A Different Way

chapter 18

"Hmm," Xailendra sighs. She bites her lip anxiously. Today was when student's grades are released and she's nervous to take a look on the board where the ranking was. What if I failed? I might be a disgrace, my sponsors might think that I don't deserve my scholarship and—

She cuts that thought when she sees Jesy walk up to the ranking board and looks at it for a second. She turns her gaze the the anxious girl and smiles at her. "Saw your grade yet?"

Xailendra shakes her head. Based on her expression, Jesy assumed that she's nervous to see her grade. "C'mon. You did great." She encourages the girl to take a look on her grades.

The green-eyed girl inhaled deeply. She faces the ranking board and her eyes widen when she saw her grade.

"Holy shit," She curses quietly. "Wait, I'm sorry, I'm just— my average grade is 98.75?!" She says, shocked.

"It's a 99 if they rounded it off," Jesy says, proud of the younger girl. "You're the smartest on your whole grade, look." She points at the board, her name on the top of the junior's rankings.

"But that's like, physically impossible," She whispered exasperatedly. "My highest grade last year was like, 96, how could someone, especially me, can do... that?"

"Because you're smart, duh," Jesy says jokingly. "Why are you so shocked? You deserved it, all the things that you do, all the mental breakdowns you had only for this quarter, I mean, you're probably the smartest kid I know." She asks.

"This school, it's like the Brent International School but like, in Manila, did you know?"

"Brent International School?" The woman asked, confused.

Xailendra shakes her head, finding it impossible that the woman doesn't know about the school. "It's only the most prestigious school in the Philippines. Probably costs millions only for a semester. People say this school is Manila's version of BIS, only cheaper and it offers scholarships. They set the standards high in here, almost as high as BIS, especially on grading. That's why I'm so shocked to have high-ass grades and a 98.75? It's just— oh my god." She says.

Jesy laughs a little. "Well, I guess your smarter than I thought, then. I'll see you at class later, the morning assembly is about to start." She said and turns around to walk away.

Xailendra follows her, smiling like she just won a lot of money, thinking that she couldn't wait to see what her report card looked like.

On her first period, the subject teacher gave the students the highly anticipated report card, with the teacher congratulating Xailendra for being the best student.

She looks at her card and as expected, her grades were all line of 9's. Her lowest grade is Mathematics on 95, but she thinks that it's still pretty high.

Through her classes, she thought that her standards for her grade should change now that she feels that she has an obligation to obtain her current grade. Instead of considering 90 the lowest grade that she's allowed to get, she needs to up it to a 95. Her grades should stay the same or higher, she decides.

The day goes by fast, with some of her classmates or others from other classes congratulating her. She thanked them and went on with her day.

The rehearsals went on pretty easily. Though she had to perform Helpless with Alexander, it felt easier and more natural even with the little moment they had the other day.

After the rehearsals, she packs her bag making sure she's got all her things and makes her way out of the auditorium. She walks through the hallways and heard someone running from behind. She turns her gaze to the person and finds out that it was Alexander, out of breath.