Wednesday came fast, and it meant the Big Rehearsal for Dara. She had been looking forward to this, worked extra hard to memorize her lines, and stayed an all-nighter last night to prepare for today and to deliver a spotless performance the audience will be able to see in their lives. It would be outstanding, even if it was only a rehearsal. She even missed lunch due to excitement.

She intentionally missed her last class today too to prepare herself for the play, dressing up as Lady Macbeth and its aesthetic can be time-consuming so she needed the extra time to do it.

In front of the mirror, she twirled, satisfied with her appearance in a floor-length, dirty white medieval dress. The dress boasted a fitted bodice, flowing wide sleeves, and silky fabric adorned with intricate embroidery— befitting its ridiculously high rental rate. The neckline, a modest square, revealed a hint of her cleavage. Her waistline was complemented by a corset, the ensemble lent her the regal air of a royal court lady. She looked both good and fitting for the role.

She was still grinning when a knock interrupted her in the dressing room.

"Yes?" She answered.

A freshman cautiously peeked in from behind the door, revealing a girl with bobbed hair. She offered a hesitant smile and relayed, "Mr. Jin is asking for everyone to gather on the stage."

"Oh," She said as she stood up now.

The freshmen looked at her in awe. "Wow, Ms. Dara. You looked so pretty." She praised sincerely. "Lady Macbeth suits you perfectly."

She smiled in return. "Thanks, Ms...?" She tried to remember the name.

"Minzy." The freshman continued, not a bit offended. "I always admire your dedication to this play. Someday, I'll be as good as you." She said, shyly.

She just smiled as she and Minzy walked toward the center stage. She barely noticed the crowd forming in the middle. The cast dressed for the play too. "So, what role are you playing, Minzy?" Couldn't guess as Minzy was still dressed plainly.

Minzy scratched her head as she shyly answered, "I'm in charge of the stage lights."

She frowned hearing that and about to say something about it when Mr. Jin raised his hand to catch her attention. She nodded as she smiled at Minzy again. "I'll see you around, Minzy." She waved as the freshman waved too and walked towards the other freshmen club members.

"Wow." Mr. Jin said looking at her properly. "I must commend you for bringing your A-game, Ms. Park."

She just bowed as she noticed Jaejoong dressed as Macbeth in the corner, leaning on the wall, his arms over his chest, and a frown on his face.

Before their eyes could meet, Mr. Jin asked for her attention again.

"I know you've been working hard for this play, Ms. Park but..." he hesitantly continued much to everyone within an ear-sight's curiosity. "There was a change in the lineup, per the school's orders." He said, a lump in his throat. He then looked straight into her eyes. "You will no longer play the lead role of Lady Macbeth." He ended, defeatedly.

Confusion and murmurs could be heard from the members. So suddenly. On the supposed, big rehearsal day, too. Why?

"But why?" She asked after the initial shock. Her hand shaking. Is this a prank? Is today April's Fool's Day?

Mr. Jin couldn't meet her eyes anymore. "The school board members wanted the new student to play the lead role as she has more experience and is known in the college theatrics." He sighed. "The board members think it's the right thing to do in the hope of increasing the enrollment for next spring if we can bring this to public attention."

She didn't care about any of that.

"New student?" She barely asked that. She felt like a fool standing in the center with all eyes on her. Pity looks thrown her direction.

Mr. Jin nodded, and as if on cue, like a nightmare brought to life, the beautiful Bae Suzy walked into the room.

All eyes were on her now. Awed with her beauty.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Her soft-spoken voice graced their ears. "The higher-ups wanted to talk to me first." She then bowed to everybody. "Nice to meet you, everyone. I'm Bae Suzy. I just transferred this week. Please take care of me."

No one dared to speak, even Dara whose feet planted on the spot. Her face was pale as she stared wide-eyed at Suzy. This...this felt like high school all over again.

The shock was only brief as the club members immediately warmed up to Suzy and welcomed her happily like they had known her for so long. It helped that the sweet smile on Suzy's face never disappeared. She was patiently answering everyone's questions thrown at her.

"I transferred here because I miss home," Suzy answered to one question.

"I planned to stay here 'til graduation," Suzy answered another one, tucking her hair behind her ears earning blushes from men who immediately had crushes on her.

"I don't have a boyfriend." Suzy even blushed at that question, which seemed to cement the hearts in the men's eyes as well as in some girls.

While Dara just wants the stage to swallow her. She felt stupid standing there in her Lady Macbeth dress, the cast members ignoring her, and affectionately showering attention on the woman threatening her lead role.

Or was it already taken?

She felt like throwing up as her chest tightened too.

A pair of shoes stood beside her, she didn't have to guess who was it as she was sure it was Jaejoong. If he's here about to throw her an insult or about to add salt to her wound, she doesn't care anymore. All she knew, she had no energy to talk back to him right now.

But the insults didn't come, instead, it was silence from him.

She just wants to go home. Curling on her bed, cursing the gods for whatever joke they're playing on her, or maybe cursing Suzy for her bare existence in this world.

Because her insecurities had jackhammered her right now and there was no other way to pull herself up from this downright spiral of dark emotions any time soon.

She just bowed her head.

"...one day, you will be a star. The brightest star..."

She snapped herself from reverie at the reminder of that. Her mother. Her beloved mother's wish. She clenched her fists so hard.

"No!" She shouted, glaring at Suzy, Mr. Jin, to everyone who stopped showering praises on the newcomer because of her loud voice.

"Ms. Park--"

"No! I won't accept this!" She cuts Mr. Jin. "I worked hard for this role and I can't just accept that I'm being replaced just like this." She glared at Suzy again whose smile had faded away.

Suzy even looked sympathetic that she hated to see it so much. "Dara is right. I have known her since we were in high school and she always worked hard on her roles." Suzy agreed with a small smile again.

Which of course the students find angelic of her.

Mr. Jin scratched his head, obviously didn't know what to do. It's the school's orders but at the same time, as the head director, he felt guilty about Dara because she earned this role as well. "What do you students suggest? It would help me to tell the school board if it's something fair and squarely decided by the members." He shrugged, though had doubts anything would work.

Suzy smiled again as she glanced at Dara. "How about a voting system, Jin-sajangnim?" She suggested. "Everyone who is here, as a member or as an audience, can vote who they want to play the lead role, and whoever wins, the school board must respect it as it was decided fair and square by everyone here."

Dara didn't like that idea one bit. But then she couldn't come up with a good one on the spot either.

Mr. Jin nodded. "Not bad." He then turned to his students and the people in the audience. "Everyone will vote. Ms. Park & Ms. Suzy will be standing in the middle and whoever you think deserves to play Lady Macbeth, you stand in front of that person." He instructed.

She was forced to stand in the middle against the calm and smiling Suzy. Her heart throbbing so fast, she looked for a familiar face in the crowd of audience but couldn't find anyone. Her heart sunk even deeper.

To say she didn't expect it, was a lie. It was a landslide.

Seconds passed by and the students only stood in front of Suzy. They didn't even try to hesitate.

Deep down, she knew this would happen, Suzy was just too charming. Charming people the moment she stepped into the room. Just like how she always did during high school. She was no match for her.

She bit her lips as she looked down. This is humiliating. This is cruel.

A pair of familiar shoes stood in front of her. She looked up at an unreadable expression on Jaejoong's face. He seemed disappointed at something but not towards her. He looked away when she stared at him.

Behind him was Minzy. Smiling weakly at her. The freshman felt sorry for her senior.

The vote ended. Suzy almost got everyone. At least, she got two.

She didn't wait for Mr. Jin to conclude the impromptu voting event as she left the Theater Club. No one stopped her. Whether they understood her or were busy congratulating Suzy.

One thing was for sure, her world was crumbling in front of her again.

She should be proud of how she didn't cry right away, but as soon as she reached that alley in Angel Street, she broke down as she cried and cried on her palms.

She failed herself again. She failed her mother again. This is one thing, the only thing, she wanted to do for herself and she couldn't even do it without failing.

She didn't know how long she was sitting there in the corner of an alley but it was already dark and she knew the people who noticed her were starting to worry.

"Dara."

She looked up to the concerned look on Jiyong's face. She barely even noticed the old woman and Jess in the corner as she cried harder at the sight of him. He quickly knelt in front of her.

"Shh." He hushed her softly as he pulled her for a hug. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

She shook her head as she sobbed harder. "You weren't there!" She said between sobs, "You didn't vote for me! It's your fault!" She was not making sense but she couldn't help but blame him for it as she sobbed and said incoherent words to him.

He just hugged her tightly until maybe due to exhaustion from lack of sleep, missing lunch and dinner, to the dreadful event today, she passed out in his arms. Her breath slowly blew on his neck.

He stood up, carrying Dara with him. He looked at Jess knowingly.

Jess sighed as she put a hand on her waist. "Her aunt is at home with her new man maybe that's why princess didn't wanna go crying there. She was a mess. I called you instead." She shrugged.

He nodded as he started to head to the car.

"Young man," the old woman said to him, her voice full of concern.

He stopped.

"Please take care of her. She's very precious." The old woman continued.

He looked at the sleeping Dara in his arms. A small smile on his lips as he sighed. "I know."

He left the two women as he headed to his car to gently put Dara in the back seat.

He then got inside the car, revved the car on, and slowly drove off to his place where she should feel safe.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Will she feel safe there with him? Should she?

His jaw clenched when he remembered he missed the rehearsal day she was excitedly talking about to him.

Angry to himself, he hit the accelerator faster.

—-//—//tbc

a/n: What do you think of the chapter? Thanks for reading. Don't forget to vote.