The Transmigrated Author
Chapter 212: Meeting (2)

[Rel's POV]

"I'll sing first," Jae declared, flicking her hair back to showcase her confidence and alluring beauty. Being in a room with the main cast made me wonder how I compared.

Camila, passing the remote to Jae, gave her a competitive look that said, "I can definitely sing better than you."

"All the best," Camila smirked, and Jae took the remote with satisfaction.

"Will do."

With the first song underway, Jae sang 'WINE' by Suran.

"I still can't forget~, I'm sweetly spinning around~, I didn't know it was a dream~"

She held the microphone close to her mouth with one hand, the other resting on her chest. Jae's body swayed to the beat, and when she finished the final verse, she took a bow.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Jae's performance was expectedly good. Her falsetto was amazing, and her vocal technique was better than average.

"Your turn, Camila," Jae said, handing over the remote with a wink.

Smiling, Camila took the remote without hesitation. Not only was her performance on the line, but her love interest, Jan, would be watching.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Camila chose her song.

'Song: Precious Love by TWICE'

Camila took a deep breath, and her song began.

"You're still the same~, You still can't forgive me~, Is the wound I inflicted on you unable to heal?"

Camila sang with her eyes closed, pouring her heart out. Each verse and chorus shifted the room's atmosphere, creating a mesmerizing experience with a soundtrack that perfectly complemented her voice and range.

I couldn't tell if she had chosen this song intentionally, but it was perfect for her.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Everyone in the room, including Jae Yoona, applauded Camila.

As she put the microphone down, I could see how impressed and mesmerized Jan was by her singing. It was likely his first experience with something like this, enough to make him ask her for tips.

The friendly competition between Camila and Jae Yoona ended in a tie, and they even sang a duet to top it all off.

The song they chose was 'ONLY' by LeeHi.

"Not bad," Jae finished the last verse, and Camila smiled back in agreement.

"You aren't bad either."

An hour had passed, and the karaoke room was filled with a mix of laughter, applause, and the occasional off-key note.

Everyone had taken their turn at the microphone, belting out their favourite tunes with varying degrees of success.

Even Alice's initial shyness melted away under the influence of the upbeat atmosphere.

This surprised everyone but me, as I already knew she was the greatest singer this world likely had. Her voice was angelic, divine, and beautiful.

However, she struggled with the timing and rhythm of more modern music. But when Jae changed the track to "Beauty and the Beast," everyone was charmed by Alice's beautiful performance.

It was so impressive that even I, the author, had to stand and applaud.

But there was one problem that concerned me: no one had asked me to sing.

While I had been observing quietly from the corner, content to let others have their fun, my attempts at blending in were futile.

Jan's sharp eyes soon zeroed in on me.

"Hey, Rel," he called out, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Don't tell me you're going to chicken out! We haven't heard your platinum-medal voice yet!"

A collective "ooh" erupted from the group and their attention was now focused on me.

I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, feeling the heat of their gazes.

I had hoped to avoid this moment, but it seemed my luck had run out.

"Come on, Rel," Camila chimed in, her encouragement laced with playful teasing. "Don't leave us hanging!"

She nudged her head towards Valencia, and I knew Jan had already shared his misunderstandings with her...

Even Bazz, who had been busy stuffing his face with snacks, joined in.

"Yeah, four-eyes! Let's hear what you got!"

I glanced at Valencia, hoping she might intervene, but to my dismay, she merely offered a small smile. Her eyes, like the others, were filled with curious anticipation.

Haah... Damn it.

With a resigned sigh, I knew there was no escape. I was surrounded, outnumbered, and outmaneuvered.

If I could have escaped earlier, I would have, but Jan had been glued to my side for the past hour, ensuring I didn't slip away.

"Alright, alright," I grumbled, reluctantly rising from my seat.

"But don't blame me if your ears start bleeding," I added with a sarcastic smirk.

As I made my way towards the karaoke machine, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement.

I knew Jan was thinking, "Oh, Rel probably doesn't know how to sing, so let's show Valencia this utterly bad side of him."

Jokes on him, because today, I wouldn't suffer defeat at the hands of his antagonizing plans.

***

Rel stepped up to the karaoke machine, his fingers hovering over the song selection screen. After a moment's consideration, he tapped on an unexpected choice: "Stupid" by Vincent Blue, a mellow bossa nova-infused pop song.

As the opening chords filled the room, a hush fell over the group.

Rel took a deep breath, humming to the instrumental and finally sang.

"It's pathetic that I am ♪"

"...!"

The first verse he sung was smooth, warm, and surprisingly resonant, carrying the melody with effortless grace.

"Was it this meaningless? ♪"

Heads turned and eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you afraid of the beginning? ♪"

Jan's jaw dropped, and Bazz nearly choked on his drink.

Valencia's eyes were frozen in shock...

"I don't get it ♪"

"His voice..." Camila whispered, leaning towards Lyra.

"It's completely different when he sings."

"I know," Lyra replied, her eyes fixed on Rel's face as he sang.

"It's like he transformed into a different person."

Rel continued to sing, his voice weaving through the room, painting a picture of heartache and longing.

He closed his eyes, losing himself in the music, the lyrics flowing from his lips with a raw emotion that captivated his peers.

Jan, initially stunned, was now nodding his head in time with the music, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Damn, Rel," he muttered, "never knew you had it in you."

Bazz, equally impressed, raised his glass in a silent toast.

Even Alice, who rarely showed any emotion, seemed captivated by Rel's performance.

As the song ended, a wave of applause washed over the room.

"Rel, that was amazing!" Camila exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration.

"Seriously, dude," Bazz added, "you could be a professional singer!"

Jan grinned, clapping Rel on the back. "You keep surprising us, man. What are you gonna do next? Defeat a dragon?"

Rel ignored Jan's question and returned to his seat.

Valencia said nothing, but her eyes remained fixed on Rel, a warmth radiating from her gaze that he had never seen before.

Rel, still slightly breathless from his performance, simply shrugged.

"It was nothing," he murmured, though a warmth spread through his chest at the unexpected praise.

________

Authors notes:

- All the songs shown are really good songs, give them a listen.