Chapter 73: Going with the flow

It was the end of the first term session, and the school was alive with excitement. Different cars drove into the compound, honking occasionally as parents arrived to pick up their children. Laughter echoed across the grounds, students calling out to one another, snapping pictures, and basking in the celebratory atmosphere. The air buzzed with energy after all, it wasn't just the end of term, it was the long-awaited party. Every student had brought their A-game when it came to dressing up. The school had never looked this vibrant, as students paraded through the compound in trendy outfits, their excitement practically tangible. Inside the studio, things weren't quite as relaxed. 'Hey, Jace, chill," Jason said, raising an eyebrow as he watched Jace pacing around for the umpteenth time. Max, Jason, and Jace had arrived at the studio early, hoping to prepare for their performance. But since they got there, Jace hadn't sat still for even a second. His pacing was constant, his hands clammy, his breath shallow. 'How do you expect me to chill?" Jace shot back, halting briefly to look at his friends. 'My dad and grandma will be out there… watching me… watching us. What if I break down again like the other day? What if… what if…" He trailed off, visibly rattled. 'Gosh! Jace, stop. Nothing is going to happen," Max interjected firmly, standing and walking over to him. He gripped Jace's shoulder reassuringly. 'We'll go out there, and you'll rock the stage. You hear me?" Jace nodded, though his expression still looked unsure. 'Ye… I… think so. Damn, I'm so nervous," he admitted, voice trembling slightly. 'Take a chill pill, boy. You can do it," Jason added, winking at him. That managed to pull a small smile out of Jace. But it didn't take long before his nervous energy turned to something else. He looked around, noticing two of their team members still hadn't arrived. 'Where the hell are Dorah and Ronald? Aren't they supposed to be here by now?" 'I wonder where they are. Should we go check on them?" Jason asked, already moving towards the door. 'No, you guys might miss each other on the way," Max advised, stopping him. Dorah had just left her friend Agnes, who had immediately spotted Joseph at the hall entrance and gone to meet him. Dorah smiled faintly to herself and turned in the direction of the studio. 'They must be waiting for me already," she muttered, quickening her pace. Suddenly, a strong arm reached out from behind a wall and dragged her into a nearby room. 'Ha…!" she gasped, about to scream, but a hand quickly covered her mouth. 'It's me," came the whisper of a familiar voice, Ronald's. Her heart slowed a little as she recognized him, and he slowly removed his hand from her mouth. 'Oh, you scared me," she said, breathing heavily as she looked around. The dim lighting and science equipment told her they were in one of the laboratory rooms. Ronald had her pinned gently against the wall a moment before but now stepped back slightly to give her space. 'You could've just come out and talked to me normally," Dorah said with a slightly raised brow, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Ronald didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on her, scanning her slowly from head to toe. There was an intensity in his gaze that made her shift slightly, unsure of what he was thinking. 'Ronald?" she called softly, pinching his cheek playfully to break the tension. 'Ha! What was that for?" he asked, rubbing the spot with a grin. 'Are you even listening to me? You could bore a hole through me with the way you're staring. Is the makeup too much? I can go clean....." 'Gosh, babe, it's perfect… you're perfect. It's beautiful like… I… I mean, you're beautiful," he stammered, caught off guard by his own emotions. Dorah chuckled, her cheeks turning red. 'Ronald, stop," she said shyly. She tried to hide her face, but he gently caught her hands and pushed her sunglasses up to her hair. 'I actually thought it was too much," she confessed. 'My mum did it for me. I'm not really into makeup, but… I thought of looking good for you," she mumbled, looking down. 'I heard that," he said with a smile. 'You talk too much, but it suits you. Believe me when I say you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. With or without makeup, you're always beautiful. Like an angel. I don't think I'll ever be able to take my eyes off you." His fingers tilted her chin up until her eyes met his. Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. She saw nothing but love in his eyes. She took a deep breath, pushing everything else aside, Madison, Jace, any doubts. She would follow her heart. "I'm not really good at this," she whispered, fiddling with her fingers. "This will be my first time attempting this." "What do...." She didn't let him finish. She shut him up by leaning in and placing her lips on his. Oh! He got the message instantly. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss as though he had waited forever for this moment. His hands wrapped around her waist, caressing her curves with reverence. Then, with a quiet groan, he cupped her butt in his palms. She was fuller than he had expected, and his hands barely covered her. He gave it a soft squeeze, earning a surprised but pleased moan from her. Later, Dorah and Ronald walked into the studio together. Dorah kept her gaze low, subtly avoiding Ronald's grin. He looked like a man who had just won the lottery. 'Where have you two been?" Jace asked, clearly annoyed but more curious than anything else. Dorah just smiled at him mysteriously, while Ronald casually patted Jace's shoulder, causing the latter to frown in confusion. 'WTF!" Jace exclaimed. 'And why on earth are you two acting like this? Did something happen between you guys?" Max raised a brow, now curious himself. 'Well… you never can tell," Ronald said with a shrug, causing a ripple of gasps across the room. Jason immediately walked up to Ronald with a suspicious glint in his eyes. 'What?" Ronald asked, confused. Jason leaned in, squinting. 'What's this?" he asked, brushing Ronald's lips with his thumb. He brought it to his nose and sniffed. 'Lipstick?" 'Did you two kiss?" Max blurted out, holding Jace back as he tried to move closer to confirm what Jason had just found. Before they could press further, the door burst open, and Mr. Alfred stepped in. 'I knew you guys would be here. Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be in the hall by now? The program has started." Jace took a deep breath. 'Well, here goes nothing," he muttered, rubbing his palms nervously. Almost instantly, he felt a firm but comforting squeeze on his shoulder. 'You can do this," Ronald said, giving him an encouraging smile. Jace looked around and saw the supportive smiles of his friends. That moment simple but heartfelt lifted a huge weight off his chest. 'Thanks, guys," he said softly. And just like that, they all pulled him into a group hug, a silent vow of unity and support in their embrace. Mr. Alfred smiled, then stepped back out, giving them a moment to savour the bond they shared before their big moment.