Chapter 3The Guy I've Had a Crush on for Years Got Together with My Roommate

On the day of the competition, backstage, Ms. Harrison handed me my costume. "Olivia, with Daphne absent, you're the most likely to win. Don't let us down."

The dance I was performing was one I had practiced for two months. As long as nothing went wrong and I performed steadily, I was confident I could take first place.

According to the draw order, I was the third to perform. As I walked out from backstage, I saw Asher and Daphne sitting in the audience from afar. Daphne mouthed "Good luck" to me, but I pretended not to see her and walked straight to center stage.

The lights dimmed, and the music began. I twirled, my skirt gradually slowing as the music faded. As I completed the final pose with the last notes, the auditorium fell silent for two seconds before erupting into thunderous applause. Ms. Harrison stood below, giving me a satisfied thumbs up.

I knew I had won.

I won first place in the competition without any suspense, which meant I could enter the National Dance Company.

After the competition, I sat backstage preparing to remove my makeup when Daphne, arm-in-arm with Asher, approached me.

"Congratulations,Cora," he spoke first, handing me a bouquet.

"Thank you."

"Congrats,Cora. You can join the company now," Daphne said, her congratulations sounding a bit stiff.

I looked at their tightly clasped hands and felt momentarily dazed. I noticed a small letter tattooed on Asher's ring finger. Seeing my gaze fixed there, he awkwardly withdrew his hand from Daphne's grasp.

"You got a tattoo?" I asked curiously.

"Mm."

"Oh, you mean this?" Daphne chimed in.

"It's the name of his dog, Dobby."

I was taken aback. I knew about Asher's dog; it was a Bichon Frise he got after going abroad. But in my memory, that dog was called Ruby.

Seeing Asher's unusual expression, I didn't ask further.

"Want to have dinner together later?" he asked.

"I can't today. There's a celebration banquet later. Why don't you join us?"

Hearing my words, Daphne's face immediately showed discomfort. Indeed, her presence at such an event now would only be rubbing salt in the wound.

Asher must have realized this too. "We'd better not. We'll celebrate with you another time."

"Alright," I agreed.

After that competition, I started frequently rehearsing with the dance company and gradually participating in some major events.

Now Daphne and I had switched roles. I often missed school classes due to company rehearsals or events, while Daphne began attending every class without fail.

Before the National Day holiday, I returned to school briefly. As soon as I entered the dorm, everyone was animatedly discussing something. Seeing me return, Lucy immediately held up her phone to show me.

"Olivia, a famous director is coming to our school to cast the lead actress for his new movie!"

I took her phone and looked carefully. Indeed, it was that internationally renowned director. If one could star as the lead in his film, it would already be a height that many established stars could only dream of.

"Are you going to audition?" Lucy continued to ask.

"The company is quite busy lately. I'm not sure if the timing will work out."

"Oh, what a shame. I heard Ms. Harrison recommended you and Daphne to the director."

Daphne, hearing her name mentioned, turned her head somewhat uncomfortably to look at me. "Ms. Harrison hasn't told me the exact time yet. I'll text you when she does."

I nodded. "Okay, I'll go if there's no schedule conflict."

I'm not sure when it started, but even though Daphne and I had never openly confronted each other about anything, the atmosphere between us had become strangely polite.

I put down my things and started tidying up on my own. She left the dorm with Lucy, and we all maintained this safe distance with tacit and aloof understanding.