A Song for You

"May I hug you? You deserve it," Jacob asked as the camera stopped recording. Zoe chuckled softly.

"Of course," she said.

"Congratulations! You finally made it to the final." Jacob gave a brief hug and a pat on the back, showing his true feelings off-camera. Such a hug could spark gossip if he's not careful. Zoe knew and appreciated Jacob's effort to protect her reputation.

The hug only meant congratulations because Zoe had gone through two tough weeks and finally made it to the final. Another contestant performed even worse, saving Zoe from elimination—a stroke of luck.

Two days ago, Zoe advanced through the semifinals with the last song arranged by Wolf. An easier song. Zoe managed to get through it smoothly, although Syanna said Zoe didn't perform a hundred percent. That achievement was almost unimaginable for Zoe because of her messy performance.

"Thank you once again for everything you've done," Zoe said. She was genuinely grateful to Jacob for being a patient mentor.

"I'm paid f