The backdoor opened, a silhouette coming out from it then it closed. We could only make so much of whoever it was, as Aria and Asahi blocked them from our sights.

 "NO WAY!" The mysterious person yelled in surprise.

 …And at that moment, the smiles on our faces faded, knowing exactly who that voice belonged to.

 "Suuurpriiise, Megan!" Aria clapped in excitement, "Know him from somewhere?"

 Megan approached Asahi, and now, we could see her after these long months. Her feelings of surprise transitioned to excitement, as she looked up at the tall man with sparkling eyes of adoration. She tried to contain these feelings, but the situation left her flustered. Hints of red flushed through her face and ears, and she struggled to even get a word out.

 "It's nice to finally meet you, Megan." Asahi reached out for a handshake, "My sister has told me a lot about you."

 "R-Really?! Oh my gosh! I'm such a huge fan of you…r work, sir!" Megan replied, letting a bit of her feelings out.

 As they did their handshake, Megan's blushing face reddened even more, turning her into a tomato at that point.

 To put it simply, this was another typical moment where a teenage girl meets her celebrity crush. There's not more to say about that, is there?

 Asahi smiled, "Thank you. I'm happy to hear that." A compliment that he's heard a million times.

 Megan smiled in return, nodding in silence. Meanwhile, she was also side-eyeing Aria, as if she required her assistance in this conversation. After all, she wasn't aware that she would meet her favorite artist at this very moment. Otherwise, she'd prepare herself with ways to converse with him. Yet, Aria watched from afar, airheaded and oblivious of her best friend's social awkwardness.

 Assuming the end of their handshake, Megan prepared to let go, but Asahi tightened his grip.

 "Huh—"

 "Sorry, I, too, am excited to meet you." Asahi smiled, letting go of her. "You are a descendant of the Legendary Guevarra, after all."

 That brief moment left Megan confused, or even shocked. Her heart dropped and she stood there, frozen. Who knows how tight his grip was, did it hurt at all? For a brief moment, even I became worried for her. Now I'm starting to get a bad feeling about Asahi… Could he be hiding something under such a pretty face?

 ..Maybe I'm paranoid due to my junior highschool years. Those students who were good looking and put-together always ended up being against Brielle and I... All due to Megan's influence. But maybe this is what a normal conversation looks like at this level of wealth. I wouldn't know anything about that, of course.

 "I hope you'll end up being one of my students, Megan." Asahi continued.

 Wait… "my students"?

 Brielle and I looked at each other, confused. We did a whole info-dive on this man, and none have stated that he was a teacher in this school. Could this be… new and secret information?

 "You're?!—" Megan gasped as well, it seems like that was the case.

 "Yes! Isn't it so exciting?!" Aria joined them, "My beloved brother will be one of our teachers!"

 Aria clung onto Asahi's arm— a typical gesture for a proud, affectionate sister such as her.

 "Right, haha." He chuckled, "I forgot that not everyone knows about it. I guess this will become public once classes do start."

 "Ooohh, I can't wait to brag about it!" Aria squealed, stomping in excitement. "We're gonna rule this school with our loved ones running it!"

 "That's really cool, I look forward to it!" Megan responded with enthusiasm.

 It seemed like Megan managed to calm down, not letting her emotions or even that situation get to her… I guess I was paranoid after all.

 "Anyways, girls." Asahi called, "I have to get going now. They're going to need us teachers in preparation for the results."

 "Oh!" Aria exclaimed, remembering something. "I heard Melvin's inside the school somewhere. I better catch up to him before another girl does!"

 Aria and her brother were gone, passing by us and are now further away. Megan must've gone back to the room of that backdoor, so I figured the coast was clear. Brielle and I rose to our feet, stretching our bodies and dusting off any dirt from our clothes. 

 I pondered, "Hmm…"

 "I can't tell if eavesdropping them was worth it or not."

 Our faces remained with less enthusiasm compared to earlier in this scheme. Brielle, understandably, was even gloomier than before. I don't blame her at all— The artist she looked up to was getting along with the girl who made her school life a living hell.

 I started walking back to the school's entrance, moving on so our feelings wouldn't ruin our day. However, Brielle remained.

 She lowered her head. "Connections… really get you far in life, huh?"

 "What?" I glanced back at her, concerned. "I mean… of course. They're rich."

 Brielle still stood there, not taking a single step. It seems like she's taking a longer time to get over this than me.

"...Did you not hear them, Grace?"

"They're talking as if they're already students of the school. The results haven't been announced yet."

"Meanwhile, people such as ourselves have to deal with the anxiety that comes with waiting for the results."

 The amount of wealth that they have, combined with their relatives being influential figures in the industry—It's not surprising to me that those girls were confident, as their success has already been guaranteed with those endless resources. What us, ordinary people, have to work hard for… they can earn more easily as they are spared from our struggles and hardships. They are entirely free from financial burdens, the everchanging economy, societal standards… and the list goes on.

 While I'd like to believe that despite their privileges, wealthy people do work hard for their successes. I mean, they wouldn't be at the top of the world if they didn't, right? The reality is, their challenges and struggles are different from ours. Their perception of everything in this world is a whole 'nother realm, and people underestimate that. The confidence that Megan and Aria have— is not a personal trait that they've earned from experience, but rather a reflection of a life filled with ease. A life where success and luxury were not achievements but rather norms. 

 " I really… want my life to be that easy. ..I'll make it that way. "

 But I can't blame how Brielle feels. The fact that those girls aren't exactly good-hearted either makes it easier to feel envious. "Why is it that good people suffer the most, while bad people have a good life?"— Something that I'm sure most people have questioned about.

 Maybe it has to do with selfishness and selflessness… But personally, I've accepted the world as it is. I've come to terms that it's not good to dwell on the things you can't control; instead, focus on what you can control and prioritize what's best for your well-being.

…

..

.

"Huh?! What are you two doing in this school!?"

 Megan complained, giving us a judgmental look. ..How long was she standing there? We must've not noticed the backdoor opening!

"We enrolled here."

 I composed myself, this was sudden— but I've already decided that I won't back down. Not again. Not for Brielle.

"Hmph, you've got the guts." Megan avoided eye contact, looking away and twirling her hair.

 It was clear that my bluntness had an effect on her. She's always tried to bring me down through indirect means, getting others to do the dirty work for her— All due to the fact that she can barely face me in person. She knows I'm better at talking back than her, and she finds that unsettling. So instead, she goes for who she finds weaker; Brielle. 

 I wasn't going to walk away just yet. After everything we've faced during junior high, it's now her turn to experience hell.

"Because I know that I can be qualified with my skills..."

 I slowly approached Megan, as Brielle held my hand to stop me, wanting us to walk away. But seeing Megan hold her breath and looking further away… made me keep going.

"Maybe this time, I'll steal first place from you." I declared with my eyes onto the sky, showing determination to achieve my dreams.

 I came to a halt, 

"Even if it's not me. I know other actual talented students will."

Gave her a stare, 

"Your dad isn't part of the judges for once..." 

and hit her with the final blow— 

"I guess the corruption rumors are really getting to you guys!"

…

 Megan flinched upon hearing my claim—Rumors of corruption involving her father, Dan Guevarra. A prominent figure in the art industry, who served judge in every competition she and her brother have participated in. The man has many rumors surrounding him, but only one is generally known. 

 He has always been accused of favoritism, showing more likeness to the artworks of his children compared to others. Perhaps he's the reason that nobody has ever reached a higher rank than Megan. However, such accusations remain dismissed, "Their talents run in the bloodline, it's no wonder they would always win, of course." — is how most people react to them. 

 Earlier this year, an insider's word came out, taking the whole country by storm. It revealed that Dan had bribed fellow judges and figures in the industry. He denied all wrongdoings, claiming that the evidence presented was fabricated, and swore to take legal action against the accuser. Since then, online posts about Dan and his family are regulated, with anything negative about them leading to shadowbanning, ensuring it gets lost within the internet. Using wealth's power to keep their names clean in the eyes of the general public— The Guevarras remain at the top, never to be taken down.

 Yet, whenever confronted with this rumor, Megan tends to display a noticeable unease. Perhaps a testament that those allegations are true, and she knows it very well.

 Her ears once again flushed in red. She clenched her fists, and her body began to tremble. It was my first time seeing her like this— Alone, anxious and unable to talk back... It was a contrast to her usual spoiled, arrogant, "Ruler of the School" image. In that moment, I felt absolute satisfaction, knowing that my will to become stronger didn't go in vain.

 She remained silent and I just stood there, refusing to back down. I waited for her response, hoping that she would at least come up with something. Other than her wealth and influence, the reason nobody ever dared to mess with Megan… was due to her "Hidden side"— a side that's said to only surface when you've really… struck a nerve.

 In what felt like a blink of an eye, she bolted towards me, and pushed me onto the ground.

"G-Grace!" Brielle yelled, pushed away in the process.

 I couldn't react on time — I never knew Megan could get violent! I guess the fact there's no witnesses around, combined that her family runs the place — made her feel like she could do anything!

 She stood before me, reclaiming the dominance she's always had and refused to let go of. The dim surroundings casted her in an ominous light, and her aura felt so… menacing. My breath stuck to my throat, my body paralyzed as chills rose up my spine — These senses of fear that sourced from this mere girl… were now coming back… I didn't know what to do at that point, and I felt so small, sitting below her in absolute defeat.

 Kneeling down, she stared at me, with eyes so lifeless—

 "You seem to be in a pretty good mood, Grace.

 But take this as a warning…"

 Her lips slowly curled up,

"No matter how skilled you are…

 This school will never accept students from poor families like you."

 She whispered; a kind, gentle tone that contrasts those cruel words. 

"And I'm not talking about admissions... 

You're going to have a bad time here, you know?"

…

"And I'll be sure of that." 

She stood up, and began walking away. 

"It's not too late to get rid of your enrollment. Better yet, quit arts as a whole."

 I yelled, "N-No!"

"We're not giving up because of someone like you!" 

 I gathered the courage to speak up, despite feeling like a lost cause at that moment. I clenched my fists on the ground, pushing them down in anger. And I held my glare, declaring my resistance. Seeing me like this, she took a few steps back, her face showing a mix of emotions — Disgust, fueled by resentment towards my high talents despite my lower-class status. Annoyance, rooting from the way I'd never give up no matter what she had thrown at me. And lastly, shock that I would go this far, unwilling to surrender to her wishes.

"T*ng *na nito..." She muttered.

 To her, I was the equivalent of a mosquito. Constantly buzzing around her, but every time she tried to swat me, she would miss.

 She took a deep sigh, calming herself. 

"Well, I guess you should start by looking your best then." 

"With hair and clothes like that, your financial states are way more obvious." 

"You want to be respected in this school? You can't even hide your broke-ness in this year's first event."

 Letting out her anger in the form of rich insults, she strutted away, having enough of us. 

"It's seriously... 

 ..seriously embarrassing." 

…

 My heart couldn't help but sting, was that last part really necessary?! Our hair and clothes are perfectly appropriate! I'm sorry for not being showered with jewelry and wearing designer blazers and dresses like everyone else! Last time I checked, there isn't even a strict dress code for today's event! So why do they all dress so formally and… FANCY?!

 Brielle gave me a helping hand, a worried look on her face. "Don't get so worked up, Grace…"

 "E-Everything's going to be fine."

 "Right." I grabbed her hand, and pulled myself up. "Let's just go inside. I'm sick of this."