Chapter 74: Is It A New Beginning? IV

She stopped, turned slightly, gave a nod before walking away.

"I'm Clara."

The girl caught up, walking beside her as if it was natural. "You take notes like a machine. I might have to borrow them sometime."

Harmony didn't respond.

Clara didn't seem to mind, "Where's your next class?"

"Business Statistics," she found herself responding.

"Oh, same building. Guess I'll walk with you."

Harmony didn't acknowledge that statement, but Clara followed her anyway, filling the silence with casual conversation.

"Are you a freshman?"

Harmony no longer wished to answer.

"I am a freshman! I was supposed to study psychology, but my parents wanted me to do business instead. Something 'stable.' What about you?"

"…"

Clara pursed her lips, "That's a very… wonderful answer."

Harmony didn't react.

They reached the building, and Clara glanced at the clock.

"Still got ten minutes. Wanna grab a snack?"

"No."

Clara raised an eyebrow, "You don't eat?"

"…"

Clara hummed as if analyzing her, "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Harmony once again didn't respond.

"Alright, study girl. See you later."

Clara waved and walked off.

Harmony didn't watch her go. She turned toward Room 217, adjusting the strap of her bag.

'I shouldn't have answered from the very start,' she sighed inwardly.

This was because she got used to it when she spent time with that group.

…

She was lucky that Clara was already chatting with someone else when she returned.

And she seemed to have already forgotten Harmony's presence, or so she thought.

"Harmony, are you going home? Let's go home together," Clara once again approached her once their class was over.

But Harmony no longer entertained her and kept going.

She did not feel good about this person. Not only because she acted too familiar but also because she could feel something else behind her seemingly cheerful smiles.

Clara pouted when a bunch of people separated her from Harmony.

"Acting all high and important. If not for the place you live in, I wouldn't even care about you."

Just then, she received a call.

"I am finding a way yet. It is just the first day, don't be too hasty."

"…"

"Don't worry. I know what I am doing. I will slowly get close, or else that person will instantly notice. How can I do that? I'll slowly get close and approach, and before you know it, we are already closer than ever."

"…"

"I will be careful. After all, we also don't know what her background is. But it's not like it is more important than ours."

The call ended, and she scoffed, "Harmony Thomas, you are just a means, so don't be too stingy."

Clara Fitzgerald, a daughter of the Fitzgerald Family in City S. The family that oversees most of the medicine production in the industry. Their family was the fifth most prominent family in the country, though lagging by a few zeros behind the four most prominent families, that they were considered second only to the other four.

She and her siblings were tasked with different work in the future, so they were all taking different courses at this moment.

It just so happened that they found out about Shawn Dominick Lockhart studying at this university, and upon further investigation, they found Harmony Thomas, who studied at the same high school as him.

And that they were living in the same subdivision.

She just could not get a place for herself since she could not appear near Shawn, as it was known that their family was aiming to get close to the Lockhart Family.

If she did this slowly, then it would become natural for her to get close to him without mentioning her family's name.

Harmony was continuously bothered whenever Clara was in the same class as her.

"Seriously, I really just wish to get close to you. I mean, your handwriting's great, and I am someone who is lazy in doing so," she knocked her own head lightly with her fist while grinning sheepishly.

But as always, Harmony completely ignored her.

"Geez, I just want to have some acquaintance in this school," she pouted.

Despite her urging, Harmony completely ignored her, for she had more thoughts in her mind.

She would have to go home today because they would have to visit the grave of her younger brother.

Even her elder brother would be returning to the country from his training abroad. Every single year, this was their family's routine, and every single year, this was the time she disliked the most.

Meanwhile…

Beatrice had made it.

She was officially a student at Juilliard, a dream come true for the young actress. But as the days passed, she realized that being here wasn't going to be easy, and the pressure intensified with each passing day.

Her acting background had helped her gain a place at this prestigious school, but now she felt like she had to prove herself all over again.

She had always been passionate about acting, but here, in the heart of New York, the competition was fierce. Every student in her class had something special, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of it.

Her audition, which she had thought was the hardest part, had been a blur. And now, that same audition was what caused Beatrice's pressure in the acting group she had auditioned for.

However, it was not only there—the pressure started on the first day. Beatrice was enrolled in multiple classes, each demanding more than the last. Acting, voice lessons, movement classes, and even improvisation. It felt like her days were swallowed up by endless rehearsals and assignments.

Beatrice took a deep breath. She could do this. She had worked so hard to get here, and now wasn't the time to back down. With renewed determination, she stood up, straightened her back, and walked out of the lounge.

There were also the words of her friends, and she wouldn't let them down. Unlike before, when she would be punished for failing to do better in her acting, this time, she simply desired to not let them down. A simple desire for the people who showed unconditional support despite the short time they spent together.

"There is something more. I can't see that," the head of the acting group said after another practice.

Beatrice pursed her lips. She was giving her all at this point.

"I heard you showed a remarkable performance during the auditions. I guess it was just a lucky moment," she added.

Beatrice simply lowered her head.

"If you don't up your game, you may become the first to be removed from this group within just a month."

Beatrice bit her lip, but she was not disheartened. Instead, fire ignited in her eyes.

Even if she failed in this group, even if she became the first to be removed in such a short time, she wouldn't back down.

She needed to become stronger. If she wanted to reach what she truly desired, then she would never be afraid of failure.