Chapter 97: The Final Round

Kai’s P.O.V The lights dimmed, and the room fell into an expectant hush. I could feel the energy shift, the excitement building, and then—boom—the stage exploded with a burst of light and sound. Music blared through the speakers, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The pageant had officially begun. I stood just offstage, heart pounding beneath the now-heavy fabric of my clothes, trying to steady my breath. The dazzling display of lights and colors flooded my senses. I scanned the audience as the first contestants made their way onto the stage, but I couldn’t really see anything through the bright lights. The crowd roared, feeding into the electric atmosphere, and my stomach twisted with a mix of nerves and some excitement. As the curtain lifted for my turn, I stepped into the spotlight, the sound of applause washing over me like a wave. My heart raced, not just from the performance ahead, but from the gnawing awareness that he was on the same stage as I was. The music swelled, and I wal