Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Backstage was a hive of activity. Every contestant had to turn in their design sketches before heading to the rooms assigned by the organizers to create their garments. The finished pieces, all hidden under red cloth, awaited their grand reveal on stage. It was a race against the clock, testing the designers' skills to the limit, and everyone was feeling the pressure.

Out in the audience, the competition hadn't started yet. Flora was lounging in her seat, munching on snacks. After polishing off a bag of chips, she held out her hands to Connor. With a gentle care that was almost surreal, Connor pulled out a wet wipe and cleaned her hands.

They tried to stay under the radar, tucked away in a corner, but with their striking looks, they were impossible to miss.

"Wow, he's so handsome!"

"Look at him cleaning her hands! What a dreamboat! So sweet and caring, and good-looking too!"

"Who says they're a couple? They could be siblings!"

All the attractive people seem to end up together, leaving the rest of us to muddle through. Life's too cruel sometimes.

Feeling the eyes from all around, Flora lifted an eyebrow, a mix of pride and smugness bubbling up inside her. Jealous much? But hey, this is my man, not yours.

Thought I might've been seeing things,"

with the judges. Now, with a moment free,

"Yup," Flora replied nonchalantly.

the finals, the win is pretty much in the bag."

and nodded towards it. "Mind sharing? I

him two sandwiches and a bottle

"Connor,

and syrupy. Louie, mid-sip of milk, choked and nearly

"Cough, cough, cough..."

How could she say that so sweetly? But Connor calmly opened a thermos, poured water into the cap, and handed it to Flora.

Flora to Connor with a twitching

treat Flora like his own child, attending to her every need. And Flora, in his

should head down," Louie said, feeling that any more of this would be too much

eleven sharp, the competition kicked off. Backstage, the yet-to-perform contestants