You Are My Protagonist

Chapter 16

"Twitter, twitter"

I wake to the twittering of birds and the warmth of a patch of sunlight falling on my face. With a yawn, I stretch and habitually roll over to wake up further. Instead of rolling across my full sized bed, my body unceremoniously makes intimate contact with the floor with a resounding thump. I scrunch up my face against the fuzzy carpet before slowly sitting up. Bilking, I discover the reason for my face plant. I slept on the couch. Why did I sleep on the couch?

Then, the flood gates open and the memories of the previous evening fill my mind. I pinch the bridge of my nose and burry my head in the fluffy cushion. Well now you've gone and done it Ram. You idiot. Why the hell did you get drunk and just blurt everything out like that? You idiot, idiot, idiot, idio-

"Awake?" I pause, then look up. I blink. It's Chen. However, he's in a nicely pressed suit and wearing a...space themed tie? Hmm?

"I cleaned everything up but um I left you on the couch because I couldn't really lift you..." His voice gets smaller and smaller with each word and he turns away, ears burning. "Anyway, are you feeling better?" I'm in no mood to appreciate his embarrassment, feeling more than enough of my own. 

"Uh yeah, thanks." There's silence. "You going somewhere?" I ask.  His face alights.

"Ah, yes. I'm speaking at an elementary and middle school."

"Speaking?"

"I'm a guest speaker, as a visiting novelist." He's smiling shyly, revealing a single dimple. 

"Oh, cool." I stretch with another yawn. Then I notice him fidgeting. 

"Is something up?"

"Um...do you have anything today?" 

"Today?" I think for a moment. "No."

"Would you like to come with me?"

"To the school?"

"Yes, to see my speech."

And that's how I find myself, here seated in an auditorium behind a bunch of little twerps. The adults in the audience are at the back behind the sea of little faces, picking their noses, scratching their heads, pulling pigtails,...etc. I've glanced up at the stage several times since I sat here however I haven't seen Chen, he disappeared after dropping me off. I'm still not sure what I'm doing here. Moral support? The chatter and nose picking continues until a bald, spectacled man comes to the front. Then, it slowly dies down thanks to a handful of hardworking little tykes shushing everyone else.

With my chin resting on my hand and eye drooping, I gaze up at the bald guy - I assume he's the principal - as he gathers everyone's attention and starts introducing the school's history of inviting a speaker. I feel my eyes droop and head sink lower and lower. Then, he starts to introduce Chen. 

"Mr. Wong is the author of three novels, one of which is a bestseller. He..." I keep my ears pricked, trying to listen attentively but most of it's stuff I already know. My head gives a twinge. Ah, hangover. Ugh. And it doesn't help that the guy's voice is as monotone as a foghorn. 

"Well, then let's give it up for Mr. Chen Wong!" The room bursts into applause and I fight back a smirk. Is this enthusiastic applause because of Chen's arrival or because the principal is finally done? However, my wandering mind quickly returns to earth as Chen steps onto the stage in the wake of the applause. He's here. 

"Thank you!" He smiles widely and there's a warmth in his gaze. He must like kids. "Thank you everyone! Well, how is everyone doing today?" A handful of students here and there respond with a vague, disjointed, and fairly disinterested "good". In response Chen cups his ear and asks "I couldn't hear you. Could you say it louder?" I hold back a smile. What is he, the Pirate in Sponge Bob? This time there's a little more attention however the response is still soft. So he cups his ear again.