CHAPTER 11
PICNIC BASKET DATE
What is the most genuine way to get to know someone, have a long nice time, and have a wonderful stroll and hopeful conversation. Picnic, a little picnic in the park with the lake view with little swans swimming in front of the eyes, or laying around on the flower blanket in the wood in the middle of the tall trees, listening to the birds chirping all of these can bring something inside people's heart to take action, in the genuine way or not, it's not for the Apollon's principle to judge, but he thinks it's the admirable way to continue the tradition and get to know people in our own town. To be honest, he just wants to promote his students and school, but still, it's the best option I have to tell—confess to one of the most wanted boys in town, so I have dug all my gold and money for bidding him.
Wearing the most basic but flattering dress I've ever worn, the white strapless sundress with little blue and yellow flowers on it, white high heels, and a dark navy crop cardigan, which has a rope to wrap around my waist, I let my hair wavy lose, but the wave is precisely the way I want to be. No dark cherry lips today; I cover them with pink and mauvy tone, gloss on top. It might look too much when I say, but compared to other girls who standing around me in the hall, I am the most basic little high school girl. But my pearl and pink diamond, which my father bought for me on my birthday, can bring the most radiant out of them. And I hope to win over the man I want to date today.
"Zia—Oh my god!" Irin's voice comes from behind and holds me. "How come you look so stunning like this?" she shouts, holding my waist.
"Do I look alright?" I ask,
"What are you talking about!? You're the fucking Goddess." She says with the brightest smile as others around me look at me.
"Thank you—I've been prepared," I say lightly,
"Oh, I see," she whispers. His heart will be shattered—you look too great to break up with someone."
I stare at her, "I shouldn't?" and look at the empty stage, "I think he might…understand, and I love this dress. I didn't have the chance to wear it."
She nods, "Well, I hope you have paper enough to have him," and gazes around the girls in the hall.
I let my eyes explore the population in this big grand hall: boys and girls, primarily girls, young girls from our school and other towns, ladies in their early and late 20s, oldies but goodies, and others who enjoy the entertainment of the school activities. You name it. Last year, there weren't this many; it was for girls' baskets, probably because this one is the principal aimed at the target wide. However, this isn't what I'm excited about. My heart is racing, and I can't wait to confess my feelings to him. So from now on I can be with someone I really love.
"Greeting ladies and gentlemen, every person in this hall. Welcoming everyone to our big grand picnic basket festival. We hold this festival every year to honor our tradition, and of course, all the money from our kind-hearted people will be donated to the helpless child organization, to the homeless charity, and so on. I guarantee every single penny you spend will be in good deeds."
Then, the hall is full of applause.
"And this year, it's time for Apollon's boy students to be the stars for this year's event. The seniors will be graduating in a few months. They will bring all the fancy baskets and food for all the bidders. But remember, citizens who are under 16 and above 30 are not allowed to join. I'm sorry, but rules are rules. So—Are you all bidders ready? Hang on to your kind papers and let the highest bid win!!"
The principal announces with his full energy. His smile is wider than the stage he stands on.
"First student, Keen Jaques. Here he is—" Then the applause rises up. He's tall, pretty handsome, and good at math. I know this because he and I are quite competitive in this subject, but we never speak to each other. He wears glasses, which are nice, expensive ones. He's wearing a black suit with a white shirt inside. His hair is neatly done well, showing his eyes under the glasses, so shiny.
"Mr. Jaques, he's very impressive in Mathematic, won the Olympics for 3 years straight, and his basket is pretty big; he probably has a lot of wonderful food, more than he counts, Hahahaha." The principal introduces the person briefly and tries to make a little joke so people can be entertained by his speech. "Start with 100 dollars?" He smiles, "Who would like to be the first bidder?"
"100 dollars," The black dress girl in front of me raises her right hand and says,
"100 dollars from the black dress," The principal says,
"150." Another girl in a white dress says,
"150 dollars from the white dress," The principal says,
"250."
I listen to all the girls bid for Keen, who would have known he's quite popular. Irin shakes her left leg nonstop, so I grab her hand and hold her for a while.
"Sorry," Irin says,
"You will have a date with James. Don't worry." I say,
"How can I be sure? Remember the last 2 years, Dennie? He wanted you to bid him—so bad. He was so popular all the girls bid on him. His girlfriend got up on the stage and dragged him out and bid him for 3,000 dollars," She says,
I sigh, "How could I forget." I hold her hand so tight, "It won't happen," I console her.
"You need to help me, alright? If any fish face bid on him and I run out of money." She glares at me intensely,
I laugh at her, "Sure, anything for you, my love." I tease her.
"Next, Mr. Holland Wiser. He's the footballer, the big and muscle of our football Apollon team. He has a sneaky and handsome smile. I have never seen someone taller than him in this school. Who is falling for his killer smile? And his basket is bigger than his body!"
"500 dollars," the first girl in the first row looks up at Holland like a statue.
"500 dollars for the girl in front,"
As the girls bid on him, his eyes accidentally lay on me, startling me a bit. I haven't talked with him that much since I decided to be with Tytas. Holland smiles at me, so I smile at him back. But we are good—we're good.
"He's still had some feelings for you, you know," Irin whispers,
"What?" I glare at her
"James says so—and he says so," She raises her eyebrows.
"Sold for the little girl in front for 4,500 dollars!"
"Woah," Irin and I are stunned a bit.
"Next is also the star of the footballer, James Senard. The football team's captain leads the team to win for a century—hahaha, I'm joking. He's been here only for 3 years. But he has made an astounding accomplishment for our school. Who is going to—"
"1000 dollars," Irin raises her hand and says her bid.
"Oh my, what a wonderful number for a starter, 1000 dollars for a young lady in green." The principal looks at Irin and James, who smile big and proud.
Suddenly, my eyes notice a blond girl in a pink dress with white fur on top. She smirks at Irin and notices me after she stops her curl and turns her face to the stage. Felicia is here as well. I wonder who she will bid on or just come here to entertain herself. And more than one question: Are she and Vik still together?
"1200 dollars," Another girl not far from Irin says out loud.
Irin hurriedly looks at her and quickly raises her hand, "1500 dollars," She says,
"1600," the same girl says,
"Does she know that you're his girlfriend?" I ask lightly,
"I told you this event is madness," Irin says, "1800 dollars," she says to the principal,
That girl tucks her eyebrows, frustrated, "1900," she continues,
I observe her reaction, "I think she can't raise over 2000," I say to Irin,
"2300 dollars for my baby," Irin smirks and looks at James on the stage.
I smile lightly to her bid and notice that James also smiles so wide. "These two…" I murmur.
The principal waits for the other girl to open her mouth, but no signal from her. "That's it then, sold for a student in green for 2300 dollars!" He says, "How big a smile you got there, James. Now you can get off stage, James."
He gets off stage while winking at Irin. She winks back at him and does a little jump beside me. She holds me so tight. I hug her back. "Congrats," I chuckle a little.