NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Wednesday Cleaners
I know I did present myself to write for the script, but it hasn't come to me yet that I also have a speech to write for today!
One cold afternoon in the prince's office, I was cramming and undecided to write whether to go write for the speech first or write for the script when someone knocked on the door. Instinctively, I immediately hide the papers in front of me in a drawer before responding to the consecutive knocks on the door.
"Please, come in," I said as politely as I could.
Eventually, the door swung open, and in it came Lucas and his shining presence as he smiled at me with a tray consisting of a cup of I think freshly-made tea by none other Lancelot and some short biscuits beside the cup. As of now, by the way, the afternoon training sessions with my mentors are already done, and now is my time to rest.
"Hey there, Lucas."
Feeling relieved that it is only him who entered here, I hastily brought back the paper that I was writing to earlier together with my quill. Lucas was already on the table and is now serving the tea and the biscuits on top of it before facing me.
"Lancelot wants to give this to you personally, but he had some important errands to run today in just short notice, thus I presented myself to give this instead to you," he said. I smiled at his statement.
"How thoughtful of Lancelot to do that for me," I said and smiled back at the lad. "Thanks for bringing it here, Lucas."
"No problem."
He was just about to leave, bringing the tray with him, when I noticed Lucas pausing for a bit and took notice of what I was writing.
"Is that for your upcoming speech?" he asked, which made my face flush for a split second.
"Yes," I replied. "But I can't seem to concentrate on writing this. You see, we also have a school event coming, and our class needs to present a roleplay due to my suggestion. I volunteered to write for the script that I need to present to the whole class tomorrow, and--"
"Woah, slow down Krisella. No need to panic." Lucas cuts me off while chuckling. I did not even realize I was going too fast with my statement.
"I will be the one to write for your script, so no need to worry and go on with writing for your script." Lucas quickly added that made me look at him in disbelief.
"Really? You would do that for me?"
"Well…" A playful smirk curved on his red, thin lips as he looked at me this time.
"Only if you won't tell Alex that I have done you a favor. You know him, he would be pissed if he knows about this."
I chuckled at that. That is completely accurate.
"Yes, I won't tell him."
Feeling giddy inside, I stood up from my seat, walked towards Lucas, and gave him a tight hug without much thinking about it.
"Thank you, Lucas! I owe you one!"
Lucas remained silent for a few minutes before he cleared his throat, as if snapping himself out of his thoughts.
"S-sure. No problem." At this time, I decided to pull away from him and looked at him once more.
"Anything… for a friend." he quickly added.
I can't help but smile at that once again. Lucas is indeed sweet, thoughtful, and gentle, Lancelot as well…. While Alex is the exact opposite of those two.
"Well, I should be going now. I also have some errands to do as well."
"Yeah… Council duties, no?"
"Yup. Exactly."
After that brief conversation I had with Lucas, he already left the prince's office and I was left eating the biscuits and drinking the tea that Lancelot prepared for me.
"Mmmmm…" I muttered as I took a sip. This tea and the biscuits are delicious, as expected of the very talented archbishop of Citadel.
Since Lucas has already volunteered to take my place in writing for the prince's speech, then I guess I should work on our script as soon as possible as a way of doing my part.
---
The next day at school. I was literally feeling happy when I was able to finish my script yesterday night before this day came.
"A Snow White remake?" The whole class asked in confusion as soon as I was able to share with them my idea for our upcoming role-play event. Mr. Pumpkin will let us plan for the whole week.
That means, no classes in the meantime.
"Yes. I assume you are familiar with Snow White, right?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm intended.
One of my ill-mannered classmates in this section except for the class president named Jill Harrington scowled at the idea that I presented.
"Oh please, who else in this room is not familiar with that lousy fairytale? I say this whole concept of yours is too lousy and my fashion show idea is way much better than this whole thing." she continued.
Yes, she was that girl who presented the fashion show idea in which the president immediately rejected.
"Ms. Harrington, we did not ask for your opinion." The class president, who is now seated on the teacher's desk, spitefully said to the girl. Jill only rolled her eyes at him and took her seat once again.
Then he turned his head to look at me. "Now, you may proceed."
I suddenly felt awkward when the memories of the other day's cafeteria snack with him flashed inside my head without notice. We did not speak that much during that day, but had only talked about school and our future plans when we graduate. Other than that, we remained silent most of the time, which is… again… awkward on my part to be invited by someone like him.
And I was able to know his first name as well, though I am not sure if I have heard it before… which is William.
"Krisella? Is there something wrong?"
The class president's voice placed me back in reality that made my face flush in embarrassment. I can't believe I just doze off in front of this guy!
"No… nothing at all." I hurriedly responded while still trying to act normal. To avoid this awkward situation, I just peeled my gaze away from him and looked at my classmates once again.
"So, as I was saying, I made a script for the Snow White remake that I planned us to do. This one should be a short skit that will only last to an hour or two, I assume." I write the details on the board for the secretary to jot down on her logbook.
In the next couple of minutes, I did nothing but write down and discussed with my classmates the specific details of the script such as the venue for the event, which will be on the school gymnasium, the characters, the plot, the settings, the costumes that will be needed, and the props that will be needed for the play. All of that was immediately approved by the president.
Good thing, some of my good classmates, including my friends, have positively responded to my idea and volunteered to get the respective roles such as the make-up artist, costume designer, sound director, etc.
All in all, the class meeting went well and we all decided to start the rehearsals tomorrow when the script will be printed by the president and will be distributed to our classmates.
Or so I thought...
I was feeling happy when school for today has finally ended for today and my classmates have bid their goodbyes to one another before parting ways through the classroom door. As for me, I was obliged to remain in our classroom for me and my other four classmates are the assigned cleaners for today.
Yes, we have that 'cleaners' system where a group of five students is assigned on their respective days to clean the room. This is to instill respect and discipline in us, students. Wednesday was the assigned day for our group.
To start the cleaning, I tried to find the brooms to use when one of them spoke, a girl with short curly black hair.
"I think it's in the utility room," she said.
"Can't we just clean this whole room using magic? Why do we need to undergo the hassle?" Jill asked, you know my ill-mannered classmates. Yeah, unfortunately, she is part of the Wednesday group as well.
"That would be against the rules," I said as a matter of fact.
"Alright. I will be the one to pick up the brooms for us to use. Where is it located anyway?" I asked the girl who spoke earlier.
"It's in the last room of this hallway. Just walk straight and you will find it."
"Alright. Thanks."
With knowledge of where to find it, I hastily went out of the room and walked towards the utility facility as quickly as I could. It did not take long before I finally arrived at the mentioned facility.
"There you are," I said and went inside.
Surprisingly, the room is quite spacious… with all the things that the school utilities could use for cleaning the entire school. I was humming to myself as I got all the brooms that we will need to start cleaning the room when I heard the loud banging of the door as it closed all of a sudden right at my face.
And before I knew it, I was trapped inside the room.