A day before Foundation Day, Anathasia and I worked alongside students from different programs. With the help of the Supreme Student Body Council and some background moral support from our beloved Professor Wang, we were inches away from completing the preparations.
Having just finished the paperwork, I walked into the gym where the final decorations were being assembled, a water bottle in one hand and a snack in the other.
Across the room, Anathasia stepped down after sticking the last letter onto the arch that would hang above the gate.
"Finishing touches done?" I asked, walking over and casually handing her the water bottle.
She accepted it and twisted the cap open, taking a quick swig.
"They're finished. We just need to put them up."
She took the snack from my other hand.
Noticing the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead, I reached into my pocket, pulled out my handkerchief, and gently dabbed her skin.
"Thanks for your hard work," I said with a small smile, tucking a loose strand of her white hair behind her ear as she ate.
The gym suddenly fell silent.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Everyone else who had just finished their tasks was staring.
Which was… odd.
"Looks like you suddenly became the standard now," Anathasia commented, taking another sip from the water bottle.
Looking closer, it was mostly the guys glaring at me for some reason.
"All I did was act normally," I said, turning back to her. "That was literally the bare minimum."
She shrugged and gestured toward the exit as she started walking.
"That's not how they see it, I'm guessing." She tossed the water bottle back at me, and I caught it with one hand.
"That so…" I hummed quietly as we stepped out of the gym.
Walking down the covered pathway, I continued, "Anyway, I just finished dealing with the paperwork and financials with the treasurer." My gaze drifted toward the quad. "We should probably notify Professor Wang."
She reached into my pocket and pulled out the handkerchief sticking out.
"Finally… just a bit of manual labor, exemption from classes, and we're still getting additional points. Free snacks from the SSBC too." She dabbed her forehead lightly. "Professor Wang, you're the best."
"I thought you didn't like him?" I replied dryly.
"This is different. He did something nice."
I sighed as we continued down the hallway toward Professor Wang's office.
As we passed a few classrooms, I felt that familiar, uncomfortable sensation of being watched.
"Say…" I lowered my voice. "I know the photo and the rumors made waves, but isn't this…" I glanced back. Students in the quad were still stealing glances at us. "A bit much?"
"Too much? Definitely. Absurd? Also yes," Anathasia replied calmly.
"People are starting to notice us more. That's not something we can really avoid." She paused, and a faint smile curved along her lips.
"Troublesome in hindsight… but it might actually help us in the long run."
We turned a corner. Professor Wang's office was just ahead.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, aside from proving people wrong about our capabilities, a little popularity wouldn't hurt."
She adjusted her pace slightly.
"Think of it as leverage. When something unexpected happens, people naturally listen to those they're already paying attention to. Influence spreads quickly. Anyone trying something against us would think twice."
She shrugged again as we reached Professor Wang's office.
"That way, we don't even have to interfere with our authorities."
She knocked three times before opening the door.
Professor Wang stood near the couch, looking down at a stack of papers with his hands folded. He glanced over his shoulder as we entered.
"Ah, Abe. Dunaleff."
He picked up a sheet of paper and turned toward us.
"Are the preparations complete?"
We both nodded.
"The decorations are finished, Professor," Anathasia began, then gestured toward me. "Kyle also handled the paperwork."
Professor Wang's smile widened slightly.
"Brilliant job, you two."
He handed the sheet to Anathasia.
"That is the schedule for tomorrow's program. However, due to some complications, the Student Council will be unable to assign anyone for the MC role."
We silently scanned the paper.
"And since the two of you are considerably well-known among the students on campus…"
We slowly lifted our eyes toward him.
[He's not going to say it, is he?]
[We're already set in stone at this point…]
"The faculty has agreed to have the two of you mediate tomorrow's event as a pair."
[Fuck.]
And just when we thought Professor Wang was finished—
"Additionally, we have outfits prepared to match this year's theme," he added with a pleasant smile.
—
Minutes after leaving his office, Anathasia and I stared at the floor in silence.
"What exactly was that outfit for…" she muttered, shoulders slumped.
"An entire semester exemption is nice, but…" she glanced at me. "Skirts? Really?"
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.
"Let's not talk about that… I'm starting to remember the times I got dragged into beauty pageants."
"Like… why do I have to be the one wearing the Filipiniana while you're in the suit?"
She stared ahead, muttering to herself.
"I mean… I wouldn't mind snapping a few pictures of you tomorrow and—"
"Dude, what?" I shot her a dry look. "Be serious."
We both stopped walking and sighed in unison.
"For the incentive exemption."
"For the incentive exemption," she echoed with a nod.
—
Before long, Foundation Day arrived.
Since we were the MCs, we came to campus as early as six fifteen a.m.—about an hour before the opening parade.
The rest of the students gathered at the city plaza, roughly a twenty-minute walk from campus.
Meanwhile, on campus—
"Not bad," Anathasia remarked casually as she stepped into the changing room, dressed in a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt underneath. Her hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail.
"You look absolutely gorgeous in that fitted Filipiniana gown, by the way."
"Yeah, sure." I rolled my eyes, handing her the ribbon. "This is just for the exemption. One day."
She chuckled softly and tied my hair with practiced ease.
Catching my reflection in the mirror brought back memories of past pageants, so I didn't linger on it for long.
"What time is it?" I asked, glancing at my phone resting on the cabinet.
"Seven thirty," she replied calmly, stepping back after finishing. "The parade started around seven twenty. They should be here by seven fifty… maybe eight."
I stood from my chair. "Alright, let's set everything up."
I took one step—
—and nearly lost my balance.
Right. High heels.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Anathasia covering her mouth with the back of her hand. She quickly looked away when I shot her a glare.
"Keep laughing," I said with a wry smile. "Let's see if you'll do better in your future marriage."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's—" she trailed off, blinking. "Wait. What kind of idiot wears high heels at their own marriage? Don't you mean prom?"
Before I could respond, a voice cut through our banter.
"Ahem?"
We both turned toward the door.
Arianne stood there with a flat expression, though it gradually shifted as her gaze moved from head to toe.
For a second, she looked like she froze, trying to process what she was seeing. Then she shook her head.
"Mhm. Professor Wang's calling the two of you to the stage. Double time, he said." She clapped once.
We nodded and walked out of the changing room.
Well—walked.
I was still adjusting to the heels, so I steadied myself against the arm Anathasia offered as we made our way toward the stage.
Luckily, most students were still at the parade, so we avoided excessive stares.
Backstage, Professor Wang was already waiting.
"Seven thirty-seven. We have roughly an hour before the opening," he said, holding a sheet of paper before turning to us.
He paused.
"But I must say… the two of you still look fitting together, even with your roles reversed."
I let out a dry laugh while Anathasia kept me upright.
"Professor," I met his eyes. "That semester exemption is legitimate, right?"
He raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly.
"Of course. You're filling in for a significant portion of faculty work." He set the paper aside on a crate. "There's no issue of legitimacy."
We nodded.
—
About thirty minutes later, the distant sound of snares and lyres echoed across campus. The drum corps had arrived.
Anathasia and I exchanged a look, sighing as we waited behind the stage.
"How're you feeling?" she asked, a faint smile on her lips.
"I'll be fine." I glanced down at my heels. "I just hate adjusting to these."
The heels tapped softly against the floor as I stepped closer to the curtains, peeking out to assess the situation.
The drum corps finished their performance. One by one, each department began filing through the gates, taking nearly a full minute before reaching their designated spots on the quad.
Behind me, Anathasia spoke.
"Just a few more minutes. Then it's go time."
"Yeah," I murmured. "We'll be fine."