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We didn't need to do this. Ruan Mei mutters, the screen shows the next contestants, her and Herta.
She couldn't believe this. After all, Ruan Mei loves her, she adores her so much that she would be willing to sacrifice her own life for the sake of her beloved. She isn't sure if Herta loves her back, though.
But everytime Ruan Mei lays her eyes on Herta—she either dodges Mei's hidden affection or just be all friends to her.
They both didn't understand why.
Mei remembers very well of that one memory, one where she tries to comfort Herta from anger because of aliens comparing her from the others. Herta can be selfless sometimes, they still consider each other as best of friends.
" These books are made by a genius! " A young Herta responds confidently, holding a picture book up into young Mei's face. It was full of other young kids playing around and having fun in the garden.
" See? These picture books are indeed full of smarts. " The other girl nods, Herta looks back at the book in her hand, in a curled up position to continue reading it. Ruan Mei wasn't focused on the book, instead, she looked at Herta's sapphire eyes with awe. Adorable.
So why do the aliens need to torture Mei? To indirectly try to kill Herta, her loved one? All she knew that they were entirely cruel, so cruel it hurts that she has to try defeat the other.
She had to think of a way to not let Herta lose to her, she had to. And then—a very, very genius thought struck her. One that even the gone Aeons would hate her for it.
Herta looked at the screen with an ache in her heart, the words included being about her next round. She knew that she fought for something in her life, awards and praise from the aliens themselves.
Herta is confident about this—that they won't let her die. She always wanted to win, but she was facing off Ruan Mei. One of the greatest contestant said by the aliens.
Herta is really screwed, very screwed. Especially when one of your future rival in a round was your best friend.
How can she surpass her? Ruan Mei is already the greatest at everything like Herta herself, but how can she defeat another loved one?
" How can you do better experiments than me? " A young Herta cried, looking at Ruan Mei's better experiment. It looked more professional than Herta.
" It's okay.. Please don't cry.. " Ruan Mei comforted Herta by wiping the other girl's tears up.
She wanted to stop this insensitive game of survival, but she has no choice but try to win. No choice but to hurt a person close to her.
Her fingers graze over her black collar, not noticing that the collar was blue. Herta further adjusted the chosen black dress from one of the designers, in which she really liked. But the only thing keeping it from being her favorite is how she's gonna wear this in a round she hates.
It also came with a black witch-like hat. She also really loved it. There were purple highlights matching the color of her eyes.
A guard alien approached the young woman, holding her shoulder while she looks at the mirror. It says that the previous round has ended, and she may proceed in the stage along with the other contestant.
Her body shivered as she realizes, frustrated.
The taps of Herta's black heels makes it way to the stairs, her hands were trembling. But there were no Mei to hold it for her. Herta glared at the aliens who were waiting for them below the stage, they were far too distinct to look at them like humans.
She calmed herself down before holding the white mic before her. Her black gloved hands still felt the cold touch emanating from the standing microphone.
Herta heard the starting instrumentals of the song she practiced. The woman sang with emotion, hidden frustration at the aliens silently presented itself.
She could vaguely remember all the things that the aliens did to her—all the hurtful and cruel things they said to her, made her sing more with anger.
Herta didn't understand why would they compare her with Ruan Mei. After all, they're close and both geniuses. Not only that, but they made her sing unimportant songs to silently mock her presence.
It's stupid. She mumbled, not to be heard.
She sang the final chord in the first part, ending with lyrics meaning " Yes, my soul. " Herta sighs before trying to calm herself down again, her heart was beating crazy. Only if she could escape this moment.
The same footsteps she took earlier came back to her, but not her own, it was Ruan Mei's. She wore a white beautiful dress and matching white heels too. Even in this situation, Herta could admire her. She was relieved, but scared too when she saw the other contestant.
Ruan Mei held the other white mic infront of her, looking at Herta for a half second and turning back infront of her. She sang beautifully and elegantly, but still keeping her composure and staying stoic.
Herta never fully understand Mei, on why she always tries to save her even if she knew that Herta can protect herself. That one moment where she walked into a cave to try and examine the creatures nearby, but Ruan Mei used her skills to kill that creature. Of course, Herta kept the frustration because she knew that Ruan Mei was only trying to protect her.
At one part, " Sick of these nights to come, to be engulfed in silence " Mei's voice became increasingly more emotional, it was surprising. Ruan Mei never showed interest in others, but why now? Herta looks down while still holding her mic like it's the most important thing to her.
While singing the lyrics, Ruan Mei again thought of another time. Where she touched Herta's scratch with her slim fingers, of course, Herta tried to push Ruan Mei away because she thought that it was wrong. But Herta herself never meant it to be pushy.
The young woman's breath increased rapidly but still stared down below her. It was the bridge part, almost the part that they determine who the winner will be. The raindrops continues to pour among both of them, but not hitting the aliens for a reason.
Mei realized that this is the moment she has been waiting for, the perfect time. She dropped the white mic and hurried towards Herta.
It startled Herta along with the drop of a mic. Ruan Mei herself didn't regret any of her choice, any.
" Mei? " Herta responds, looking at Ruan Mei before the other woman grabs Herta's cheeks closely and into her own very lips. The woman with the hat's eyes widen in surprise. Why is this happening right now? She tries to push her away to let Mei take the score.
" Mei! " Herta tries to stop the other woman from doing her thing, but Mei doesn't oblige. She continues to pour her feelings onto her as she looks at the score, which is 89/70. Good.
Ruan Mei pulls out before trying to choke the woman infront of her, she sweats. Herta felt her fingers but it never hurt her. Mei looked at Herta close her eyes, she felt guilty, but she continues for the sake of her survival.
Her grip on Herta's neck continued as she kisses her again, letting out all of her shallow emotions—the blank, stoic Mei has completely disappeared.
Ruan Mei looked into Herta, a painful bullet passes in her torso. Im sorry. She mumbled while keeping her fingers. Another cruel bullet shoots at her torso, near her liver, but she doesn't care. And one final one, near her heart where it's empty.
Blood couldn't keep itself and dripped along Ruan Mei's tongue and then to her mouth, passing fast. She couldn't care less about the pain, as long as Herta's happy.
Herta's eyes opened up again, but instead of seeing the other being a great listener to her, she was dying. Ruan Mei softly smiles before loosing out her grip and failed to meet Herta's eyes again, at the floor.
" Mei!!.. " Herta looked down, panic and breathing increased, trying to touch the other's cold hands. Before she could even register on who won, the lights went off.
Herta sobbed before the lights went up again, focused on them as the rain pours even more. She couldn't believe that Mei kissed her while at a dangerous position, maybe that was the feeling keeping Herta from feeling even more trapped. Why did she do it?
Don't leave me... Herta's tears dropped more when she realizes—all those moments with her wasn't only about friendship, Mei loved her more than that. Herta hates herself for not figuring that out until now. She's the cause of Mei's death, while the cold water from the skies weakened, but not Herta's guilt.