Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl



Pearl ignored the reporter and continued speaking to the others around her.

Seeing that he was ignored, the reporter showed his irritation. "Hey, I'm talking to you. Why are you ignoring me?"

Pearl glanced at him, her look of disdain clear. "I'm trying to give everyone an update. I can't stop for every single question."

Undeterred, the reporter pressed on. "But why not? Isn't my question important too?"

Pearl smiled a little. "All questions are important, but it's rude to interrupt."

Realizing he might have been too aggressive, the reporter touched his nose, looking embarrassed. "We're in the middle of a crisis, and everyone's on edge."

Pearl softened slightly. "Alright, I'll answer your question first."

The reporter stood a bit taller. "That's what you should have done from the start. Why start with that unnecessary introduction?"

"Let me tell you about it then." Pearl looked down the stage. Esther knew that was her cue, so she walked onto the stage, catching the reporter off guard.

"Why bring an actress into this? Is she here to promote something?" he asked.

"You're missing the point," Pearl responded sharply.

The reporter flushed at her rebuke. "What do you mean?"

Pearl cleared her throat. "Esther was the first person to try our new treatment. She was infected half a month ago."

The crowd gasped and took a step back, including the brash reporter, who was visibly shaken.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

"But she's fine now," Pearl continued, "thanks to the treatment."

Skeptical murmurs filled the air. The same reporter spoke up again, "But how? Others have been sick for so long with no cure."

Annoyed, Esther snapped at him, "Are you suggesting no one can recover?"

Caught off guard by her fierce response, the reporter stuttered, "No, That's not what I mean..."

"What do you mean then? You can't stand that I'm healthy now?"

The reporter immediately shook his head. "I wouldn't be upset about that!"

He knew arguing with Pearl was one thing, but upsetting Esther could spark a much larger backlash, especially from her fans.

"Just shut your mouth then," Esther retorted sharply.

Pearl managed to keep a straight face, though she almost laughed at the exchange.