The inauguration ceremony was supposed to be a smooth and dignified event. It was a historic moment for the nation, welcoming Roy K, a Prime Minister unlike any before. Unfortunately, "smooth and dignified" weren't words anyone would associate with Roy K.
Roy stood backstage, sweating bullets under the blazing spotlights. The royal blue suit he'd been given was three sizes too big, and his tie looked like it had been tied by someone with a grudge against necks. Aziz, his chief of staff, hovered nearby, looking worried.
"Sir, are you ready for your big speech?" Aziz asked.
Roy adjusted his oversized jacket and muttered, "Ready? No. But since when does that matter?"
Aziz gave a tight smile. "Just stick to the script, sir. Don't go off-topic."
Roy nodded, clutching the speech Aziz had written for him like it was his last lifeline. Unfortunately, the speech was riddled with words Roy didn't understand, like "geopolitical strategy" and "macroeconomic reform." It might as well have been written in ancient Greek.
The ceremony began with the national anthem, performed by a children's choir. Roy tried to look composed as he stood on stage, but the choir's off-key rendition made him cringe so hard his face twitched.
"Don't make that face, sir," Aziz whispered. "You're on live TV."
Roy forced a smile so stiff it looked like he was in physical pain.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Roy's first speech as Prime Minister. The audience leaned forward in anticipation. Journalists had their cameras trained on him. Social media was buzzing with hashtags like #RoyTheRealDeal and #CluelessButCool.
Roy stepped up to the podium, his heart pounding like a drum solo.
He cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen… uh… citizens of Cahaya."
So far, so good.
"I stand before you today as… uh…" He squinted at the paper. "…as a servant of the people."
The crowd clapped politely. Roy felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
"…and I promise to… uh… do things. Good things. For the country."
The clapping slowed, and a few people exchanged confused looks.
Roy panicked. The words on the page were swimming in front of his eyes. He had no idea what to say next.
"…things like… making sure everyone has food! And… uh… that potholes are fixed! And… um… that cows have proper… grazing areas!"
The crowd was dead silent. Somewhere in the back, a bird cawed.
Aziz buried his face in his hands.
Roy's inner voice screamed at him to abort the speech, but instead, he doubled down. "Together, we can make Cahaya the best country in the world! Better than… uh… other countries!"
Still silence.
Then, a baby in the audience burst into laughter. The sound spread like wildfire. Soon, the entire crowd was laughing and clapping, thinking Roy's awkward delivery was some kind of comedic genius.
Aziz pulled Roy aside as soon as the speech ended. "What was that, sir? You went completely off-script!"
Roy shrugged. "Hey, they laughed. That's good, right?"
Aziz looked like he wanted to argue, but he couldn't deny that the crowd was still cheering. "Fine. Just… try to prepare better next time, okay?"
Roy grinned. "Next time? You mean I have to do this again?"
Back at the reception hall, Roy found himself surrounded by dignitaries, ambassadors, and high-ranking officials. He had no idea who any of them were.
"Mr. Prime Minister, it's an honor to meet you," said a man in a fancy suit, bowing slightly.
"Uh, yeah. You too," Roy replied, shaking his hand awkwardly.
Another official stepped forward, holding a glass of champagne. "Your speech was… unique, sir. Very refreshing!"
Roy beamed. "Thanks! I try to keep it… relatable."
Aziz whispered in Roy's ear, "That's the ambassador from Tanah Selatan. Be careful what you say—he's a key trade partner."
Roy nodded solemnly and turned back to the ambassador. "So… uh… how's the trade?"
The ambassador blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I mean… you know… trading stuff. It's good, right?"
Aziz groaned. The ambassador, however, chuckled. "Indeed, sir. Trading stuff is good."
Roy smiled, thinking he'd nailed it.
The rest of the night was a blur of handshakes, awkward conversations, and Aziz pulling Roy aside every five minutes to remind him who he was talking to. By the time it was over, Roy's face hurt from fake smiling, and his brain felt like it had been put through a blender.
As he collapsed onto his bed that night, still wearing his ill-fitting suit, Roy muttered to himself, "What have I gotten myself into?"
End of Chapter 2