Chapter 22: Not my thing
Lola made her way to the restroom on the same floor, stopping in front of the sink. Looking at herself, she leaned forward.
"Gosh… sometimes, people are like Silo," she murmured, adjusting her prosthetic pimple. After all, it moved with all that skipping. "I even toned the look down a bit because the twins want everything I put on my face."
Thinking about those two now, Lola decided the twins weren't so bad at all.
"At least the twins can see the art I'm putting into these looks," she hummed and sighed. "Whenever I think about them, I feel a bit sad."
Because no matter how she distracted herself with being petty, she knew that this all felt like a waste of time. She could've been strolling with the twins, but instead, she was here, slowly getting back into life without them.
"Right." Lola leaned back and fished her phone out of her deep pocket, knowing she wouldn't be granted entry into Function Hall Three without Director Sarian or his assistant, Ida.
[To: Ida
I'm here, but I can't enter. I need an access ID… or some sort.]
She kept her message short, which Ida was already used to. Lola stared at the screen, waiting for a reply, but nothing.
"Huh?" Tilting her head to the side, her pencil brows knitted. "Are they busy? The audition should be starting soon, though."
Meaning, Ida should've been reaching out to her by now. After all, Ida knew she was coming today as part of the casting panel. But somehow, there was no word from either Director Sarian or Ida.
"Well." She smacked her lips as she shrugged. "I guess I should wait with the twins."
Being part of the casting wasn't really something she was keen on. It just so happened that Lola was already going to this place because the twins' father would be here in a couple more hours. But just as Lola was about to turn, she heard voices coming from the restroom.
In an instant, a group of three girls marched in and stopped. They all jolted in surprise when they saw the person standing in the middle of the restroom.
"Kyah—a ghost!"
"Oh my god!" The other lady clutched her chest, her heart racing as she eyed the wicked thing looking back at them.
One of the ladies, Melissa, also flinched the second she met those white eyes with pupils small enough to look like dots. But after a second, she quickly recognized the person standing before her.
"Lola?" she blurted out.
The other two ladies with her paused and furrowed their brows. They looked at Melissa and then at Lola. Their faces contorted, disturbed by that horrendous look.
"Lola?" one of the ladies, a blonde woman, arched a brow, side-eyeing Melissa. "You mean, your half-sister?"
Melissa pursed her lips, and conflict flickered in her eyes as she looked at the ladies. These two were part of the audition for a different role. They got a chance because of Melissa. So, she secretly smirked behind that pitiful silence.
She sighed and snapped her eyes at Lola. "Lola, what are you doing here?" she frowned. "Don't tell me you're auditioning for the role too?"
"…" Lola blinked, watching Melissa's meek demeanor in awe.
She's a terrible actress, but somehow, she does this role really, really well.
"Auditioning for the same role as Melissa?" the blonde lady scowled, eyeing Lola up and down. She crossed her arms and walked forward. "Seriously? You think someone like you would get the role?"
"Melissa already gives you everything you want, and you're planning to take this opportunity from her too?" the other lady — a short-haired woman — mocked. "Lola Young, aren't you a bit too much now?"
Melissa bit her inner lip before she reached out to the ladies. "It's alright," she whispered gently, offering them a smile. She then turned to Lola, still flinching when Lola suddenly turned to her.
It made her happy that Lola's taste had gone down the drain. However, it was undeniably disturbing when someone looked so suddenly, even when they knew what to expect.
The ladies weren't too happy as they frowned.
"Melissa, what do you mean, alright?" The blonde lady clicked her tongue, glaring at Lola. "This is one of the biggest roles you'd audition for, but having this woman here means she's planning to sabotage you again."
"She always takes what's yours," the short-haired one sighed. "Now, I understand why she does that because you're tolerating her."
The first one nodded. "Kindness is not a bad thing, but there are many people out there who take advantage of kindness."
"Girls…" Melissa bit her lip. "Please don't be like that. Lola is still my sister. I'm sure she's only here because she wants to support me."
"No." Finally, Lola answered without hesitation. She deadpanned as she said, "Why would I support you?"
The ladies with Melissa frowned deeper, eyes full of displeasure at Lola. Melissa, on the other hand, smirked briefly.
This stupid Lola… she really doesn't know when to keep quiet and always digs her own grave. Well, she's not always the brightest.
"How can you say that to your sister?" the blonde lady asked in dismay. "Isn't it enough for you to steal everything that's for your sister?"
"You may be half-sisters, but you still share the same father."
Lola snapped her brows up and shrugged. "And also, the same fiancé."
"Lola, are you still bitter about my engagement with Derek?" Melissa sighed. "You know I already told Derek that I can't be with him because I know you like him so much. But—"
"Melissa, why are you explaining to her?" the blonde lady clicked her tongue. "Derek Lancaster pursued you for many reasons. Even I would pursue you, despite whether I'm already arranged to someone like her."
"Yes, don't blame yourself for that," the other woman huffed, glaring at Lola, who had always been so jealous of Melissa and had always bullied her.
Even now, the two of them assumed Lola was here to sabotage Melissa's audition just like how she had sabotaged Melissa in the past.
"Still… Lola is my sister," Melissa smiled bitterly, facing Lola again. "Lola, if you're still angry with me because Derek chose me, then I can talk to Chairman Lancaster—"
"Melissa." Despite the groundless accusations Melissa fed these two, Lola was unfazed. Her eyes remained on this half-sister of hers as she took a step forward. She stopped as the two ladies moved as well, almost blocking Melissa for whatever Lola was planning.
Lola didn't bother, eyes still on Melissa. Then, a smile turned up on her face.
"I don't take back what I already threw away," she drawled, nodding at her. "Rummaging through other people's trash isn't really my thing, Melissa."
Her smile stretched as Melissa's meek facade slowly crumbled. "Good luck with your audition. I really wish you get the role. Otherwise, it'll be humiliating for the Youngs, the Lancasters, and Director Sarian if people start whispering you only got it because of sponsorships and not talent."
Slowly, Melissa balled her hands into tight fists while her lackey scoffed at Lola's audacity. Lola, on the other hand, straightened her posture and walked around them to leave.
"You—" but just as Melissa was about to speak, the other two ladies had already moved.
"Stay out of this, Melissa," one of the ladies remarked as they followed Lola out.
Lola, on the other hand, smirked as she checked her phone to see if Ida responded. But just as she saw the message, her phone suddenly disappeared from her loosened grip.
"Huh?" She paused as arms circled around her. Lola looked to her left and right, and before she knew it, she was forcibly dragged inside the restroom and thrown into one of the cubicles.