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Chapter 14 - Shimmer in the Shadows

Morning haze drifted through the dorm window as Jenna—Ameya—blinked awake. Her trusty teddy lay tucked beside her on the blanket, stitches still frayed where yesterday's accident had torn the fabric.

She stretched.

Thump.

The teddy slipped from the edge of the mattress and landed on the wooden floor.

Unseen by her sleepy eyes, a small round object—no bigger than a marble—rolled out from teddy. It glittered once in the half-light, then skittered beneath the wardrobe and vanished into the darkness like a swallowed star.

Ameya yawned, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and frowned only at the fallen teddy. "Poor thing," she murmured, lifting it gently and smoothing its worn fur. She set it upright on the little bedside table, gave its button eye a reassuring tap, and hurried off to start the day—never realizing she'd left something far more important behind.

The room fell still.

Under the wardrobe, the hidden sphere pulsed—a heartbeat of silver light … once … twice … then settled into a faint, ominous glow, waiting for someone—anyone—to notice.

Scene end.

At the Dance Studio...

The studio echoed with synchronized steps and music beats. All of SuperNova was present—except Jenna.

Sofie paused mid-stretch and looked around. "Hey, where's Jenna? I saw her when we entered the company building, but... not after that."

Linda shrugged. "No idea." Her gaze turned to Ameya—the real Jenna, now living in Ameya's body. "Hey Ameya, you've been close with her lately. Any idea?"

The question made Jenna's heart race. She quickly masked her panic. "Uh… she had a headache yesterday. I think she went to the nurse's room to get some pills."

Ruby tilted her head. "Think?"

"I mean, she said she was going to," Jenna clarified. "She's probably resting."

The group accepted her answer and resumed their practice, but the tension inside Jenna's chest didn't ease.

Elsewhere…

The real Ameya, in Jenna's body, sat alone on a stone bench in the small park near their company. Children played nearby, their laughter distant and surreal. She kept trying to block out yesterday's chaos—the torn teddy, the soul confusion—but it clung to her like fog.

A soft tap landed on her shoulder.

Startled, she turned—and slapped instinctively.

"Ow! That hurt," a familiar voice groaned.

She gasped. "Rico?!"

He rubbed his hand. "Why do you always react like that? I'm starting to think you enjoy slapping me."

"I'm sorry! I thought you were… someone else," she said, flustered.

"Let me guess," he smirked. "A jerk?"

She tried to hide her smile. "You said it, not me."

Rico shrugged. "I come here to relax sometimes. Don't act like I'm following you."

She whispered under her breath, "But you are appearing everywhere I go."

He caught it. "Coincidence, maybe?"

She froze. Did he hear that?

"You look pale," he said, suddenly serious. He raised a hand to her forehead. "You don't have a fever, do you?"

She panicked. "W-What are you doing?" She tried to push his hand away.

"Shhh. Stay still. I'm checking," he said gently.

She stopped. For a brief moment, everything felt still—his hand on her forehead, his eyes filled with quiet concern. Her heart trembled.

He pulled his hand back. "You took medicine?"

She nodded.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from Ameya—the real Jenna:

"Where are you? Come to the studio. Don't be sad—we'll figure this out."

She stared at the message, heart aching.

"Ever had a problem so big... there's just no solution?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Rico replied. "Everyone does."

"What do you do when there's no solution?"

He smiled. "You do what you can. If it doesn't work… let it go. Time has a funny way of solving what we can't."

She giggled. "That doesn't sound like me."

"Then maybe you're finally growing up," he teased, patting her head before walking off.

She ran behind him. "Hey! That wasn't me, that was... my friend!"

Two Days Later...

With only a week left until their album release, the SuperNova girls practiced endlessly—polishing choreographies, rehearsing vocals, preparing for debut. The manager cheered them on, clapping and shouting praise.

In a quiet corner of the studio, Jenna (real Ameya) zipped up her bag .

Ameya (real Jenna) approached her. "You okay?"

"How can I be okay?" Jenna whispered. "We need to find a way back to our real selves. We can't live like this forever."

Ameya sighed. "Let's just focus on the album first. Then we'll talk about... everything."

Jenna nodded, reluctantly.

A Week Later...

The big day arrived.

SuperNova's first album was officially released.

The studio burst into celebration—hugs, laughter, excited squeals.

"Can you believe this?" Ruby asked, hugging Linda.

Sofie twirled. "I'm so happy!"

The manager entered. "Tomorrow's your first live performance in front of your fans. Be ready—and congratulations, girls. You've earned this."

That Night, at the Dorm...

Jenna received a video from Jenna's parents—her real parents. They had sent their congratulations and a sweet message. She watched it with Ameya beside her.

Tears shimmered in Ameya's eyes. "I miss my mom and dad so much..."

Before the moment could grow heavy, Sofie called out, "Dinner time!"

All Seven SuperNova girls gathered at the round table, chatting, teasing, and reliving their journey.

Then, another message popped on Jenna's phone.

"Congrats on your album. :)"

—Rico.

Her eyes widened. "How did he get my number…?"

Sofie giggled. "I might've given it to him."

Linda overheard. "Who are we talking about?"

Before Sofie could spill, Jenna slapped a hand over her mouth.

But Ruby snatched the phone. "Rico?! What's going on between you two?!"

Sofie teased, "Maybe a little romance?"

"No way!" Jenna scowled, face red.

Even Ameya couldn't resist teasing. "Looks like someone's blushing~"

Laughter filled the dorm room, warm and genuine.

The Next Morning – 15 Minutes Before the Performance

Backstage buzzed with final preparations. Then—

"Surprise!"

Ameya's parents appeared at the dressing room door, beaming with pride.

Ameya—real Jenna—froze.

"You said you wouldn't come," she whispered.

Her father chuckled. "How could we miss our daughter's debut?"

Her mother pulled her into a tight hug, planting a kiss on her cheek. "You look beautiful. How are you feeling?"

"I'm… good," Ameya stammered.

Meanwhile, other SuperNova members in Makeup room . Jenna—real Ameya—walked out from the restroom just as Linda announced, "Ameya's parents are here!"

"What?" Jenna gasped, heart hammering.

She ran, ignoring Linda's call to wait until after the performance.

Dressing Room..

The real Ameya, now in Jenna's body, came to a halt. Her breath caught in her throat.

There—right in front of her—stood her parents and elder sister.

Talking to someone else.

Talking to themselves, in a way. To her body.i.e real Jenna

They noticed her, confused. Her face pale, trembling, drenched in sweat.

"Is she your friend?" her mother asked to Ameya

Her sister, Asina, nodded. "Yeah, one of her group members."

Then—

Jenna rushed forward.

Without thinking. Without permission.

She threw herself into her mother's arms.

Tears burst from her eyes.

"I missed you, Mom… how are you…?"

Everyone went silent.

Even Ameya's mother stood frozen.

Eyes wide.

Hand slowly raising…

[To be continued…]

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