We met at the choir battle. She was a bit taller than me, thanks to the sky-high heels she wore. Her smile was captivating, and her voice? Absolutely incredible. She was a soloist too, and insanely talented. I don’t know why, but I felt drawn to her like a magnet.
Still, I couldn’t just walk up to her. We were soloists for two competing choirs, and our fates were being decided right then and there.
Not long ago, a big-name producer had offered to work with either “Camellia” or “Edelweiss,” but only one choir could get the deal. So, they set up a contest to settle it. This was the moment that would determine our future. The judges were about to announce which choir would keep performing on stages across Ukrainian cities, maybe even rise to greater fame, and which one would have to walk away from it all.
The outcome was critical for every one of us, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this stunning girl who, despite the visible nerves shaking her entire body, was pushing herself to out-sing even her own limits.
When it was finally over and they announced that our choir had won, I didn’t even feel happy. What got to me was seeing how disappointed she must be. I knew her team had worked incredibly hard for this moment.
You’re probably wondering how I know that. Well, my best friend Tim has watched way too many spy movies. He got it in his head that the “Camellia” choir was up to something sneaky. So, he snuck into one of their rehearsals to scope them out. Then he kept going back, over and over, because he couldn’t get a pair of striking blue eyes from the back row out of his mind. That was Alice. I’m not sure why he zeroed in on her specifically. Though I suspect it’s because, the very first day she spotted him at their practice, she didn’t rat him out. Instead, after everyone else had left, she walked right up to him and kicked him out with a sharp, “I’ll let it slide this time, but if I catch you here again, you’re done for.” Oddly enough, after that warning, Tim started showing up there every single day, like it was his job, until he realized he’d fallen for her.
And on this fateful day—the choir battle—Tim wanted to go up to Alice and spill all his feelings, just like I did with my mystery girl. So, the second they announced the results, we both bolted toward the girls. Tim had way better luck than I did, though. Even though his girl (yep, they’re dating now) is heading to Europe for six months right after the contest to kick off her solo career.
“Hey,” I said, walking up to the soloist. “Your performance was amazing.”
“Thanks,” she tossed back, her tone dripping with disdain. “Did you come over here to rub it in?”
“What? No, I just wanted to introduce myself.”
“And you’re telling me you don’t remember…? You know what, figure it out yourself. I’m not wasting another second of my precious time on you. I’ve already lost too much because of you.”
I just stood there, completely clueless about what she meant. Could she be talking about that time…? I wanted to scream in frustration. Five years ago, I made so many stupid mistakes.
Back then, I was in a really dark place. One disaster after another kept piling up. And then my brother Stan, the person closest to me in the world, just up and left for another country without even saying goodbye.
As far as I can remember… well, what can I even recall? My lifestyle back then wasn’t exactly conducive to clear memories. I can’t even imagine where I spent those two months that felt both endlessly long and impossibly short. If it hadn’t been for a call from Stan at just the right moment, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. I might’ve ended up passed out in some grimy alley instead of standing in this beautiful hall.
Thankfully, the ringtone I’d set just for Stan’s calls finally sounded. In that moment, all the chaos swirling in my head seemed to vanish, and I realized just how pathetic my life had become.
“I’ve changed a lot, and for the better,” I said, trying to pour every ounce of regret into my voice and expression, hoping she’d see how sorry I was.
“I don’t care,” she shot back.
“At least tell me your name!” I called out desperately as she walked away, moving with the speed of a cheetah and the grace of a gazelle, getting farther and farther from me.
“Will you leave me alone if I do?”
“I promise,” I said after a brief pause, crossing my fingers behind my back. I know, it was a bit childish, and I didn’t want to break my word. But as my little nephew always says, if you cross your fingers, it’s okay to fib a little.
“Fine… My name’s Adriana.”
“And I’m Max.”
“I know. Someone with that name haunted me for way too long for me to forget it so easily.”
I didn’t even get a chance to respond. Her words cut deep. What could I have possibly done to her?
Lost in thought, I didn’t even notice the stage being dismantled piece by piece and carried out of the hall. When I finally started paying attention to my surroundings, I saw Adriana’s choir hurrying away from the venue—a place where, in a way, their death sentence had just been handed down.
I’d never considered the possibility that “Edelweiss” might not win, so I hadn’t thought much about the future. But now, seeing how devastated our rivals were, I felt sorry for them. No major stage would welcome them anymore, and according to the special contract all choirs sign, they wouldn’t be able to perform anywhere. Maybe at birthdays or weddings, but nowadays, people prefer DJs, even though their services cost two or three times more. The careers of everyone in “Camellia” might just grind to a halt. The only option left is going solo. But can everyone take that leap? In a choir, you’ve always got the support of friends and teammates. On your own, a lot of people just can’t handle it.