The Book

Relief washed over me like a cool breeze on a hot day. I had pulled it off, at least for now.

The headmaster, a portly man with a perpetually jovial expression, stepped up to the microphone, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Well, well, well," he chuckled, "it seems our young celebrity has a talent for impromptu speeches."

The crowd erupted in laughter, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of admiration and curiosity.

I bowed my head, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks. "Thank you, Headmaster," I said, my voice amplified through the speakers. "But all credit goes to the student council for organizing this wonderful event."

I continued with the prepared remarks, adding my own personal touches and anecdotes along the way. The words flowed effortlessly from my lips, the energy of the crowd fueling my confidence. I felt a strange sense of exhilaration, a thrill of power as I held the audience's attention in the palm of my hand.

After the opening ceremony, the bazaar officially commenced. The schoolyard transformed into a vibrant marketplace, filled with stalls selling food, drinks, handmade crafts, and various other items. The air buzzed with excitement as students from different schools mingled and explored the various offerings.

I made my way through the crowd, my eyes scanning the stalls for anything unusual or out of place.

"There are so many people here," I muttered, weaving through the crowd.

As I wandered through the bustling bazaar, a particular stall caught my eye.

"What the f*ck is this..." I read the sign aloud, unable to contain my laughter. "'How to be Cool'."

Of course, this was Jonathan's doing. He was still sporting his signature black leather jacket, basking in the attention of a group of admiring girls who were vying for a photo with him.

I shook my head and continued on my way, only to come face-to-face with the seniors who had tried to ambush me the day before.

Shit... I should've gone the other way.

I quickly turned and made a hasty retreat towards the parking lot, hoping to avoid another confrontation.

There, I found Marcel sitting alone on a bench, his eyes glued to his phone.

I approached him silently and stood behind him.

Marcel looked up, startled. "What's up?" he asked, quickly pocketing his phone.

"Just bored," I replied, leaning against a nearby wall.

"Same," he sighed, his gaze returning to his phone screen.

"Shouldn't you be the MC?" Marcel asked, his eyes still glued to his phone screen.

"I already did my part," I replied, sitting down next to him on the bench.

"So?" He looked up at me, his eyebrows raised in question.

"My next time on stage is at the end of the day," I explained. "There's nothing else for me to do for now."

"Hmm..." Marcel nodded and returned to his phone game.

I looked around, feeling a wave of boredom wash over me.

What should I do now? I wondered, restlessly shifting my weight on the bench.

I opened my phone, a new message from Dove flashing on the screen.

[Dove: Xian, I'm on my way to your school. Wait for me, 15 minutes.]

She's coming here? I wondered. Maybe she wants to talk about the book.

I nodded to myself, a sense of anticipation building within me.

An hour later, I found myself standing at the school gate, waiting for Dove's arrival.

Where is she? I thought, tapping my foot impatiently. I've been waiting for an hour.

Vroom!

A sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb, its engine purring softly.

Finally, I muttered under my breath.

The passenger window rolled down, revealing Dove's smiling face. "Xian!" she called out.

"Finally you're here," I shouted over the loud music blasting from the festival grounds. "Let's park inside!"

She opened the car door, and I quickly climbed in, eager to escape the noise and crowds.

Inside the familiar confines of the van, a sense of urgency filled the air. The quiet hum of the engine couldn't mask the tension in the air.

Dove skillfully maneuvered the vehicle through the school gates and into the parking lot, coming to a stop in an empty space.

"Okay, I'm actually here to pick you up," she said, turning to me with a serious expression.

"Pick me up?" I asked, confused.

"Yes," she confirmed. "Remember my hacker friend?"

"Yeah?"

"He wants to meet you."

My heart skipped a beat. "But I'm the MC for the bazaar tonight..."

"I know," Dove replied. "Just let me know when you're ready to go."

I nodded, my mind racing. What did the hacker want with me?

"So, why are you here, if not for me?" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"To have fun, of course!" she exclaimed, her serious demeanor suddenly replaced by a playful grin.

"But I thought you wanted to see the book..." I reminded her.

"Oh, right! I completely forgot," she exclaimed, clapping a hand to her forehead. "Can I see it now?"

"Yeah, let's go to my classroom first," I suggested.

She nodded, then opened the car door and stepped out. As she did so, she pulled a mask and a pair of sunglasses from her purse.

"Why are you putting those on?" I asked, confused.

"Don't you remember? I'm famous!" she said with a wink. "I don't want to be recognized."

"Oh, right," I chuckled, remembering her 300,000 Instagram followers. "This way to my classroom."

Arriving at my classroom, 11-4, we found it deserted, the usual noise replaced by a quiet stillness.

"Everyone must be at the bazaar," I remarked, pushing open the door.

We stepped inside, the empty desks a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the festival. I retrieved the book from my bag and handed it to Dove.

She examined the cover, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Hmm... where did you get this?" she asked, her voice a hushed whisper.

"Some kid gave it to me," I replied, shrugging.

"I see..."

She took off her mask and glasses, her eyes scanning the book's worn pages. She perched on the edge of my desk, her focus unwavering.

I watched her as she read, my gaze lingering on the sharp line of her jaw and the graceful curve of her neck.

< Chapter 053 > Fin.