Project Festivity

Days after the museum trip. Everything resumed to the normal school shenanigans. It was the end of a long day; they had just wrapped up preliminaries, the starting point of exams and grades. With that out of the way, it seems that the normal classes would go on.

“What’s with the commotion?” Trinity notices people looking at a poster outside the classrooms. In fact, there are a lot of them scattered. She goes out of the room with Aka, and they saw it. A large poster for the festival was posted. All the students are excited for it. Such activity hasn’t been done for years. A revival. “Well, what do you know?”

“I’m not surprised,” Aka says, looking at the details of the activity.

“Well, they did say it to us,” Trinity whispered to Aka as she returned to her seat. The same with Aka. “Wonder how they’re doing?” In the student council room, the highest positions are holding a meeting. Gregory and Oliver seemed stressed out with what’s being talked about.

“Are you sure that’s the size of what we can hold?” Oliver questions the occupied lot of the festival, which everyone seems to question, also.

“Well, the higher-ups agreed to it.” The President of the student council replies with a concerned, but somewhat realistic answer. “Do you want to make it smaller?” The size occupies all of the quadrangle, which is perfect for the student population to fit.

“No. That’s perfect!”

“Well, I’m glad you agreed! Any objections?” Everyone went silent with the objection choice. The president seemed happy with the decision. It’s going to be a big festival that needs everyone. “With that out, I need everyone to know...” He then whips out different fliers. It involved setting up a booth. 

“The student council will also be involved with the booth setups, so we need to group ourselves.”

“Question,” Gregory raises his hands. “How many members?”

“Is 6 minimum enough?” His eyes didn’t react, nor did his body. Yet, it seemed to be a perfect plan for them to team up and set up a booth. He gave a thumbs-up.

“Can the members not be from the same course?” The president took a moment with that question. He never considered it the first time; with no choice or thought, he decided.

“I’ll have to ask Sir Bobby for that.” He is the student council advisor, the final verdict, you could say. “Is it fair?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Anyway, we have roughly a month to prepare, so we can still adjust.” He is confident that the plan is going their way. Oliver and Gregory seemed to be fine, as well as the rest of the members. The meeting went on for another half an hour. While that was going on, Kelly and Eugenio wondered about the poster for the festival. Sitting by the window outside, they are thinking of possibilities of what’s gonna happen.

“Would you think that they’re gonna need help?” Eugenio asks, which is very in character for him.

“Pretty sure they’re good.” Kelly is confident in their skills. She seems to be the person to have faith in them. Eugenio agrees with the statement. Likely that he is confident in their skills, too. “However, if I see a form for booth setups, I’m dragging you with me, Eugenio.”

“Why does that sound like a threat?”

“Because,” She looks at him dead in the eye, that he felt uncomfortable. Her aura felt different. It’s her alter-ego, apparently. “I will go all out.” She does an evil-like giggle that catches Eugenio off guard. 

“And no one will stop me.”

“You do you.” Eugenio leaves her, going inside the classroom.

“Don't leave me, my partner.” She sounded dramatic with that tone as both headed inside. Hours passed by, and it’s about to be dismissed. Some students have gone home, while others are still in the classroom doing either schoolwork or something else. For the latter, that’s what’s going on with the student council members.

“Any updates?” Gregory asks Oliver about the festival.

“No. How about you?”

“Same.” The boredom struck the International Relations majors so hard that Oliver leaned back on the desk, and Gregory sat on the floor. With nothing to do, they scrolled through their phones. Two students approach them about to head home.

“Gregory, Oliver.”

“Hello, Anna, Sam.” Gregory drops his phone and gives them a little chat. That’s Anna Georgina and Sam Santos. Both girls have been with them since their first year. Kind and sweet. Helpful. “What’s up?”

“We were just passing by,” Sam says. A deep-ish voice comes out from her.

“Excited for the festival?” Oliver asks them.

“Of course. Actually, Anna and I plan to open up a booth.”

“That’s great!”

“But we were wondering,” Anna asks, being cute and all. She is shy in nature, too. However, when an opportunity comes for her, she steps it up a notch. “If you both can join us?” It’s a good plan for them to sell together and bring the banner for their own course. However, Oliver seemed not to be interested. Gregory notices the body language. He isn’t disappointed in him; however, he felt like the wrong answer would be said.

“Maybe give us until tomorrow for our answers?” Gregory replies calmly.

“Sure! We’ll go ahead. See ya!” Both exit the room, one being optimistic for tomorrow, the other not seeming to be ready. Oliver notices the frown. Somehow, he felt guilty about it.

“Did I say something wrong?” He looks at Gregory, scrolling through his phone as if nothing happened.

“Maybe? Who knows?” Gregory simply replied. Trying not to give an answer to him. “Hey, we should get going.”

“Shall we?” Both got their bags and left the room. As they turned the corner, they passed by the room where Aka and Trinity always are. Both noticed they’re still there, chilling at their leisure. Oliver stopped, still looking at them, or maybe at someone. Gregory noticed this, and he did something very embarrassing,

“Oliver~!” His voice became louder, and the students heard it from inside the classroom. “Let’s go!” Oliver was so embarrassed that he ran to his side and was about to side-lock him.

“Hey,” A student ran out the door. “Can you wait for us?” Aka says, wanting to go home with them.

“Sure!” Gregory didn’t take any word from Oliver. Aka heads inside and fixes her things, the same with Trinity. The boys sat down just opposite their room. “Sorry, sir.”

“Can’t you think first before saying anything?”
“What? At least we get to walk with them.” He gives Oliver a wink. However, Oliver thought of it differently. “Oh, did I trigger something?” Oliver had a face that was about to release something unfiltered, but he calmed down.

“Nothing.” He smiled so hard that his cheeks looked red and about to strain. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Your face answered differently,” Gregory says. The two girls exit the classroom, waving goodbye to their classmates. Trinity was surprised by who she was walking out with. For the most part, she was surprised that it was Aka who initiated it.

“You know, Aka,” Trinity initiates the conversation as the four walked towards the gate. “You became a different person.”

“Hmm? How so?”

“You’re more talkative.” After the museum trip, she was more talkative to Trinity than just supporting her. 

“More expressive.” The way she reports is much smoother and clearer than in her first year. 

“You also tease a lot now.” Earlier, her two pointed fingers pressed Trinity’s cheeks, which startled her.

“Whoaw…” The boys were impressed with how Aka acts right now. Maybe someone inspired her to be expressive now.

“Maybe next time, you can join us for the student government?” Gregory offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Aka shakes her head excessively. 

“Aw, you would have been a great officer. Maybe you could replace this guy for Secretary-General.” Pointing his thumb towards Oliver.

“I can’t afford to lose, then!” Oliver amped up to do better in the student government. The three laughed at the energetic Oliver. Not for long, they have reached the gate. The boys go west, Aka waits for a ride, and Trinity goes east. Gregory receives a notification from the student council group chat.

“Shoot,”

“What’s up?” Oliver asks him.

“Vice President wants a short talk with me, just nearby.” Gregory scratches his head, thinking he would have gone home, but timing didn’t play with him. “You can go ahead, Oliver.” He heads back inside to meet the Vice President.

“Actually, I’ll go ahead, too—” Trinity says, then, Kelly and Eugenio appear.

“Oh, now who do we have here?” Teasing Kelly is ready to strike.

“Hey, that’s enough now.” Eugenio calms her down with all the teasing that she has been doing since the beginning. “I think you’ve had enough.”

“No, I do not— Never mind.” Kelly calmed down. All those teasings made her hungry, so she headed home first. “I’ll cross now! See you tomorrow!”

“As I was saying, I’ll— No, we’ll be heading out now.” Trinity leaves with Eugenio. That leaves Aka and Oliver alone on the sidewalk. Aka’s shyness shone brighter again. Suddenly, Aka moves ever so slightly to the right, near him. It was a repeated pattern twice, but not on the third. As she moved to the right, he moved to the left, which resulted in a slight arm collision.

“Oh, sorry,” Both said at the same time. His green and her aquamarine eyes met again. Clearer than through the magnifying glass. The place froze for a moment.

*Honk*

A car horn resumed its place. It was her ride. She approached the car, seemingly trying to escape the tension. He opened the door; however, she entered quickly. No bowing, just the door shut. The slightly tinted car left, with her not looking back at him, but he still looked at the car.

“What was that about?” He was wondering. His thoughts may have caused trouble for himself. Seconds later,

“Oh, you waited for me. Thanks!” Gregory, finally out of the abyss, met him. “Let’s go?” Oliver nods, and both walk home. It wasn’t a quiet home, but it left an empty conscience that could question and haunt him. However, in the distance near the passageway, a figure sees this unfold her eyes.

“Maybe,” She turns around from where she is as she walks home. “Maybe… I can do better than her.”