Chapter 22

"Yeah no… I think it looks good like that. What do you think?"

I confidently said to one of the persons placed in responsibility for this area's decorations.

After a few micro imperfections I had noticed and called out, the person too agreed with my decisions and decided to comply with my orders.

They nodded.

"You know what?" I placed my hand on my chin, "it's not perfectly aligned to the projector…" I noticed a slight imbalance that immediately began bothering me.

"Ah…" they observed and soon agreed with me.

"Actually… let's move it a little," I walked to the table and tried slightly pushing it with the help of maintenance people.

"Er… Miss. Your dress will get creases," an attendant reminded me.

"Bah," I made an uncaring gesture, "I'll just change later or something."

What was more important to me right now, was to get rid of the perfectionist itch awfully tickling my consciousness.

"There," the change was very small but as I walked back and observed the position of the table, I felt a little less annoyance piercing my consciousness. I looked around the banquet hall and instantly felt discomfort attacking me from all sides.

"What do you think, Miss?"

I frowned, "Good. But I might have to run you all a little ragged. I apologize in advance and thank you," I made sure to alert them that I would be unforgiving in my changes.

As I spoke, I felt a hand tap my side.

Expecting Ivan's face, my head quickly darted towards him.

Seeing Ivan's figure, I felt slight happiness within me. Those feelings were instantly engulfed by my sense of responsibility and duty to ensure this event would come out well.

"Ivan," I touched his shoulder as I looked around the banquet, organizing a mental list of changes and details to ensure efficiency. "Help me, no?"

His smile widened, "I think I can. A little bit of your perfectionism has rubbed off on me."

"Do you think we'd have enough time to fine-tune this place before it's time?" I asked, already deciding by myself that we'd have enough time.

"...Yeah, more than enough."

I shrugged at him and walked to the most glaring issue I was seeing.

To the side, he walked to my second most obvious issue, something which alleviated the tickles of annoyance coming from there.

"Go help him," I directed one of the people that were staring at me for instructions toward Ivan. "Try to get more people to help."

My strides were quick and my decisions immediate.

The pressure of time and people arriving soon rapidly started building up.

Soon, most of the details that no normal person would be too interested in had been accommodated to fit my standard. Even without me nagging, the place would've still looked extremely beautiful and presentable.

Still, the end result was not as despicable to me as before, and even the quality seemed better than before.

It's not to say that a high schooler should have more experience or skill than professionals at the job, but that I have experience of years in the future, and am also more heavily invested in this project than the people hired.

I offered some chocolates to the people that had helped us and higher pay. The chocolate was to keep them awake for when the guests came, and the paycheck was because their work was satisfactory.

To be honest, the reason to be here early was not to be doing last-minute changes like this but just to be there early. However, the control freak in me couldn't take it.

…

…

…

"What's your name?"

"My name's Benny, Sir."

"Okay, good work today Benny. I'm Ivan. Go hard at it tonight."

With a smile, the man bumped my outstretched fist and excused himself.

I shifted my legs slightly, rolled around my ankle, and kicked my legs to kick out the sore and tired feeling in my legs.

The person that trains basketball daily will not admit to being tired from just a little running around.

I was reminded of working days and I began talking with the staff members to pass the time. To be honest, there wasn't much else to do except wait and chill.

I couldn't go annoy or bother Alice either because she was also busy.

Hmph. Leaving me like this.

I am not pouting at all. No, I am not childishly upset.

"So anyway, how old are you?"

I smirked while making conversation with the workers who like me, were just chilling right now. "Guess."

"Hmm… Twenty?"

"Nah… seems like twenty-three."

"Twenty-two?"

I nodded at them… "Bingo, bingo! I'm twenty-three."

"Ha, told ya'll. See, I'm not that bad at guessing ages."

They grimaced, "Say that again, shameless… You guessed a 30-year-old woman to be 43. You still want to talk?"

She laughed, "I'm good at guessing the ages of the people that actually seem their age…"

I laughed. Damn, disrespectful. "Ivan here actually acts his age."

"You guessed a lady's age? You're always supposed to go at least 10 years younger than what they look like… How'd she even react..?"

They began laughing. "Story is long so I'll tell ya later. Captain might come yell at us to do stuff soon."

I shrugged, "What captain? Just tell him entertaining guests is still a service."

Their captain wouldn't complain if I said they were entertaining me.

They laughed, "Some pretty good entertainment we're doing."

I nodded, "No really, I'm honest. Just bring a few bottles while you're at it and I'll make sure you won't need to work while you're 'entertaining' the guests."

I jokingly suggested to my benefit.

"...Haha, okay I'll tell you… Quickly though, before I tell you. Who was that lady that just came in and started ordering everyone what to do?"

My grin became more prominent. "Oh, her? Well, she's helping to organize this thing… Why?"

"Really? Cuz' damn, she did not let me rest for a few hours…"

I laughed, "Yeah, working with her leaves you tired but in the end, the result is satisfying and everyone ends up impressed."

They laughed, "I'm just tryna get my paycheck here dood. I'll think about the quality of my work when I'm not busting my ass."

I shrugged, "Tell me the place doesn't look good, though."

"It does look pretty good… and she also did mention a bonus… Is she like an Event Decorator?"

I grinned. "Yes. She is an Event Decorator."

They excused themselves away and I sat in a nearby chair. I opened my phone to check the time.

6:30. We came here pretty early in the day yet time passed very quickly.

Soon, guests would start coming. To be honest, I myself was supposed to be a guest and come here a little later, but I guess I'm just another person helping the event now.

Ah, it would be embarrassing to be mistaken for a waiter…

I felt my phone vibrate.

[Alice: Ivan, where are you?]

…

…

…

[Alice: Ivan, where are you?] I sent him a short message and immediately saw a 'Read' and a typing bubble.

My hair was being braided now and my dress was spotted clean. It's very boring to just sit around doing nothing.

I moved my head a little to give more space and accessibility to my helper. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror.

Black hair, green eyes, a small nose, and a petite face.

I smiled at the mirror and couldn't help but feel satisfaction at my appearance.

Full of egotistical and self-centered thoughts, I mentally slapped myself upon realizing what I was doing.

[Ivan: Same place why?]

Feeling the notifying vibration from my phone, I looked back down and began moving my fingers.

[Alice: I'm bored can you come here?]

I turned my phone off and looked into the mirror, with many thoughts in my head. Every few minutes, I would feel alertness in my brain reminding me of my responsibilities that at this time I do not have.

In the future at work, I would have a constant uncertainty always feeling like I had to do more at work, or there was always something to do.

I haven't felt this in quite a long time.

I wonder how everyone at work is doing now… Some of them would be in the same jobs, except in a different desk and lower position. Some might still be studying…

Suddenly an irksome thought came into my brain.

What if… what if it wasn't just Ivan and I…?

But everyone else from work too?

What if other people also returned in time?

This is something that needs to be confirmed immediately.

I felt trepidation deep inside my heart, desperately wanting it to only be Ivan and me with our future knowledge.

An irrational fear began gripping my heart.

It can't be, right? It should only be us. My breaths began getting rougher and shorter.

I felt my shoulders bend insecurely and my face drop slightly.

Similar to when we were in the car, I began feeling a desperate anxiousness brewing quickly inside of me.

This time it wasn't as strong, but still damaging. This time, Ivan wasn't here.

Ivan, where are you?

My heart began beating faster and breathing seemed difficult and slightly tiring.

I tapped my phone on wanting to turn it on but the screen remained black.

No notification yet. No reply.

I entered the correct password in after entering the wrong password in two times and my screen opened to my chat with Ivan.

My message still remained delivered, not read.