May sama ba 'to ng loob sa akin o sa mga kaibigan ko? Bakit parang pakiramdam ko e gusto n'yang bumagsak hindi lang ako kundi pati na rin ang mga kaibigan ko?
"Of course, they have. This examination will be one of the hardest examination that we'll take. Everyone has the chance to be a verdant and took the position from us," I calmly replied. "But, of course, hindi kami magpapatalo."
"Are you confident with that?"
I smiled. "Miss Reporter, we're confident that we'll do our best with this exam."
"Hindi ba kayo mag-che-cheat?"
Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi ng babaeng reporter na 'to. Kahit ang ibang reporters ay napakunot na rin ng noo.
"Miss, do you think they will be able to cheat when everyone is watching them?" walang emosyon na sabi ni Marvin. "If you're stupid enough then cheat. However, everyone in this academy has their mind set on their goal and cheating is out of their goal. We don't cheat, we study."
The female reporter snorted. "Everyone is a student. Sinong estudyante ba ang hindi pa nakakapag-cheat, 'di ba?"
"Miss—"
Hindi ko naman pinatapos ang isang reporter na magsasalita na sana para depensahan kami. "Miss, do you have vendetta against us?" I asked, she then looked serious. "If you have, please do wait until the examination is over. We'll talk to you." I smiled at everyone. "Everyone here has their own capability, everyone has a right to strip our position and take them as theirs. Everyone is working hard to be part of the verdant. So, when we graduate next year, they will be the one that will took care the positions that are vacant."
Natameme naman ang babaeng reporter at nakita ko naman na sinamaan siya nang tingin ng camera man na kausap niya. Hindi ko alam kung anong trip ng babaeng 'to pero sigurado ako na hindi maganda ang dala nito.
"Mister Marvin, we heard that you're going to graduate with Miss Akesia and her team, is that true?" the other reporter asked Marvin to change the topic.
Marvin nodded his head. "Hmm," he answered.
"What do you plan in the future? Are you going to work in the government or in the private company?" the other reporter asked.
"I haven't decided yet," he responded.
I look up to Marvin with a smile on my face. he smoothly answered the reporter's question without leaving them a followerd up question. He answered them without stuttering and without worries. I guess that is what an upper classmen of verdant for us.
"Miss Akesia, is that true that there's a possibility that someone will take yours and your friend's position?" a male reporter asked.
I nodded my head before saying, "Of course." I smiled at them and continued, "Everyone is capable of replacing us. It's no surprise if someone takes our place. After all, we are all studying in the same academy with the same knowledge that passed down to us. I will gladly hand over my seat if someone ranked second in the examination."
I know that I'm going to be disappointed if someone took my place but also, I would feel very happy if that happen. Everyone is indeed capable to be in the top ten. If someone took my place, then the problem is within me not them. Thus, the only thing I could do is to do my best.
"Kesia! Kuya!"
Napatingin naman kaming lahat sa tumawag sa 'kin at nakita ko si Jullia kasama si George. Hindi reporter si George pero dahil boyfriend s'ya ni Jullia ay nagkaroon siya ng access na makapasok basta kasama niya si Jullia. George will be sitting in a VIP seat with Marvin and Kuya Jared at the auditorium. That way, George will be out of the reporter's gasp.
Napabaling naman lahat ng camera kay Jullia at George na magkahawak ng kamay habang naglalakad papunta sa amin.
"Oh, are you guys busy?" tanong ni Jullia at napatingin sa mga reporters. Ngumiti ito. "Hello, it's nice to have you guys here."
Mas lalo naman nagsi-flash ang camera at this time, hindi lang si Jullia at George ang kinukuhanan kundi kasama na rin kaming dalawa ni Marvin.
"Miss Jullia, are you and Sir George in relationship?" a male reporter asked.
Jullia smiled. "Yes, he's my boyfriend."
George smiled at Jullia as he looked at her with full of love in his eyes. At first I thought that George approached Jullia first because of her rank and title as a verdant but seeing it right now, I guess I was wrong. He's totally head over heels.
Hindi lang ako ang nag-o-obserba kay George kundi pati na rin si Marvin. It was given to Marvin since Jullia is his sister.
"Miss Jullia, in this examination, what if someone took your place?" another female reporter asked.
Jullia tilted her head and said, "Then I will give it to that person. This examination is for that reason after all. If someone took my place, then he or she was the rightful owner. I don't have any reason to protest since there's always someone that will be better that you. Every student here has that capability after all. However, of course, I won't let them take that spot easily."
Hindi na rin naman nagtagal ay dumating na rin sina Kassey, Mark, at Henry, and Yana. Jasmine is with William.
Both Yana and I looked at each other before smiling at Min. We saw her flinched and look away before we went inside.
Wala na ang mga reporters nang dumating is Min at William kaya naman hindi nila nakita na magkasama ang dalawa dahil kung hindi baka nagisa sila.
"So, sinasabi mo na isa sa reporters ay hater natin?" taka na sabi ni Min habang naglalakad kami papasok.
Tumango naman ako. "Yeah, iba kasi tanungan n'ya. Of course, may chance talaga na mawala tayo sa rank pero 'yung tono n'ya kasi iba ang dating sa 'kin."
"Let's just let that woman." Tumingin naman kami kay Henry. "Wala naman s'yang magagawa kundi ang magsalita nang magsalita. All we need to do is to prove that woman wrong," he added.
Sabay sabay naman kaming tumango at nakinig kay Henry. He's right anyway. Bakit ba kasi kami magpapa-apekto sa gaya n'ya kung alam naman namin na kaya namin hawakan ang rank namin, 'di ba?
When we entered the auditorium, some of the students were already seated. Nasa baba sila at mayroon din namang mga upuan sa taas ng stage. Ang sabi sa amin doon kami uupo. Why? Because it's easy to see our faces and it also prevent us from cheating.
Para namang kailangan pa namin na mag-cheat para lang mapunta sa kinauupuan namin. Minsan nakakainsulto talaga ang mga tao.
"Pupunta na kami ni George sa kung saan nakaupo si Kuya Jared," Marvin said as he kissed the top of my head. "Good luck," he said to me, smiling. I nodded my head and turned to Jullia. He patted her head and said, "Good luck," as well.
Our seats are in opposite direction. Papunta kami sa stage at sila naman sa pinaka malayong parte ng stage. It was to prevent us from cheating as well.
Nang maka-upo kami sa upuan namin ay inilibot ko ang tingin ko. I saw every student's eyes that are looking at us. They have their determination in their eyes to take our seats from us and that is what we wanted to happen. Hindi lang class A ang magte-take ng exam kundi pati na rin ang B, C, D, and E. everyone has their own specialties and I'm sure those in different class will either perfect or nearly perfect their specialty.
Hindi kami ang nag-ready ng exam kundi ang government. It was the most classified thing that the government did this past few days. Walang nakakaalam ng laman ng exam kundi ang mga taong kinuha ng president para gumawa ng questionnaire. Those people are experts in terms of Science, Mathematics, English, and computer.
Medyo bokya ako sa computer pero kahit papaano naman ay may alam ako. I've never been in class E's class so hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinaka coverage ng exam sa subject na 'yun. Also, sabi rin sa amin na nagdagdag daw ng subject ang government which is the law and politics.
