The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

IX. The Unexpected Hero

Rainy day, everyone! Here's the next chapter! Please play the song Haunted by Evanescence for Dawn's solo part.

***Dawn's POV*** 

Pag-gising ko kinabukasan, wala na ang roommate ko. Tinignan ko ang orasan sa study table ko at nakita kong five-thirty pa lang. Mukhang hindi pa rin maganda ang takbo ng utak niya. Sinubukan kong matulog ulit, ngunit hindi na ako dinalaw ng antok. Bumangon na ako at umupo sa gitna ng kama. Ano kayang pwedeng gawin? Then my eyes landed on the two remaining boxes that I haven't opened yet. 

I pulled the smaller box that's labelled LOCKER and opened it. Umupo ako sa sahig at sinimulang ilabas isa-isa ang mga laman ng box na iyon. Dito ko inilagay ang mga hinakot kong laman ng locker ko sa Sister's of Mary. Mga brochure, flyers, invitations at ilang libro-- yun ang karamihan sa laman ng box. May mga ballpen, apat na lumang notebook, ang student's handbook ko at may mga pictures-- pictures ng mga clubs at organizations na sinalihan ko dati, class pictures at pictures ko at ng mga kaibigan ko doon. 

I particularly stared at a group picture with three girls smiling taken in front of the school's canteen. I smiled at the memory-- ito yung huling picture namin na magkakasama-- ako, si Wendy at si Anastacia. I suddenly became sad at bumigat bigla ang pakiramdam ko, knowing that there's no more photo that would follow this one. Kulang na kami at humiwalay na ako ng school. I wonder how Wendy's doing now? Bigla ko siyang na-miss. Tatawagan ko siya mamaya para maka-musta. I've been busy with coping up with this new school that I forgot the people I left in that school.

I set aside the picture on my bed at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-halukay sa box. I then picked up a piece of paper that was folded in half. Ano 'to? I unfolded it and froze. I felt my blood drained from my body at bigla akong nanlamig. The paper looked like a Sodexo gift certificate, but this one's red and there's a sword printed in the middle and a set of bold words were printed on it:

You're the #one. Be ready to face Death.

It was Monday morning at maaga akong nakarating sa school. It was the week after the exams at ramdam na ramdam ang stress-free environment sa Sisters of Mary. 

"Maaga kahit walang exam?" Narinig kong sabi ng humahabol kong kaibigan na si Wendy. 

"You know I hate lates! Eh ikaw? Bakit maaga ka?"

"Nasira kasi yung school service, so isinabay na ako ni Papa on his way to work."

Naupo kame sa usual bench namin sa Lobby ng school. Dito kami nag-aantayan bago pumasok sa klase. Masaya ang lahat ng estudyante-- may nag-tu-tugtugan, may nag-ku-kuwentuhan, may nag-f-food trip at may nag-lalaro sa mga gadgets nila. 

"So, sa tingin mo ba Top ka na ngayon?" Tanong ni Wendy. I've always aimed to be the Top of the Class, but I only went as high as second place. 

"Hmm...Alam mo naman ang sagot diyan. I always aim to be the top student, pero kung hindi...edi wait lang ng wait, baka hindi ko pa time."

"Ano'ng pinag-uusapan niyo?" We both looked up to the girl who spoke behind us. 

"Anastacia!" 

"Cookies?" She placed a small lunchbox with baked cookies in it. We munched on her food and we noticed the students slowly crowding towards the campus bulletin board.

"They're posting it! C'mon!" Anastacia ran towards the direction of the bulletin board and we followed her. After every periodicals, the Admin posted the top students based on the latest exam results. In this way, we're aware where we stand, especially if one's aiming to be on top.