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"RIKA FROM ALL OUT KISS!"
The host yelled into the mic and I was rushed onto the stage.
"Well done Rika! You deserve it!" Makorin says with a smile and I smile back at her before walking up onto the podium.
Overwhelmed, I rushed onto the stage with a huge smile on my face. The host handed the award to me and passed the microphone to me.
The crowd erupted into cheers as I got on the stage. "Hi everyone I'm Rika and I just wanted to thank everyone who helped me get to this point my friends, family and members of All out kiss!" I beamed, blowing a kiss at the audience as I finished my speech.
"Well done for winning this award it must be one of the biggest accomplishments you've had so far." The host said.
I held the award close to my chest and laughed. "Yes it's my first time winning such a huge award and here's to many more!"
My heart pounds so hard and the adrenaline rush from the shock started to fade as I processed what had just happened. Winning awards was something I was used to since our group was successful but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd win one of the biggest awards.
All my life I was seen as mediocre, second in everything. I never noticed it until Miya got his first award for skating. I was the one who taught him how to skate. I was the one who worked hard whilst he just watched and copied. So why was I always in the background? My whole childhood was just me as a side character in Miya's life. The best friend whose parents were never around, the girl who stuck by him because she had nobody else: that was who I was.
Until I left to work on myself but things got worse. I tried so hard in every sport, talent and subject but it amounted to nothing. But now I finally got an award, I was the best at something. I was worthy of being close to Miya. So why did I feel so empty? The success wasn't enough to fill the empty hole in my heart, maybe I needed to focus on myself instead of trying to be better for him.
After walking off stage, staff and colleagues handed me bouquets and words of praise. I thanked them with a smile and went back into the green room. To my surprise, I had a few missed calls from Miya and my mom.
"Hello?" I say into the phone.
"Did you just finish now?" Miya asked on the other side of the line.
"Yeah, did you see I won an award I bet I looked so pretty!"
"You looked beautiful as always." He says quietly but I heard.
I smile at his compliment because he rarely gives me or anyone them. "I know."
"I always knew you liked singing and dancing but I never knew you were that talented."
"It's because you never notice anyone but yourself. I don't blame you 'cause I'm the same." I chuckle dryly.
