Nothing, Just Dumb Luck

"It hurt more than I expected it to." she remarked, giving out a wistful smile. "I think it is safe to say that I'm not over him, yet."

"Anyways, thank you for the short talk." she added, standing from the bench. "And of course, a deal is a deal. You have my word."

"You're not welcome, Emi—"

The intoxicated Franco had brought attention to the students and management present in the locus immediately after retching a thin stream of vomit onto the floor. Emily abruptly left seeing the ailing Casanova in need of assistance, all the people gasped and were disgusted. I doubt that this scheme is pushing through considering that our president isn't having any progress as of now.

"I'm here! I got his extra clothings and shoes!" yelled Ted Jones, rushing through the crowd that had surrounded Franco. He's been Franco's wingman for years now and like Franco, he's the second line of defense when it comes to failed ninja moves and they're not the only ones, a lot of them are here and they're a whole pack, just not here at this juncture. From afar, the intoxicated young man was in the process of being assisted in standing on his own two feet and had to get dressed up similarly to how you would dress up a toddler, or baby.

"Ethan! Come over here, I need your help!" yelled Kody, waving at me on top of the step ladder as he was holding a spare banner. I furrowed my brows, raising a hand indicating that I've noticed him and will come over to him. I ran across the middle, going over to Kody. He starts to climb down the step ladder as I was nearing.

"I'm here, is there something wrong?" I inquired, looking around me. "Did we run out of materials?"

"No, the materials were just enough." he responded, staring at the spare banner on his hand. "What are we gonna do with this? You don't want to hang this up, right?"

"Yeah, I don't. Let me just take that and bring it home, I guess."

"It's such a waste if you don't get to hang this up. I mean, you're one of the students who speaks on behalf of our University through music."

"I don't want to get recognized for something I'm not passionate about anymore."

"Ethan, it's more than just being recognized. You aren't writing and performing your songs for mere popularity or limelight. It's you pouring your heart out, hoping they would notice that you're in pain as well."

"Thanks, but I don't really want it. Popular, or not, it doesn't change the fact that I'm not passionate about it anymore."

Kody sighed as I turn away from him, placing the banner inside my bag. Upon closing, I glanced at it, and noticed how passionate I was about music just by how I held the guitar with a grin plastered on my face. Those were the times where I denied the reality and the truth of me being a fruit of the broken family I have and I guess it worked for some time, but eventually I had to rip the chapter off for my well-being. Honestly, I don't think I've really accepted the truth and reality from how I take it every time somebody inquires or talks about family discussions. Thereafter I continued to close it, and prepare for the program itself to start. Kody and I walked over to the seats prepared for all of the students, Franco's fellow officers were starting to panic considering that the program is gonna start soon, but he's not yet sober.

"Looks like someone's going to cancel the program," Kody remarked, crossing his arms. "Their president is not ready for today and it's going to be irritating."

"Eventually, they'll have to push through, with or without him."

"Chap, the oath is in his hands and it's usually written by the president alone. Do you think he was prepared for it? I doubt he did."

"Ever heard of alternatives? I'm pretty sure we've had that discussed way back our earlier years, Kody."

"I'm not dumb, maybe I am, but that's not the point. I am trying to say that he has to be more responsible."

"The administration got his back and I'm certain that Mr. Mcnuggle himself is going to do the oath."

"True, but do you think they'll keep saving him from all of this? It's a responsibility and at some point they'll have to teach him a lesson."

"I guess they'll have to. Day by day, he is getting a bit worse and dependent. It's not a president's trait."

"That's because he adapted to the norms of our own society, thinking we'll save him from his own mistake caused by his ignorance and laziness.

Not to mention, I don't even understand why that girl of yours is such a valiant lover of him when clearly a guy who's better than him is standing next to me."

I glared, nudging him. "Dude, she's not my girl. Stop. It is getting annoying and freaky."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, but both of you would make a perfect couple."

"Shut up. Ugh, I don't like her and I never will. And can you stop it with the cliches?"

"Just saying, she might like you back once you knock some sen—"

"Ethan! It's nice to finally see you again, I missed you a lot." beamed Wendy, hugging me. Not to mention, it is Kody's one and only beloved.

"—Wendy! Y-y-you look great in that uniform. Anyway, what brought you here to come over to us?"

"Oh! Hi, Kody. I was in a search of my comrades. Did you guys chance on Emily, or Alexis?"

"Emily's right over there surrounded by a crowd." I directed, pointing. "Franco's in a sticky situation. They are helping him getting back to sober mode."

"Again? This has happened twice now. Is he going to learn? Honestly, I wish you were elected for a position he could never take responsibility of."

"It's not like there's any difference. We're cousins so a tiny bit of resemblance is still gonna show up."

"It's only tiny and you're a great leader. You carried the whole university last year, so that proves my point."

"It was just dumb luck and I'm certain that even with, or without me, you could still pull off the performance and all, so it's nothing special."

"Nothing special? Did you visit our university's page? I did, so I'm gonna give you a brief summary. You're not going to believe this, but you have to.

"Mr. Mcnuggle had posted an announcement about it, saying he'll include your grand work and performance in the program because you deserve it and you really tired yourself out to pull it off at the music festival."

"Really? He doesn't have to do that. I'm fine with this, not being recognized. As I've said, it was nothing. It's called dumb luck."

"To you it wasn't anything, but dumb luck. For us, our band, the university and to the younger generations who look up to you, it meant everything including an inspiration, a bolt of inspiration and motivation."