"When do I get to be the passenger princess?" Theo asked, as Luca got into the car.

Luca cast him a level gaze while wrestling with the seatbelt, struggling to secure it properly.

"Here, let me get that for you," Theo intervened, leaning over and guiding the seatbelt into place, their faces mere millimeters apart.

Luca, at that moment, forgot to breathe as he stared at Theo's lashes, which were right in front of his view.

Theo, oblivious to Luca's momentary distraction, snapped the seatbelt into place with ease. "There you go, all set," he said, leaning back into his seat with a satisfied grin.

Luca cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Thanks," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact with Theo. He shifted in his seat, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Perplexed, though, he wondered why the seatbelt had been functioning perfectly for the past few days.

"What happened to the seatbelt?" Luca asked.

Theo shrugged as he was driving, "I don't know. Maybe something got loose. I'll look over it later."

Luca shrugged it off as if it was nothing and looked through the schedule he was provided.

Since the music festival was a week away, his schedule has become busier. He was to host the festival as part of a special for his show. Not only did that mean finalizing the sponsor list as well as the list of musical artists, but also the guests that he will be interviewing throughout the evening and night.

That's why Theo has been given the role of co-host to take over Luca from time to time.

The car pulled up to a red light, giving Theo a chance to break the silence. "What do we have for today? I gave a glimpse of it before we left, so I know the first stop is meeting with one of the sponsors. If I'm correct, we're meeting them at the sight of the venue right?"

Luca nodded, finally tearing his eyes away from the schedule. "Yeah, that's right. We also need to make a quick stop at the production office to go over some final details. After that, we'll head to the venue for the sponsor meeting and a walkthrough to ensure everything is set up according to plan."

Theo nodded, glancing at the schedule over Luca's shoulder. "I don't know how you do it, Taya."

Luca shrugged as he looked back at the schedule, trying to memorize it, "it comes with practice. Also, when you're a journalist, you're going to be having odd hours from researching and going places to find the latest news."

The car moved smoothly through the busy city streets, the rhythmic hum of the engine providing a backdrop to Luca and Theo's conversation.

"Did you have breakfast yet? We don't technically have to be at the production office until 8:15. I mean right now..." Theo quickly looked at the dashboard, "it just turned 7. We really left early."

Luca sighed, "No, I didn't eat, and I know neither did you. Let's just grab some food on our way there. There's probably a café around here somewhere."

The car was silent again as they continued their drive towards the production office. It wasn't uncomfortable, but there wasn't much else to say. They had already gone through the usual motions in the morning and after that, there was more work to be done before they could relax and relax.

They parked nearby the production office building, right in front of a small cafe.

Theo unbuckled his seatbelt with a quick click and a grin. "Alright then, here we are."

As they stepped out of the car and headed toward the café, Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of tiredness fall over him.

The café had a cozy atmosphere, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Luca and Theo found a quiet corner and settled into a booth. They quickly scanned the menu, both opting for a hearty breakfast to fuel them for the busy day ahead.

As they waited for their orders, Theo leaned back, studying Luca with a curious expression. "How does it feel, Taya, hosting your first music festival?"

Luca pondered the question for a moment, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. "I mean...it's not really my first music festival I'm hosting. I also went to Kai University for my undergrad. I was the host for the music festival there too."

"You went to Kai University for undergrad too? I thought you were only doing your masters there,"Theo asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Luca chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, I did my undergrad at Kai as well."

Theo nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "So you've hosted a music festival but this is on a different level, right?"

"Definitely," Luca agreed, setting his coffee cup down. "The scale, the expectations, everything is amplified. Not only that, I really wasn't much hands on with the university's festival. I was a last minute replacement for the original host who got sick last minute."

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted as the waiter brought over their breakfast orders. Both men thanked him, and as the waiter left, Theo picked up the thread of their discussion. "I can imagine. Must be a lot of pressure, though."

Luca agreed, "In the end, it's still a learning experience. Next time, it'll be even better. But each festival is unique so there'll always be something different."

As Luca went to take a bite of his croissant, he was startled from a buzz on his phone. He picked it up and glanced at the notification.

Wei: Have you gotten breakfast yet?

Luca smiled as he quickly took a picture of the food, not noticing that a part of Theo showed up on the picture and sent it to Wei before flipping his phone and continuing with the discussion.

Luca looked to see Theo on his phone as he was sipping on his drink.

"We don't have the same schedule right? After checking out the venue, I'm in some meetings as well as activities for my internship," Theo stated.

Luca nodded. "Yeah, our schedules do diverge a bit after the venue visit," Luca confirmed. He took another bite of his croissant, savoring the flaky layers. "We have classes today. Do not forget that."

"Just because I missed two days of classes doesn't mean I'll miss the others," Theo grumbled.

Luca chuckled, taking another sip of his coffee. "You're a diligent student, I'll give you that. Missing a couple days shouldn't hurt but don't make it a habit. It will come back at you."

Theo rolled his eyes playfully. "I'll try to remember that, Professor. Wouldn't want to tarnish my perfect attendance record."

Luca smirked, enjoying the banter. "Just don't make me track you down. I've got enough on my plate with this festival."

Theo leaned back, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that seemed to dance with a thousand unspoken desires.

"You know, Taya, maybe you should make it a point to track me down for this," he suggested, his voice laced with a hint of challenge and a touch of something far more seductive. "It could be quite... enticing."

A shiver went down Luca's spine. It was too early for this.

Luca chuckled nervously, trying to brush off Theo's suggestive comment. "Let's focus on surviving today first, and then we can talk about tracking people down for attendance, alright?"

Theo grinned, a playful glint still in his eyes. "Fair enough, Taya. Surviving the day it is."

"It looks like it's about time we start heading," Luca said as he glanced at his phone while clearing out the screen of notifications. He can look at them later.

"Let's go," Theo said as he started to clean up his surroundings.

Luca nodded, pushing aside the lingering unease from Theo's teasing. They left the cozy café, the brisk morning air hitting them as they walked back to the building.

"You're going to keep the car there?" Luca asked as he glanced back at the car parked on the curb.

"I mean it's good for two more hours so I guess so," Theo shrugged as he made sure the car was locked. "Besides, we might need it later if we have to rush to another meeting or something."

Inside the office, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. The production team was finalizing details, checking equipment, and ensuring everything was in place for the upcoming event.

Theo glanced around the bustling office, his eyes taking in the organized chaos. "Looks like they're on top of things," he remarked, a note of approval in his voice.

Luca nodded, leading the way to their designated meeting area. "Yeah, they've been working around the clock to make sure everything runs smoothly. Let's get through this meeting and then onto the venue."

"Thank god you two are here!" Stefan said as he caught sight of the two, "Also, thank you Luca for reaching out to your contact."

The project manager looked ruffled as he ushered them into a small meeting room cluttered with blueprints and event schedules. He motioned for them to take a seat, and Luca couldn't help but notice the slight tremor in Stefan's hands.

"What's going on?" Luca asked, concern lacing his voice. Theo leaned back in his chair, observing the room with a discerning gaze.

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "We've hit a snag with one of the main sponsors. They're threatening to pull out unless we make some last-minute changes to the stage setup. It's a mess, and we need your input, Luca."

Luca's brow furrowed. "What kind of changes are they asking for?"

Aliana stood up from her seat and handed over a set of revised blueprints, his frustration evident. "They want the main stage moved to the center of the venue. It's a logistical nightmare at this point, but they're insisting it'll enhance the audience experience."

Theo raised an eyebrow, glancing at the blueprints. "Moving the stage now? We're a week away from the festival. It's madness."

Luca studied the blueprints, his mind working quickly. "Let's see if we can find a compromise. Maybe a slight adjustment that satisfies their concerns without causing too much chaos. We need to keep the sponsors on board, but we can't jeopardize the entire setup."

"I mean I have tried discussing with them for a compromise. So far it hasn't been working," Aliana stated, "they have been wanting to pull out for a while. They came to us previously to pull out because they overestimated their budget, which they haven't, but they also signed a contract so they'll just be losing money either way."

"If they signed a contract, we should hold them to it. Changing the stage now could disrupt the entire flow of the festival, and that's not something we can afford," Luca stated.

The tension in the room hung thick as Stefan nodded in agreement with Luca's assessment. The pressure was palpable, but Luca was determined to find a solution that would satisfy both the sponsors and the festival's integrity.

Theo leaned forward, his analytical gaze fixed on the blueprints. "What if we propose a compromise that involves enhancing the audience's view without moving the entire stage? Maybe some strategically placed screens or additional lighting could do the trick."

Stefan looked thoughtful, considering the suggestion. "It's worth a shot. I'll set up a meeting with the sponsors again and present this alternative. But, Luca, we need you there to make sure they understand the technical aspects and the potential impact on the overall experience."

Luca nodded, already formulating ideas in his mind. "I'll be there. Let them know we value their input, but we also have to maintain the artistic and logistical integrity of the festival."

As they left the meeting room, Theo couldn't help but voice his concerns. "This is a mess, Taya. Do you think they'll budge on their demands?"

Luca sighed, a sense of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "I don't know, but we have to try. The festival is a collaborative effort, and compromises are part of the process. Let's hope they see reason."

The two then made their way to the venue itself to watch over the festival preparations. Not much has been put up as it was still a week away, but as the area was closed off to the public, Luca and Theo could observe the festival grounds in relative peace.

As the two were looking around, they were approached by a familiar place.

"Taya, that's the sponsor we're meeting with today," Theo whispered to Luca as he gave a bright smiling to the familiar figure.

"Dae, I haven't seen you in a while," Miles greeted once he got close enough and gave Luca a daps handshake.

"I've been busy with the festival. Doesn't Taya say anything?" Luca asked.

Miles shook his head, "whatever happens between you two stays with you two. He doesn't need to tell me anything more than I need to know."

"Taya, you know him?" Theo asked Luca and Luca nodded.

"He's a friend. I hangout with my boyfriend from time to time. Taya, this is Theo. Theo, this is T'Miles."

Theo nodded as he looked between the two, stepping a bit closer to Luca.

Miles chuckled, catching the unspoken tension. "Well, I'm here today to discuss the final details of our sponsorship. We have several of our artists lined up for this festival and the company is also investing quite a lot for this." Miles looked at his watch before continuing, "we should get going. It wouldn't do well if we're late."

The three walked over to the makeshift stage, and watched as it was being assembled.

The sight of the incomplete stage sparked a mix of excitement and trepidation in Luca. He envisioned the vibrant performances that would soon grace this space, but the looming issue with the sponsors hung over him like a storm cloud.

Miles had then led them to a secluded area near the stage, away from the hustle of the workers.

"It's great that the company is coming forward and helping us with setting up the festival, but the stage..." Luca trailed off

Miles raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "I assume you're referring to the relocation of the main stage. Although we're one of the main sponsors, we don't have any preference on where the stage is supposed to be."

Luca sighed with relief, "at least we know that one of the sponsors is fine with moving the stage a bit."

Miles chuckled, "We really don't mind. We heard about the situation about the stage from Aliana. She didn't say which company was giving trouble but it is somewhat obvious."

Luca agreed. The sponsor that was threatening to pull out has pulled out several times before from other events. It doesn't matter what event it was, but they always pulled out. However, the reason why they are sought after is because the events they do sponsor tend to have a large budget and the company itself assists with it.

Theo listened intently, his eyes darting between Luca and Miles. "So, you're willing to compromise on the stage placement?"

Miles nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Absolutely. We understand the logistical challenges, and we're not here to disrupt the flow of the festival. As long as our artists have a platform to showcase their talents, we're flexible."

Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Miles. "Thank you, Dae. It means a lot to us, and it'll make the entire process much smoother."

Miles waved off Luca's thanks. "No need to thank me. We believe in the vision of this festival, and we want it to succeed. Let's work together to make it a memorable event for everyone involved."

With the tension diffused, the trio continued discussing the finer details of the sponsorship and the upcoming performances. As they delved into the specifics, Luca couldn't help but appreciate the importance of reliable allies in the unpredictable world of event planning.

Theo, sensing the shift in dynamics, joined the conversation with enthusiasm. "I've heard great things about some of the artists your company is bringing in. It's going to be a fantastic lineup."

Miles grinned, clearly pleased with the positive reception. "We've curated a diverse roster to cater to different tastes. I'm sure the audience will be in for a treat."

As the meeting progressed, Luca and Theo became more engrossed in the upcoming festival, forgetting momentarily about the earlier tension and the challenges they still faced. The collaboration with Miles and his company seemed promising, and Luca felt a renewed sense of determination to overcome any obstacles that came their way.

After finalizing the sponsorship details, Miles excused himself, promising to coordinate closely with the production team for a seamless integration of their sponsored performances.

"You should meet up with Noah, Dae. He's been complaining for a while and I know both of you need a break," Miles suggested.

"Absolutely," Luca affirmed with a determined nod, his gaze unwavering as he bid farewell to Miles. "Once the festival concludes, I'm taking a well-deserved week off."

As he walked away, Theo couldn't help but comment, "Well, that went better than expected. I didn't know you knew some big shots!"

Luca nodded but couldn't help but feel like Theo was mentioning something else entirely.

"It's nothing like that. We have mutuals in City B," Luca said as he made his way towards Theo's car.

Theo .got into his car and looked at Luca, as if asking why Luca is not getting on.

"You have to get back to the company. I have some places I need to go for my show," Luca explained.

"You sure you don't want me to drop you off? Theo asked.

Luca shook his head, "it's right here actually."

"Okay Taya. I guess I'll see you during class," Theo stated. He looked like he wanted to say more.

"Drive safe. Dae," Luca said as he started to walk opposite the direction in which Theo was going to drive.

Luca didn't check to look behind him on if Theo had actually left. He just kept walking towards the restaraunt that was listed on his schedule.

The restaurant was nice and quiet when he entered. Luca was actually meeting up with Kai.

As part of what Miles said, his company was doing their best with the events in the festivals. Kai was in charge of the art stalls, more specifically the maker space area and the several activities that will be conducted.

"Taya! You're here!" Kai exclaimed when Luca entered the private room.

"Have you eaten?" Luca greeted as he sat across Kai.

"You sound like Taya, but at least I understand where you're coming from. Taya doesn't even make food or take me out to eat," Kai grumbled.

Luca shook his head as he took out his tablet and tapped his way into a document that had scheduled times for activities as well as sketches for the stalls.

"Everything looks good so far," Luca said as he glanced over everything.

"Really? I mean the stalls are subject to change once I get the business owner's inputs but for the most part, they can be printed now," Kai stated as he took out his own laptop to look over everything. "And most of these proceeds will go to charity and local businesses that need help, right?"

"They should be, once everyone is paid and everything," Luca stated as he was looking at the budgeting document.

"I've never participated in planning a festival like this," Kai said shyly.

"That's fine. There's actually a dae that's working with me. Compared to him, you're doing alright," Luca reassured.

"Are you talking about the co-host? I've seen those promo banners featuring you and him. Can't put my finger on it, but he does seem oddly familiar. Taya, throwing shade at him now? Really? How could you," Kai teased.

"There's nothing wrong with him. At the beginning, he was all over the place but now he's well adjusted. Event planning takes time, especially one as large as this," Luca denied.

"Anywho, I heard you haven't gone to dinner with Taya for a while. That's great!" Kai exclaimed and Luca sighed.

Let it be Kai who's going to be the wingman of the anti LucaWei ship. Not that there's anything going on.

Besides the casual texts, Luca hasn't seen Wei for days as most of the work days fall late into the night.

"Don't be mean. I'm just busy. I also haven't seen other people either. It's not just your brother," Luca reminded as he glanced at the camera recording them.

This recording was going to be used as the behind-the-scenes for the festival. Luca had planned out a whole list of what was going to occur and this recording, if it comes out perfect, would show up after the fourth artist. It will be cutting into the artist's time as each artist will be given about 10 minutes of screen time but they will be performing for 15 to 20ish minutes.

Kai sighed as he sank into his chair, "I am so tired of this. I am not a planning person. Should I get a secretary? Would they help?"

Luca chuckled, "With you? A secretary wouldn't be enough. You would need the entire armada."

"I'm not chaotic!" Kai whined as he pouted.

"You went and dyed your teacher's cat blue, and then proceeded to blame it on the new art club president," Luca pointed out with a smirk. Kai scratched his head, grinning guiltily.

"That was a masterpiece. The cat looked like a walking piece of art!" Kai defended himself. Luca shook his head in mock disapproval.

"I got in trouble. Wei got in trouble. My sister got in trouble. She didn't even go to that school!" Luca rolled his eyes, "You're a walking disaster, Kai. And speaking of trouble, I need to go to another appointment right after this so let's wrap up."

Kai waved him off, "Yeah, yeah. You just don't trust me."

Luca shot Kai a playful glare, "I trust you about as much as I trust a cat in a fish market."

Kai grumbled and Luca couldn't help but think about back when Kai was younger, playing with Lucy.

The two had continued on with their work, ensuring that the festival's theme was going as nicely as it could.

After the meeting with Kai, Luca rushed to his next appointment, a meeting with the sound and lighting team at the venue. As he entered the dimly lit room filled with cables and equipment, the buzz of conversations and the hum of machinery greeted him.

The team, a group of seasoned professionals, looked up as Luca entered. The lead technician, a man named Adrian, stepped forward to shake Luca's hand.

"Luca, good to see you. We've been going over the technical requirements for the performances, and there are a few concerns we need to address," Adrian said, leading Luca to a corner where they could discuss matters privately.

As they delved into the technical aspects of the festival, discussing the intricacies of sound balancing, lighting cues, and stage transitions, Luca found himself engrossed in the world behind the scenes.

The meeting stretched on, and as they finalized the details, Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The festival was slowly coming together, despite the challenges they faced.

After the meeting, Luca headed back to the production office to check in on the progress and address any last-minute issues. The hours flew by as he moved from one task to another, ensuring that everything was on track for the upcoming music festival.

As the day turned into night, Luca's phone buzzed with a message from Theo.

Theo: How's everything going, Taya?

Theo: Survived the day?

Luca smiled at the message, appreciating the genuine concern. He quickly typed a response.

Luca: Busy but productive.

Luca: How about you?

Luca: Any internship adventures?

Theo: Just the usual.

Theo: Meetings, paperwork, and a surprising amount of coffee.

Theo: I might turn into a coffee bean soon.

Luca chuckled at Theo's response, imagining him morphing into a caffeinated version of himself. The banter continued for a while, providing a welcome break from the intense day.

Eventually, the two wrapped up their virtual conversation, both needing to focus on their respective tasks. Luca couldn't shake off the feeling that, despite the challenges, he was on the verge of creating something extraordinary.