in shock, only to turn your head and try to pretend you didn't see anything. The audience didn't seem to notice but you certainly did.

'Damn. Wrong move.' You thought, should've lied and said you were aromantic or some shit. Maybe add in like you had only one true love, and that was (insert ridiculous cartoon character here).

"I heard the two of you made this song is that true!?" The guy yells as he shoves the mic in your face. He kept asking way too much questions as Duke was the one who started to take over the questions. People starting to notice your awkward shift as you tried to play it off.

Oh yeah. The crowd.

You suddenly remembered you were on stage in front of hundreds of people with cameras recording your every movement. Probably to post it later on the school's FB Page or some shit.

Wait.

What?

"Who's he?"
"Haha he looks like a pet"
"Looks like an entirely different species"
"Haha he's an orc"

You heard people starting to insult Duke, murmurs and gossip flying in the crowd as you noticed the interviewer guy was only trying to talk to Daniel and you. But Duke was trying his best anyways, and you saw that. If you'd make a scene and thrash on stage now, it'll be bad for Dukes image. He wanted to be a rapper, right?

So you're gonna do everything in your power, to make him shine. But it still didn't help with your jitters, like who knew you had stage fright?

'What the hell, so much is happening at once,' You thought nervously, placing your hand over your thumping heart. Your other hand clutching your microphone. 'Not only Duke is getting insulted, but the Daniel situation is bullshit too.'

"Alright then let's hear it! The song is called Beautiful Day!''

As the music starts blaring through the speakers you look over to Daniel, since he sings first.

He still looked angry. You saw Duke looking back and fourth at you and Daniel, looking confused as why Daniel wasn't starting his first chorus. You stared at Daniel uncomfortably, shoulders shifting as you wanted to sock him.

Jealousy was really an effed up emotion.

"Haha I knew it. He's a straw man. Haha don't you think so fifty cent?" VinJin from the crowd loudly shouts, making sure Daniel could hear every word even with the music loudly playing.

"Stop calling me fifty cents"

The audience's response was zero to none as all of them gaze up confused and disappointed at your group. At this point you were in the middle of two choices— stand there in an absolutely frozen manner hoping everybody would just think of you as some sort of statue or just leave and stay in your room for the foreseeable future.

The crowd was taken a back, everybody stared up at the Duke as if it was some sort of miracle that he could sing. Vin Jin's response was hilarious as his mouth was agape, even the man who you assumed to be a recruiter for some sort of music company looked alarmed.

"Whoa!"
"Who's that pig?"

Daniel seemed to snap out of his daze as he looks over at Duke, his eyes starting to fill with empathy rather than jealousy. And for a moment... He knew he should at least do this for his new friend.

'I can't be selfish right now, Duke has nothing to do with this.' Daniel thinks to himself as he grips onto his mic.

Daniel opens his mouth as the lyrics poured out, his silky angelic voice instantly becoming a hit with the audience.

As everyone engulfs themselves into Daniel and Duke's performance— you stood back, another emotion hides the fact that you were anxious. Honestly through, you wished you were in the crowd instead of here on stage, this concert would've went just as well if you hadn't joined.

Huh?

You swore you just saw the scenery before you glitch and distort for a bit as you scratched your head.

It was like we're in another scene in a universe where you didn't exist.

Weird.

You felt your nerves on it's ends wits as you knew your part was coming up soon— but you couldn't even move a nerve in your body.

'I fought in front of people before. How come this felt so different?!' You thought to yourself with a old sweat before staring at Daniel. 'He was so nervous before as well- how could he be so calm now?'

But suddenly, Duke's words flooded in your thoughts.

'And than you will have no reason to be nervous'

Your mind's eyes opens all of a sudden you saw everybody you hold dear in front of you. Your eyes scanned your surroundings as you saw your family— your dad was smiling warmly at you, your older sister gave you a cheeky, shit eating smirk before flashing you a thumbs up, and your mother... For once in your life, or atleast the first time in a long time you saw a look of approval on her face.

You took a deep breath, holding a hand to your chest before gripping your microphone like it was a lifeline.

You let out a long sigh and tilted your head up, 'Fuck it. Let's do this shit.'

But in your imagination, your family weren't the only ones who were there. You saw Vasco giving you an admiring look, shining his toothy grin as he waves at you. Jace was next to him, as he mouths to you good luck with his own grins as well. Jay nods his head, a smile filled with pride as he waves. Zack uppercutted the air as he screams out encouraging words, a paper megaphone clutching in his fist. Mira was shaking her empty wallet as you could've sworn she said 'If you wasted my money on karaoke for nothing, I'm going to force you to read a Shakespeare'.

You felt a surge of confidence (and fear) running through your veins as you closed your eyes, when you heard that certain beat— you pulled your mic towards your lips and begun.

When you closed your eyes, only one person remained in your mind.

You visualized your mom standing in front of you, watching her rock a tiny baby in her arms with a nurturing look in her eyes. A small motherly smile started on her face, her eyes closed.

When you saw her from this angle— you thought you were looking at the Virgin Mary or some shit, 'Like was she, always this pretty?'.

You knit your brows together before clenching your fist.

Mom...

Your daughter who never listened to you, who always fought for fun...

Caused you so much disappointment... So much pain.

That fucking daughter...

Was now in front of an entire crowd of people. And not because of illegal gambling or fighting this time.

"Woah they're forreal"
"Amazing..."

As you sung, you completely forgot this was being broadcasted live on your school's webpage. With the school sending emails and links to the show, meaning... you didn't realize a certain family was watching you behind a laptop screen at home.

Your older sister's jaw was on the floor, not even believing what she was hearing.

'What the hell? I heard her sing in the shower before, this was definitely not what I fucking heard.'

Your father was crying as he hugged your mom tightly, screaming "I didn't know she could sing!".

Your mom would've normally slapped your dad and pushed him away but this time she didn't, she sat still as her (eye color) pupils reflected you on screen.

She chuckles softly, barely audible as she looks at your familiar face, the same one she had watched over for all these years.

"Maybe we should've put her in (Your Country) has Talent when she was little."

***

As the performance started to draw to a close, the audience went crazy. Screams and applauses were heard through tout the field as you took a moment to breathe.

You didn't even hear your own voice, or your singing, it was like a quick blur.

"Y/N!"
"You were amazing!"
"Lets take a selfie!"
"Y/N~!"
As boys crowded around your feet before the stage with heart shaped pupils (wtf) in their eyes you were forced to back up, girls also did the same thing to Daniel the same time.

"Duke you were great!"
"Duke is so good, I had no idea!"
"They were even better than Vin Jin and Jeong Gi!"
"Sick"
"Totally!!"
"Goosebumps"

Duke was overwhelmed by the compliments, he didn't know what to do as he nervously glanced over to Daniel and you. You were out of breath as well before slapping Duke's back, a bit too hard as you grinned.

"You finally getting that recognition you deserve." You patted his back as he nods, trying to ignore the sharp pain you just inflicted onto him.

"Hey..." Suddenly, a music producer dude who stood next to Vin Jin appeared in front of the three of you. "You're the kid who went to the last audition right?"

"Y-Yes!" Duke answers back with a red face, he was excited. Finally, he was gonna fulfill his dream! He'll get a contract, and he'll finally aim for it big.

"You were pretty good, sorry about that" Producer dude bows slightly.
"That was nothing!" Duke responded back all jittery.

The guy finally extends his hands towards Duke's direction "Here's my cards with a direct number... Please contact me"

"Y/N and Daniel"

You stared blankly at the extended arm holding a card in front of you. He completely went pass Duke, who even had his little hands out to readily accept the card.

"Sorry? What?" Daniel looks up and down at the card, completely confused and astonished.

rip

rip

rip

You continued ripping the card that was offered to you, and to add more salt on the wound, you took all the remains and put it in your mouth.

You gulped it down, gagging a bit before Daniel's instinct kicked in and grabbed your shoulders. "Y/N! Spit it out!"

"W-Why would you—" Duke stutters out before you grabbed Daniel and Duke's wrists, pulling them off the stage and passing by the Producer guy.

"W-What? How— Wh—" The Producer stutters at you, the audience all cringing back at what you did but also watching in anticipation. You paused for a second, pushing Daniel and Duke once towards the stage stairs before glancing back at him.

You turned around, an eerily calm look on your face before you cracked a grin.

"Don't worry, your career was shit anyways."

You batted your lashes at him before prancing off the stage.

"Why you insolent brat—! I'll-" The producer rolls up his sleeve, ready to go down the stairs and teach you a lesson.

"A music producer trying to fight Y/N? That's not gonna end up well lol."
"He's gonna get his ass handed to him hehe"
"Somebody call security"
"Shit! She said his career is shit! Hahaha"

"Irk-" The guy grits his teeth, curling up his fist as he sees security already being alerted.

As that night progressed, you couldn't find Duke anywhere, he sorta just disappeared after the whole thing.

But that day the video was posted on the school's webpage, it went viral on social media.

Miseon Park: He's really handsome, is the girl next to him, his gf?
Yeongsoon Park: Lets go to that school.
Jung So: Found you a girlfriend.
Kim Dae-Hwa: What's the girl's insta?

That was my third video that went viral. First was that world star one in episode 1, second was Zack's beat down, now this that had racked up over 10,000 likes.

But in the video...

They had edited out Duke.