Love Rhythm of the CEO

Episode 2

CHAPTER 2

 Accepted

I woke up the next day earlier than my usual. I'm nervous because of negative thoughts. I am so paranoid as if someone close to my parents finds out that I will join a club and they will tell them and Mom and Dad will raise hell because of it. On second thought, I'm kind of excited for this day because this will be the day of the result. It's all fine if I'm in or not. What matters to me is I tried even without the help of my parents. I'm cool with that.

But if I really got in, then I guess I need to rehearse now and be careful with what I say and act. White lies are enough. I have done something terrible that I know they wouldn't like so I really should be careful.

"Mom, Dad. My teacher wants me to be a candidate for our debate-"

"Politics?" Dad immediately cut Amelia to what she was about to say.

As much as I want to, I lowered my head and tried my very best to focus on eating my breakfast. Amelia and I are in our school uniform. After breakfast, we will head to school while Mom and Dad will probably go to work.

"Yes, Dad," Amelia said firmly. Like she's not afraid.

That is one thing I like about her. She hates me a lot. I don't like her either. I just like how she always stands and always takes the shot to what she wants without being scared or even stuttering. Unlike me.

Dad removed his eyeglasses and turned to Amelia. He is so serious that even if it's not me he's talking to right now, I'm the one who feels so nervous. I looked at Amelia, she's not looking at Dad. Her head is darted down to her food but the way she speaks is like she's really ready.

I looked at Mom, after. She's still eating like everything that is happening is normal. Like our breakfast will not have a sudden disaster created by my sister.

"You want to be part of politics?" Dad asked her seriously.

Amelia turned her gaze up and looked at Dad eye to eye like she is a bold woman. My eyes widened because of her sudden action but I can't speak up. If I did, I would just create an additional commotion between us all.

"Yes, Dad. I found myself just recently and I could say that I have a potential when it comes to politics-"

"Why?" Mom interrupted.

Stop it, Amelia! You're just getting yourself in trouble.

"Why do you want to be part of politics?"

"I want to study law and-"

"Or is it because you want to resist us?"

Amelia and my eyes widened in sync. This is what I'm expecting. My parents hate politics. The history did them bad. One of our companies went bankrupt because a politician slandered my parents.

"No, Mom, you have the wrong idea."

"Then what is it? What engaged you in politics? This is not what you wanted before, Amelia."

"I want to study the law,”

"And resist us, eventually." Mom said smoothly.

"It's not like that. I have a very huge interest in law. Both of you are out of it."

"No one will study the law," Dad said with his voice full of authority.

"But Dad, this is really what I want."

"And you think that is what we want for you?" Mom asked.

I closed my eyes. I want this to end.

"Amelia, you will become a famous model. I told you I will introduce you to the company I know. You just have to wait."

Amelia stood up and dragged her utensils down the table. It created a loud noise. Mom halted from eating.

"But that's not what I want!" my sister shouted.

"And you think you will be successful in the profession you wanted?"

"I will because I will do it with all my heart!"

"No matter what happens, no one in this family will disobey me!" Dad shouted as well.

Everyone stopped. No one dared to make a move. Even Mom. I felt my hands shaking so I put my spoon and fork down without making any noise and without catching their attention.

Without uttering any words. Without any sorry. Amelia ran out of the house. Mom was about to shout and call her but Dad stopped her.

"Don't. Let her be. If she wants to rebel, let her be," Dad looked at me, "No cards for your sister from now on."

My whole body trembled. I bowed my head to show them my reverence.

"I-I will go to h-her," I stuttered.

They didn't say anything. I rushed to the door. I sighed heavily when I saw our car. I thought she would leave me here because of her anger. I'm glad she didn't.

I ran towards the car. The driver immediately opened the door so I entered inside.  Amelia is sitting in the back seat as she is looking outside the window. She's not say anything until I made it to her side.

"Let's go,” She ordered our driver.

Our trip was very silent and slow. Although the car is moving fast, I can't help but notice how slow the time is. The silence inside the car is also disturbing. Though, this is just like the usual. Today is just very different.

Our every trip is always silent. Mainly, because Amelia and I aren't close. We are not close to our parents either. But today, I witnessed how they shouted at each other. How she shouted in front of Dad and how Dad shouted at her. That's why today's silence is vague.

"What's with the face?" Sophia welcomed me with her question.

"What face?"

"That face!" she pointed her finger to my face.

"What's wrong with my face? Is there dirt?"

"No duh, you look like you're being lost. Does something come up?"

I sighed heavily. I guess it can really be noticed. I know I hate Amelia. But I can't help but to feel pity for her.

We are treated the same by our parents. And we never got each other's back. What she is feeling right now is the same feeling that I feel too. Mom and Dad don't want her to get what she really wanted because Mom wants her to walk beautifully.

Ever since we were kids, Mom told Amelia that she has to be a very well-known and famous model someday. Mom is beautiful. Even with her age and stress due to business, she can still pass as a twenties woman.

Different management of modeling knows her because they also wished my Mom to be part of their company. But my Mom disregarded them and told them to wait for her daughter instead, which is Amelia.

"Amelia wants to study law."

Sophia's mouth circled.

"Oh, she wants to be a lawyer? Well, that suits her. I mean, she's a witch."

I laughed slightly. Sophia knows how Amelia treats me, too. Basically, long story short, she knows everything about me.

"Can you please stop?"

"What's wrong with that? It's the truth though."

"I feel sorry for her," I looked away.

"What really happened?"

I told her everything that had happened earlier during our breakfast. Sophia was all ears and listening to every bit of what I am saying. She's very attentive with gossip like this.

I'm on the same shoe as Amelia. Mom and Dad also don't want me to pursue my singing. Because if they really want me to, I'm sure they will enroll me in singing lessons. They can pull that off easily. But they didn't.

I don't know what will happen to my life. They didn't say a thing about it, they just told me that singing won't do any good.

But music is the one I love.

I wish I'm like my sister.

"Oh my God, that really happened?" Sophia exclaimed after the story.

I nodded. Sophia was sad about it too. She hates my sister because she knows what's going on between us. But the fact that we really are being controlled by our parents, It's a no-no to So.

We were listening to our class discussions the whole time. The story I told Sophia also made her feel lazy and mad at the same time. She hated my parents more.

"Shall we go together?" I asked.

"Yes."

Our school for today ended. We are now heading to the school gymnasium to see the result of the upcoming contest. Someone from the student-faculty announced earlier that the result is already pinned and we can see it after school. That's what I'm going to do with my best friend.

"Why don't we close our eyes first and look for our names?" Sophia suggested.

I could tell that she's nervous.

"So, we can't see anything with our eyes closed."

She winced as if it was a sudden realization for her.

"Yeah, right. What if we tell someone to look for our names?"

I smiled lightly and held her trembling hands. Sophia is a good singer. I know that she will make it. It's fine if I didn't. I can watch her on the show and be her supporter.

"It's fine. Come on," I pulled her near the bulletin.

There are a lot of students also looking at the result. I squeezed just so we could fit in. Sophia and I made it in front of the bulletin board. We looked at each other and we heaved a sigh together.

This is it.

A lot of papers were pinned on the board. There's a lot of names written on each paper and I started to look for mine. My hands are trembling and my heart is beating so loud every time my eyes will dart on a name that is written.

Three minutes had passed but I still couldn’t find my name. I didn't see Sophia's either. But I was about to look once again when my best friend, like a living microphone, yelled so loud that it hit the very inside of my ears.

"Ahh! M-my name! My name!" she announced.

With my wide eyes, I looked for her name. And it's true! Her name is written on it.

And to my surprise, my name was written next to her, too!

Sophia Leondale

Emily Chantria Williams

"W-w-we got in!" she yelled again and jumped onto me for a big hug.

I still can't process it. That's why I can't find it on the right side of the list because it's on the left. I can't believe it. The smile is very visible on my lips. I don't think it will ever go away.