The one I cherish

"1, 2, and turn right. Now left. Flip. Jump! Again, two more times!" Sam shouted, her voice brimming with energy. "Okay, now with the music. It's five minutes exactly! Good job, everyone. Great work, girls!"

"Man, you're literally breaking our bones!" Sarah groaned, clutching her hips as she gave Sam a pained expression.

"Sarah, I know it's tough, but if we want to win this, we have to give it our all," Sam replied, trying to encourage her. "Trust me, after this final year, you'll be so popular!"

"Oh, very popular indeed," Sarah muttered, rolling her eyes. "I just hope no one starts rumors about us. That would be a disaster."

"Okay, Leah, I'll see you later," Sarah said, grabbing her bag.

"Wait, Sarah!" Leah called out, stopping her.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"I know we've just met, but I really want to get to know you and your friends better. I hope you don't mind," Leah said earnestly.

Sarah smiled. "Sure, no problem."

---

At the same time, John was finishing up his band practice.

"Alright, great practice, everyone," John announced, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Hey there, Mr. Perfect," Sarah teased, walking up to him with Leah clinging to her arm.

John turned around, a bit startled. "Oh, hey, Sarah. Practice just ended. How's your dance practice going?"

"Ugh, how do you even know about that?" Sarah asked suspiciously.

"The whole school knows," John chuckled.

---

Meanwhile, Sam spotted Kevin in the distance and called out, "Hey, Kevin, wait!"

Kevin turned back briefly. "Yes, Sam, I know. You've probably heard that Rose will be dressed up for the prom dance. Don't worry, my maids will take care of it."

Before Sam could clarify, Kevin dashed off, clearly preoccupied with his own practice. Sam sighed, realizing too late that he'd missed his chance to ask about Kevin's dance preparation.

Kevin's mind, however, was elsewhere. His thoughts revolved around Rose, who lay in a coma. A deep sense of guilt and longing overwhelmed him as he sat on a park bench, clutching his bag. Tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees, whispering into the cold evening air, "Rose, I'm so sorry."

---

The Day of the Program

Kevin's maids wished him luck as he prepared to leave.

"Master Kevin, good luck with your performance!"

"Thank you," he said softly. "I just hope everything starts and ends well."

Kevin's parents, proud but emotional, bid him farewell, reminding him of the importance of his last day of school. Kevin, however, was preoccupied with making the performance perfect for Rose. He had hired a team of cameramen to record his dance so he could show it to her when she woke up from her coma.

At school, the program began with a flurry of excitement. Senior Leader Arwin addressed the audience.

"Thank you for your patience, my sweethearts and strong soldiers! Let's welcome our basketball players with their dazzling performance, 'Dance the Night'!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as Sam and his teammates hit the stage. The girls in the audience went wild, their screams nearly drowning out the music. Meanwhile, the boys couldn't take their eyes off Leah, whose charm seemed to outshine Sarah's.

John's performance followed. His heartfelt singing moved the audience to tears, leaving a lasting impression. Sarah, however, sat uncomfortably in the audience. She couldn't shake her worry about Rose.

Finally, it was Kevin's turn. As he stepped onto the stage, the crowd cheered louder than ever. The digital screen displayed images of Kevin and Rose laughing together, dancing, and even a tender moment of Kevin by her hospital bed, holding her hand.

As the performance ended, Kevin grabbed the microphone.

"Listen, everyone," he began, his voice trembling. "There's something I need to share with you—a truth you all deserve to know."

The audience fell silent, their curiosity piqued.

"Rose…our princess…she's in a coma," Kevin said, his voice breaking. Gasps and whispers filled the room. Kevin continued, his eyes welling with tears. "She fell into my arms that day, and I took her to the hospital. The doctor thought I was her husband and allowed me to stay by her side. I'll never forget that moment. I…love her, and I'll cherish her forever."

The crowd erupted in a chorus: "We love you, Rose!" Tears rolled down their cheeks as they echoed the sentiment.

---

That evening, Kevin decided to check on Rose. When he arrived at Sarah's house, he found her attempting to smother Rose with a pillow, her eyes red with rage.

"What are you doing?!" Kevin shouted, pushing her away.

"I…I hate her!" Sarah sobbed. "John loves her. Everyone loves her! I hate her for taking everything from me!"

Kevin shook his head, his voice calm but firm. "Sarah, don't let your darkness consume you. Rose loves you, no matter what." He hugged her briefly before carrying Rose out of the house and placing her in his car.

As they drove away, Kevin whispered, "You're so famous, my sweet Rose. Let me take care of you."

---

Back at Leah's house, she was panicking over her prom outfit.

"Courtney, I can't do this without you!" Leah cried.

"Alright, alright," Courtney said, laughing. "But you owe me chocolate for a month."

They both laughed, their friendship rekindled.

---

At Sam's house, John barged in, furious.

"Where is Rose? What did you do to her?" John demanded, shaking Sam by the shoulders.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sam protested, equally confused.

Realizing Kevin was behind Rose's disappearance, John muttered, "Kevin…he must have taken her."

---

Kevin sat by Rose's bedside, stroking her hair.

"You're safe now, Rose," he whispered. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

"Oh no, prom is in three days, and I've been so caught up with the dance and the company! What am I going to do?" Leah exclaimed in frustration, pacing in her large closet. "If Courtney were here, she'd have me dressed up like a pro in five minutes. Oh, Courtney, come back!"

"Well, don't shout so loud, Miss Snappy Pants, and promise me chocolates every day," said a familiar voice.

Leah spun around, shocked. "What? Courtney! You're here?"

Courtney smirked while rummaging through the closet for a dress. "Of course, I'm here. I knew you wouldn't last a day without me."

Leah hugged Courtney tightly, her eyes welling up with gratitude. "Thank you for coming back. I'm sorry for everything, even for slapping you."

Courtney hugged her back, chuckling. "I knew you'd need me eventually. Now stop staring at me like that, woman. Let's go shopping!"

Leah laughed, wiping her eyes. "Yeah, let's go. I owe you so much!"

---

Meanwhile, at Sam's House

The doorbell rang for a solid ten seconds before the maid opened it. "Master, Sir John is here to see you," she announced.

"Let him in," Sam replied.

John stormed in, his face flushed with anger. Grabbing Sam by the shoulders, he demanded, "What did you do to my Rose? Where is she? Is she here? Did you do something to her? You know she's in a coma! Do you want to kill her?"

Sam, shocked and confused, pushed John back. "What? What are you talking about? I haven't seen her. Where is she, John? What's going on?"

As John realized Sam was equally puzzled, his anger turned to despair. After a brief pause, he shouted, "Kevin! It must be Kevin!"

---

At Kevin's House

The maid looked at her master with concern. "Master Kevin, won't Rose's friends and family worry about her absence?"

"It doesn't matter as long as she's safe here with me," Kevin said, his voice breaking. Tears streamed down his face as he continued, "If I hadn't been there, Sarah would have killed her. Rose would've been gone forever."

The maid gasped, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Master Kevin, you're the only one who truly cares for her. Please, don't ever let her go, no matter the consequences. I want to see you both together, happy, and someday…with children of your own."

Kevin blushed at her words. "Alright, alright," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I promise, I'll make your wish—and mine—come true. No more waiting."

---

At Leah's House

"So, are you still in love with Kevin?" Courtney asked, watching Leah fidget with her hair.

Leah hesitated before answering. "I guess I am. I'm trying so hard to get to him, but his announcement about how much he loves Rose…it crushed me. He loves her so much more than he could ever love anyone else. I feel like giving up."

Courtney jumped in quickly, "No! You can't give up, Leah. Not after everything you've done to get this close to the rich club. This is your chance!"

Leah raised her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips. "What do you mean, I still have a chance?"

Courtney smirked. "The prom is coming up. This is your moment to get really close to him. Wear something stunning, get his attention, and when you're alone…give him a kiss."

Leah sighed, shaking her head. "I don't think I can do that."

Courtney stepped forward, gripping Leah's shoulders. "It's now or never, Leah! If you don't try, you'll never know what he's thinking about you."

Leah bit her lip, considering Courtney's words. "Fine. Let's make it happen."