Camp Sunset (Frankiana)

Chapter 10 - Vulnerable

Diana's POV

"Come on, Franki. Pick up the phone." I whispered to myself while pacing back and forth in this hallway. It's quarter to six in the evening and we're fifteen minutes away from our finals presentation and there's still no sign of Franki.

"Ugh. Where are you?" I groaned in frustration after another unanswered call.

"Dee!" I saw Kiara approaching me from the other end of the hallway.

"Kiara! Have you seen Franki? Do you know where she is?" Desperation was evident in my voice.

"Uhm no. I thought she's already here that's why I came. I wanted to wish you both good luck."

"Well she's not. And she's not even answering my calls!" I shook my head as I tried to dial her number for the nth time.

Kiara took out her phone to check if Franki had left her any messages.

"Maybe she's on her way," she said.

"I sure hope so, Kiara. You know how strict Ms. Javier is. If we don't make it on time, she's gonna fail us!"

"Just relax for a minute, Dee. I'll try to call her."

I tried taking a deep breath to calm myself. I didn't see this coming.

"I saw her earlier after lunch." I said while massaging my temples. "She was heading out of the campus and when I asked where she's going, she said she's going home to rest for a while. I reminded her about our presentation and she said 'don't worry, I'll be there'."

Kiara put her phone down. "She's not answering."

The door of the room in front of us swung open and I saw two of my classmates emerge from it.

"Fuck," I whispered to Kiara, "They're done."

"Hey Diana!" said one of them. "Good luck with your presentation. Wait, where's Franki?"

I let out an awkward smile. "Uhm.. She's somewhere. You guys done? Congrats!"

"Yes, finally! Thanks Dee! We'll go ahead ha? Break a leg!"

I watched them walk away then I looked at my watch. It's now 6:05pm and still no Franki. I looked at Kiara and then put both of my hands on top of my head. I feel so defeated.

"I'll ring her again." Kiara said as I started pacing once more.

I was about to go inside the room when we heard footsteps running towards us. There she is.

"Diana!" she said in her raspy voice. "Gosh, I'm so sorry—"

I held her wrist and pulled her towards the room, "Let's go we don't have time." I mouthed 'thank you' to Kiara and she nod her head as Franki and I went inside the room.

"Ms. Javier—" I said with a nervous look on my face when I saw her getting her bag and was about to leave.

"I'm so sorry we're late. It's all my fault, not Diana's." Franki said with pleading eyes.

Ms. Javier pointed at the digital clock inside the room and said, "It's 6:08pm already. You know my rules, if you're late, you fail." she continued walking towards the door.

I tried to stop her but Franki beat me to it.

"Ms. Javier, please? Give us a chance," she put her hands together. "I know, rules are rules but, if you could just please give us this one chance? At least give Diana a chance to present. It's not her fault I came in late."