"Kai Johnson!" The voice of a middle-aged man boomed through a microphone. There was a dead silence, so still that even if a pin dropped, it could be heard, but then uproarious cheering and shouting erupted throughout the entire auditorium.
"Hey, Kai! Kai!" A female voice called out in excitement.
"Huh? What? Shenice, what's happening?" Kai responded absently, still lost in thought.
"Are you serious right now? Go on, you got the scholarship and the only entry into the Academy of Elites!" Shenice scolded Kai, pushing him from his seat and onto the walkway of the auditorium.
Still lost and confused, Kai walked up to the podium, his mind swirling with uncertainty. He stood just a foot away from the middle-aged man, who smiled warmly at him, ready to acknowledge his achievement. But all Kai could do was stare, unsure of how he had ended up here.
"Congratulations, Kai. You worked hard, and I wish you success on the rest of your journey. Tomorrow, you leave for the Academy. Dean Wright will take care of your administration and travel. Just go safely and come back successful," the middle-aged man said, handing the scholarship certificate into Kai's hands.
"Thank you, Principal Clarke," Kai responded with a slight smile, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. As he walked down from the podium, another round of uproarious cheers erupted. Kai paused in his tracks, looking around at everyone who was supporting him. He gave them a heart-stopping smile in return.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Ahhhhhh! The school heartthrob just smiled!"
"He smiled at me!"
"Kai! I love you!"
"He's so handsome!"
"This is the first time he's ever smiled right!?"
"Mhm! You're so famous!" Shenice exclaimed, feigning jealousy as Kai returned to his seat. Despite her playful tone, her eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched the attention Kai was receiving. Kai, however, simply sat back, his mind still preoccupied with the whirlwind of events that had brought him to this point.
"What? I am the school's heartthrob after all. Jealous?" Kai mocked jokingly. With a pout, Shenice folded her arms and turned her back to him.
"Haha!" Kai laughed aloud at his friend's childishness.
"But I'm going to miss you," Kai added with a tender smile and a longing expression.
Whipping her head around to make a snarky reply, Shenice met with a new Kai—one with emotions swirling in those beautiful heterochromatic eyes. Shenice stared at Kai without blinking, her face slowly flushing red as she found herself mesmerized by his beauty. His gaze was as deep and captivating as a water lily floating on a calm pond, and she found it hard to tear her eyes away from him.
"Shenice, hey, are you alright?" Kai asked, waving his hands before her eyes.
"Huh? Oh, I-I... I'm going to miss you too! So when are you leaving!?" Shenice quickly shifted the topic, embarrassed by the fact that she had been staring at her friend like one of those girls who were head over heels in love, even though they had been friends for five years.
"Oh, Principal Clarke said tomorrow. Dean Wright will take care of the enrollment process, so I don't have to do much," Kai replied, relaying the information Principal Clarke had shared with him.
"Already!?" Shenice blurted out, causing nearby students to glance their way.
"Ha! Already?" Shenice laughed awkwardly and whispered to Kai, trying to mask her embarrassment while avoiding the curious gazes of those around them.
"Hah! Yes, remember, this is the Elite Academy—the only school for royals and the wealthy. I heard they have strict regulations and rules when it comes to their students and the school. So I guess everything must be done according to their rules," Kai responded with a shrug. Shenice was left dumbfounded as she absorbed the information about the prestigious academy.
"How do you know? Is someone in your family attending the academy?" Shenice asked jokingly.
Upon hearing Shenice's words, Kai's expression darkened and his shoulders drooped. But he quickly composed himself, brushing it off as if nothing had been said.
"What do you mean? I'm so poor, how could I get into such a school without a scholarship? Or does this Young Miss from a rich family wish to be my sugar mama and offer me a place?" Kai replied flirtatiously.
Shenice, who had noticed the brief change in Kai's expression, was surprised. But she quickly dismissed it as an illusion, pushing the thought out of her mind.
"You, no wonder the girls go crazy for you, Mr. Heartthrob. So, do I have the honor of being His Highness's sugar mama?" Shenice joked, putting on a British accent.
"Mmh," Kai responded in a poised manner. The two of them then laughed at their ridiculous banter, like children who had just found a toy for the first time.
---
After the ceremony in the auditorium, Kai and Shenice set off on their way. However, they only managed to walk a few feet from the auditorium doors before they were suddenly bombarded by the entire school, as if they had been lying in wait.
"Ahhhh! Kai! Can you sign my shirt!"
"Hey, Kai, can you sign my ball!"
"Ahhhhh! Kai, can I get a kiss!"
"Kai! Do you want to catch up before leaving?"
The entire school surrounded them, pressing in with their demands. Kai and Shenice had no choice but to comply, knowing full well that there was no way to escape or avoid the crowd, even if they tried to run or reject their requests.
And so, the entire evening passed in a whirlwind of autographs, photos, and enthusiastic pleas. By the time they were done with everyone, the sun had set. Exhausted and drained from the chaos, the duo finally said their goodbyes and parted ways.