CHAPTER 511: MISSION FAILED SUCCESSFULLY (PART ONE)

Micah gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Every nerve in him screamed to snap at Emile for badmouthing him in front of Dean and Jacklin, to confront that ungrateful boy for talking behind his back, but he swallowed it down. He was Asena, he reminded himself.

He dropped his head, wanting to turn around and leave, but there was no way out. Every direction was packed, bodies pressing like a tide he couldn’t swim against. He could only keep walking, moving along with the flow.

Micah edged closer to the pavement, eyes darting toward the street. Would it draw too much attention if he just leapt down the street? He looked down at his outfit, the skirt... Nope. What if it got stuck? Oh, that would be the epitome of embarrassment!

So he stayed where he was, stuck between the crowd and the railing, chewing on his bottom lip. His frustration boiled over; the only release was to curse everyone and everything in his mind. Emile, skirt, this whole damn crowd.

Then a sudden shove broke the noise.

"Hey!" Someone shouted. "Watch out."

A small body stumbled sideways. A boy no more than six was thrust into the street. The gap in the railing wasn’t wide enough for him to easily pass through. But the flimsy plastic barrier that separated the sidewalk from the road gave way with a screech at that moment, creating an opening.

Micah didn’t think. His body moved before his mind did.

A car horn blared in the distance, the sound too sharp, too close. The street beside them was not filled with the usual slow traffic. Cars were rushing past at least sixty km/h or maybe more.

Micah hadn’t had time to weigh the danger. He lunged through the gap, throwing himself forward. He reached out, catching the child by the back of his thin jacket just before the boy’s small sneakers hit the curb. The momentum dragged them both forward; the weight of the child almost pulled him completely off balance.

Micah gritted his teeth and yanked back with all the strength he had, making both of them tumble back, hitting the cold concrete. The impact lessened as he used his right hand to cushion their weight. The boy landed on his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. For a second, everything blurred, just the thud of landing, the rustle of coats, and the faint echo of gasps remained.

Then came the wail.

The child began crying, a raw, trembling sound that pierced through the stunned silence. He clung to Micah’s blouse, trembling.

"It’s okay," Micah rasped, voice low and strained. "You’re okay. You’re fine."

But the child did not calm down. The wailing continued until another voice cut through it.

"Rui!" a woman screamed.

The mother rushed forward, pushing people aside, her face pale, eyes wide in disbelief. She fell to her knees, pulling her son into her arms as if afraid he might vanish. "My baby... oh my god!" Her voice broke, and she clutched him tighter, her hands trembling as she checked him over.

The crowd had frozen for a heartbeat, and then collectively exhaled in relief. Gasps turned to murmurs. People began talking all at once.

"Did you see that?"

"She caught the kid!"

"Thank god, that could’ve been so bad..."

Micah sat there for a moment, dazed, adrenaline running high. His palms stung, and dust coated his blouse and skirt. His cap had flown off somewhere, and his mask hung awkwardly around his chin.

He exhaled shakily and brushed the dirt from his clothes, getting up.

"Hey, are you all right?"

That voice.

Micah turned his head and came face-to-face with Emile. Shit! What if he recognised him as Micah? He quickly tugged the mask back into place, adjusting it with his left hand.

He forced a nod, keeping his eyes low, searching on the ground for his cap.

"I’m fine," he said, his voice low and light, in girlish, practised Asena tone.

He was ready to vanish before luck ran out completely.

But fate, it seemed, wasn’t done with him yet.

The mother, still shaken, finally realised what had happened. "Wait, wait!" She grabbed Micah’s hand, eyes brimming with tears. "You! Thank you! Thank you so much! You saved my child!" Her words came out rushed, breathless. She bowed her head repeatedly, clutching his sleeves as though afraid he might slip away before she could express her gratitude.

Micah was stuck, uncertain what to say. More people gathered around.

"Okay, okay. Everyone, back up, give them space. Let them breathe," Dean said, scattering people.

He stepped forward, pushing Micah’s hat toward him. "Here," he said politely, his sharp eyes studying him.

Micah took it quickly and put it on his head. "Thanks," he mumbled.

The mother was still focused on her rambling gratitude while her son was sobbing beside them. Micah scratched his cheek, not knowing how to respond to the over-the-top mother’s attitude.

"Don’t worry about it. Anyone would’ve done the same." Micah said in the end.

The woman wiped her tears, nodding over and over before pulling her son closer and hurrying away.

After the mother and child left, Micah turned to leave, too, but was stopped by Emile.

"Oh, are you entering the talent show, too?"

"Huh?" Micah blinked, startled.

"You know, the one across the street?!" Emile said, pointing to a building.

Micah followed his pointing fingers. Across the road stood a glass building, its logo, "Starlight Entertainment," glinting in bold letters under the sun. Micah realised it was the La Riviere media branch.

"No, I was just passing by."

Emile looked genuinely disappointed. "Really? That’s a shame. With your looks and demeanour, you’d definitely stand out! They continue auditioning for a week. Think about it, beautiful sister."

"I don’t know how to sing or dance."

Emile waved that off with enthusiasm. "That’s not a problem! They have coaches and mentors who’ll teach you everything..." He went on excitedly.

"Emile!" Dean cut it sharply. "Drop it. Your own attendance is up in the air. Don’t drag someone else into it."

"But I came back to the country for this!" Emile protested.

"You two are at it again?"

Jacklin arrived, her steps brisk, her expression cool as always until she saw Asena. Her eyes widened for a split second, then softened. She stopped a few places away, not saying anything. Her gaze flicked to Dean, and an unspoken understanding passed between them.