Chapter 12 The Unlucky Fool Turned Out to Be Me
+8 Pearls
Jean suddenly sneezed in the middle of class.
She rubbed her nose.
Who the hell was talking trash about her?!
“Everyone, I’ve got something to announce”
Lacey stepped up to the podiuin, wearing her usual pleasant smile. Her gaze swept across the classroom. “As you all know, the finals for the Hope Cup are coming up. We’ve been preparing for a long time, but right now…. we’re short on people.”
Lacey was the class arts rep, and the full name of the Hope Cup was-
The Hope Cup National Youth Drama Competition.
It was a major event on the national level. Winning a priz but also a big bonus for college applications,
a prize in the Hope Cup meant not just hefty rewards from the school,
Because of that, nearly every student was eager to join. Tons signed up, hoping to get on stage.
Of course, the competition was brutal. After several intense rounds, most had already been eliminated. But somehow, Lacey had led her class all the way to the finals.
They’d been preparing for their performance for weeks.
“Short on people? Like backstage help: Or do you mean performers?” someone asked right away.
Lacey smiled gently. “We’re short one actor for the stage play.”
That got everyone’s attention. The classroom stirred with excitement.
This was a huge opportunity. If they got lucky and filled that one spot, they’d get to perform in the finals–maybe even snag a prize. And that meant sharing in the glory.
Jean yawned.
The Hope Cup! This wasn’t even a major plotline in the book.
What was the point of transmigrating into a novel if the plot kept tossing her into uncharted territory?
“Lacey, you know I’ve got great stage presence. Want me to take the role?”
Someone raised their hand, volunteering right away.
The others weren’t about to sit back and lose the chance. The room turned chaotic.
“Wait, that actually sounds fun! I want in too!”
“Larry, pick met I’ll play anything. I won’t hold you back.”
Larry pressed her lips together, clearly trying to hold something back. Then she said seriously, “We need someone to play ”
7:40 PM c
Chapter 12 The Unlucky Fool Turned Out to Be Me
After all, she was twenty–nine years old now.
Competitions, stage plays.. those were things she might’ve cared about in a different lifetime.
“Wait, can’t you just use a prop tree? Does someone really need to act
xact it on
“Seriously, making someone play a tree? That’s just humiliating.”
“Uh I take back what I said earlier. I hate tre
trees. I’m allergic
“Yeah, same. Lacey, you should find someone else”
student asked
The second everyone realized the “final missing role” was a literal tree, their enthusiasm dried up fast.
Sure, they wanted to win the Hope Cup. But they were still spoiled, prideful teenagers.
Playing a tree? Not happening
Lacey seemed to have expected this reaction,
A cold glint flickered briefly in her eyes.
If it wasn’t a tree, would I even need any of you?
She thought it, but h
her face remained pleasant. “Well, since no one’s volunteering, we’ll draw names.
“What? Is that role even
even necessary?”
“And if it is, why does it have to be played by a person?”
“I hate drawing lots. This is so stressful!”
48 Pearls
The class grumbled loudly, but Lacey held her ground. “I’ve already cleared it with the principal. He’s very invested in the finals. The Hope Cup is tied to the school’s reputation–and ours. The principal made it clear: anyone who gets picked and refuses will lose out on end–of–term awards and recommendations.”
Jean shook her head.
This Lacey really knew how to play dirty at her age.
ping and coercion were in full swing.
The guilt–tripping
Larry pulled a small box from under the desk and shook it before placing it on the table. “I’ll start now.”
“Please don’t let it be me. I’ll never live it down”
“Why even do this by drawing lots? Just assign someone and get it over with.”
picked for this trash role. I’m not doing in “
Amidst the chaos, Lacey pulled out a folded white slip of paper.
veryone held
tarah Even
ed over, curious i
ser who the unlucky fool would!
unfolded ther
mauiskly, then flinuri
slow the name written
7:40 PM &
Chapter 12 The Unlucky Fool Turned Out to Be Me
Jean was speechless..
Oh. Fantastic. The unlucky fool turned out to be me. The clown turned out to be me
Everyone else let out a collective sigh of relief, and a few even started grinning.
It was Jean. Thank god it was Jean!
If anyone had to play a tree, the quiet weirdo made perfect sense.
ה
The mood in the classroom instantly lightened..
“Perfect choice. No one fits the role better than Jean.”
Someone even clapped sarcastically.
“Let’s give it up for our brilliant tree!”
Ahem, can’t wait to see your incredible performance, Jean!”
“You should be grateful you even get to be in the Hope Cup. Playing a tree is doing you a favor.”
8 Pearls
Jean stared at the little slip of paper in Lacey’s hand.
Sure, it was possible her name got drawn, but the timing seemed way too convenient.
She wasn’t buying it.
Lacey’s dislike for her was obvious.
If Lacey wanted to rig a draw, it would’ve been too easy.
Lacey stood tall, taking in the commotion like she was watching a well–directed play. Then she discreetly crushed the paper with Jean’s name in her palm.
That slip hadn’t come from the box at all. It had been hidden in Lacey’s hand the whole time.
When she reached in all she did was fake a shuffle while slipping the name hom her palm to her fingers and pulling it out.
She knew no one would want to play a
y a tree.
Even with the principal’s name backing her up, Lacey had no interest in making enemies out of her well–connected classmates.
Jean was the only soit target
And conveniently, the one she disliked most.
No way was she passing up the chance to humiliate Jean in front of everyone.
at the’d picked her directly, it would’ve been too obvious. This way, it all looked fair.
Jean, from now on, you’ll need to join us for rehearsalsTM
arry smiled sweetly at her, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
once was pleasant, but that smile?
It was sharp enough to cut glass.
