Bianca took a deep breath, preparing herself for what lay ahead.
After finishing her day, she hurried to Edenfield Film Academy. Upon hearing the news, Ruby arranged a final lesson for Sophia that evening.
When Bianca entered the art classroom, she saw Sophia dressed in sunglasses, a hat covering most of her face, and a tightly wrapped windbreaker.
Sophia appeared exactly as she did when Bianca first met her.
“Sophia, what’s going on?” Bianca asked.
Ruby came forward from behind Sophia with a warm smile, casting a fond glance at Bianca. “Today, we’re holding our final lesson outdoors.”
“Outdoors?” Bianca asked, puzzled.
“Yes, outdoors.”
Ruby headed for the door immediately after finishing her sentence, with Bianca following closely, brimming with curiosity.
They arrived at a bustling park near Edenfield Film Academy in the evening. The park buzzed with people taking leisurely walks after dinner.
Bianca watched Ruby intently, uncertain about what was happening next.
Ruby stopped in the middle of the park’s largest open area. She turned to Bianca and Sophia with a smile.
“Here we are. Sophia, besides your acting skills, I remember you’re also an incredible dancer known for your grace. How about showing off your dance talent here for everyone?”
Bianca’s eyes widened in surprise as she hurried to Ruby’s side, whispering, “Sophia’s a famous actress. Dancing here could cause quite a scene.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve spoken with the park’s security. They’ll handle everything,” Ruby replied calmly.
As expected, Bianca noticed several security guards in uniform patrolling the open space, showing that Ms. Garcia had planned ahead.
Feeling reassured about Sophia’s safety, Bianca’s main concern shifted to Sophia herself. She turned to look at Sophia.
“Are you ready for this, Sophia?”
Sophia appeared tense, her hands clenched, showing signs of nervousness and hesitation.
Bianca moved to offer support, but Ruby stopped her.
“Tomorrow’s audition will be streamed online, a much more daunting situation than this. If Sophia can’t conquer her fear now, no amount of assistance will be enough later.”
Over the past five years, Sophia has battled with self-confidence issues, especially when facing the public. Dancing used to be her pride, but if she couldn’t muster the courage to dance before this audience today, her timidity could worsen, making it even harder for her to face hundreds of millions of viewers across the country tomorrow.
If Sophia couldn’t overcome her fear of facing the public, her acting skills would be useless.
As more than ten minutes passed, the park became more crowded, but Sophia remained motionless, her face hidden by sunglasses and a hat.
Bianca watched her with growing concern, biting her lip in worry.
A sudden idea occurred to Bianca. She turned to Ruby and asked, “Ms. Garcia, can I step away for a few minutes? I’ll be right back.”
Ruby nodded with an understanding smile. “Of course.”
Seeing Bianca leave, Sophia grew more nervous. She approached Ruby, her voice tinged with worry. “Ms. Garcia, where did Bianca go? I feel even more anxious without her here.”
“You must overcome this, even without her presence. Show your dedication to becoming a great actress. Convince me that you’re fully prepared for this. Prove to me that I didn’t choose the wrong student.”
Encouraged by Ruby’s heartfelt words and the hope in her eyes, Sophia found her courage. She took a deep breath and removed her hat and sunglasses, revealing her face.
The face that had once captivated the nation was finally visible again.
Passersby in the park began to recognize Sophia. They stopped and whispered among themselves, “Isn’t she an actress?”
“She’s… She’s Sophia Johnson!”
A stir erupted, catching the attention of passersby, who turned to see Sophia. Someone exclaimed, “Wow! It’s Sophia! A famous star here in the park!”
People quickly pulled out their phones, snapping pictures of Sophia. Some eager fans tried to get close for autographs and photos, but vigilant security guards kept them at a distance, turning them into mere onlookers a few yards away.
“Sophia, everyone’s watching. Let’s begin,” urged Ruby.
“I… I…” Sophia squeezed her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. Her face went pale, and she trembled with anxiety.
“Believe in yourself, Sophia. You can do this!” Ruby stood strong, a reassuring presence for Sophia in that moment.
In the end, Sophia gave in, sitting down on the ground in despair. “I’m sorry, Ms. Garcia. I… I just can’t do it!”
For five long years, she endured confinement and mistreatment from Gabriel. Each day was filled with fear, causing her to neglect her talents in acting and dance. She knew her skills had likely suffered as a result.
Facing a crowd, she couldn’t show her vulnerability. It felt out of reach for the moment.
Ruby sighed, feeling she may have overestimated Sophia’s determination.
If Sophia continued with this mindset, the audition the next day seemed like an impossible challenge. Beating Camille’s favorite student, Natalie, appeared to be an unrealistic goal.
Sophia’s public appearance triggered a viral storm on the internet.
“Sophia Spotted in City Park, Draws a Crowd!”
“Sophia Overwhelmed by Social Anxiety, Collapses!”
“Concerns Rise about Sophia’s Well-being!”
News reports spread rapidly, sparking intense discussions among online users.
“What’s going through Sophia’s mind? Can she really perform at tomorrow’s audition?”
“It’s hard to say. If she struggled with fans in the park, how would she handle performing in front of millions?”
“Coming back to the spotlight, she shouldn’t dwell in emotions and let down her fans!”
Meanwhile, Natalie’s latest tweet appeared.
“Though withdrawals happen, don’t lose hope. As the only contender now, I’ll strive for recognition! Sadly, I won’t get a chance to learn from Sophia!”
The comments section was filled with support from Natalie’s followers.
“Natalie, our shining star! She’s worked so hard for this audition!”
“Whether Sophia shows up or not, I can’t wait to see Natalie perform alongside Nicolas!”
“Sophia might struggle, but Natalie is a top graduate from Skiyton Film Academy. How could she possibly lose to Sophia?”
“Both are Best Actress winners, but why is there such a big gap between them?”
Amidst the buzz online, Bianca urgently hailed a taxi to the park, worried by the trending news. “Please, can you go faster?” she urged the driver.
In the park, Sophia remained crouched on the ground, visibly shaking.
Ruby couldn’t bear to see Sophia like this. She came closer and placed a comforting hand on Sophia’s trembling shoulder.
“Sophia, if it’s too overwhelming, we can leave,” Ruby suggested gently.
Sophia shook her head. “No, I can’t go back like this…”
“Mommy!” A child’s voice startled Sophia.
Looking up, she saw Elaine running towards her, wearing a mask and a hat. Bianca had brought her!