She internally screamed and got up from her seat. It's crazy! She thought as she frantically moves back and forth from where she stands. She noticed that she was late. She should go home but she can't. The application form was like glue to make her stay. She couldn't believe that she acquired something like this! Was she allowed to get this form?

She grabbed the application and scanned the contents. It is true. It is an audition form with Ace Academy's seal at the top of the paper. An average person would think this school was nothing special but for people knowledgeable about the idol industry. It's a different story.

Only 1000 applicants are accepted. 700 students approximate. 50 trainees get to debut. She holds 30 early bird tickets. She has one of those tickets. People would pay her millions to get a ticket.

She walked out of the shop and pondered what route she should take. Back then, she was able to walk to the path she followed before since it became a habit, but, now everything changed. What should I do? She ruffled her hair and didn't care if it became messy. Should she burn the application form and pretend nothing happened? Should she sell the ticket to someone else?

Should she give it to her parents? No! They would rip it apart!

She hurried home and twisted the doork.n.o.b to see if it's locked and it was. She placed her hand on her heart and sighed in relief. Both of parents were still at work. She picked up the key from a nearby pot in their front yard and went inside in the comforts of her home. The lights flickered on, and she dropped her shoes aside and went upstairs. She closed the door behind her and flopped down on her bed with the application on her hand.

What now? She sighed to herself. She removed her jacket and hung it on the rack by her door. She changed into pajamas as she reads the form out loud.

'We are delighted to have you join us in the annual Ace Academy auditions where talents all over the world gather to perform and be a part of a once in a lifetime phenomena that changed the world through music and art.'

Eika took a seat on a chair and settled the paper down on her study table. She covered her eyes wis.h.i.+ng that the form would disappear. "I don't deserve this!" She tossed her bag aside and grabbed a pen on the table. She tapped her fingers on the table thinking of a new melody as the pen spins on her other hand. Her song started to jumble up, and she ended up dropping her pen on the floor.

"This is your stupid fault!" She poked the paper and furiously grabbed the pen from under her. She reminded herself she wouldn't sign the form. She could forget that this whole thing never happened.

So why is she signing the form!?

She gave up from writing anything else besides her name and age. She got up from her seat and stretched her arms. She peeked out the window to see that a car parked in front of the yard. She panicked and quickly hid the form by her folders. She got out of the room and climbed down the stairs. She slapped both of her cheeks and pretended nothing happened today. She saw her mother walked in holding a bunch of groceries as usual.

"Good evening, mum," Eika greeted and, her mother's stressed face becomes light and she gave Eika a quick peck on her cheek. She brushed her daughter's hair.

"Did you go home before 4 pm?" She asked, and, Eika tried her best not to seem like she's lying to her. She nodded in response, and her mother was pleased. Eika hid her hands behind her back. She squeezed her palms and dried the sweat on her pants. She lets her mother move past her, and she followed after her.

"I'm going to cook salmon for you," Her mother asked, Eika stopped on her tracks and rested her back at the wall.

"I'm not going to eat," Eika said. Her mother didn't look at her and continued to fish through her grocery bags like she didn't hear her. She pouted at this. She knew her mother would be this uptight.

"Why? Skipping dinner is not allowed in this house, dear," She warned as she took out the fresh salmon from the bag. Eika approached the refrigerator and took out a bunch of apples.

"I'm not! I'm going to eat apples," Eika insisted, and her mother stopped moving. She stared right into Eika's blue eyes.

"You do know how important family meals are, Jane. Don't let me repeat it," She said firmly. Eika didn't respond at this anymore. She clammed her mouth shut and s.h.i.+ed away from her mother. She lowered her head down and stared at her toes.

Out of everyone in her cla.s.s, she has the longest name. Jane Eika Miyamoto. People around her would misp.r.o.nounce her last name and ask over again to hear how it's p.r.o.nounced. Her cla.s.smates would call her Miyamoto since it was easier for them. Her father would call her Eika since it was the name he had given her.

But for her mother, she's the only one who would call her Jane.

"I'll eat then, mum," Eika said in defeat. She didn't want to force anything on her mother. She retreated to her room and locked herself there. She looked over at the application form at the exact spot on where she left it. She slides her hands across the paper and left it alone to turn on her laptop.

Her dull colorless life started to invade her again. She surfed through the internet and group chat notifications continue to pop up. Her cla.s.smates started sending a bunch of group photos out in cafes and road trips. She envied them, and she closed the chat box in frustration. She closed her laptop, and hide away under her blankets. She hugged her knees and wished she had a better life.

She heard her mother call for her name downstairs and she didn't oblige. She could hear heavy footsteps by the stairway, and she closed her eyes. She pretended to sleep.

She didn't hear anyone yell her name. Instead, she heard the door close. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to go to sleep.

In the middle of the night, she climbed out of bed and finished the application form all the way down to the last question.

'Your parent/guardian signature above-printed name.'