Hollywood Zenith
Chapter 58 Journey

[Adele's POV]

I was so alone, but I found light in something or, more precisely, someone. He came like a wind and swept all my problems which I am eternally grateful for.

Like when he protected me from the bullies tormenting me, he was the same age as me but displayed immense courage in the face of danger and protected a complete stranger, even risking his life. When one of them pulled out the knife scared me to death, I feared for the worse, but he pulled through and taught them a lesson.

That incident made me realise how much I like living. How much I loved my family, who are always there throughout thick and thin, and I should also gain some much-needed courage to face it head-on. He gave me that courage. The courage to come clean to my family and stop neglecting them in fear they would abandon me.

All of it made me closer to my mother; the relationship, which was at the breaking point, still had hopes of mending. I also found my best friend and my sister Hannah through him. Despite going through a death in her family, she supported me wholeheartedly.

School life was the same, but I had some self-confidence to face it this time. I no longer neglected my weight and appearance and started to change for the better. I found solace in my passion for singing again. He offered to help me, and after extensive discussion with my family, I accepted.

I changed school and started going to the same one as my sister. It did take a couple of days to get used to it, but it was not a bad experience. My mother, Penny and grandmother always asked me about my well-being and with a lot of support from Hannah, I was doing much better.

We went to school together and played in our spare time, but we both missed him. He has been busy often these days, which is why he is not visiting. I wanted to thank him personally but decided against it concerning the circumstances.

Uncle Oscar also helps me get through an experimental program to attend RADA. Uncle told me they liked my singing and wanted to teach me, which made me very happy. My whole family was ecstatic that day, and we celebrated; I even invited Hannah and shared the news. She was also happy for me. There was one more person I wanted to tell the news to but decided against it.

The first day at RADA was overwhelming; she learned how big the world is, and being from a below-average family again made her conscious of herself. People looked at me funny, which filled my mind with what I thought they must be thinking about me.

​ How did she get here?

Are we taking in peasants now?

Have Academy's standards fallen so low now?

Ugly? Fat? Hideous? I never heard anyone ask out loud, but I assumed it in my head. There are some people like that, but for me, everyone here was like that until I met Iblis. It was a time when my insecurities were eating me alive after the first day. She came to me in all anger the first time we met.

" What the hell is wrong with you? " She asked.

" W-what? Are you talking to me? " I asked. I was frightened then, and interacting with another human being was like the worst that could happen to me.

I looked at her and was mesmerised by her beauty. Her beautiful clothes and exquisite visage gave me a sense of dread for what was to come. Such people always looked down on me, and I figured she would humiliate me, which terrified me.

" Yes, You. What is your name? " She asked bluntly.

" Adele," I said softly, fearing her following words.

" Why are you always alone in the corner? Are you not here to learn? How can you learn anything if you always hide here? Come sit with me. I am Iblis, by the way." She said, beckoning me to sit beside her.

The situation surprised me, but I felt much safer with her. It's like she sensed my fears and reached out to me. She is brash with her words and awfully frank with her words, but at least she acknowledged me.

After a few days of pestering, we became good friends, which felt like a dream to me. Why was she being so nice to me? A random girl. I often see other people flocking to her with praises and appreciation, which she reciprocated, but It always felt fake. One day I decided to ask her directly.

" I don't want to be rude, but Why are you friends with me? Is it out of pity? " I said bluntly. I had already feared her answer and accepted that after this conversation, we would no longer be friends, but I needed to know the reason. I didn't want people to pity me; I wanted them to appreciate me for who I am like he does. I wanted to make a genuine connection.

" Pity? I always wanted to make a true friend. One who is not interested in my family and appearance. One who will look past that and consider me as a friend without anticipating anything in return. Sometimes, I do wonder if I pitied you or myself more. " Iblis said, and her answer surprised me.

We discussed more and became close in a short period. We talked about each other's situations and sympathised with one another. We became inseparable.

It's been about a month since I began coming to RADA, and the classes were going on when I saw a familiar face entering the classroom. His appearance is already engraved in my mind, and an indescribable feeling welled inside me. I don't know what came over me, but I rushed to his side without thinking and hugged him.

Seeing him after a long time made me realise how much I missed him. It is like replaceing a drop of water in the desert.

" Adele", I heard him calling my name softly, which made me realise what I had done in the heat of the moment.

We talked, and I introduced him to my friend and teacher. For some reason, Iblis is specifically hostile toward him. I had never seen her like that, which surprised me. I need to talk to her about it later.

It was only a short visit, but we promised to meet each other more often. It was surreal, but it brought so many questions inside my mind. It made me realise how much I missed and was attracted to him. People here made me realise that It may not be enough.

It proved that I was attracted to him, but a colossal mountain separated us. Will it be enough? Am I truly worthy? Is it right to have such feelings?