After the dramatic fall, the hall erupted with whispers and stifled laughter. Some of the audition participants still waiting in line whispered to each other, discussing the incident with mixed expressions of sympathy and amusement. Some couldn't hold back their laughter, though it seemed a bit awkward as the medical staff rushed in to assist Jessey, who lay helplessly on the floor.
On the other side of the hall, Waksi remained still, his eyes following the medical staff as they carefully escorted Jessey out of the audition room. Silvia, standing beside him, her heart was heavy with concern, but at the same time, a strange sense of relief began to rise within her. She couldn't understand whether it was because Jessey felt detached from the complicated situation created by herself, or because she genuinely felt sorry for Jessey, now rendered helpless.
In front of the stage, the incident clearly didn't escape the attention of the judges. One of them, an older man with gray hair and an expressionless face, sighed heavily, his eyes still fixed on the scorecard in front of him.
"Amateur," he muttered in a low voice, barely audible but clear enough for those nearby to hear.
"What?" A younger female judge glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
The man just shrugged, his gaze still on the list of contestants. "She fell off the stage because her eyes couldn't take all the light from different sides of the stage. We don't need models who can't even face the lights while walking on the catwalk. That's why we only want participants who are prepared. Those who fall so easily like that will never make it in this world. Seems like she wasn't serious enough."
The young female judge tried to suppress a smile. "She still has potential. Everyone can make a mistake once in a while."
"Sure," the man replied indifferently, still staring at the list. "But in this audition, mistakes aren't acceptable. We're looking for someone better."
Waksi, still standing near the stage, felt the growing tension in the room. He looked suspiciously at the girlfriend next to him, who seemed to be showing an expression he could not guess. "Did you deliberately plan all this to harm Jessey?" He said.
"Don't accuse me like that. I'm not that bad. What do you think I am? A monster?" Asked Silvia, feeling uncomfortable.
"Isn't that why you put all those mirrors on the floor? To disrupt Jessey's performance so that she fails the audition?"
"Of course not. That's not what I put all those mirrors for." Silvia replied, insisting that she was innocent.
"Then for what?"
"Well, I can not tell you. At least for now."
For Waksi and Silvia, however, the audition continued. The stage moved on, and the next contestant was already taking their place. Most of them had no idea what had just happened. Those still in line were busy preparing for their turn, though a subtle tension hung in the air.
During the auditions, many young contestants dressed in extravagant outfits walked from end to end. After the judges have had enough, they will walk backstage. Unfortunately, due to the reflected light from the mirror Silvia placed on the floor hitting the contestants' eyes, many lost their balance while walking. Some even almost suffered the fate of Jessey. There were also those who made it through all the light without a problem. For those who are used to shootings where the glare is constant, they should be able to adapt.
But for those who are beginners, the reflected light hitting their eyes directly will make them lose their balance. This can be a very significant reduction in value. At the very least, Silvia's actions made it easier for the judges to select which contestants should be eliminated and which should be passed.
On the other hand, Silvia's face looked very tense. She appeared to be worried about the contestants walking on stage. It seemed like the Jessey incident just now made her feel guilty. Waksi could clearly see the gaze of the girl beside him. But his head still didn't understand which way Silvia's plan was playing out.
"I'm sure Silvia's only purpose in coming here is to embarrass Jessey. But, if it comes down to getting her hurt like earlier, I think this girl has gone too far. I'd better leave before something worse happens." Waksi thought.
"Where are you going?" Asked Silvia when Waksi was about to take a step.
"I'm leaving now. I don't want to be blamed if anyone gets hurt again because of you and your mirrors."
"But the contest is coming to an end. They will announce the winner soon." Silvia said, grabbing Waksi's hand to prevent him from leaving.
"I don't care anymore."
"Really? Didn't you say to yourself that you were curious how I would be chosen as the winner of this contest? Even if I didn't enter the contest at all." Silvia said in a mischievous tone, teasing her boyfriend.
"That's true, but now I'm sure that you're just fantasizing. You're just a crazy person who hopes to win without fighting."
At this, Silvia puffed up her cheeks, feeling mocked by Waksi. Then she said, "fine. If you want to go, I won't get in the way."
Without hesitation, Waksi immediately left backstage for the exit. The audition itself was still going on behind him. When the last contestant finished performing, the hall lights throughout the room lit up. All the wires and equipment on the floor made Waksi realize what a mess it was backstage. He had to step carefully to avoid tripping. The host immediately took over the stage and announced a few things about the end of today's model search.
Just as his hand reached for the doorknob, an announcement from the host stopped him in his tracks.
"Now, let's welcome the last unexpected contestant. Please come forward, Miss Silvia Avislana!"
Waksi's eyes widened at this in disbelief. He stood at the door for a few seconds trying to digest what the host had just said.
Meanwhile, everyone in the audience clapped with excitement when Silvia's name was called. The lights throughout the room were dimmed and only the spotlights facing the stage were the only source of light. Waksi immediately ran back to the front of the stage to see what was happening.
"How the hell did Silvia become a contestant without auditioning!" Waksi asked himself.