Chapter 32: Cultural Festival (Part 1)

So, guess what? Today is the first day of the cultural festival!

I admit that I'm a little excited this year. Maybe because I have more people to have fun with unlike in the past. I have Colleen, Vyl and the band members.

The battle of the bands will be held tomorrow. The celebration and school events are for two whole days so we have today to have fun and then we'll think about the pressure of the competition tomorrow.

For the first time in a while, I excitedly got up from my bed. I stretched my body first before finally getting up and prepared to take a bath. Vyl is no longer beside me. He was probably even more excited than me since he found out I would be taking him to our university for the cultural festival.

The university is open for outsiders this time. As long as a student from our school invited them then there's no problem. There will be a lot of people again but I'm not that bothered by it now since I'm with my... friends. I smiled with that thought.

I have finished taking a bath and am currently looking for clothes to wear. We don't have to wear uniforms today because of the event and as long as we are wearing ID, we will not be scolded.

I chose to wear a floral yellow wrap dress that fits perfectly around my waist. I decided to braid my hair all the way from the top of my head to the tip. That took me a lot of time because of the length of my hair.

I also applied light make-up to lessen the paleness of my face. My complexion has always been pale and I look sick all the time because of it. I looked at the full-length mirror to see my final look. The color actually complemented my skin. My whole get-up screams the vibe of the upcoming summer.

I was about to go out when suddenly, my phone rang. It's my brother's name that's currently flashing on the screen. I quickly pressed the answer button.

"Hey, sis!"

"Yes, my dear little brother? Good morning to you too."

"Woah. Looks like someone’s in a good mood." I rolled my eyes even though he can't see me. I don’t want him to start ruining my morning.

"What do you want?" I asked with a bored tone.

"And she's back!" My face went blank. He was laughing and I was waiting for him to finish. "So... you're now part of a band, huh?"

I gasped silently because of shock and my brows instantly furrowed. I never told them about me joining a band. "H-How did you know about that?"

"Oh, come on, sis. Did you really think you can hide something that big from me? And to think you're even participating in your school's battle of the bands competition."

I let out an exasperated breath and massaged my forehead. He's not supposed to know that. Knowing Hellios, with his babbling mouth, this new will definitely reach our parents in no time. And I don't want them to know yet.

"You forgot that you're famous and you obviously know that I'm famous too," he sarcastically continued. Hellios is annoying yes, but he's very protective and caring. My enemies are also his enemies, he told me that directly. We went to different schools but even people from his university knows me.

"Is the competition today? I'll go watch," he added.

"No. The cultural festival lasts for two days and on the second day, the battle of the bands will be held. "

"Okay then." He was silent for a few seconds before talking again. "You're not lying, are you? So, I can't watch my heavenly sister singing with her heavenly voice?”

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I can already imagine his grinning face while teasing me. If he was right in front of me, I would have punched him in the face. I rolled my eyes before speaking.

"Of course not," I replied shortly, making him feel that it’s not funny.

"Alright then. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? I love you."

"Hellios wait! Umm..." I hesitated. I'm not sure if I should say this.

"What?"

"D-Don't tell Mom and Dad please." I hope he’ll listen to me. I really don’t want them to know yet. I'm not yet ready.

"Sure thing, sis. I won't."

My face brightened because of his reply.

"Thank you. See you tomorrow. Love you too," I said before ending the call. I felt relieved that Hellios wouldn’t tell our parent about it. I can manage Hellios seeing me but not yet my parents.

I glanced at the mirror one last time before going out of my room.

"Breakfast is ready!" Vyl announced excitedly the moment I went out.

I just smiled back at him and sat down at the dining table. He seemed to have cooked our breakfast first because he is still in his pajamas and obviously hasn't taken a bath yet. He sat on the chair in front of me to eat.

The food Vyl cooks are becoming more and more edible. I mean, don't get me wrong, the food he makes are all delicious but they are also weird. He combines the ingredients that are usually not mixed together in a single dish. But then again, the result is always delicious so I stopped complaining anymore.

But lately, his cooking has become normal. Just like today, he fried rice and mixed it with eggs and hotdogs. I’m sure he learned all that from watching T.V. There were also two cups of coffee prepared on the table for the two of us.

"Hey, Drake said he can't come," Vyl said while we were eating.

"Oh? Why?"

"He said there's some sort of an emergency in his father's company. He can't ditch it."

What a waste. I wanted him to come with us too but it must have really been an emergency for him to miss all the fun.

After we finished eating, I told him to take a bath quickly. Maybe it was only about half an hour and he was already done.

A wry smile crossed my lips when I saw what he was wearing. It seems okay but it I think it’s too hot. He's wearing a white long sleeves shirt and paired it with faded jeans. He looks so neat in a white-colored top.

"You're not feeling hot, are you?" I asked just to make sure. "Are you comfortable?"

"Of course," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I just shrugged in response.

I paired my outfit with white sneakers which l think looked nice. Vyl also wore the same color of shoes. We look kinda cute together. I smiled inwardly.

And since I usually just walk from my condo to the university, Vyl wondered why I didn't take a cab.

I had to explain it to him while we're walking.

We passed by other students of my univerity and almost everyone was looking at our direction. Just like what happens in the mall every time we go out. Some girls were screaming in excitement as they looked at Vyl while others were muttering why I was with a handsome man that they’re not familiar with.

I heard someone backstabbing me. Vyl also seems to have heard it because he turned around to look at the group of girls who were just walking behind us. Knowing he has a loose screw in the head, before he could do anything unpleasant, I stopped him immediately.

I linked my arm to his and pulled him close. He just glanced at me without saying a word. I always do that when we're hanging out usually in the malls.

It's either to keep him close to me because I'm afraid that he'll suddenly do something stupid or when I just feel like it. Sometimes, we play while walking like some five-year-old kids. I sighed because I was also slowly becoming childish like him.

We are already inside the university campus and are just waiting for the others to arrive. We talked with the whole band, including Colleen to meet in front of the university gate so we could roam around the campus to check the mini attractions prepared by each class here. Each class is assigned to prepare one attraction or event.

My class decided to do a mini cafe. The menus and shifts of the waiters and waitresses have been already been decided, and to my luck, I’m not in the list because I will participate in the battle of the bands tomorrow. But we will still check it later to have snacks and refreshments.

There are also events today that will take place in the school's auditorium such as role plays, musicals and more. Fortunately, the battle of the bands will be held tomorrow. We can still enjoy today’s events freely.

We are the only ones here, so far. We seemed to have arrived too early. Vyl and I waited for a while in front of the gate. I was facing the phone and texting them while Vyl was just by my side who seems to be moving restlessly.

Irritated, I turned to him and would have yelled at him when I suddenly stopped.

I caught him holding his right hand and started at it with furrowed eyebrows. I also saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He looks like he’s in... pain? What’s happening?

I slowly tapped his shoulder. He looked at me in shock and his eyes widened as if he had come to his senses

"Are you okay?"