*Stella's POV:*
As Shawn and I walked back to the competition hall, I found myself feeling more and more at ease in his presence. We chatted and laughed together, our conversation flowing effortlessly. Before I knew it, we were just five minutes away from the announcement of the results.
But as I glanced up, my heart skipped a beat. My eyes met the piercing gaze of Master Adrian, his eyes seeming to bore into my very soul. A shiver ran down my spine as I felt a chill wash over me.
I had no idea why he was looking at me with such a menacing glare. Had I done something to offend him? Or was it just his usual intimidating demeanor?
Whatever the reason, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease under his scrutiny....
As Master Adrian turned away, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. But the memory of his piercing, chilling gaze lingered, leaving me unsettled. Shawn's concerned voice broke the spell.
"Hey, are you okay? You looked like you'd seen a ghost," he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
I forced a smile, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, thanks. Just a bit... distracted." But deep down, I was still reeling from the intensity of Master Adrian's glare.
Why did he look at me like that? We'd only met once, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd somehow provoked him. A silent prayer escaped my lips: Please, God, don't let me become the target of Master Adrian's wrath.
Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, a notification on my phone and Shawn's simultaneous buzz snapped me back to reality....
As I grabbed my phone to check the notification, my heart skipped a beat. I carefully read the message, my eyes scanning the screen with growing excitement. "Congratulations, you are among the fifty lucky ones who made it to the next round."
I couldn't contain my excitement as I turned to Shawn, who was already grinning from ear to ear. He showed me his phone, and my heart swelled with joy. We both made it to the next round!
This time, it was going to be even more challenging. The message read: "Prepare to meet the judges face-to-face in the next round." My stomach did a nervous flip, but I was determined to make a good impression. Little did I know, Master Adrian would be one of the judges...