Gabriel didn't go to the podium.
Instead, he held Rebecca's hand and stood together directly beneath the large screen, perfectly matching the frozen image displayed there.
If the dean hadn't clearly seen Gabriel's face earlier, he saw it clearly now. It was the same face in the photo.
His face turned deathly gray. Gabriel, on the other hand, was still smiling as he prepared to speak.
Javier was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear, but he still handed the microphone to Gabriel.
The first thing Gabriel said after taking the microphone was, "This photo was taken quite well."
The entire field fell deathly silent.
His gaze swept across the dean, whose face was pale and dripping with cold sweat, then slowly moved over every face in the audience—some terrified, some curious, some guilty...
"It seems..." Gabriel continued, "before I express my 'sincerity' toward your educational endeavors, I must first thank the thoughtful person who prepared this unique 'welcoming gift' for me."
He paused, his tone surprisingly sincere. "Thanks to the person hiding in the shadows taking photos."
The more sincere his tone, the more biting the sarcasm.
Javier could no longer hide. "Mr. Perry, I'm sorry..."

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