Chapter 53: Unfettered Felicity
Larry, Clyde and Benjamin had drawn everyone’s attention, the original slow ballad they were performing adding that extra touch of youthfulness to the atmosphere as the song came to an end.
I was out with my friends,
City lights, Friday night,
Then you passed by, like a star on fire,
I fell for you in, a heartbeat, without a warning...
A wave of genuine applause and whistles immediately followed, the trio offering a light bow.
Despite Larry and Clyde’s initial refusal, they had ended up performing the song as the fundraiser gradually came to an end.
By now, things had long stabilized, hence why Aiden’s system had updated a couple minutes ago.
-
[Ding!]
[Exclusive Quests Updated!]
⸢Exclusive Quests
› Alright, Mr. Management Sim.
└ Optimize the fundraiser – [0.5 LP Awarded!]
-
Having long dismissed it, Aiden was currently seated on the grass next to his Pops, the youth heartily cheering for his buddies while his father simply applauded, an impressed smile on his lips.
A moment later, they soon left the stage and moved over to meet with their parents whom had equally arrived roughly thirty to forty minutes ago.
As they did, Damian whom had whipped up a small megaphone from God knows where, walked up to the center and spoke;
"Everyone, thank you very much for attending Silverlake High’s 37th Spirit Week Fundraising!"
A new wave of cheers and applauds rippled through the park, the atmosphere warm and homely. Allowing it to settle a bit, Damian then continued;
"A big thanks to the Student Committee members and the PTA. We couldn’t have done it without you,"
Naturally, another wave of applauds and cheers followed.
"Special thanks to Aiden North," Damian pointed to him from where he stood, a gesture the youth reciprocated with a simple peace sign.
This time, the cheers and applauds were far louder than the previous times, one that Aiden smiling genuinely to it as he lowered his head in curt bobs of appreciation.
"Truly, you and your buddies were a godsend this year." Damian finished his sentence and then announced after the claps had settled once more;
"In ten minutes, we’ll be relocating to the stadium to release the floaters. That will officially round up the festivities for the day. Once again, thank you all for attending."
"Silverlake High’s looking forward to having you at the Homecoming Dance."
With that, the youth gave a little bow and then made his way off the stage as the wave of applauds followed him.
Leaning back a bit though, his hands propping his weight, Aiden then looked over to his Pops with a beaming smile and an arched brow, seemingly as if to remind him about something.
In response, the man reciprocated with light bob of his head. Then he asked, his expression amused;
"Why’d you rope me into this again?"
"I mean, you did know about the prank, so to a certain extent, you’re as much of a culprit as I am," Aiden replied, his grin only widening by the second.
"It’s only fitting you do the honors as an honorary member and supporter of our hijinks." he casually added with a light shrug of his shoulders.
To that, Richard rolled his tongue around the insides of his mouth and then remarked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he pointed at his son;
"You’re a cunning little fox, you know that?"
"Little ’ol me?!" Aiden let out a faux scoff of surprised disbelief.
"Preposterous!" he added with a shameless grin, one that earned a boisterous laughter from his father that rippled across the grounds, cutting through all the lively chatter and drawing attention to them.
A flicker of curiosity mixed with intrigue flickered across several faces, most of them curious as to what the father and son were discussing to have led to such an outburst.
As for Aiden’s peers, most of them seemed to have come to a rather sweet realization. Aiden’s laughter... it was just like his father’s.
One that was very reminiscent of a similar scene in the cafeteria just a few days back between he and Mrs. Rodriguez.
As Richard’s laughter finally settled though, he and his son raised their heads up to see a pretty middle-aged woman in a simple floral dress looming over them.
Without even being told, Aiden immediately knew whom this was. The resemblance was just that much. She had that same brown hair that was styled in a messy ponytail and those kind amber irises.
"Evening, Mr. North. Aiden North," the woman politely greeted, a warm smile on her lips.
Quickly, father and son rose to their feet as the woman continued, her gaze now focusing solely on the younger of the two;
"My son, Theo. He talks about you and the others a lot,"
"Says you’re one of the coolest people he’s ever met... which by his standards, is really high praise." she continued, her smile turning genial.
"But more than that, thank you so much for lending him your laptop." she gently grasped Aiden’s palm, her rough palms squeezing it tightly.
"He’s been able to help so much around the house with the little online gigs he’s been doing and I can’t tell you how much of a godsend it’s also been, not just for him, but also his siblings."
"So, from the bottom of my heart, I truly am grateful that he got to have a friend like you, and I hope you’ll both continue to get along." she smiled a sweet smile in conclusion.
Aiden was short of words to say for a while, his hands simply scratching the back of his head as a bashful smile touched his lips and his cheeks reddened by the second.
Though he’d known Theo wouldn’t just use the laptop to build the game alone given how intelligent he was, he hadn’t expected it to have had that much of an effect on his family’s living conditions.
Still, he managed to reply a moment after, his words gentle as he kept his response simple;
"I will, Mrs. Brooks. I will."
Bobbing her head once in appreciation, she then turned her attention to Richard and did the same thing.
As that was happening, Theo whom had finally spotted his mother walked over briskly!
Judging by his expression, he was clearly worried that she might be embarrassing him. Before he could come around to intercept, Aiden cuffed an arm around his neck and dragged him away.
"She didn’t say anything weird, did she?" he worriedly asked in a quiet tone, his amber irises searching Aiden’s face for any clues.
"Coolest people, eh?" Aiden playfully poked at him instead, his eyes creasing into amused slits.
"Mum...!" Theo immediately covered his face with both palms, his voice muffled in embarrassment.
Chuckling amusedly at that, another parent suddenly halted Aiden in his steps.
Looking up to stare at the bulky man who stood in his way, Aiden quickly clocked whose parent this was.
"Mr. Hale, I presume?" he greeted Clarissa’s father with a light smile on his lips, his expression completely relaxed.
"If you so much as make my daughter cry--"
"Dad! What the hell do you think you’re doing?! I told you he’s just a friend!!" Clarissa’s voice cut across the park like a banshee and Aiden could’ve sworn he saw the man visibly recoil in fear.
At the same time, the queen bee was already traipsing over like a mini storm, a furious blush on her cheeks as her mother whom was carrying a baby with a sucker in her mouth equally called out, her tone sweet yet amused;
"Now you’ve done it honey! Good luck!"
Considering Aiden hadn’t even been intimidated by the man, he found the entire interaction more amusing than anything else.
As Clarissa apologized to Aiden and Theo, and then dragged her father away by the arm, both youths looked to each other and shared a genuine chuckle... an interaction Mrs. Brooks and Richard caught from afar.
Soon enough, the duo joined up with the other four, and greeted their parents and family members whom were present at the park.
A couple minutes later, there was a mass migration from the park to the stadium, lively chatters filling the air.
As they did, Aiden updated his buddies on what he’d discussed with his dad, one that had them all widening their eyes in surprise at first, only for a moustache-twirling cackle to escape the quartet’s lips simultaneously, a stark contrast to Theo who simply let out a soft chuckle.
Two minutes later though, the crowd had arrived.
Currently placed on the field, each separated from the other by several meters were the Spirit Lanterns, all of them awaiting to be lit and released into the skies by their respective classes.
Yet, standing at the Hoco Placard right bang in the center of the stadium were five figures, three of whom were students from each respective year, one Coach Ramirez and one Principal Walters.
Without being told, every student knew exactly why they were waiting.
More so when Principal Walters kept tossing his silver-taped gummy bear into the air from time to time, almost as if daring the culprits involved to step forward.
Yet, with the most devious grin on his features, one his buddies were equally sharing, save for Theo whose smile was more amused--albeit with just the slightest hint of mischief--Aiden looked over to his father who caught his signal.
Letting out an amused sigh, Richard casually walked up to the five individuals and began shaking them as he gave them a $50 bill with a congratulatory grin.
"Congratulations, here’s your fifty dollars." Richard awarded the sophomore
"And fifty dollars for you." he gave the next student, a freshman.
"And you." he handed over the bill to the junior.
"Coach. Here you go." he
Naturally, the students whom had won were ecstatic to see their luck rewarded, as was Coach Ramirez.
As for Principal Walters, the man was utterly baffled and quite possibly bamboozled as Richard vigorously shook his hands in congratulations;
"Ah, Principal Walters. Congratulations. Here you go"
To that, the man walked off the stage, much to the confusion of the parents, several of whom had no knowledge of the scavenger hunt.
Yet, in stark contrast to that were the students, most of them clapping while laughing their asses off as they watched their principal try to make head or tails of what had just happened.
Though they themselves had been genuinely stunned, Principal Walter’s reactions had genuinely sent them.
Clearly, the man seemed to have been expecting a peculiar bunch. Never in his wildest dreams would he had ever believed a parent would be involved in the scavenger hunt prank--
His thoughts hadn’t even settled before his eyes began searching!
Soon enough, the man’s eyes found Aiden’s and the gang’s, their smiles mischievous and their eyes glinting much the same.
Slowly, the man began bobbing in acknowledgement as he clapped a couple times;
’Well played kids. Well, played.’
Yet again, the rambunctious gang had escaped detention for pulling another prank he actually wouldn’t have any legitimate proof of, especially since he doubted Aiden’s father would be cooperative.
Casually, the man began walking away from the placard, his students still clapping for he and the others whom had won.
Soon enough, the applause and laughter settled and each class, along with their parents, huddled up around their lanterns.
Then, after lighting it up, they gently released it to the skies, a shared sense of camaraderie cascading across the school grounds as their forms made for such beautiful sights in the evening glow.
Glancing over to his son whose side frame reflected an unfettered felicity, Richard was almost about to ruffle his hair when he realized that his son was almost his own height of 5’11.
Once again, he couldn’t help but inwardly remark again with a soft sigh;
’He’s growing up so fast...’
To that effect, the man simply cuffed his arm around his neck, a gesture Aiden naturally allowed as he kept watching the floating lanterns.
And just like that, Spirit Week had reached its end, and tomorrow’s Homecoming was all that was left.