Academically Achieving Her (FadeShock AU)

Epilogue

     Eastwood, the lively city i currently live in. Everything's clean and so elegant looking, but that's not the reason i live in such beautiful place.

     I recently moved in on a International High School, testing my limits on education to get a more better opportunities in the future.

    The University isn't all that bad, most were foreigners that are really random, and surprisingly, they match my humor. They were all smart, sure, but there was one who stands out the most, one who shined best.

    "Psst! Look!" Whispers filled the halls as the girl passed by.

    "She's so cool.." Her black with white fade hair glimmered across the hall, her steps making a loud clacking noise.

    My eyes sparkled as soon as i saw her beautiful freckles and her other pretty features on her face. Hazal Elyetmez, the school's smartest student and is the most famous in the university.

    Despite Hazal's natural beauty, she was also known for being the hard stone, the impossible, and the academically unbreakable. Seriously.

    Hazal had won hundreds of achievements, raising the school's name with pride. It's amazing how she could do all these with her schedule packed to the brim, only giving me more reasons on why i should idolize her.

     But given that, befriending Hazal was the hardest. Infact, no one could even get close to being her friend.

     Because of that, some people started calling her 'Ms. Cold Hearted'. She would always glare at the people who tried to bother her while she's studying, and she rejected every single person who confessed to her, even the popular ones!

     She's cruel, trust me. But that doesn't change the fact that i find her fascinating.

     It was on that day, the day i got my first opportunity to be like her. I wanted to be like her, as smart as her. 'The Journalism Audition'. Of course, it caught my eye. I've always wanted to become one of the journalists, let alone Hazal was in there. What could possibly go wrong.. right?

     ...

     'I'm DOOMED.' I thought to myself, literally HUNDREDS of people were there, and i was in the middle. They aren't in the same group as me though, Me and some others were on the 'Filipino Journalism' section.

     I was shaking, obviously. It was silent, well, i guess close to being silent? Murmurs can be heard around me, and i was one trembling, anxiety ball sitting somewhere in the middle.

     The sound of heels clacking on the floor made everyone hush, the familiar face i know stood on the main desk.

     "Filipino journalism, correct?"

     'AY PUTANGIN— OKAY, NO ONE TOLD ME IT WAS GONNA BE HAZAL WHO WOULD JUDGE US. I DIDN'T EVEN PREPARE FOR MY SAKE!'

     All of us nodded, shaking as Hazal's intimidating aura conquered our senses.

     "Perfect. Good afternoon, I'm Hazal Elyetmez and i will be your mentor." Hazal stated, placing down her stuff on the desk and sitting down. All of us remain quiet as we wait for her instructions.

     "Let's organize you all first.. But first, please introduce yourself to the others. Cooperation will be needed in order to keep a stable system." Hazal then grabs a paper and crumbled it as if she was letting out her anger on it.

     "I will be throwing this paper on one of you, and whoever it lands on must introduce themselves. Consider this as an ice breaker."

     Soon, Hazal started aiming as if she was a pointing a gun at us. I look down at the ground, screaming for it to not land on me. And to my luck... It didnt. It landed on the person beside me, which made me feel relieved.

     "Good, now come up." Hazal ordered, causing the boy beside me to shiver as he walked upfront.

     "Um.. My name's Jamie, i'm from Class 2-C, and i want to be in the filipino journ because uh.. Well, i admire the filipino culture alot and i'm pretty fluent to it, that's all." Some clapped their hands, some kept silent.

     "Amazing, now, you may throw that paper to anyone in this room." Hazal said, walking infront and sitting on top of her desk, waiting. The way her uniform fits her body so perfectly along with her aura is so cool! I wish i could be like her..

     It was then i felt the paper hit my head, 'Jamie' quickly apologized as the other snickered a laugh. 'Great..' I gulped in fear, grabbing the paper and  walking upfront.

     "Um.. Hello everyone.." I awkwardly started. 'GREAT! AN AWKWARD INTRODUCTION, WHAT A PERFECT START!' I mocked to myself as i sighed, trying to regain my composure.

     "I'm Tala Nicole Dimaapi Valdez, but please, call me Tala or Nics, whichever you prefer. I'm from class 1-B, and i joined the Filipino Journalism because i'm filipino myself and i want to represent and serve my country by delivering news and writing articles for filipinos to read."

     Everyone looked at me with amazement, and of course, that gave me confidence. "Besides articles, i can also do photo journalism at the same time. That's all." I then turned to Hazal out of instinct, but eventually looking away as fast as i could after.

     "...Impressive, Tala. Quite the remarkable introduction. Well done. Now, throw your paper to someone." Hazal complimented me with satisfaction in her tone. 'AHHHH, SHE COMPLIMENTED ME!'

     Out of happiness, i threw the paper randomly and hit someone on the head like Jamie did. "Oh—I'm so sorry..!" I apologized as the people, including the person i accidentally hit laughed.

     The introduction continued and everything went smoothly well! We had laughing times but also some.. well, scared times. The times when Hazal would stare at us blankly. It was now the time where the audition starts, all of us were handed a piece of paper with fact sheets on them.

     "Use the resources given on the fact sheet to write an article. Since this is only an audition, you have 2 hours to finish it." Hazal said, setting up a timer on the room's TV screen. "How to write the article? Well, that depends on you. Only 9 out of 23 will pass, good luck."

     'Okay, Tala.. this is it, the time where you start hoping that you won't mess things up.' I inhaled deeply and exhaled, holding my 1 whole sheet of papers on my hand and a bolpen on the other. 'I got this..'

     "Your timer.."

     ...

     "Starts.."

     ...

     "NOW!"