In that instant, a crowd gathered as they overheard the conversation.

"You're usually so timid, Yvonne. How could you be training timber wolves now? You ought to know that timber wolves are predators that can take down bears!"

Yvonne lifted her chin with a proud expression. "It's not that bad. I found that timber wolves are just like huskies—they're very obedient. I mean, they do exactly what I say, whether it's standing or dancing."

I ran back to the training facility in a daze and stood there in silence, watching the three timber wolves I had trained dancing in grass skirts. I started to think that no matter what animal I chose, Yvonne would somehow claim it as her own. I even considered quitting since I couldn't change the outcome.

I applied for a leave of absence to head back to my hometown, using the excuse that my grandma's hens had stopped laying eggs and I needed to train them to fix their behavior.

Elliott Greene, the student coordinator, initially refused my request, but I suddenly took out my plane ticket and Grandma's heart disease diagnosis, saying, "I'm sorry, but my grandma's heart condition is fragile, so she can easily fall ill if she's upset, Mr. Greene."

In the end, Elliott had no choice but to approve the request.

I had no idea how they found out that I was heading back to my hometown, but Brandon and Yvonne showed up right outside my dorm building the very next day.

Brandon approached me, looking displeased. "What the hell are you doing, Tamara? How could you suddenly take time off to return to your hometown, especially with the National Day Gala auditions just right around the corner? You're being ridiculous here!"

Yvonne appeared equally anxious, saying, "You ought to know that this competition affects our college's reputation, Tamara. How could you just quit and return to your hometown? You're well aware that all of us are counting on you to bring honor to our college."

I glanced at them with a frigid gaze and stated flatly, "It's my own affair, and it has nothing to do with either of you."

Brandon snapped, "How can you be so selfish, Tamara? You ought to know that this competition isn't just about you. It involves the entire college!

"You'd better talk to Mr. Greene right now and tell him that you're staying. You can leave to deal with whatever matters you have after the competition is over!"

I rolled my eyes and retorted, "Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do? Get out of my face and move out of my way."

Yvonne, looking aggrieved, said, "If you're upset over Brandon and me, I'll stay away from him from now on, Tamara."

Brandon placed his hand on my shoulder, saying, "I know you're just jealous, Tamara. If it bothers you, I won't have anything to do with other women anymore. Is that enough for you? I don't want you to throw away your future over a petty grudge. I'm only looking out for you, Tamara."

I checked my phone—I was going to miss my flight if I didn't leave, and I had no time for their drama. I pushed Brandon aside and said, "It won't be necessary. I'd actually prefer it if you and Yvonne stayed together for good.

"I just want you to remember that we've already broken up, Brandon, so if you touch me again, I'll report you for harassment."

I pulled my suitcase along and hopped into a cab after saying that. I left Brandon fuming, giving him nothing but a face full of car exhaust as the cab drove off.

…

I arrived back at my hometown that evening. Grandma was so happy to see me that she slaughtered two chickens—that couldn't lay eggs—to cook a nourishing meal for me.

In the following days, Brandon and Yvonne had been calling me incessantly, so I simply added all their numbers to my block list.

I began looking for a new animal to train back home, refusing to believe that from such a vast distance, Yvonne could still take credit for my work. I settled on pigeons after much consideration. I thought that since they were a symbol of peace, I wanted them to perform a flying routine for the National Day Gala.

I wanted to be on the safe side, so I caught wild pigeons in the mountains back at my hometown. After all, wild animals were the most difficult to train. I finally got them to follow my orders after training them for a month.

It wasn't long before the day before the National Day Gala audition arrived. I traveled back that evening and made it just in time as the audition was starting.

Yvonne's expression brightened when she saw me. "I knew you wouldn't give up so easily, Tamara. What kind of animal did you train for your performance? I can't wait to see your act, Tamara!"

Having said that, Yvonne kept glancing over my shoulder. She looked visibly panicked when she realized that I had nothing with me. She was about to speak again when her name was called, indicating she had to go up for her performance.

I smiled faintly while the others were filled with anticipation for Yvonne's performance.

"I heard you trained both a python and timber wolves before this. Which one are you bringing out for the performance, Yvonne?"

Yvonne appeared panicked, stumbling over her words and failing to explain herself.

It was then that a flock of pigeons drifted down from above, landing gently on my shoulders and around me.

When Yvonne saw that, her expression immediately brightened. She then replied with a smile, "I'm training pigeons, as they symbolize peace. I wanted to use them to honor the peace our nation fought so hard for."

She then blew a whistle, sending a flock of pigeons into the sky and forming a grand spectacle. She flashed me a mocking smile before waving her hand, prompting the pigeons to instantly shift into an organized formation.

In the very next second, a rain of foul-smelling droppings fell from the sky, and one of the pigeons actually aimed its rear at Yvonne's smiling face and shot a spray of fresh droppings right into her mouth.