Love Alarm [Based On A True Story]

Safe & Sound

House life is abuzz with activity. Never have I ever seen my house in such a festive mood, for the occasion never called for it. Because never had such an occasion occurred, until now.

Ashley is getting engaged.

One among us is going to get married, I don't know how I feel about that. I'm happy for Ashley of course, but I guess seeing one of us finally leave the fold of our youth behind and step into marriage life is something I'm still not ready to accept.

Nonetheless, it is what it is, and Ashley getting married means she's an adult now, and we are all growing as well. Time is moving on.

While this is what mostly consisted of my house life these days, my school life is taking a rollercoaster ride. Today is the day after all. The day of my competition.

"Now remember," Mr. Miles, an economics teacher who decided to join us today as the second in charge of our school participants instead of Mr. Hawthorn who had other engagements keeping him busy, says with a stern voice as we prepare ourselves to take our seats in the 'Against' sector. "Be in your best behavior. Don't do anything rash and keep things formal."

We nod our heads in understand, sucking in a deep breath and walking to our seats.

"Good luck."

But we wouldn't be needing that. Because luck just wasn't on our side that day for some reason.

We did everything the way we were taught. Not a single mistake. Instead, our opponents made a fool of themselves because one didn't memorize her speech, and one had her volume at the lowest.

The audience loved us. Our opponents admired us.

So then why... did we lose?

"And the winner is Cobras!"

Shock would not be the word I'd use to describe what I felt there, more like uneasiness. That this was a prank. I really, sincerely thought this was a prank, that any minute now the president would laugh and say, "Just kidding. It's the Black Cats!"

But that never happened. Instead, the President stares at us with smiles of proudness, completely oblivious to the fact that we are not Cobras, but our lame opponents. Dumbass.

It's only after he sees the smiles disappear from our faces and shrieks of disbelief from the other side does it hit him who the actual winner is. Can't blame him. Anyone will think we are the winners. That's just how we delivered ourselves.

So then why?

Slowly but surely, I turn towards the five judges, the five professors from a university chosen as judges as they sit there with bored looks on their faces. Did we really do that bad for them to not make us the winner?

Or is there something else?

"And the Debater of the day is..."

"Ariana Manzel... Ariana Manzel... Ariana Manzel." I hear my two friends mutter under their breath, our hands turning pale at how hard we are gripping each other. When I look at our opponents, they are doing the same, muttering my name like they know it's going to be me.