"Anyway," I said, changing the subject, "this festival seems pretty fancy. How many sponsors do you have?"
"Luckily, a company offered to sponsor us generously, without asking for anything in return," Luna explained, a grateful smile on her face.
That's unusual for a company to do that for a high school.
"What company?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"WRA Company!" she replied brightly.
My eyes widened. It was my family's company! Dove must have arranged this.
I sighed inwardly. "I see..."
"Is something wrong?" Luna asked, noticing my change in expression.
"No, it's nothing, Just surprised, that's all. How much are they giving you?"
"Twenty million, two hundred fifty thousand rupiah," she said proudly. "But they asked us to make sure their logo is everywhere, along with your face. It seems they know you or something?"
Right, Of course they know me.
"I'm not sure," I replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal my connection to the company.
She nodded excitedly. "Anyway, the opening ceremony starts in 30 minutes, in the schoolyard. We'll have a performance, an introduction of the sponsors... then a little morning activity, like a quiz, before we officially open the bazaar. In the afternoon, a band will start playing to fill in the gaps during the shopping."
I nodded, absorbing the information. "Sounds good, I might add a little something to the mix..."
"Oh? What do you have in mind?" Luna asked, her curiosity piqued
I hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. "I'm not sure yet," I admitted. "But I think I can do something... unique."
"Alright, then," she said, clapping her hands together. "Let's head to the schoolyard. It's almost time for the opening ceremony."
We followed her out of the student council room and into the bustling hallway, where the energy of the upcoming festival was palpable. Students rushed past us, carrying boxes of decorations, instruments, and snacks for the various stalls.
As we reached the schoolyard, the crowd had already begun to gather. A makeshift stage had been erected at the center, adorned with colorful banners and my own face, plastered on posters and flyers. Students were milling about, chatting excitedly and taking photos of the decorations.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. This was it. The moment of truth. I had to prove to myself, and to my new family, that I was more than just a pretty face on a poster.
I took a seat backstage, the air buzzing with the nervous energy of the student council members as they rushed around, making final preparations for the opening ceremony. The clock ticked away, each minute feeling like an eternity.
Twenty-five more minutes, I thought to myself, my stomach churning with anticipation.
I glanced around, my eyes scanning the crowd for Lenna. She stood at a distance, talking to a friend. I recognized her as Athique, the girl who had greeted me in her classroom the day before.
I settled back in my chair, trying to calm my nerves. It was just a speech, after all. How hard could it be?
Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see the Harbinger standing there, its shadowy form blending seamlessly with the backstage curtains.
"You seem nervous," it observed, its voice a low rumble.
"A little," I admitted, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. "I've never been a public speaker before."
"Don't worry," the Harbinger reassured me. "You have a natural charisma that will captivate the audience. Just be yourself, and the words will flow."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. The Harbinger's presence was strangely comforting, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this.
"By the way," I said, a thought suddenly occurring to me, "I still can't seem to say your name out loud. Why is that?"
The Harbinger chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "It is because you have not yet earned the right to speak my true name," it explained. "Only when your power has fully awakened will you be able to utter it."
I frowned, feeling a sense of frustration. "But how am I supposed to awaken my power if I can't even say your name?"
"That, Xian Ying, is part of your journey," the Harbinger said cryptically. "The path of the Unveiled is one of self-discovery and growth. You must learn to trust your instincts and embrace the unknown."
The Harbinger's words hung in the air, a riddle wrapped in an enigma. I was no closer to understanding my true purpose, but I knew that the answers were out there, waiting to be discovered.
"I'll see you later, Xian Ying," the Harbinger said, fading into the shadows.
I took another deep breath, steeling myself for the task ahead.
I paced nervously backstage, tapping my foot against the floor in anticipation. Despite the Harbinger's encouraging words, a wave of anxiety washed over me. I hadn't spoken in front of a crowd before, let alone one this large.
As I glanced around, I noticed Lenna and her friend approaching, accompanied by two other girls. More friends? I wondered, a flicker of curiosity sparking within me.
"Senior!" Lenna called out, a bright smile on her face.
I straightened up and walked towards them. "Yes?"
"My friends from another school want to take a picture with you... with all of us, actually," Lenna explained, gesturing towards the other girls.
I looked at the group of eager faces, trying to gauge their intentions. I didn't recognize any of them, but they all seemed friendly enough.
"Sure," I agreed, a polite smile forming on my lips.
The four girls huddled closer, their excitement palpable. I bowed slightly, offering them a warm smile.
"Thank you, Senior!" they chorused, their voices filled with admiration.
I nodded, a smile still lingering on my face. It felt good to be admired, even if it was just for my supposed modeling skills.
"Lenna, are you free right now?" I asked, turning to her.
"Uh, yeah," she replied, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Why?"
"I thought you might be busy with student council duties," I explained.
"Well, my main job was to design the banners and posters," she said, pointing towards the giant image of my face hanging above the entrance. "The rest is being handled by other members."
I nodded, my curiosity piqued by something else. "Speaking of the banners... who took that picture of me?" I asked.
Lenna's eyes widened, and she quickly looked away, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. It was clear that she was hiding something.
< Chapter 050 > Fin.