#THE_LAST_MINUTE_GROOM
©Sir_Zach
EPISODE 64
Years ago, some students from Country M came to Country A for an excursion. Christine saw a guy who stood out in the group of students and begged a senior student she was with at that time to help her take a photo of him. When their names were being mentioned for introduction, she grasped his name. Both the picture she later printed out and the name she heard the bit was called became deep-rooted in her mind.
Her most important reason for being a singer was to go to Country M and sign in to the top company just so she could be around her dream man. But then, Jeslyn ruined it!
“Jeslyn, it seems you are desperate to die, I’ll gladly send you off.” She picked up her phone and called her manager.
“Get me all the big deals you can get your hands on. I don’t care how you do it. I want to be an A-lister before next year. Also, get me a tutor. Since Celestine Xuan didn’t work out, look for another top star who is in the same ranking as her. In addition, if that doesn’t work out, then we have to continue with what we are doing. But I want to change artists. That lousy girl is slacking off. I don’t want her anymore and please, do well to get rid of her else she exposes me.”
Christine put away her phone and focused her attention on Maverick’s pictures. He only has a little rebalance with the man Jeslyn married. She didn’t pay much attention to the man when she saw him at the funeral because she believed he was nobody. So it turned out her Maverick was right in front of her and she allowed him to leave just like that?!
“Jeslyn… I’ll ruin you beyond recognition!”
Meanwhile, Jeslyn who was being talked about was sitting in a large hall with musical instruments placed on the stage. A laptop was placed In front of her, a notebook by her side, and her backpack placed on the seat beside her.
Soon a boy walked in. He was wearing thick glasses and his hair looked a bit messy. He left a notebook in one hand and his backpack was hung on his right shoulder. The boy walked over clumsily to sit beside Jeslyn in the first row.
Jeslyn almost laughed at how he looked frightened and clumsy but she reined in her laughter to not startle the boy who looked like a nerd.
She turned her gaze to her laptop and continued with what she was doing.
“H– hi, my name is Rubenstein. Rubenstein Ye.”
“I’m J– Rossa… Rossa Ming.” She smiled. She almost gave away her real identity but immediately stopped herself halfway when she remembered the identity Maverick gave her.
Maverick told her to let the people believe she was dead and stick to a new identity for now until she’s at the top. That way, her hidden enemy would be caught off guard. Although he was right, Jeslyn could feel there was more to it that Maverick and everyone else weren’t letting out.
“Are you… are you also new?” The guy shifted his glasses to balance well on his eyes.
“Hmm,” Jeslyn answered with her head down.
“That’s nice. I’m a newbie. This is my first time attempting music. I hope you can put me through, senior.” He smiled cheerfully.
Jeslyn also smiled but said nothing and continued her work.
A while later, a girl dressed in a ruffian style with tattoos on her body walked into the class like a bully. She swept her gaze through the hall and let her gaze linger on Jeslyn who was typing away on her laptop for a while before she blew her bubble gum and made a loud sound while popping it.
The sound drew Jeslyn’s attention to the lady. She accessed her for a while before lowering her gaze. The lady reminded her of the Queen in prison.
Thinking of that nut case, Jeslyn involuntarily shuddered. She looked up at the lady who was walking to the back seat and furrowed her brows. ‘This lady being in this class, hope she doesn’t have the same preferences as the Queen? And hope she won’t be as troublesome as her appearance?’
The lady abruptly stopped and turned to return Jeslyn’s stare. “Do you like me?”
Jeslyn’s eyes widened in alarm and she hurriedly turned her gaze away but not the lady…. Another gay!
She changed her direction and walked to sit on the other side of Jeslyn, trapping Jeslyn in the middle between Rubenstein and herself.
“I’m Lola.” She stretched her hand for a handshake.
Jeslyn raised her gaze with determination. What the Queen did to her in prison almost traumatized her. “Rossa.”
“Hmm… just as gorgeous as your name. I’ll call you Rose. Hope we become friends in the future.” She licked her lower lip, revealing the piercing on her tongue.
It didn’t sit well with Jeslyn. Nothing the lady did or said appeared good to her so she shook her head. “I don’t think we can be friends.” She decided now was the best time to set boundaries.
“Oh? You already seem to h@ťě me.” The girl raised a brow.
“Don’t get me wrong…”
“Is it because of how I dress or my looks?” She frowned.
“Listen, let me…”
“What’s wrong with how I choose to appear in public? Why are you people so judgemental? You can choose how you appear but I can’t? Why don’t you all just leave the planet if you can’t unsee people like us?!”
Jeslyn had had enough and wasn’t liking where this was going. She slapped the desk and stood up.
“What are you?” Her bunny persona suddenly flew out the window. “Does your appearance feed me in any way? Who do you think you are to have my judgment? So what if you look like a clown? Are you the first to look this way nor will you be the last? Why do you think you are so important that everyone around the globe will care about your existence? You were already judging yourself before I did and you came to a conclusion with the help of what others think about you, not what I think about you.” She took a step to get closer to Lola.
“Lady, I. Don’t. Give. A. f_ck. What. You. Look. Like. Provided you don’t inconvenience me or step in my space, you don’t go close to my family and you don’t have eyes for my man, I won’t care about you. And I hope you don’t care about me either. If possible, I would appreciate it if you don’t appear before me. People like you who make everything about themselves are toxic and the last thing I want in my life is toxicity. Peace off!”
The class was quiet before now, but even the invisible soundwaves couldn’t help but give a moment of silence after Jeslyn finished.
Rubenstein had his mouth agape for a while before his lips stretched into a foolish grin.
Lola was surprised for a moment before she burst into a puddle of laughter. It was Jeslyn’s turn to be surprised. She clapped thrice before smiling. “I like that. I like your courage and the way you switched in seconds. You seem not to be the scared one even though you aren’t from Country Y. I’m impressed. Let me introduce myself again.”
“I’m Lolita Yan from Country Y. The last daughter of the first branch of the Yan family. Celestine is my role model and I’ve wanted to be like her for years but my family wouldn’t allow it, so I chose this route… ” she eyed her body to indicate she meant her appearance. “… With this and the fact that I became stubborn, my family thought I was defiant… Yes, at a point I was and I still am. Recently, I almost ki||ed a girl who spoke Ill of Celestine, so my parents allowed me to do what I wanted hoping I’ll be ‘normal’ again and here I am. But don’t worry, I’m a good bully.” She smiled and stretched out her hand.
“You only sound like a psychopath. Anyway, nice to meet you.” Jeslyn shook her hand, making Lolita chuckle.
“Actually, I like people who can say things to my face but because of my appearance, people tend to be scared of me and would rather gossip than talk to me directly. It’s so sick and I h@ťě gossip. That’s one of the reasons I go mad. Secondly, like you stated, being possessive of your man… Me too. I have a crush and I’m possessive of him.” Lolita chuckled.
Jeslyn froze when she heard that. Did she? Did she say that just now? How could she have said something so bizarre?! What stupid thing stung her brain to make her say such words?? She doesn’t even love Maverick ah!
“Hey, you look lost.” Lolita shook Jeslyn to pull her back from her reverie.
“Good for you. But you shouldn’t be possessive over someone who doesn’t like you.” Jeslyn said before she sat down.
Lolita sat beside her with a smile. “Rose, can we really be friends?”
Jeslyn’s lips twitched when she saw her looking like a fan girl. What’s wrong with this one? “You look creepy.” She stated and continued typing on her laptop.
Lolita pouted sadly and turned to look at Rubenstein. “Hey, nerd, am I creepy?”
Rubenstein adjusted his glasses fearfully and stuttered, “I– I’m not a nerd.”
“If I say you are, you are,” Lolita said with a frown.
“He isn’t. He has a name.” Jeslyn intervened.
“Right. What’s your name?” Lolita changed 180 degree from a bully to a bunny. Making Jeslyn look at her weirdly.
A while later, Celestine and her Assistant walked into the classroom and they all introduced themselves.
“If after testing your foundation and it seems sound, then your tutorial shall come to an end before one year. I would like to warn you all. If you know that you can’t persevere till the end, it will do you good to quit now. I won’t have you disrupt my plans and hard work. If such a thing were to happen, you will be breaching the contracts and will pay duly for it.”
The Assistant stepped forward in her heels and gave out the contracts.
“I’m not urging you to read that now. Take them to your hostels and read them. Submit them after three days.” Celestine’s eyes moved over the students and they stopped on Lolita. “Young lady, although I’m not objective to this way of dressing as you might need it for your type of music in the future, as of now, you don’t need it… in fact, that gives me an idea to get you uniforms. I don’t want you coming in here with different attires that would sully my eyes.”
The three students weren’t feeling awkward knowing that their idol was lecturing them, in fact, they were pleased that she was concerned.
“Rossa, It’s been two weeks. I expect you will be better by now. Email your doctor and ask that your report be sent to you. You can leave for the hospital like you used to. The estate has a curfew time which is from 5 pm – 6 AM. Your classes will be for 5– 7 hours, depending on what day it is. No classes on weekends. You can only receive visits from family members once a week for only two hours. Also, your family members cannot sleep over in your hostel and you MUST not get pregnant.” Her gaze lingered on Jeslyn when she said that.
Jeslyn and everyone else nodded. She still wasn’t aware of the relationship between Maverick, Rex, and Celestine, so she had no idea that most rules were because of her.
“All the rules are written on your contracts. They are not negotiable. That will be all for now. Your uniforms will be sent to you by evening. See you in two days.” She and her Assistant walked out after that.
“Wow, my idol is so fierce! I love her!” Lolita said with a dreamy look.
Jeslyn shook her head and returned to her seat. Good thing Lolita didn’t run over to hug her idol with the way she looked silly right now.