The school students were cheering in unison, their voices rising together..... "Elena! Elena!"
Among the crowd, one specific male student shouted louder than the rest, his eyes turning into hearts. "I love you, Elena! Ahhh!"
The girl beside him instantly smacked the back of his head, snapping him out of his daze. "Shut up, idiot," she scolded.
But the cheering didn't stop. The crowd of students only grew louder, voices overlapping... "Elena, we love you!"
Behind the curtain, Elena hid with a small scuff on her face, brushing it off as if what she heard was nothing.
On stage, the teacher tapped the microphone with an awkward cough. "Ahem... please calm down."
The professor cleared his throat once more, his voice echoing through the mic. "As you all know... Miss Elena has carried our school with her elegant victory in her chessboard skill."
The students exploded again in screams and cheers. "Ahhhhh!"
Then, almost as quickly, the crowd hushed into mutters, whispering among themselves in excitement.
"Arrr.... haaa..... hem," the professor coughed, adjusting the lace at his collar, trying to compose himself as the atmosphere grew heavier with anticipation.
"I welcome our elite chess player... Elena Lora!" the professor announced.
But the students stayed silent, the room filled with a heavy atmosphere.
From behind the curtain, Elena stepped out slowly to the right side, her footsteps light yet carrying weight. The students' hearts pumped faster with every step she took, the silence growing louder.
At last, Elena reached the center of the stage.
"Thank you for saving our school to it's fallout," the teacher said warmly.
Elena only nodded with a gentle smile. The chess trophy was handed to her... she held it close in her hands, pressing it against her chest.
Turning her body toward the crowd, Elena lifted her eyes and smiled, the trophy gleaming in her embrace.
The students suddenly erupted, their voices rising together. "Speech! Speech! Speech!"
Their eyes glowed with excitement, feet tapping lightly against the floor in rhythm. The energy spread like a spark, filling the hall with a strange, star-like vibe that shimmered in the air.
Elena let out a small laugh, her lips curling into a soft smile. "Oky, oky..." she said gently.
Stepping forward, she reached out and took the microphone from the teacher's hands with a graceful, delicate touch.
Elena raised the mic to her lips, her voice calm but carrying through the hall. "I was happy that I've beaten the Plom School in the chess battle so our school can be save to it's takedown..."
She scuffed lightly at the school's name but held it off, continuing smoothly. "Still, I'm not bragging."
Her lips curved into the faintest smirk, though her face remained calm and gentle before everyone. Yes I am, she thought in her mind.
"They have been beaten by me single-handedly... even their greatest chess player." She let the words sink in, her tone composed, almost serene.
"Actually, I don't need any reward. The trophy is just a material thing. The real reward is kindness."
But deep inside, her thoughts whispered coldly: Who needs that.
As the applause swelled softly, Elena's voice trailed, but inside her mind another thought stirred. What am I even blabbering about? They are nothing to me.
Yet on the outside, her expression didn't falter. Her face glowed with a gentle calmness, her amber eyes warm as she looked over the crowd with kindness..... a perfect mask that none of them could pierce.
Suddenly, Elena lowered the mic. "That's it... that's all my speech," she said with a gentle smile, handing the microphone back to the teacher.
The teacher nodded, smiling proudly as he accepted it.
At once, the students erupted into louder cheers than before, their voices shaking the hall as they praised her.
Elena, still smiling sweetly, thought in her mind with a smirk... What? I barely gave them nonsense to speak about.
With the trophy held close against her chest, she walked gracefully off the stage, the crowd's cheers chasing after her every step.
After the speech, the event stretched on for another hour before finally ending.
Elena walked calmly through the school hallway, the polished floor echoing softly with her steps. As she passed groups of students, whispers followed her like shadows.
"I heard she's good at fencing too," one said in awe.
"Yeah... how did she pull it off? Her style and movement are really flowy and sharp," another replied.
Elena's mind twitched at their words, a small spark of irritation flashing beneath her calm exterior. It's because I need that style in my gang fights, she thought coldly.
In her head, she pictured herself gripping a steel bat, the swing cutting through the dark night as it slammed into the face of rival gang members. The brutal image contrasted against the gentle smile she still carried while walking past her classmates.
Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. One of her classmates hurried closer and without hesitation wrapped her arms around Elena in a warm hug.
Elena smiled softly, her voice sweet and composed. "How are you?"
But in her mind, her thoughts were far from gentle. This again... this clingy girl.
She sighed inwardly, then straightened her thoughts. Nah, who am I to whine? I'm a gang leader... a powerful one. I should be tough as metal.
Her smile never wavered, her mask unbroken, even as her real self simmered beneath the surface.
"Elena, can you hang along with us at my house after school? I need help for our school project," her classmate asked brightly, clasping both hands together in front of her with pleading eyes.
Elena nodded frantically, her eyes closed with a graceful smile. "Sure."
Inside her mind though, a thought flickered. Huh... she asked me odd.
Elena tilted her head slightly, her voice soft. "Umm... who's us?"
Her classmate only smiled mysteriously. "You'll see." Then she stepped back, waving cheerfully as she walked off. "Bye now! Meet us in the school ground after!"
Elena waved back with her usual gentle smile, but inside her mind she clicked her tongue. Tck... why me.
As Elena lowered her hand from waving, her smile slowly faded once no one was looking.
I can't afford to waste time tonight, she thought sharply. I have a gang meeting... we're planning to attack that pseudo-gang that's been forming lately. They're so many... why now of all times?
Her eyes narrowed for just a second before softening again, the perfect mask sliding back into place as students passed by, none the wiser.
Elena scuffed lightly, tilting her head. Hmm... I should help with this project. She'll get it done in no time... maybe a fraction of an hour, I suppose, she thought, her mind already calculating the quickest way to finish it without wasting her own time.
Her smile remained gentle and composed, masking the sharp efficiency she was already planning.
Elena went back to class, sitting through the remaining hours with her usual calm composure.
Finally, after another hour, she stepped out into the school ground, her bag slung neatly over her back. She moved with the ease of a normal schoolgirl, blending perfectly with her peers.
Hmm... good thing the school doesn't know my father is high-profile, she thought, a small smirk tugging at her lips. People don't even know he has a daughter. He didn't broadcast it to the world.
She shrugged lightly in her mind. Oh well... fair trade. I've been living my best life without being super-mega-massively popular. Just enough popularity as Elena.
Her classmate was already waiting, and they met in the middle of the school ground. Elena glanced around, a faint frown forming. "Where's the us? It's just the two of us."
Her classmate only smiled mysteriously. "You'll see," she said.
Without another word, her classmate began walking, and Elena followed silently, keeping pace while her amber eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
"Come on," her classmate said, reaching out and casually slipping her fingers into Elena's hand.
Bold move for a peasant in my caliber, Elena thought sharply, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she let her expression soften, pretending frailty, occasionally letting herself trip over small pebbles scattered on the path.
Her classmate laughed at her stumble, and Elena's soft, melodic laughter followed.
It doesn't mean that when I keep tripping, I'm weak, she reminded herself inwardly, her amber eyes widening slightly in thought.
On the outside, though, her face and gaze remained gentle and innocent—like a true, harmless schoolgirl, concealing every sharp edge beneath that flawless mask.