From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel

Chapter 365: Graduation (1)

Even though he was supposed to be on vacation, Ari's day started before the sun even came up.

He woke up early, completed his daily tasks, and then rode with Jamie to practice with his teammates for a couple of hours in preparation for the showcase.

He would have preferred to just stay there, but since it was an optional (was it really optional?) event, neither food nor housing was provided because the production team decided to be cheap.

Once it was 2 pm, he had to go to his high school to complete tasks preparing for graduation day, and truthfully, he couldn't wait for everything to be over.

The day before had been the general overview of what graduation day would be like, including submitting their final paperwork and practicing the general procedures.

And today-

As Ari trudged into the empty gymnasium with a makeshift stage, where members of the chorus and band were going to have practice, he blinked as the previously lively discussion immediately became silent as he walked in through the double doors.

Staring at the suddenly quiet students who looked at him awkwardly, Ari held out a peace sign and introduced himself.

"Yo. I'm Ariel. Principal Matador said I should report here for practice. Choir and band prepping for graduation, correct?"

Today was rehearsal day for the graduation day performance.

Against his will, Ari was conscripted to perform a duet on the national anthem and sing along with the choir and band for several songs, including the official high school song.

He had already memorized the lyrics, so now it was a matter of figuring out how they were going to put it together live.

At the laid-back introduction, the band and choir students stared at the handsome kid who had secretly become the talk of the school for the past several months.

With the handsome face they had all seen online hidden by a face mask, curly red hair held back by a backward baseball cap, and a simple black tracksuit that highlighted a tall, lean body, he truly looked like a celebrity undercover rather than a regular student like them.

It was hard to believe that this was the same student who had shown up with a beat-up face at the anti-bullying rally a couple months ago and the same student that was their valedictorian who had gotten so many articles written about him, gotten numerous news reporters to come looking for him at school, and even caused the school to be on lockdown a couple times due to crazy fans who came to find him with no such luck.

The two separate groups, Ari and the students, stared at each other silently, before the students all stared at one person.

A girl dressed in bright pink yoga pants, a matching quarter-zip jacket, and white sneakers stood in front of the makeshift stage.

With her blonde-streaked black hair pulled into a ponytail and a sparkly gemstone-encrusted tumbler that she sipped on, for a second, Ari thought he was looking at a Pink Puma variant that had spawned in his school, and had to stop himself from shuddering as he walked closer.

The girl was Sophia Villanueva, the lead singer in the school choir, who was graduating and going to study vocal performance in college.

Known to be a talented soprano who could even hit whistle notes, with a personality that always wanted her way, she was the lead for their performance, and a student who couldn't be controlled by the teacher.

When the principal decided to get involved and change things without asking her opinion, she had been the angriest and vowed to put Ari in his place when he finally showed up.

All the students fully expected her to crash out on Ari and return things to the way they were, and they had all made bets for how long it would take for Ari to run away crying.

As Ari walked closer, his face mask still on like a celebrity who couldn't be bothered to face commoners, Sophia looked him up and down before snorting derisively.

"So you finally decided to show up. You're the one who messed up everything that we've been working on the whole year, right?"

"Pardon?"

Ari could blink in confusion.

I just got here, so what did I mess up now?

"You're the one the principal is squeezing into our program. The wanna be popstar who thinks he's a great singer just because he's in a little K-pop show? Just because you're a little popular now and have had a few decent performances, you think you can come and hijack everything that we've worked so hard to accomplish? That you can fit right in with only a week of practice? You think that you can replace the time and effort Kevin put into being my duet partner? The hours we spent practicing together?"

As she pointed to a black-haired guy wearing a suit matching hers, except in dark blue, Ari blinked again as the guy shot him an angry look.

When did I say all that?

You think I want to do this?

I'm currently learning the lyrics and choreography of another song while preparing to jump out of a helicopter!

This is the last of my priorities!

I didn't mean to disrupt your plans!

I'm being forced just like you guys are!

We're two halves of the same coin!

Instead of getting angry at the strange accusations, Ari just hopped onto the stage, smiled brightly, and poured out his honest feelings to the girl who seemed just as frustrated as he was.

"I just want you to know that I'm being forced to do this against my will. I don't want to step on anybody's toes, and I'm sorry if I offended you or put you in a difficult situation that made you feel like I don't value your work or I'm trying to steal your spotlight. I think the principal is being irresponsible and dismissing your hard work. If you're willing to come with me, let's go tell the principal together that you guys will do everything by yourself, exactly the same way you practice, so I can not do it. I've tried to decline, but he keeps ignoring my messages or assuring me that it's great for the school with that weird laugh of his. Or if you want, you can tell him that I'm a completely talentless, horrible singer, can't hold a note to save my life, or some other excuse; I'll completely back you up. As a matter of fact, you don't even need to say a word; I can do the talking myself. You just need to come with me as a witness. I think you should sing everything by yourself. Put the program back on schedule, and leave me out of it. Absolutely. Yes? You agree, right? Let's go."

Sophia: "…..?"

Kevin: "…..?"

Other students: "...?"

Was the conversation supposed to go this way?

At the deluge of words that came flying out of Ari's mouth due to his excitement, Sophia became a bit confused.

What the heck was wrong with this kid?

Why the heck was he turning away such a premium opportunity?

So many famous celebrities had said they were coming to the graduation.

They had even secured a bigger venue and a larger production budget; it was going to be streamed, and the media company recording everything had even arranged special gift packages to make up for the inconvenience and given all the students a discount on picture and video packages.

The media company had even lent them high-quality microphones and speakers for the big day!

Was he messing around with her?

Or was he rubbing the fact that none of this would be possible without him in her face so she would be nicer to him?

Ari read the truth in her expression, stepped closer, and took off his facemask so she could see his expression and know he wasn't lying.

"No, I'm not messing around. I'm dead serious. Let's all go tell the principal now. Then I'll get out of your hair, and the only time you have to see me is on graduation day, where I will cheer you all on with all of my might because I know how much work you've put into this. Then you never have to deal with me again if you don't want to. Let's go. Okay? We're wasting your valuable practice time." Ari insisted with his whole heart and soul.

That way, he could leave on time and get back to practicing for the showcase.

"Uhhhh…."

"You're coming right?"

"Uhm..."

Sophia froze as she stared up at the fully exposed face.

Seeing it online was one thing, but seeing it in person…

Why did he look more handsome than he did in the pictures and videos online?

Did he get a tan? Were his eyes always so green? Was his hair aways so soft-looking and curly? And that accent.

Wow.

Had he always been this tall?

As Ari moved closer to her, Sophia felt her face heat up as he stared intently at her as if she were the only girl in the world.

"Please. Come with me. Let's go protest the principal together so that your hard work is acknowledged the way it's meant to be."

After several seconds of biting her lips, Sophia replied softly while blushing.

"Uhm…..it's okay. Let's get along well and sing the best duet possible. By the way, I'm Sophia. It's a pleasure to meet you~"

Ari: "..."

Chorus students: "..."

Choir students: "..."

What happened to the fire in your soul? The passion? The anger that you would put him in his place?

Who is this soft and sweet person, blushing like a flower?

Not willing to give up, Ari continued doing his best to convince her.

"Sophia, I'm telling you that I agree with you. Please let's go to the principal together. What happened to your partner kevin? I think it's best that the two of you sing together."

"Kevin's not important. He'll be fine, and there's no need to go to the principal. I've actually been wanting to sing with you, and I'm excited for this opportunity. Let's work together well Ari! Can I call you Ari? You can call me Soph, I don't mind."

Kevin:

"..." Am I a joke to you? I'm standing right here?

Ari: "..."

"Guys, let's make sure we welcome Ari properly, okay! Ari, I'll show you around, and we can practice together first~. By the way, I watched your performance, and it was so cool. Can you tell me more about the process? Should we follow each other on IG? Or do you want to exchange numbers?"

At the complete 180, Ari felt like he was sinking into a pit of despair.

I don't want to get along! I want to quit!

I was depending on you to get me out of this!!

[Stop trying to avoid things and get back to work!]

And that's how Ari spent his several days, reluctantly shuttling from place to place in preparation for the big day.

And on the day before graduation, along with the five other boys on his team, Ari went to a secret spot to meet a certain individual.