Graded Hearts

Chapter 1 : Fight

Leighlagh's PoV

Preliminary Period Results

1. Lim, Alekhine Xenon 99.1
2. Yap, Leighlagh 97.8
3. Monteverde, Hunter Isaac 97.4
4. Soriano, Ivan Lee 95.9
5.Baguio, Joseph 93.4

I sighed in defeat after seeing the results. As usual, I was stucked at rank two. And what's worse? I am closer to the top three's grade. Impossible. I tried my hardest to prepare for this period. I spent my summer vacation studying and reviewing. I didn't rest, I didn't waste a single minute. But here it is.

It wasn't enough.

I took an eye at the man standing beside me, still watching at the result. His expression was filmed, vacant and dead. But I knew the truth behind that mask. He wanted this. He likes to see me suffer, he likes to make me feel I was beneath him. And he got it. Tss.

"Congrats man!" Kier, his friend congratulated him. Tinapik pa nito ang kanyang balikat.

More people greeted him. They liked Alekhine, everyone in the school likes him.Every single student would think that he's too good because he's always silent. But I I knew him all too well. Just because he's silent doesn't necessarily mean he's nice. May tinatago siyang kulo, alam ko yun.

I can't believe this is happening!

I walk towards the ladies room and locked myself up. I watched myself at the mirror. I saw my own eyes fill up so I dismiss it immediately. I can't cry. I'm not allowed to cry. My father told me that crying is a sign of weakness. It's for the weak people who can't do anything to pull their selves.

My hands turned into fist.

I am strong enough for this. For years, I learned to take disappointments and frsutrations as motivation to prove people wrong. I need to be unstoppable. I refuse to give up no matter what, and so far, it's the best thing that I have ever learned.

Inayos ko ang aking sarili. Nang masigurong okay na ako ay agad akong lumabas. Nakita ko pa ang iilan sa mga estudyante na nag-aabang sa pinto. I gave them a cold look and continued walking.

I was used of people saying I wasn't nice. I was even called an Ice Queen. I never show them my true emotions. I always show a sullen look. By far, I'm enjoying that fact of mine.

"What's with the face Leigh? Wala ka ata sa mood? Anyways, congrats ha, ang taas ng grades mo." Alice said.

Yeah. For most people, having a 97.8 GPA is quite great. But not for me, not for my dad. That grade is too low. It isn't enough, not enough to please my dad.

That is something Alice wouldn't understand. She's okay with having an average grade. She's okay of having mistakes during exams. Because she has an understanding and contented parents. They never pressure her. All they want was for Alice to take her studies seriously without compromising her health and passion. They never asked her to pour everything in academics. They never demand her to be on top, to be the best. Alice was carefree, unlike me.

"Don't congratulate me Alice. I only got the the second rank." I said for the nth time.

"Mataas pa rin yun. Dapat pa ring icelebrate. Genius naman kasi si Alekhine kaya okay lang yan. You did your best, iyon ang importante."

I'm so sick of people telling me to be happy with second place. There is no room for second place. Dad don't like second place. He would always remind me that there's no such thing. Either you are first place or you are nothing.

So I won't compromise and accept the idea that Alekhine is unbeatable. He isn't! If he have never been defeated, then this time, he will surely learn the word defeat. I can definitely beat him. I promise, I will do everything just to get rid of him, by hook or by crook.