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The lights inside the waiting lounge shimmered gently as Jenna, the real Ameya, stood frozen in her mother's warm embrace. Her arms had instinctively wrapped around the woman she had longed for, the scent of familiarity flooding her senses.
Her mother blinked in surprise, patting Jenna's back gently, puzzled by the sudden affection.
Before she could speak, Ameya, the real Jenna, stepped forward and gently tugged Jenna back.
"Mom…" Ameya smiled, trying to mask the tension in her voice. "She just... misses her mom a lot. That's why she hugged you so suddenly."
Jenna looked down, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Her mother's expression softened, a faint, understanding smile forming. "That's okay. I understand... Sometimes, a hug says what words cannot."
Their father, who had been quietly observing, asked with a curious tone, "Didn't her family come to see the performance?"
Ameya, catching the shift in mood, quickly replied, "No… they're busy this time."
Jenna looked at her real family—her true mother, father, and sister—with eyes full of longing and sorrow. The ache of not being recognized by the ones who once knew her heart was too deep to ignore. She silently nodded, her gaze trembling.
"Don't be sad," Ameya's mother said gently, cupping Jenna's face briefly. "Your family may be busy, but I'm sure they miss you dearly. Good luck for your performance, sweetheart." She patted her head with the affection of a mother, unknowingly offering Jenna the warmth she craved.
Jenna's lips didn't form words. But her eyes—those tear-filled, glowing eyes—spoke everything her voice couldn't: I missed you. I'm still your daughter... even if you don't remember me.
"Mom, Dad, sis," Ameya said quickly, sensing the emotional overwhelm, "we have to go now. Bye! Let's meet after the performance."
Her sister grinned and gave a quick wave. "All the best!"
"Okay, go rock the stage!" her dad added cheerfully.
As they waved goodbye, Ameya grabbed Jenna's wrist and dragged her back toward the backstage hallway.
While running, she hissed under her breath, "Did you forget who you are now? You're Jenna, not Ameya! How can you just act like that in front of my mom and dad?!"
Jenna lowered her head, silent. Her heart was still caught in the gravity of seeing her family.
Ameya paused, glancing sideways. Her voice softened. "I know you're hurting. But remember everything we worked for... All those late nights, sweat, pain… dreams. Don't let your emotions control you, not now."
She released Jenna's hand and walked ahead, whispering over her shoulder, "We're almost there, Ameya. Let's not fall apart."
Jenna wiped her tears and nodded faintly, pulling her focus back.
---
On Stage: The Shining Moment
The lights dimmed.
SuperNova members took their positions on stage.
Two minutes.
Jenna could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She looked at Ameya, who blinked once—an unspoken message of trust. Jenna nodded.
The music dropped.
Lights flashed.
And SuperNova exploded onto the stage.
Linda, Ruby, Sofie, Ameya, Jenna, and two other girls moved like fire and wind—fierce, elegant, unstoppable. Their vocals soared, harmonizing perfectly with the beats. The synchronized choreography, months of effort, hours of pain and practice—everything paid off in that single, breathtaking performance.
The crowd was stunned. Cellphones glowed. People screamed. Cameras flashed.
Far above the cheering crowd, two figures stood in the balcony, cloaked in black hoodies and masks.
"Hey… Can I remove my mask?" one whispered, tugging at the edge.
"No," the other snapped, keeping his voice low. "Do you want rumors of me and Jenna to explode again? If fans or paparazzi catch even a glimpse, they'll say I came here for her."
"Michael… get it together," he added sharply.
Michael sighed. "Fine. I get it. But if you can't remove your mask… can I?"
The second figure—Rico—turned to him with narrowed eyes. "If they recognize you, they'll guess who's next to you. And we both know I'm not ready to make headlines again."
Michael laughed nervously. "Okay, okay. Got it."
---
After the Storm: The Message
As SuperNova exited the stage, the audience echoed their names—Linda! Ameya! Jenna! SuperNova!
Ameya's parents stood among the crowd, eyes shimmering with pride. Her mother had tears in her eyes. "She did it…" she whispered. Her husband gently patted her shoulder.
Backstage was filled with cheers, flowers, tears of joy. The manager hugged every member.
In the middle of all the joy, Jenna sat quietly, her smile dimmed by the storm within her.
Then—ping!
A message.
Rico: "Your performance was amazing. I'm officially a fan of SuperNova now."
Jenna's eyes widened. A small smile flickered.
She quickly replied: "Are you in New York for your concert? Did you watch our stage online live ?"
Rico didn't respond with words. He sent an image—taken from the balcony, showing a perfect angle of SuperNova's stage.
Jenna's breath hitched.
He's here.
She stared at the image, fingers trembling.
"You're here? You saw us live…?"
Rico replied simply: "Mm."
---
Family Reunion: Behind the Door
Later, as the members changed into their casual clothes, a knock came on the dressing room door.
Jenna opened it slightly… and her heart skipped.
Ameya's parents stood outside.
Ameya, now in a hoodie, stepped beside her. "Mom? Dad?" she whispered, eyes wide.
Ten minutes later, the members gathered in the lounge with her family. Sofie grinned and said, "Auntie, your homemade snacks were delicious!"
"I'll make more for you girls," the mother chuckled warmly.
Ameya began introducing her team. Jenna sat quietly.
Then she asked, voice trembling slightly, "How are you doing? Are you… missing Ameya?"
Her parents shared a smile, full of love.
"Of course," her mother said. "She never stayed away from us this long. But now… she's glowing."
Ameya quickly changed the topic before emotions grew overwhelming. "Let's get a picture!"
The members laughed and posed with the family.
As they said their goodbyes, Ameya's mom whispered to Jenna before leaving, "You're a lovely girl, Jenna. You reminded me of someone very dear."
Jenna bowed slightly, her heart aching with bittersweet warmth.
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