The Sleuth Project ✓

Epilogue

/The Sleuth Project/
epilogue

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IT WAS the 27th of March, year 2017. The whole gymnasium was filled by students, teachers, parents and administrators up to the very brim. Every seat was taken, and people were chatting excitedly as they waited for the event to start. Student council officers were ushering visitors inside the area, whilst the team and directors for the Writers' Schism scurried here and there, making sure that everything was in its rightful place.

Today was the awarding ceremony of the Writers' Schism for the academic year of 2016-2017.

"Ready ka na ba?" Rein, whose bruise on his face had now healed and faded away, asked the girl seated beside him in the bleachers.

Napalingon ang dalaga, the swish of her short hair gracefully turning along her movement.

"Ready na ano?" Ann asked with a raised eyebrow habang nakatingin kay Rein.

"Ready na manalo." Rein remarked before chuckling. To his surprise, hinambalusan siya ng dalaga.

"Hindi tayo mananalo niyan kung ngayon palang ang yabang-yabang mo na!" Ann scolded him before rolling his eyes, with Rein snorting and placing an arm around her shoulder.

Dahil dito ay agad na inasar sila ng mga kaklase nilang nakaupo sa likod at paligid nila.

"PDA! PDA!" Jarrell, who was right behind the two, shouted accusingly, taking advantage of the fact that there were no professors or adults near them. Habang maingay ang 10 - Fortitude ay patuloy pa ring ginugulo ni Rein si Ann

"You're so uptight." He said teasingly to the young girl who snorted. "Akala ko ba okay lang sa'yo kung 'di tayo mananalo sa Schism kasi nabuo naman yung Campus Sleuths?"

Ann scoffed, her legs crossed as she side-eyed her rival. "Okay nga lang. Between the two of us ikaw nga 'tong nag-eexpect eh."

"I'm just trying to be positive."

"Pft. More like arrogant, Maccio." Ann snickered before removing Rein's arm around her. "And get your hands off me."

"You keep breaking my heart, Lobris." Rein responded sarcastically, placing a hand on his chest as if he was heartbroken. Napairap naman ang dalaga dahil dito.

"Good morning students, teachers and parents! Welcome to this year's awarding ceremony for the Writer's Schism!" Two energetic voices suddenly exclaimed through the microphones, catching the attention of the whole gymnasium that roared with cheer and excitement.

The event was about to start.

"I'm Elysia Arcedes, the 2015-2016 Writers' Schism winner for the novella category," The dark-haired feature writer of the Castillian Gazette, greeted the crowd.

"And I'm Agatha Batacan, the 2014-2015 Writers' Schism winner for the full-length novel category," sambit naman ng isang twelfth grader na may mahaba at sobrang kulot na buhok na naka-half ponytail.

"And we are your emcees for the 2016-2017 Writers' Schism awarding ceremony!" The two ladies announced in a thrilled tone, and the audience was once again in an uproar.

"With the long deadline we have for the writers, it is now finally the time to announce the winners for the three categories of the Writers' Schism for this academic year, 2016 - 2017! Let's start off with the first branch, the poetry-writing category..."

The whole morning was filled with cheering and merriment. And by the time na i-aannounce na ang top 3 spots for the full-length novel category - the last category in the competition - mas lalong lumakas ang mga hiyawan; people cheering for their friends and supporting their own personal bets.