The youth spirit in her blood was thrashing passionately. She wanted to try new things, she wanted to go to school like her friends. However, she doubted that she would be able to follow in their footsteps.
Trying to calm herself down, she took a deep breath, then she said, "I think I wouldn't be able to go to the academy. You know exactly my problem."
"Huh, what problem did you mean? Your mom?" Yesiba asked.
Gina looked at her friend and answered with question, "Yep. Who else?"
Yesiba raised her shoulders and commented, "I just don't get it. I, too, was homeschooled, but my parents didn't stop me from going to the supermarket, library or to the beach."
"I don't know what to say. She does not love me I think." Gina pressed her lips together and she lowered her head.
Her heart ached. Liking something but knowing that she wouldn't get what she wanted was painful enough for her.
She just wondered how a mother could take away her daughter's happiness. How she never let her grow up like any other normal child. She really didn't understand.
She wiped her eyes, which were starting to condense. She was completely helpless.
"Well, maybe that's because she loves you. But it's just too much to be honest. She doesn't know that her over-control can be harmful," Yesiba sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"Uhuh, I don't know. If that's the case that she loves me, why doesn't she forbid my younger sister to go out?" Gina asked vehemently.
"Hey, don't think about it too much. We'll find a way out later. If necessary, Bryn and I will help to explain the reasons attending an art academy to your mother." Yesiba rubbed her friend's back. It was sufficient to put Gina at ease.
The host's voice caught Gina's attention. Her gaze went straight to the stage.
The final art performance was announced by the emcee. It was not an exact performance, but a meet and greet with those favorite artist. Tables and chairs had been arranged so that the audience could ask for autographs and shake hands with them. Of course, the audience screamed in joy.
Gina was also very excited to see Zeryon again. But she did not see him. The audience began to jostle, then lined up in the queue and started to block her view.
"Would you like to join the queue?" Yesiba inquired.
"I don't think so," Gina replied quickly.
"Oh okay." Yesiba turned her gaze to the brown-haired man beside him and asked, "What about you, Bryn?"
"I don't either. I like their work more than the artist," Bryn stated.
"Should we go home now?" Gina asked.
"You don't want to sit through the show? Perhaps there will be another show. We've already paid for this performance." Yesiba grabbed Gina's arms, as if to restrain her.
"I'm just worried that when my mom gets home, she won't find me," Gina explained.
"If Gina wants to go home, I'll be there," Bryn said to Yesiba.
"All right, let's go home."
"Okay. Wait a moment outside, okay? I want to go to the toilet first," Gina asked.
They agreed.
The three friends moved slowly through the crowd. When Gina turned around, she noticed Zeryon leaning against the wall below the stage, close to the cameraman. His hands were clasped. Their gazes met from afar.
Her heart started to race in beat and her heart was warmed. Her face revealed a crooked smile. She waved her hand to him. She felt a strong desire to approach him. Zeryon, on the other hand, did not respond, and his face was expressionless. His brow furrowed as well, as if he had cast a disapproving glance.
Gina's smile began to fade. She wondered if she was too confident to believe Zeryon felt the same way. And her thoughts turned to whether she did something wrong to him, so he kind of acted arrogant.
Yesiba's voice calling caused Gina to take a heavy step towards the exit door. When she got out, she heard screams from inside the room.
"What was that?" Gina asked in shock and she turned around.
Bryn and Yesiba just shrugged.
Soon after, several white-clad men lifted the palanquins. They appeared to be a medical team. Gina's eyes were drawn to the women on stretchers as they passed in front of him. They appeared pale and as if they were about to pass out. Gina had time to frown before the medic team arrived. Either they were prepared in advance by the event organizer.
Surprisingly, some people were behaving strangely. Their eyes were turning red as they screamed and grabbed their hair. And their voices sounded so deep.
"What happened to them?" Gina inquired and she was horrified.
She had never seen anything like this happen. The atmosphere of the show that had looked fun suddenly turned into chaos. It made her neck throb.
"Perhaps they're tired of standing for hours on end, plus we're crammed in there like tuna in a can." Bryn devised his own hypothesis.
Gina nodded her head and said, "Yeah, you're right. It's so cramped. Maybe they should limit ticket sales or hold the event in a larger venue."
"Well, this is the biggest building for art performance in San Francisco, I guess. City Hall can't be used for the public. I think now we know why we could get cheap tickets." Bryn provided some context.
"Not gonna lie, I'd be happy with cheap tickets. But I wish I didn't have to see people suffer like this. They need to improve the quality of event's organization." Gina took a deep breath.
"Yes, I agree."
"Okay. Please excuse me now. I will go to the restroom," Gina said.
"But, guys...don't you think there is something else? Like...could they be possessed?" Yesiba asked in a half-whisper.
Gina's mouth fell open at the words of her friend that she heard. The three of them exchanged wide-eyed glances, raised their chins, and then frowned, as if they were deep in thought, wondering what was going on actually.