ššÆ Gentle Tiger šÆ šĀ Chapter 18 Ara’s pov My eyes caught a door with its key intact. My plans are complete alre-ady. “Sir! Sir “I called as I move towards them. My head was down so they won’t notice me that much. “What can we do for you? ” One of them asked harshly. “Sir, one if the judges said you should come and see him ” I said. Him? What if the other judges are females. “Me? Where are they cause they were supposed to be re-ady for the contest “The man said. “They are in that room sir. And he said the two of you ” I replied fidgeting with my f!ngers. “Ohh! But why are you dress like this I mean, your face… You are covering it “The second man asked. “Hmm… I have something on my face which I don’t want people to see ” “Okay, show us the room.” I smiled and nodded. Plan is working. I saw Tae, Seo and binnie watching us secretly, I win-ked at them before leading the men to the room. I opened the door and asked them to enter first which they did. Immediately, I closed the door and locked it with the key. I re-moved her key and placed it on the floor and signalled to Tae and others to come. “Like seriously? “Binnie whispered with a stunning look. “Hey! Get us out of here this minute you bit-ch! “One of the men shouted. “That’s for trying to bribe someone in winning the contest “I yell back at him. “What? How did you know? “He asked. “Eavesdropping “I sm-irked. “Okay, I will give you 1 million just get me out of here. ” He said. “1 million? Keep it to your self. The money in my account is more than 2million so I don’t nee-d your fvĀ¢king money “I said. “I know, you should just add this 1 million to it. “He pleaded. I laughed “I don’t nee-d your money, in fact I can can give you 2milion now without wasting time” “You can give me the money, I will make your country win “Another man said. “All you know is money…… “I was still talking when I stĀ©pped. “Everyone get re-ady, the contest is about to start. You have 1 hour to change. ” The announcer said and I quic-kly turn to binnie. “Let’s go, we don’t have time “I said and we ran to the room leaving the men inside the room. None of my business with them.Ā I went to meet the ladies, where they change their clothes. I took my stra-pless pink tĀ©p and wore it on my blue bu-mp short and a white snickers. Soo was wearing a white and pink tĀ©p and a blue wra-p pleated Sk-irt with a pink sneakers. “Do we have to do make up? “Soo bin asked as about five women c@mĀ£ in with makeup kits . “Yeah, I think so ” I said. The women began working, we have about 40 minutes left. “The first to fifth contestants should come here plea-se” One of the women said. Ten ladies c@mĀ£ out and stood in front of the women. We are the eleventh contestants. “Okay sit, am going to start with the first cause you might be called soon “The woman said and opened the make up kits. The other women also sat the girls down and began the makeup stuff. Am not used to makeup but I guess I have to, today. Minutes later… Five people had done theirs and they were looking gorgeous. The women must been an expert. They didn’t even waste time.Ā Another set of five c@mĀ£ forward and did theirs. “Every one get re-ady, we will be starting soon. In the next 10 minutes. ” The announcer said. I began feeling nervous even if I haven’t reached the stage. 10 minutes later… The contest began, then I realized it going to be live. Like everyone is gonna watch it across the country. Gosh! God if I have sin against you forgive my sins. Forgive for what I did to Young hee’s and Yoo nah’s hair. It their fault but just forgive me. It was my turn and Soo bin’s turn for the makeup. One of the women turn on the television and we saw the large hall beautified. The MC had a mouth microphone on. “Good afternoon everyone “He greeted the people in hall and also the viewers watching over the world. “As you can see that the contest is about to start. We will like to call our chief guests for today ” He said and looked at the papers in his hands. I was still doing my makeup, I wonder where Tae and Seo will be doing in the boy’s separate room. “I will like to call Tatiana Manaois and Ariana Grande. plea-se a round of applause for them “He said as the two ladies c@mĀ£ in. The ladies are beautiful, I once saw them on TV singing. I can’t believe I will be seeing them real. “They will be p@rt of the judges for today” The MC said and my eyes nearly popped out. “I will like to call Tatiana manaois to the stage to come sing till we begin the real show “He said and she c@mĀ£ out with a microphone. “Good afternoon, as you all know my name, I will be singing “Helplessly ” The piano pla-ys……. š¶ It’s not that easy with you here š¶ š¶But I know I want you to stay š¶ š¶See, this could be us In a few years š¶ š¶But just tell me, you like to pl@yš¶ š¶It’s like everyday, am kicking rocks š¶ š¶I could fly away, but you got me at a complete stĀ©p š¶ š¶How do you manage to keep me from going but somehow you keep me from going š¶ š¶See you distract me but am distracted without you š¶ (Lyrics by Tatiana manaois) ……………………………………………………………………….. I was humming the song even if I don’t really know it. I was done with my makeup and when I looked at the mirror. God! Am soooooo beeeautifullll!! I giggled and looked at binnie, she’s still doing hers. The ladies were glancing at me like I have grown twenty-six hands. What? Or maybe I looked beautiful more than them. Tatiana manaois was throu-gh with the singing and it was time to call the contestants. We were given our tag numbers, some of the boys were out. All dressed with their hairs jelled handsomely. “Where is Seo and Tae? “Soo bin asked glancing at the boy’s room. “I think they are……. “I kept quiet when I saw an angel coming out of the room. Tae! Then Seo c@mĀ£ out too, the two were looking h0t and….. I don’t know the words to describe them again. The girls were drooling on them most especially Tae. I felt jealous suddenly. Why am I even jealous? They walk towards us and Tae flash a smile that nearly caught my breath. I want to faint. I blu-shed and am sure he saw that.Ā Ara tell me you are alre-ady falling in love. Arrghh! Stupid thoughts. Tae’s pov I smiled at Ara and she blu-shed. She’s really beautiful in those clothes. Have never seen a beautiful girl like her. “Hey, you girls look beautiful “I said. “Thanks “Ara replied and faced front.Ā I just feel soft when around her. The girls were glaring at her and she glared back. The first contestants were called and they get out of the room. A television was in the room and we watched the contestants pla-y. We are the eleventh contestants. The first pla-yed, then the second…… And it was our turn. I didn’t feel nervous cause this isn’t my first time on stage. I felt Ara’s hand on my white shi-t, gr-abbing it ti-ghtly. She’s nervous! “Ara! “I called and she looked at me. “You can do it, you don’t nee-d to be nervous “I said and she nodded. “Thanks Tae ” We got to the stage and we were given our mouth microphone each. Mrs Kim’s pov I watched as my daughter was shown on the TV, I know she can do it and they are going to win this contest. My little son didn’t go to school today cause he wants to see her elder sister perform. Mrs Choi’s pov Soo bin you can do it, I know you guys will surely win this. I know that. Your father will be proud if you win this contest. “Soo bin and her friends are gonna win this contest “Choi said and I looked at him. I still love him even after what he did. “Yes, they will “I answered and he k!$$Ā£d me on myl-ips. “Am sorry for what I did to you “He apologized. “It okay Choi ” Young hee’s pov God! I wish they should win but when I thought of Ara and Soo bin, I wish they could lose. Let’s just wait and see what’s gonna happen next. I sm-irked and took my fruit jui-ce then, gulp it down to my throat. “I pray you don’t win this contest “I concluded. Soo Bin’s pov My legs had turned jelly, I bec@mĀ£ shy all of a sudden. The contest is just three rounds. God let’s win this contest. I promise to come to church on Sunday. It was an English song. We can’t pl@yKorea songs, cause not all the people here knows Korea. Ed Sheeran “Shape of you” was the song we choose for the first round. š¶ The club isn’t the best place to find a lover So the bar is where I go Me and my friends at the table doing sh0ts Drinking fast and then we talk slow Come over and start up a conversation with just me And trust me I’ll give it a chance now Take my hand, stĀ©p, put Van the Man on the jukebox And then we start to dance, and now I’m singing likeš¶ (Lyrics by Ed Sheeran) I and Seo sang verses while Ara and Tae sang the choruses. Our dance wasn’t left out. We made sure we sing and dance perfectly. It c@mĀ£ to a stage where I and Ara c@mĀ£ forward to twer-k, twirl and twisting our bĀ©dy. Tae and Seo did the breaking dance even more than I expected. The audience were cheering and cl@pping, when we stĀ©pped for the next contestant to come. I felt happy and also have a feeling that we gonna win this contest. 100 countries are here to contest. Seo’s pov The first round, we were among the tĀ©p 50. We took third out of 50. The second round we were among the tĀ©p 20 too and we took third again. It was the final round and we sing and dance excellently than the first two rounds. Even if we were alre-ady tired.Ā At least we tried our best. “Now that this is the final and all the contestants has danced and sing. We will like to call Mr Gregory to say whose country is the winner. “The MC said. Lol.. It was the man Ara locked inside a room. A man c@mĀ£ to whisper something in his ear and he nodded. “Okay, Mr Gregory isn’t here, we will be calling Arianna Grande ”Ā Arianna c@mĀ£ forward and looked at the list in her hands. Ara’s pov I promise to not to kidnap someone again, God let us win. “And the winner is for today’s world music and dance contest is…….. “She paused. ‘And the winner is? ‘I said too. God don’t let suspense sĀ£nd me to early grave. “The winner is… aerok!! ” She said and wi-den my eyes. Never in this world have I heard of the country before. “Aerok? what country is that? No bĀ©dy isn’t coming out “Soo bin said. Tae suddenly g@sped, “Ara! Seo! Soo bin!!! We are the winner ” He shouted. “How? “We asked. “She spelt Korea but was trying to confuse us “He replied and I shouted. “Do you mean Korea? ” “You guys are smart…Yes Korea is the winner “She said. Pinch me plea-se, am slee-ping. “We won!!!!!!!! ” We said in unison and I didn’t know when I hvgged Tae. We stared at each other’s face and all I do was smile. We won at last!!!!!!!!! TBC……….