The morning assembly was held in the auditorium, the entire grade gathered under the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the faint scent of polished wood.
Principal Ramirez stood at the podium, her voice clear and warm as she addressed the students.
"Good morning, everyone.
I'm pleased to formally announce the details of this year's Inter-School Concert Competition."
"The event will take place in three weeks at the City Auditorium,
Participating schools from across the district will compete in solo, duet, and group categories."
"Our school will perform two main segments: a group medley and individual or small-group pieces.
There will also be a special segment for original compositions.
Sign-up sheets are available outside the auditorium and in every homeroom."
" We encourage all of you to consider taking part — this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your talents and represent our school with pride."
A ripple of excited whispers spread through the rows.
Some students immediately began discussing possible songs; others flipped through their notebooks to jot down ideas.
Later, in literature class, the excitement still lingered in the air.
Mrs. Harper stood at the front, smiling as she collected a few permission slips from the previous trip.
She glanced around the room, her eyes landing gently on Jade.
"Jade," she said kindly, "I noticed you haven't signed up for the concert yet.
Last year your performance was one of the highlights.Are you preparing something special this time? Which song are you thinking of ? "
The class went quiet.
Several heads turned toward Jade, waiting.
Jade felt every pair of eyes on her.
She swallowed, her fingers tightening around the edge of her desk.
"I… I'm not participating this year," she said, voice steady but quiet.
"I've decided to sit it out."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
No one spoke for a long moment.
Mrs. Harper studied Jade for a second, then nodded with gentle understanding.
"I see," she said softly.
"Well, if you change your mind at any point, you're always welcome.
The door is open. No pressure at all."
Mrs. Harper moved on smoothly, shifting the discussion to the day's lesson on poetic structure.
But the class remained unusually subdued for the rest of the period.
A few students exchanged glances, clearly surprised.
Meanwhile, across the hall in the art room, Rose had been called in during her free period to help with decorations and props for the concert.
She stood at one of the long tables, carefully painting large backdrop panels with soft watercolor washes.
Her brush moved in slow, deliberate strokes, blending shades of blue and lavender.
Two girls from her class were working nearby, chatting as they cut out paper stars.
"It's such a pity Jade isn't performing this year," one of them said.
"She was amazing last time.
Her voice is so… professional."
The other nodded.
"I know.
I was really looking forward to hearing her again.
She always makes the whole auditorium go quiet.
I wonder why she's not joining."
Rose's brush paused mid-stroke.
She kept her eyes on the paper, but her heart gave a small, uneasy lurch.
She hadn't known.
Jade hadn't mentioned anything about not participating.
She continued painting, but her strokes were slower now, more careful.
Inside, a quiet confusion stirred.
Jade had seemed so happy on the island, so open.
Why would she suddenly step away from something she clearly loved?
The girls kept talking, unaware of Rose's silence.
"Maybe she's nervous," one suggested.
"Or maybe she just wants to focus on other things."
Rose set her brush down gently.
She wiped her hands on a rag, the soft lavender paint smudging across her fingers.
She didn't say anything.
She simply listened, the quiet weight of the news settling in her chest like a stone.
When the period ended, she walked out of the art room alone, her mind turning over the same thought again and again.
Jade wasn't performing.
And for reasons Rose couldn't quite name yet, that fact hurt more than she expected it to.