208 BLACK SWAN
Everyone was waiting for Emma’s reaction with pounding chests. Rachel still kept her stern expression, Kathy tried to relax, and Poppy gave a scared expression. As for Emma, ??it could be seen from her face that now her feelings were mixed.
The clock ticked and the sound of the CPU roaring filled Kathy’s quiet room. Until Emma took a deep breath to make her friends’ hearts seem to stop beating for a split second.
“So, I’ve let you down, Rachel? But I’ve never asked to be your role model, have I?” She smiled faintly at Rachel who was looking at her with sharp eyes.
Then Emma sighed loudly, “Even so, I can’t deny what you’re saying. You’re right. I’ve been fighting with my mind all this ti. The courage and fear within are like two troops at war. I’m like a rope being pulled by two contestants. Then what should I choose? Or.. what can I choose?”
“The answer is in your throat, Emma,” Rachel said flatly.
Emma nodded and smiled faintly, “And very hard to get out of,”
“Emma.. Doing sothing your dad has done would not turn you into him. Yes, you are your father’s flesh and blood. Maybe you got your eyes and nose from him. But that doesn’t an you are your father. You are only his child. And you are still Emma Hilland yourself.” Poppy said.
“Blood is thicker than water. It seems to be true.” Emma looked at her own hands, “Apparently, his violent soul runs inside . I even use the na of caring for others as an excuse to satisfy my thirst for violating.”
Okay, Emma’s statent this ti was quite surprising for her friends. Of course, it was Emma’s dark side that they had never seen before. It was indeed terrible. However, they would still trust Emma and believe that she would not hurt them. They believed that Emma was still sane.
.....
“Well, that could be called a hobby,” Kathy said with an awkward face. Things that went through her head were sotis quite strange. But what was even weirder was that she never hesitate taking it out in an inappropriate situation.
Emma nodded, “You know what? When I was little, people always said that I was excessively similar to my dad. Our faces and attitudes. They said that I was a clone of my dad in the female version.” Then she smiled faintly, “I will prove that what they said is true.”
The three girls looked at each other and then turned back to Emma, ??”Does that an you’re going to do it?” Kathy asked.
“Giving up before trying is a loser thing. Thank you for reminding that I am not a loser.” Emma answered.
“Gosh..” Poppy and Kathy sighed in relief. It was a very tense situation. They were so afraid that Emma and Rachel would get into a fight. That would make things highly uncomfortable.
“Does this an I’m already a mber of the Black group?” Kathy asked with a smile on her face.
Emma smiled and nodded once, “Sorry I made a silly drama. But, you should know that I’m not a perfect person. I still have a lot to learn.”
Rachel nodded, “There are no perfect humans in this world, Emma. And no one is the strongest. Being a leader doesn’t an you have to be perfect. It’s just being the bravest and most loved by your group mbers.”
Emma looked at Rachel with teary eyes. Then she nodded once, “Thanks for slapping my face, Rachel. I will never forget your words that set on fire.”
“I hope it’s in a positive context,” Rachel replied, eliciting another laugh.
But amid the laughter that filled the room, Emma realized soone was not as happy as she was. Emma could see Poppy’s gloomy face, though she seed to be forcing a small laugh on her lips. But the girl’s eyes couldn’t lie. No laughter there.
“Poppy, is sothing wrong?” Emma asked her carefully.
“Huh?” Poppy snapped out of her thought. Then she shook her head, “N-nothing,”
“But your face says otherwise, Poppy. Did sothing make you sad?” Emma asked again.
Kathy also looked at Poppy in confusion, “What’s wrong with you, Pops?”
“Eum.. actually I.. just...” She took a deep breath and forced a small chuckle, “Sorry, maybe this is too much. I’m just feeling down because it seems.. I’m the only useless person here. But I’ve only gotten used to my uselessness. Haha,”
“What are you saying, Pops? There’s nobody useless here.” Kathy said confusedly.
“Everyone will be useful in their right positions. You shouldn’t look down on yourself.” Rachel added.
“Poppy, you are a ballet instructor who’s able to open your own studio. It’s sothing the three of us couldn’t do. From a young age, you knew what your dream was and could keep sticking with it to this day. That’s a huge thing.” Emma said.
“But, it’s only useful for . Whereas you could help each other, even helped , but I never helped you guys anything.” She looked down.
“Perhaps you don’t realize what you’ve done. But it’s your presence here and your words of encouragent that have made stand tall here. You’re here to fill us, Poppy. Without you, our group is like a table missing one of its legs.” Emma answered.
“Group?” Poppy repeated and she chuckled awkwardly, “Maybe you an our friendship.”
Emma imdiately shook her head, “What do you an? When I said group, it ant Black’s group. Kathy is already here and you..” She stopped talking and started thinking with a frown, “Could it be that you don’t want to join us?”
Emma’s question instantly took Poppy by surprise. She imdiately shook her head, “That’s not what I ant, Emma. I thought it was just the three of you because I wouldn’t be of any use there.”
“That doesn’t an you don’t want to join, does it, Poppy?” Rachel asked.
Poppy shook her head slowly, “Of course, I want to. But I’m afraid that I’d be a burden later. I don’t want you to accept into Black because you feel bad for . I’m really okay, girls. Just because I’m not joining, it doesn’t an our friendship would be ended, does it?” She smiled sadly.
“No, Poppy. You’re wrong. We really need you here.” Emma said.
Kathy nodded, “Just cut it, Pops. Don’t add to the unnecessary drama again here. I’m forcing you to co in. You accept it or not, it’s up to you.” She rolled her eyes.
Rachel couldn’t help but chuckle as she glared at Poppy. Although she felt a little sorry for Poppy, there was so truth in it. They didn’t have ti for drama anymore. After all, Poppy was an easy person to persuade. Rachel already knew Poppy’s character. She was a person who was afraid of being a burden to others. In fact, Poppy was best at organizing things. Of course, that girl would be so useful to Black in the future.
Poppy eventually gave up. She shrugged with a weak smile, “If you guys don’t mind having in the group, I won’t dodge anymore. I’ll also try not to bother you. But I’ll maybe just be a display in Black’s group.” She chuckled.
“Hm.. That’s fine too. You could just be our mascot, Pops. You’re the prettiest here and the number one girl in ballet.” Kathy continued Poppy’s joke.
“Wouldn’t Poppy be the ambassador for our ballet class?” Emma suddenly rembered.
“Ms Tania used my porn video case as an excuse to replace with soone else.” Poppy replied with a careless face. She also didn’t want to work with that annoying woman anyway.
“That damn witch!” Kathy growled.
Emma laughed, “Co to think of it, isn’t this kinda funny? We are all ballet girls who are made into a group that fights cri.”
“Pretty much,” Kathy nodded, rubbing her chin with her fingers. “Oh! Don’t you guys have a mascot or logo yet?” Kathy continued excitedly.
“Mascot and logo?” Emma muttered and shook her head, “I never thought of that.”
“There’s neither mascot nor logo yet,” Rachel added.
Emma shrugged, “I didn’t think Black would eventually be a group. That’s why I didn’t think about those things. But now that you guys have ntioned it, it seems little things like that matter too, aren’t they?”
Kathy nodded confidently, “They are!”
“Since we are ballerinas in disguise, can we put the ballet-related thing in our logo?” Rachel asked.
“Ballet? Nice idea,” Kathy nodded.
“Well.. But it seems that it will make us too obvious as ballet dancers. Maybe it will reveal our identity.” Emma said.
Poppy nodded as she rubbed her arm, “Actually, I think the ballet logo should only be used for that dance.”
Then Kathy started to open her computer and look for references on the internet, “Most people use objects or animals for their logo material.”
“They have cool logs,” Emma said after getting up from her seat to look at the computer screen.
From behind, Poppy noticed a key ring hanging out of Emma’s pants pocket. It was her swan-shaped glass keychain for her car key. “I think I know what matches the logo,”
Emma turned to Poppy, “What’s it?”
“Your keychain, Emma.”
“My keychain?” Emma took out her car key and lifted it. The glass swan swayed, reflecting the light of the lamp that looked gorgeous. “A swan..”
Poppy nodded enthusiastically, “Like Odette.” she rembered the cartoon princess swan that she loved since childhood.
“Gorgeous and graceful. Just like ballet.” Rachel said.
“I agree with the swan as the Black group’s mascot and logo. That’s a great idea, Pops!” Kathy’s eyes lit up.
“Black.. Swan,” Emma muttered to herself.
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