Don was supposed to live a stable life with his simple and kind fiancée and his mother in their hometown, but Carmen entered "his" life like a turbulent storm.
Like he said, she is a witch that harms people. However... is Don really unfortunate after experiencing all this?
[player]Go, Carmen.
[Sara]What are you saying?
[player]I said go! Carmen.
Even if Carmen initially approached Don with other plans in mind, I believe that she really did throw that sweet acacia flower at Don outside the tobacco factory in an impulse of love.
Carmen has no lack of suitors, yet she was drawn to Don by his unintentional indifference. Their love was accidental and a stroke of luck. Don just received someone's love by accident.
At this moment, I too am just a lucky fan who was invited by Sara to perform on the same stage as her.
[Sara]...Hahahah! Are you pitying me?
[player]Never! We don't need to pity each other because...
[player]Love is like a free bird that none should try to tame!
In my opinion, Carmen, who Don pursues, is that very free bird. Many of Carmen's actions are unforgivable, but if she loses her proud nature and willingly enters his "birdcage," will she still be the same Carmen who fascinates him?
I don't think so. Although Don and I are similar in some ways, we are still different people. I can't become Don. Like Sara said, the only person I can show to the audience is myself.
So, the person in front of me is Sara, not Carmen. I... want her to be free.
[player]Love is like a vagabond that will never be restrained by the law! Go! You're free now, Carmen!
I can see that some members of the audience are already making doubtful and even stunned expressions. It's natural for the audience to have such a reaction when the script is changed at the last minute.
Fortunately, Sara is as calm as always. In my heart, I'm secretly glad that I mentioned the possibility of changing the ending to her before the show started. I can only hope that she understands that I'm trying to "express who I am" at this moment.
...No, I believe she'll understand because this is our homework.
Full of anticipation, I wait for the response of the person who fascinates me. Like her, I also look forward to the element of surprise she has. This kind of improvision is precisely what she's best at.
[Sara]Oh? You're so arrogant! That's so arrogant of you, Don!
Sara's fingers slide down my cheeks to my neck and lift up my chin. Her eyes are still proud, but there's a trace of tenderness inside them.
[Sara]Go? Where do you want me to go? What right do you have to tell me to leave you?
[player]You no longer love me. I don't want you to die, so I can only give you your freedom.
[Sara]You've never taken my freedom, so what makes you think it's yours to give? You think you're being generous, but you're actually more arrogant than anyone else.
[Sara]You want me to leave? Haha, then I won't leave. Hold my hand, Don. I won't leave anymore!
[player]...Are you pitying me, Carmen?
[Sara]You were rude to me first, so I'm just paying you back.
Seeing that I'm not moving, Sara grabs my hand herself.
[Sara]Don, I like the sound of cheering and winners.
[player]But I am a loser of life. Meeting you has made me lose everything.
[Sara]No, that chain... your chain... is a chain that binds my soul. It has just wound itself around my heart again just now.
[player]Just now? You capricious woman. You declare me the winner just because of this?
[Sara]Why not? Love is arbitrary in the first place. It is like a gust of wind, and it happens to be blowing towards you now.
[Sara]Let go of your petty self-esteem. At least for this moment, you are enchanting, so you are the winner.
[Sara]Rejoice! Winner!
The People
[The People](chorus) Yes! This is great! Victory! Glory belongs to the victor—Don!
Rose petals fall from the roof and land beside us. The bright red that originally symbolizes tragedy has now turned into a blessing for the winner.
Just like that, Soul's special opera performance ends amidst the cheering of the crowd...
After the performance, the competition ends with the audience voting for Sara's victory.
But the last-minute changes to the script spark some controversy, and Olevi's colleagues are angry at the result.
Colleague A
[Colleague A]Ignoring the fact that this is their home ground, is a performance that doesn't respect the original work really a qualified performance?
Colleague B
[Colleague B]I can't agree with this result. Olevi's performance was more brilliant.
[Olevi]Okay, that's enough. Although Sara's impromptu adaptation of the ending was very sudden, doesn't the audience's response prove that this was a wonderful performance?
[Olevi]As for winning or losing... Sara's choice is the most direct response. Even if my performance won the audience's applause, since the matador failed to win Carmen's heart, then this is naturally my loss.
Seeing Olevi admits defeat like that, her colleagues have nothing else to say, and this little dispute after the performance is settled.
[Sara]You were really brilliant tonight, Olevi.
[Olevi]You were too. I was no match for your impromptu performance.
[player]Thank you for calming down your colleagues. They made such scary expressions just now...
[Olevi]Hahaha, don't mention it. I must say, from your performance, I can't tell that you've only practiced for around one month. Like Sara says, you're really talented at acting.
[player]I'm flattered to hear that.
[Olevi]If we get the chance, let's perform together on stage again in the future.
[player]Huh? That wouldn't be good, right? I only stepped up this time because we couldn't find someone. You two should compete alone next time.
[Olevi]That's not really right. I didn't just lose to Sara today—I lost to the two of you. You wouldn't do something unromantic like running away after winning, right?
[player]Um, I'm not really running away after winning... Im just helping out...
[Sara]Hehe, won't you think it's unfair? We'll have a great advantage.
[Olevi]Challenges must be difficult to be fun. It's decided then. See you next time.
[player]W-Wait! Ms. Olevi—!
Without giving me the opportunity to reject her, Olevi turns around and leaves after speaking.
[Sara]It looks like this won't be the last time we perform together.
[player]W-Will you two really keep competing like tonight...?
Oh well, at least this headhunting incident has ended well. I'll worry about the future later.
[Sara]By the way, have you decided yet?
[player]Decided? Decide on what?
[Sara]Hehe, you shouldn't pretend to be confused at this time. Have you decided whether you will officially join Soul or not?
[player]Oh, this matter...
So Sara was serious! Forget about the troubles of the future. I have a big problem waiting for me right now...
