"The school will hold an annual art festival! The meaning of art here is a variety of arts, such as music, dance, or martial arts." Mrs. Angger exclaimed enthusiastically. She stood in front of the blackboard, "Now, who wants to participate? We only need two people."
The classrooms suddenly became quiet. Everyone looked as if they were just listening to bad news. Gabby glanced left and right trying to see who was interested in joining.
After Gabby felt that no one was interested, the girl ventured to raise her hand, "Ma'am! I want to join martial arts."
Mrs. Angger nodded her head then turned around to write Gabby's name on the blackboard, "I really like students like Gabby." She said sarcastically.
After finishing writing the girl's name, Mrs. Angger turned around and asked again, "Is there anyone else who wants to join?" Her forehead frowned when no other student volunteered, "Come on, you guys are already this old! Do you still have stage fright?"
The students there immediately pretended to be busy, some were reading textbooks and some others even playing with their fingernails, completely ignoring Mrs. Angger who was talking at length in front of the class.
Gabby turned to see Michael wanted to talk to her. But when she saw the boy, she suddenly came up with a brilliant idea. Gabby raised her hand, "Ma'am! Michael can play the piano." The girl said aloud.
Michael's eyes that were initially looking at the textbooks on his desk immediately shifted his gaze quickly towards the girl, "Hey! Don't decide everything on your own!" The boy whispered in panic.
Mrs. Angger looked at Michael with sparkling eyes, "Really? Alright then it's decided. Gabby performs martial arts while Michael plays the piano."
Before Michael could protest to his teacher, Mrs. Angger turned around and wrote the boy's name on the blackboard. Michael looked at Gabby with a flushed face because he couldn't imagine standing on the stage, "You..." He sighed and then looked away, "Whatever."
Gabby didn't answer but only nudged him by the arm and chuckled.
-
After Gabby told coach Hendrik that she was going to perform at an arts festival, the old man immediately volunteered to come to school every day so he could take Gabby more seriously. It happened the same with Michael. Every time he came home from school he would confine himself in the music classroom so he could practice with the music teacher at his school.
The music teacher at school felt his self-esteem plummet when he found out that Michael's piano level had reached level eight, exceeding him who was still at level seven. Even the teacher deliberately chose a difficult song so he could boast a little, but Michael only needed to see his teacher play it once and he was able to imitate it well.
The teacher's eyes widened in shock when he saw that the boy could play more beautifully than him. He was even willing to drain his brain so he could choose even more difficult songs so Michael could not imitate him. But Michael only needed to look at his teacher's hand movement once and he could copy him easily.
Since Michael easily completed his training, he came home sooner than Gabby. Coach Hendrik had always been notoriously training his pupils in karate, making Gabby stay at school until five or six in the afternoon.
After Michael finished his training, he waited for Gabby by the school gates because they had promised to go home together. It wasn't long before he heard Billy's voice coming from behind him.
"Boss!" Michael saw the man running towards him, he looked away and could see Billy holding a red plastic bag.
Today Billy deliberately went home late in the evening so he could watch Gabby practice and give her some snacks. He did all these things so that Gabby agreed to be the boss of the Black Snake gang.
Billy's steps stopped when he saw Michael standing in front of the fence and was looking at him. 'He must be waiting for Gabby.' Billy thought to himself. He then approached him and smiled sweetly, "Hello!"
Michael looked away, trying to find a way to avoid him because he honestly still felt afraid of the big boy.
Billy's hands clenched tightly as he felt that Michael was ignoring him. He stopped in front of Michael with his head held high and chest puffed out, "Hey! Are you waiting for Gabby here? Go away or I'll kick you out here!"
Michael kept ignoring him, preferring to look inside the school as if he didn't hear Billy's threat. He did so even though he was frightened and had been calling Gabby's name in his heart.
Billy felt his pride hurt when he realized that the boy in front of him was still ignoring him, "Hey! Are you not listening to me?!" He raised his voice.
Michael looked away and saw Billy's red face, his eyes gleaming with flames and his mouth slightly ajar, "You're noisy." Michael said briefly.
"What did you say?!" Billy shook his head, couldn't believe what he heard. He then grabbed Michael's shoulder hard and got ready to throw his fist at Michael's face.
Suddenly, Gabby's voice came from far away, "Billy! What are you doing?!" Billy immediately dropped his hand off Michael's shoulder when he heard the girl's voice.
Billy turned around and found Gabby standing and glaring at him. Next to her was an old man he didn't recognize. Billy could feel his hands sweat and as Gabby walked closer to him he knew death was near.
"What are you doing to Michael?! I said don't bother him anymore!" She yelled.
"B-boss! I didn't bother him! I just wanted to talk to him..." Billy looked at Gabby's face timidly. He lowered his head when he saw the flames in her eyes.
"Ha ha ha" came Gabby's sarcastic laugh, "You think I'm blind ?!" Gabby shouted, somehow every time she saw Michael approached by Billy she felt as if she had to always help Michael.
Billy did not dare to answer the girl, his hands were shaking and he felt like crying without tears. In all his life even his mother couldn't make him cry but why could Gabby make him feel like he wanted to kneel and apologize with tears in his eyes?
'Oh shoot! I shouldn't have approached Michael! My boss hates me even more now!' Billy muttered to himself.
Gabby looked away and then looked at Michael's face. She tugged at his arm so the boy could stand beside her, "Are you alright? Where does it hurt?"
Michael smiled faintly then shook his head, "I'm really okay, he didn't hurt me anyway."
"If you dare to mess with Michael ... you'll see!" Gabby threatened Billy. Then, she let go of her grip on Michael's arm and folded her arms across her chest.
Billy shook his head quickly and then answered in a trembling voice, "I-I understand boss."
Gabby looked at the old man and smiled, "Coach, let's go now."
The girl then grabbed Michael's arm and they walked together, holding hands.
After seeing the three persons walking further away, Billy clenched his fists when he saw Michael's back. He grumbled inwardly, 'You annoying boy, when don't you just die?!'
-
Even though Gabby had warned him not to follow her, Billy still stubbornly followed her everywhere. When Gabby finished practicing karate at school, Billy hid behind the trees so that he would not be seen.
"Ouch ... my neck hurts." Michael complained.
"Here! Let me massage slowly." Gabby replied enthusiastically.
From a distance, Billy hid like a menace watching his rival, 'Crazy, how do I get to swap bodies with Michael?' Billy thought to himself.
-
On the day of the art festival, the school invited all parents, guardians of students, and also some important figures from the education field, such as the head and deputy of the National Education Office.
The room that was used for indoor sports was beautifully transformed so that the atmosphere looked more lively. Music and songs were played from the sound system there. The seats on the first and second rows were reserved for special guests, while six rows behind them were specifically arranged for parents and guardians of students.
"I didn't think that I would see my future son-in-law playing the piano!" Agnes said excitedly while pressing the camera's shutter several times, "Husband, after the show is over, let's take photos with Michael and Gabby." She added.
Agnes did not wait for her husband's answer, and just walked away while pressing the shutter button again. Daniel only put his hand in his pocket as he couldn't do anything about it and followed his wife who was busy taking photos.