The Mafia's Pawn

“And now, shall we all rise to our feet as we present the valedictorian award to none other person than..,” the Mc instructed, and we all rose to our feet.

“Who do you think it'll be?” Amelia asked.

“I don't…” I started only to be cut off by the MC.

“Cleo Benson,” he announced, his voice cutting through the tensed air of the hall.

The crowd erupted in applause and gasps, filling the room with a vibrant energy. I looked around in shock as the sound of my name seemed to echo in the hall.

My heart stopped as I stared into nothing, I staggered and sank into my chair, my hand gripping the edge of my seat.

Were they cheering for me? Or was there another Cleo Benson I wasn't aware of?

“Go, Cleo!” Amelia shouted, her voice rising above the others. “You've got this!”

It took a while for me to accept reality, but the cheers didn't stop. I was urged to come up stage, so I confidently rose to my feet and raised my gown slightly to avoid tripping, my hands trembling as I carefully walked up to the podium. I had already received four departmental awards, and to think I would receive the Valedictorian award was a dream I dared not dream.

As I stared into the sea of over two hundred graduates standing in the hall, their smiles and cheers filled me with overwhelming emotion. Tears welled up in my eyes.

“I…I didn’t know if I truly deserved this award,” I began, my voice thick with emotion, silencing their cheers. “But if I was chosen among all of you incredible students, then…I guess I must have.”

A tear rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. “This,” I continued, holding up the award, “this is for all the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the challenges we’ve all faced. I want to thank the board, the authorities, our lecturers…and I dedicate this award to every single one of my fellow students.”

As I spoke, I noticed a ripple of surprise pass through the crowd. Confused, I wondered if my vision was blurred by the tears. People were pulling out their phones, recording videos, and taking pictures. Suddenly, the thought of being the center of attention, especially on social media, made me feel anxious. I instinctively turned to hide my face.

And that’s when I saw him.

Miley, my boyfriend, was kneeling on one knee with a white bouquet in one hand and a small box in the other.

My heart skipped a beat.

“Cleo,” he said, his voice steady despite the tremor of nerves I could see in his eyes. “Will you please marry me?”

I stared at him in shock and disbelief. Miley had been oddly quiet today; his usual easy smile was replaced with a tension I couldn’t quite place. I’d caught him glancing at me several times during the ceremony, his fingers drumming nervously on the armrest. I dismissed it as pre-graduation jitters, but now, standing here, it all became clear to me.

A chorus from the crowd jilted me back from my thoughts. “Say yes! Say yes!”

Our relationship wasn’t exactly a secret, everyone knew we had been together since our first year. But I hadn’t expected this, not today, not in front of everyone.

Tears of joy filled my eyes again as I whispered, “Yes, Miley, I will.”

He slid the ring onto my finger, and I threw my arms around him, the room erupting in cheers once more.

As the ceremony concluded and students began to file out of the hall, I lingered for a moment still rooted to the spot, admiring the glittering stone on the ring. Suddenly, I felt Amelia’s on my shoulder grinding me.

“I can’t believe this is real,” I murmured, half to myself.

“You deserve all of this, Cleo,” Amelia said softly, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so proud of you. I'm sure your parents would be too. Speaking of which, are they here yet?”

“That's true. Hold this for me,” I said shoving the awards in her hand. “Let me put a call through to them.”

I moved to a quiet corner, away from the noise and excitement. Dialing my mom’s number, I felt a slight twinge of anxiety. The phone rang twice before she picked up.

“Mom, where are you guys? The ceremony’s over and the party is starting in ten minutes”

“We’re on our way, sweetie,” she assured me. “Just a bit of traffic. We’ll be there soon.”

Relieved, I hung up and joined the party outside the hall. My friends swarmed me, all eager to see the ring. “Look at that rock!” Emily exclaimed, grabbing my hand.

“You’re the newest bride-to-be!” Lucy teased, nudging me playfully. “Can I be the chief bride's maid instead of Amelia?”

I laughed, holding up my hand so they could get a better look. Across the lawn, I saw Miley surrounded by his friends, who were no doubt teasing him as well. Our eyes met, and we smiled at each other, the shared moment grounding me amid all the excitement.

Just then, my phone rang. I excused myself, expecting to hear my mother’s voice again.

But it wasn’t my mother. A man’s voice came through the line, calm but with an edge that made my heart sink. “Hello, is this Cleo Benson?”