Chapter 4

Lovers

As the weeks pass by day by day, the city of idols is slowly becoming a comfortable home for Magali. Every morning she wakes up with a hearty breakfast. She then attends her trainee class so she can become a better idol. Once the training is over, she takes a bus around the city to look around. At night, she watches the idols come home to rest after a long day of entertaining the guests. She does know that sooner than later it will be her turn to perform at the dance hall in front of thousands of people on stage. She will gain a fan base who will depend on her for entertainment. For now, she will continue to prepare for when that day comes.

One morning, Conrad and Magali are sitting together eating breakfast. As she eats, she notices that Conrad is still a bit sleepier than normal. His hair is unkempt and sloppy. He can’t stop randomly yawning, even with food in his mouth. He is usually well groomed and energetic in the morning. Now there are bags under his eyes as if he didn’t get much sleep. She knows that he comes home quite early and goes to his room with plenty of time to rest every day. Idols usually take great care of their health and hygiene, so it feels weird watching him like this.

Magali is concerned about Conrad. She knows that he didn't have any visitors or late-night calls or practices yesterday, and his room was quiet. It's unusual, and she doesn't understand why he's so sleepy. Worried, she thinks about talking to him to offer help and find out what might be bothering him.

“Everything okay,” she asked curiously. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but you seem to be tired this morning.”

Conrad yawns one last time before answering, “I’m good. I was just up pretty late last night answering confessions.”

“Confessions? What are you talking about?”

“Hey, you know how dating works in Sweet Dance City? It's a bit different from how it is outside. Instead of asking someone out directly, we give them a red heart-shaped card called a confession. We write our feelings and desires on it, and if the person accepts the card, we become a couple and start dating. It's like a special way of expressing our emotions. And once we're together, we can decide if we want to take it to the next level, like getting married or starting a family. It's pretty unique, right?”

“Wow, I had no idea that’s what dating is like around here.” Magali then takes a bite, then continues, “hold up a second! If you were answering confessions, does that mean you’re single?”

“Yup! I tend to get a lot of confessions in my mail every morning. I then answer them at night before I go to sleep. I’m not quite interested in dating, so I spend the nights coming up with clever and creative ways to turn everyone down without breaking their hearts. I end up staying awake pretty late at times because of this.”

“You get that many confessions every day? I find that quite hard to believe.”

Conrad chuckles lightly, then answers, “why don’t you come down and see for yourself.”

After they finished their breakfast, Magali and Conrad goes to the entrance of the crew building where they find the mailboxes. It takes them quite some time to find Conrad’s mailbox among the sea of thousands. Magali doesn’t even know if she has one or where to even find it. Once Conrad opens his mailbox, Magali’s jaw drops as she sees dozens of heart shaped cards stuffed in there. She can’t believe her eyes as she observes the multitude of heart-shaped cards that filled Conrad's mailbox. The colorful array of cards depicted various idols representing various ages, genders and races, all vying for Conrad’s affection. It’s as if a legion of admirers had collectively poured their hearts onto these small pieces of paper.

She pulls out a few cards, each one unique in its design and message. Some are adorned with sparkling glitter, while others feature intricate artwork or heartfelt poems. Magali just can’t help but to feel a mix of curiosity and surprise each time she flips through another confession letter. The sheer number of people who have developed deep feelings for Conrad is nothing less than amazing.

As she continues to shift through the cards, Magali wonders how Conrad had become the object of such adoration. Does he have a secret double life as a celebrity outside of the role of idol? Or perhaps he possesses an enigmatic charm that captivated these individuals from different walks of life.

“I can’t believe it! There’s so many of them! And you actually take the time to answer them every night?”

“There’s usually a lot more than this, but yeah. Looks like I can sleep early tonight.”

“You’re kidding! I heard that you’re popular, but not like this!”

“Oh, this has nothing to do with popularity. Every single male idol goes through this.”

“Really? Why,” asked Magali curiously.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that the girls outnumber the boys in this city. And by a lot too. There’s about twice as many girls than guys. So do the math.”

She takes a moment to look back and recall the interactions she had with other idols, and she does see that Conrad does have a point. The many female idols do travel in groups of up to five, while males tend to travel alone or holding hands with someone else. She even remembers times when she sees groups of girls following a single guy like a harem in an anime. She never thought how this could affect relationships in the city.

“Oh wow, I had no idea. But I wonder why are there that many more girls than boys? Wouldn’t it make more sense to hire more male idols to even things out?”

“That would make sense, but this is a business issue. Most guests are guys who like watching young girls dancing on stage in pretty and sparkling dresses. Because girls are in such high demand from the crowds, the city tends to make it a bit easier for them to become idols. Guys need to have much more talent to attract female fans into the city. Because of this, a lot of girls have a hard time finding love around here.”

“I see. But if you spend the nights answering confessions, wouldn’t it make sense to just pick a lover? That way the confession letters would stop coming.”

“That’s pretty easy to answer. I’m working so hard to become a Super Idol, that I don’t have the time or energy for romance. And everyone knows that it’s almost impossible to become one if you have a family to take care of.”

“That can't be true. My mom and dad became Super idols after they got married.”

“Yeah, but don’t forget that your parents are special. The first couple who both became Super Idols at the same time! That’s nothing short of amazing! I am nothing like them. I’m just a guy with a dream. Maintaining a healthy relationship and supporting a family is a lot of work. I would rather spend my days practicing and training every day to become a Super Idol. So that’s why I choose to remain single.”

She never thought about it that way. She did come to Sweet Dance city with a particular goal in mind and gave no thought about dating at all. Now that she has walked into the subject, she won’t be able to escape the idea for too long. She then takes a moment to think about how a love life would look like for her. Idols dancing together holding hands while spinning and twirling on stage. Maybe they even share a kiss once the song is over. Her face turns red as the thoughts take over her mind. She can do nothing but rush back to her room and get ready to go. She feels rather embarrassed, and she doesn’t want Conrad to see her this way.

Magali attends her trainee class for another day of intensive training with her classmates and instructor. These days, she can keep up with everyone else much more easily. As she was told, Leila’s instruction is strict and challenging. The fact that she never gave up helps her learn new dance moves and improve that much faster. Even with so much training, there is still so much for her to learn. Magali can only hope that she will become a worthy idol once it is her turn to step up to the stage.

During their lunch break, Magali, Dessie, and Lanna take their meals to the park just outside. They sit together enjoying their meal while telling stories and experiences as idols. They even tell the occasional joke every now and then to brighten the mood. Their atmosphere is filled with laughter and camaraderie. Magali is grateful to have friends that supports her journey. And they enjoy having such a talented and young idol among them.

Their conversation gets cut short as they hear the sound of laughter coming from Brandon in the distance. The girls look to his direction and sees him sitting on a bench with a female idol that Magali has never seen before. They watch them feed each other while flirting back and forth. Dessie and Lanna leer at him, then turn away to ignore him.

“That must be his flavor of the week,” said Dessie to Lanna.

“Yeah, I wonder how long this one will last,” answered Lanna.

“Wait, hold up! What do you mean by ‘flavor of the week’? What’s going on,” asked Magali curiously.

“Oh, you didn’t know,” answered Dessie. “Brandon changes lovers almost as often as he changes his underwear. I haven’t seen him with the same girl for longer than a month, but they usually last for only a few days.”

“Oh my god, really,” said Magali. She then takes a moment to look at him again and continue, “I mean, don’t get me wrong. Brandon is not a bad looking guy, but I didn’t think he is that popular.”

“Trust me girl, looks has nothing to do with it. He is Trevor McCatt’s son after all, and girls are more than willing to line up around the corner to someday be his wife.”

“Trevor McCatt? Is that guy famous or something? I have never heard of him,” asked Magali.

“I’m sure you’ve met him already. Oh, I bet you know him better by his code name! Trevor is Virgo from the Council.”

Magali gasps, realizing that she has indeed met Virgo twice so far – once during her entrance exam, and the other during her meeting with the council. She had no idea that Brandon was the son of one of the council members.

“Wow, Brandon is that important? I had no idea.”

“Yup! Someday he will inherit the title of Virgo and rule the city along with the other council members. Every girl knows this and wants to become his wife someday. Whoever marries Brandon will have great influence of the fate of this city,” said Dessie.

“Out of curiosity, have either of you two dated him?”

“No thank you. I’m not interested in all the politics that goes on behind the scenes of this city. Just singing and dancing for me, not become a first lady,” answered Dessie.

“Brandon is just not my type,” answered Lanna.

The more she learns about the workings of love and romance in the city, the more complicated it becomes. The whole idea starts to feel quite intimidating. Twelve council members with an unknown number of their children running around the city. Girls that far outnumber guys which limits the dating pool. A system that revolves around handing out confession letters to initiate a lifelong relationship that can alter one’s course in life. It’s too much for her to imagine.

Magali's mind drifts to thoughts off about her parents and their journey as young idols. She wonders how they’ve managed to navigate the complexities of dating back then. Curiosity stirs within her, and she thinks about calling her dad to hear their love story. However, she also knows that her father tends to shut down when memories of her mother arise.

Reflecting on the unique dating customs of Sweet Dance City, Magali realizes that it's a small miracle her parents found each other despite such a different approach to relationships. She yearns to learn their story someday, eager to understand the connection that brought them together. With a spark of hope, she considers seeking out older idols in the city who might have known her parents during their earlier years. Perhaps they can share precious insights and anecdotes that will unveil the tale of her parents' love, bringing her closer to her mother.

Their lunch ends and they resume their lesson. After they are dismissed, Magali takes a bus to the shopping district where she takes a good look around. As she walks past the many shops and restaurants, she sees numerous idols holding hands engaged in conversations about various topics. One of them even insist on the ideas of getting married soon. Marriage, children, and managing a physically demanding job as an idol must be hard. She wonders how do they do it so easily?

Lost in her thoughts, Magali remains oblivious to the fact that she is being followed by another female idol. The young idol discreetly tails Magali without being noticed, while other idols and guests watch her with curiosity. She may be dressed casually with jeans, a white blouse, and sneakers, her distinctive features, including dirty blonde hair and violet eyes, makes her easily recognizable to the people around her. They are curious to know why such a famous idol is following Magali so suspiciously. Though it does seem strange, they decide to stay out of their business and carry on with their day.

Magali takes a turn through an alley, opting to take a shortcut through the city. Unbeknownst to her, the young idol sees this as a perfect opportunity to confront Magali privately. She hides around the corner and behind anything she can find, patiently waiting until they are deep enough where people won’t notice them. Once the perfect chance presents itself, the young idol rushes up to Magali and points at her.

“Hey you! I have a bone to pick with you!”

Magali’s heart races as she turns around, startled by the intense gaze of the young idol. Her surroundings seem eerily empty, devoid of onlookers or familiar faces. Confusion engulfs her mind as she tries desperately to recall any encounter with this idol. She has prided herself on maintaining a low profile and not attract too much attention. The fact that she may have already deeply upset someone feels bewildering. Magali looks around once again, desperately that she might be talking to someone else. She sees no one else but them standing in the dark alley.

“Who are you? What do you want,” asked Magali.

“Don’t play games with me,” the idol shouted. She then raises her hand ready to strike yelling, “stay away from my Conrad!”

Magali's heart pounds in her chest as she anticipates the imminent attack. She prepares to defend herself, but she quickly remembers that violence is strictly prohibited within the city. If she were to fight back, the commotion would attract unwanted attention, and the police would be summoned. The consequences would be bad for both her and her assailant, leading to their exile from the city they call home.

Caught in this harrowing situation, Magali feels paralyzed, much like a deer staring into headlights, unsure of what to do. The weight of her vulnerability and the limited options leave her feeling helpless. The rules of the city have tied her hands, leaving her searching desperately for a way to protect herself without violating the laws that govern Sweet Dance City.

In the split second before she can strike, a hand reaching from the shadows grabs her arm from behind halting the aggressive motion. Both Magali and the idol turn their heads to see Conrad. His unexpected intervention has momentarily diffused the imminent danger, but the tension still hangs heavily in the air. With her heart pounding in her chest, Magali’s gaze alternates between Conrad and the mysterious idol. She wonders how they are connected and what were the idol’s motivations are.

He leers at the idol angrily as she trembles. “What the hell do you think you are doing,” he asked sternly.

The idol laughs nervously. She has been caught red handed and she was not prepared to see him. “Hey Conrad, what a coincidence! I know this looks bad, but I can explain. I promise.”

“Is that so? Let me guess, does that confession letter in your hand has something to do with this?”

Magali's eyes widen as she glances down at her other hand, her heart skipping a beat. There, clutched tightly in her palm, is a heart-shaped letter that bears a striking resemblance to the ones she had seen in Conrad's mailbox earlier that morning. To her surprise, Conrad's name is boldly written across the front of the envelope. Suddenly, the pieces begin to fit together, and a realization dawns on her— the young idol must have been searching for Conrad, not her.

A wave of relief washes over Magali as she comprehends the mix-up. Her mind clears up, replaced by a sense of clarity. However, one question still remains. Why did the idol follow her in the first place? There is no way that the idol confused her with Conrad.

Back at the crew hall, Magali and Conrad feel relaxed back at the safe comfort of their home, settling at a table to catch their breath and process what just happened. Conrad then passes a bottle of water to Magali and asks, “you okay Mags?”

“I’m fine. Things did get a little crazy back there. You really saved me! But still. . .”

Magali's gaze shifts from Conrad to the young idol, who followed them back to their crew hall. When their eyes meet, a chill runs down Magali’s spine. She clearly sees so much hostility that the idol is desperately trying hold back. The intensity of the idol's anger only seems to grow the closer Magali is to Conrad.

“Conrad, who is your friend,” asked Magali.

Conrad sighs, “it’s complicated. But since we’re all here I may as well introduce her. Her name is Seasons Verde, an idol just like you and me.”

Hearing Conrad say her name shifts her mood and becomes cheerful. She quickly stands up and says, “that’s right! My name is Seasons Verde, fourth year idol. Just so you know, my music interests are pop and alternative rock, so don’t you forget that!”

“Wow, your name is really Seasons? That’s such a cute and unique name!”

“Oh, you really think so? Thanks so much! My mom wanted to name me Summer, but my dad hated the idea. He says I’m more like an Autumn, but mom hated that. They couldn’t agree, so they named me Seasons so I can be all four seasons at the same time. Yet still – Hey! Why are you being so nice to me! Just so you know Magali Artisan, I Seasons Verde am your enemy!

“Enemy? What did I ever do to you?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. How dare you try to take my Conrad away from me!”

“You’re Conrad,” asked Magali. She then turns to Conrad and asks, “wait, was Seasons your girlfriend?”

“Hell no,” answered Conrad.

“Hey! You could at least say that I am a ‘potential’ lover,” said Seasons.

“Okay, I am beyond confused. If you two are not in a relationship, why is she so mad at me?”

“Like I said, it’s complicated,” answered Conrad.

“Oh, let me explain,” shouted Seasons. She then clears her throat and explains, “you see, a little over a year ago, me and some friends were watching some idols perform at the dance square. You know, get a feel for the competition for the Super Idol title. There weren’t any idols better than me, so getting the title felt like a piece of cake! But then the last performance opened, and Conrad came out of a heavy fog. My jaw dropped while the crowd went wild for his entrance.

“That day I watched Conrad perform for the first time and I immediately fell in love. I checked his profile out once I got to my room, and found out that he was still single! I was so excited that I sent him a confession letter that night. My heart shattered to pieces when I found his rejection notice the next morning.

“I was so sad and heartbroken. I thought that maybe I was too late and some other girl stole his heart. But he was still single a month later, so I tried again. Then again the next month. And the month after that. I kept looking through his profile wondering why he was rejecting all of my confessions! I tried everything; it was driving me crazy. But I never gave up! I just kept trying, hoping that someday he would accept my feelings.

“That changed once I found out that he got a new crewmate. I couldn’t believe it, some tramp just moved in and started living with the guy I’ve been trying to date for the last fourteen months. Not to mention that she is the daughter of a famous super idol. That is totally not fair! Why does she get to have him? Not to mention that she just got here!

“So today I was heading over to Conrad to hand deliver my confession and tell him how I feel personally. But then I found my rival just zoning out in the shopping district like a klutz. I got so angry that I couldn’t control myself. I just wanted to talk, but I just exploded and demanded you to stay away from Conrad!”

“In other words, Seasons is a stalker,” joked Conrad.

“Hey, why am I the stalker? There are a bunch of girls more obsessed than I am,” said Seasons.

“Hold up a second. I think there has been some misunderstanding,” said Magali. “Me and Conrad are not interested in each other. I promise.”

“Wait, really? Why not,” asked Seasons.

“I invited Mags to live here so she can teach me her father’s signature move. We’re just friends, that’s all.”

“Is that true,” asked Seasons.

Magali nods. “That’s right! I have my own goals, and Conrad has his. Neither of us are interested in dating, especially each other.”

Seasons stands up and says, “that doesn’t matter! Even if you are not interested in him now, you might in the future!”

“But I-”

“Enough,” interrupted Seasons. “Since clearly, I am at fault for trying to hit you, I’ll let you win and back off today. But mark my words, I will have Conrad! And you will never stop me! I will be keeping my eye on you Magali Anna Artisan!”

Seasons then leaves the crew hall, slamming the door behind her. A heavy silence descends upon the room. Magali and Conrad are left in a state of shock and surprise. Conrad covers his face with embarrassment.

Once Conrad has the courage to speak, he says, “I’m so sorry about that. I had no idea anyone would act this way, especially Seasons. She never did anything like this before. She’s usually so kind and sweet.”

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault. It was just surprising, that’s all. But what was all that? That was too weird.”

“One of Season’s nicknames is the ‘Idol of Quick Emotions’. Her mood can quickly shift one direction to another at the drop of a hat. Most people think he’s a bit crazy, but they still like her.”

“You sound like you know her well. Are you sure you’re not close friends?”

“No. But she does stand out from the crowd.”

“You think she’ll be okay?”

“She’ll be fine. She’ll get over it after a day or two. I’m just hoping that she’ll understand that we’re just crewmates and calm herself sooner than later.”

Even though Conrad says everything will be okay, Magali can't stop worrying about Seasons. She really wants to talk to her the next time they meet in the city. She would rather be friends with Seasons than enemies. It's important to Magali that they can understand each other and have a peaceful relationship. She hopes that by reaching out and starting a conversation, they can build a friendship and put their differences aside.

As Magali lies on her bed that night, she takes a moment to think about what happened. She realizes that dating and relationships in Sweet Dance City are more complicated than she thought. The situation with Seasons almost got out of control, and it made her understand why there's a rule called article eight. If idols fought, especially over lovers, things would become chaotic quickly. Now that she knows this, she needs to be careful about what she says and does around other idols, especially guys. She wants to avoid conflicts and keep her life peaceful.

After a few days of peace, Magali's worries had started to fade. She hoped that the problems with Seasons were gone for good, that they could put everything behind them. But, out of the blue, Seasons reappears one fateful day. She places an application on the table and pushes it towards Conrad. The application is a request to join their crew.

The weight of the situation settles heavily in the room. Everyone understands the significance of this moment. Seasons is making a bold move, and it means that things are going to change.

“What is this,” asked Conrad.

“It’s an application to join your crew, duh!”

“I can see that, but I want to know why. You’re already in a crew.”

“Oh don’t worry about it. I just quit my crew this morning so that I can apply to this one!”

“You quit your crew? Why would you do that,” asked Magali.

"I want to keep an eye on you, you know. I couldn't sleep, thinking my Conrad is being secretly charmed by my rival. So, I thought, if I live here with you guys, I can make sure you don't get too close to him. And hey, living together also increases my chances of becoming his lover, right Conrad?"

He slides the application back to Seasons and says, “sorry, but your application has been rejected!”

“Hey! You can’t do that! . . . Wait, can you do that?”

“It’s my crew, and I get to decide who lives here. Not you. And besides, I don’t even have any rooms available. I have two other crewmates coming back home.”

“Oh stop lying to yourself! Everyone knows that they are not coming back! Stop being unreasonable and-”

Conrad suddenly slams his fist on the table. The atmosphere becomes tense as the impact resonates through the air in the crew hall. Seasons, realizing that she has unintentionally struck a sensitive nerve, takes a step back, her eyes widening with concern. She immediately regrets her words, realizing that she might have taken things too far.

Magali, who is also taken aback by Conrad's unexpected display of anger, watches him closely, her expression mirroring a mix of surprise and worry. She has never seen Conrad this upset before, and his reaction unsettles her. She stays silent, unsure of how to respond or what might have triggered such a strong emotional response from him.

“I will not stand here and let you speak about my family this way! I’m sorry, but the answer is still no. Now if you don’t have anymore business in my crew, I think you should leave right now!”

Seasons trembles with frustration. Her desire for a chance with Conrad is apparent, but nothing is getting through to him. Magali, observing Seasons' emotional state, starts to empathize with her. She recognizes the depth of Seasons' feelings and understands the disappointment and frustration she must be experiencing.

Simultaneously, Magali can empathize with Conrad as well. She comprehends the burden he carries in consistently turning down someone who clearly cares deeply for him. Magali recognizes that the situation is challenging for both parties involved.

With a sense of compassion, Magali hopes that a peaceful resolution can be reached between Conrad and Seasons. She understands that it is not solely up to her to mediate the situation, but she wishes for both individuals to find a way to communicate their feelings and reach a mutual understanding.

“I see. . . So that’s how it is then. Looks like I have no other choice.” She then points at Magali and announces, “Magali Anna Artisan! I challenge you!”

Magali Gasps, not sure how to respond. Conrad grunts angrily. He can't believe that Seasons would do something like this. Magali isn't even involved, yet she's the one receiving the bulk of the anger and frustration. It's unfair and he's only getting even more upset about how things are turning out.

“Since I can’t live here, then you must move out if you lose to me,” continued Seasons.

Before Magali has a chance to respond, Conrad steps in and says, “fine! But if you lose to Mags, then no more confessions! You leave us alone and move on. Is that a deal?”

“Sounds pretty fair. I’ll be seeing Magali on the stage then.” She then turns to Magali and says, “get ready to pack your bags, cause I’m pretty good and I intend to win!”

After storming out of the crew hall, Seasons slams the door once more, leaving behind a trail of frustration. Conrad, feeling overwhelmed, collapses onto a chair, releasing a heavy sigh filled with stress and tension. Magali then looks at Conrad and asks, “okay, what just happened? What does she mean by challenge?”

Conrad takes a moment before answering, “it’s a part of article eight. Since idols cannot fight each other, the city decided that idols must challenge each other on stage to settle disputes. You two perform on stage together, and a panel of judges decides who wins.”

“What does that have to do with me moving out?”

“When someone challenges another idol, they make a wager. Whoever wins the challenge gets to have whatever they ask as long as the rules allow it. She can’t challenge me for a spot in the crew, but she can force someone else out. She used that loophole to her advantage to force you to move out.”

“But that doesn’t mean I have to move out. I never even agreed to this challenge.”

“It doesn’t matter. Once an idol challenges another, nobody can say no. The wager is then enforced by Sweet Dance law. Rejecting the challenge will be seen as an act of aggression, and you could be kicked out of the city.”

Magali's eyes widen in disbelief as the weight of the situation crashes on her shoulders. The intricacies of life as an idol have unexpectedly entangled her, and she finds herself thrown into a complex system she doesn’t understands. She now has to quickly grasp the daunting and unfamiliar rules and laws.

In a cruel twist of fate, Magali, who has never even had the chance to perform, now must step onto the stage for the first time. This debut performance carries far greater significance as she must not only showcase her talent but also defend her right to remain in the place she calls home. The pressure to prove herself and protect her position weighs heavily on her chest.

As anxiety courses through her veins, Magali contemplates the unknown path that lies ahead. With limited experience, she must summon the courage to face the spotlight and navigate the complex world of idol competition.