INT — HOTEL LOBBY — 10:30 PM
The SSC arrived first. Not for perks, but to handle the chaos before it erupted. As soon as they stepped into the lobby, everyone moved to their assigned posts with practiced urgency.
The treasurer checked stacks of keycards with the hotel staff, tapping them against the counter with mechanical precision. The secretary stood beside him, flipping through printed lists and ticking off names faster than the scanner could beep.
"Did you send the emergency hotline to all students?" Ice asked, standing beside the counter. His voice was its usual calm monotone as he confirmed the last-minute room transfers with the manager.
"Yes, Pres," the vice president replied, straightening her high ponytail and adjusting her black-framed glasses.
"Thank you," Ice said with a short nod to the staff on the front. He and the vice president scanned the lobby together, overseeing the flow of arriving students and making sure nothing was out of place.
"Ah—President Ice," the vice president began.
Ice turned to her without a word.
"We managed to get you an early check-in…" She glanced at the secretary, then at the nervous council members hovering around the perimeter.
Ice said nothing.
She continued anyway, voice tightening. "You've been working hard, so the council decided you should rest now."
Around them, the other officers slowly inched closer, like animals approaching a dangerous predator. No one dared breathe too loudly.
The treasurer suddenly stepped forward with a burst of courage that lasted all of one second. "H-Here is your key card, President!" He bowed so fast the keycard nearly flew out of his hand.
Ice looked at it. Then at them. His expression did not change, not even a twitch.
From somewhere behind them came a frantic whisper:
"I told you this was a bad plan."
"We're getting kicked out."
"I think I'm gonna cry."
Their fear collected behind Ice like cold air. One wrong word and half the council looked ready to write their own resignation letters.
The vice president swallowed hard. She knew no one else could talk now, not safely.
So she forced a full smile, even as her hand under the counter was squeezing the trembling secretary's fingers.
"We already planned to take over your duties tonight. Please rest, President!"
Ice slowly shifted his gaze to her.
The entire group froze, like the climax of a horror movie where no one wants to move.
Then—
The keycard vanished from the treasurer's bowing hands.
"Make sure everything is under control. Call me if there's an issue," Ice said, monotone as ever.
But to them, those words sounded like angels blowing trumpets.
"Yes, yes, President! Please rest well!"
They answered in perfect unison, mostly because their lungs had been locked until that moment. A wave of relieved smiles spread across their faces as they watched Ice walk toward the elevator.
The doors slid shut.
Silence.
Then celebration exploded.
"FREEDOM! I swear my soul was about to leave my body if he stayed here," the PIO officer cried, clutching his chest dramatically.
"It's the first time he accepted an early check-in…" the treasurer whispered, eyes misty with trauma. "I'd rather work all night than be stared at by him."
"Okay, back to work!" the vice president clapped, rallying them. "If we mess up now, we're all dead by morning. Let's go!"
"LET'S GO!" they chorused.
And so the next batch of minutes was filled with check-ins, sorting out minor arguments, and answering nonstop questions. It was exhausting, but nowhere near as exhausting as being supervised by the Flaming Ice Dragon Eyes.
That night, the SSC slept like the dead, tired, relieved, but smiling.
Next Chapter:
A room mix-up puts Fire and Ice together for one night.
One step closer, one breath too near
and Ice's anger hides something Fire never expected.