Chapter 2: Representatives

Nine’s Point of View

“Sophomore students, please proceed to the auditorium. Sophomore students please kindly proceed to the auditorium now”. Coming from the big and loud speakers of Apo University. I think the person behind of the voice is Prof Kana.

All the sophomore students of Apo University were panicking as we all know that this is the day to choose for the representative of every College.

“Joong, where are you going?” Maxine asks her friend. I know Maxine, he’s my friend and we’re in the same course, we're classmates in major subjects. We belong to College of Architecture.

I guess this friend of hers came from College of Engineering, because all I know Maxine has a lot of friends in Engineering came from different facultiesa and she’s the only one in her circle of friends take architecture.

“I’m going to our faculty's bench, Max. I’m engineering student not architecture” He said matter of factly to Max while he tap her head, then Joong turn her gaze to me like he’s telling something but I don’t get it.

“Oh, I’m sorry I forgot, yeah you better go, bye” Maxine responded. After that I’m little shocked when Max kisses his cheek, like really?

Maxine and I reach our bench right after Prof Kana said we need to settle down. He's now in front of us all. We're settling ourselves at the same time some of us giving their opinion about this event.

They continuously sharing their thoughts and ideas when Prof Kana started her announcement. “As for this moment, I, Mr. Kana your chief organizer of this annual event, every year we do this AU Ambassador and Ambassadress Search, and for your time, we alter some of the procedure to choose representatives, instead of appointing someone, you guys better choose atleast five representative then in that five and the committees will choose the best and perfectly fit to represent your faculties. Am I clear?”

Everyone whispering about the changes, it was decades ago since we have that appointment procedure in that event then suddenly change it, and if you’re that one person who really wants to join then you must work for it. This is a bloody war for those who aim to bring home the bacon to their homes.

“Nine someone is looking at you” Maxine in the middle of nowhere, and to get my attention she's poking the right side of my head while whispering those words in my ears.

I look at her and ask who’s that someone looking at me, since she really mentions it where usually we don’t care such thing like that. We ignore almost everything unless it's important.

“Never mind” then she chuckles.

Maxine sometimes kind’a weird which I like about her, her weirdness and a smart student makes her unique for me.

“Everyone, listen. You must prepare for this event as we will give a not just extra points for those who will win, but we will also give you a vacation." Prof Kana with full power voice.

All sophomores get wild because of that announcement. If we’re that hungry of grades we’re more hungry of vacation, like, who don’t like vacations right?. Let say students can afford to have vacation even if it’s out if country but we don’t have enough time to do what we want outside of this campus.

A College life in this school is way more harder than others. Hectic schedules, long list of quizzes everyday, piled paper works will probably kill us. Ain’t exaggerating things but here in Apo University is hell’a different.

Everyone proceed to their respective meeting place to choose those five representatives. Us, Architecture students choose the grandstand in front of Apo Univ field where the College of Science having their meeting too.

“Now, we must have those best of the best male and female to represent us, Architects.” Akira said, one of the most promising Architecture student we have in Apo University, she’s Junior, a third year architecture student, we have now the five juniors and five seniors to guide us.

“This year search is not a joke, for pete sake, and for you all to know that the College of Architecture hold last year’s crown both Ambassador and Ambassadress that’s why we really feel the pressure” Hiro in his definitive and deep voice, also a junior, a third year architecture Student and as far as I remember he was the one whose he’s talking about, he was the last year’s Apo University Ambassador and he was the one who implement two biggest and famous protocol we have right now, the half day class every Saturday and the two weeks break that we’ve enjoy last week.

It’s popular for the reason of, before we have eleven hours per day, and six days per week class schedule. A very tight and hectic class schedule.

“For now, I’m going to choose Cassandra, Maxine and Indra for female and Jacob, Kyle and Oliver for male.” Joseph announce the sophomore top scorer.

Akira step close to Joseph like she’s asking something, maybe she’s question Joseph choices.

“Those six students were the consistent top scorer of sophomores, and they also the consistent Director’s Lister for Architecture base here in the record that I have” he continue.

I look to Maxine to see her reaction, but she’s like a lifeless vegetable, she even yawn, she doesn’t care after all.

When I turned my gaze back to the speakers, and notice the approaching guy. He has a piece of paper and he handed to Joseph and said something that makes Joseph frown.

“Okay, some, clarification the record that I read was last year’s record and I have right now the updated list, and still the six person that I’ve announce still qualified." Joseph stop for a moment then give a unexpected compliment.

“Nine, let’s go. This meeting is boring” Maxine held my hand without any hesitation. When we’re about to stand up so that we can escape this meeting, Joseph announce again.

“Mia, Francesca, Nine and Yhuan will complete the list” Maxine and I are stun. We’re both shocked when we heard my name. 

The feeling that I contain is unexplainable, I just feel my heart that beast so fast like a galloping horse, my surrounding become peace as hell, I see no color but black and pinch of white. I heard nothing but a buzz, maybe the people surround me.

And for all I know I wake up with Maxine’s friend, “Joong, why are you here?” I blurted and trying to stand with my own however this man can't contain his self  and assisted me.

“Ahm… I’m here… Ahm M-maxi… s-she” he stutter

"What?” my voice were cracked while saying just that hell one word.

“Nineee!” Aya’s voice cover the whole school infirmary at the same time closing the wide and long space between us. She's running towards me and behind of her is Maxine.

I see Joong’s reaction change, from a worried face to expressionless face but I did mind it and turn back to Aya.

“What happened?” Aya ask while checking my body like she’s searching for wounds and scratches.

“He was got dizzy and black out when he heard his name for the representative” Maxine explained everything even single details.

Maybe that’s was my body’s reaction to that news, I’m more than overwhelmed by that to the point that I wasn’t able to handle it. Being a Director’s Lister was my first goal upon entering Apo University, and become my dream when I finish my freshmen year without achieving it. I’ve worked hard for it, got a lot of sleepless nights, I even pressured myself once for a while, yeah, I become a toxic achiever just to have that, but I quit that. I promised to myself that I should be happy enough to the achievement I got, even it’s not the Director Lister as long as I give my best, but now that I have it, it is more than a butterfly in my stomach. I even fainted because of that.

“Are you okay?” Joong ask me while Aya and Maxine having a conversation.

“Yeah, thank you” I smile at him, we may not that close but he’s here, worrying.

“That’s good to hear. By the way congratulations” he said then immediately excuse his self.

They have similarities with Maxine, they’re both weird yet smart people. I envy them a lot, big time. They’re effortless making on top. 

“Oh, where’s Joong?” Maxine asks me when she noticed that Joong weren't here anymore. I think they're done discussing something with Aya.

“He’s gone just little while now” and I smile at her.

“By the way, the nurse said you’re good to go, just take the medicine. Here, drink this” And handed piece of capsule. She also give me a piece of the prescription that I need to buy for the dizziness.

We’re about to leave the infirmary when we see Joong approaching.

“Oh ho, where were you Joong? I was looking at you” Maxine moves forward to talk Joong.

“I buy you guys drink, here” he gives the bottled Green Tea to Maxine and Aya then he gives me the Bottled coffee, which is my favorite, did he know about it or a coincidence?

“Ah Max, would you excuse us, I’ll just talk to Nine, just a couple of minutes” Aya pleaded. Maxine show her curved lips nods as reply.

When we’re about to part our ways Aya hold my hand and she’s starting to talk.

“Are you okay Nine, do you feel any pain? why did you fainted? Did you eat or what? Please tell me what happened, I’m worried”

“Oh ho, chill, calm down, what question would I answer first, those are a lot”

“I’m sorry, but I’m really worried” now I see the pain in her eyes. Aya’s eyes are very expressive, that’s why I read her easily, there some times what she speaks different for what her eyes telling me.

“I’m okay, don’t worry about me, okay” I hold her chin and look at her eyes while giving her the assurance that she needs.

“Really?” her teary eyes are now about to rain tears.

“Yeah, of course” and hug her, just make her feel that I’m saying the truth and she doesn’t need to worry.

And hearing her sigh of relief makes me feel more better.

“Aya, let’s go. We need to hurry” someone from a far shouted.

She’s smile at me then run towards to her friend, maybe they’re not yet done to their meeting, for what I’ve heard Music and Arts students are now competitive as they have not won for eight years straight of this pageant.

I busy looking to Aya’s back when is someone also poking my back to get my attention.

“Let’s go, the meeting is not yet done. We have all day for that” it’s Maxine reminding me for the things we left.

“Sorry, I forgot. Let’s go?”I responded.

I lost track of our faculties thing, and also me being one of the representative, being a Director’s Lister would bring me to that thing that which I never expected, well I’m not also into pageants but what I can do, I've gone little far.

“Now, that you’re complete I would like to tell this important matter that you need to consider when you face the committee” Lia announces when she us sitting to our respective seats. She was the one who won the Ambassadress together with Joseph, maybe that explains why.

“Cassandra, Indra, Maxine, Francesca and Mia, give it to me straight, are you all willing to do this? If not just raise your hand as a sign or backing out” it’s Lia but now she’s more powerful, you can really hear the passion in her voice, the eagerness to make this thing perfect.

For a moment it filled with silence, no one dare to pull out, these girls are ready to make our faculty win again.

“Jacob, Kyle, Oliver, Yhuan and Nine, do you want it, tell me straight if you don’t want it so that I can replace you to those who really wants your place, the one who’s ready to die with this battle.” Joseph with his very authoritative voice.

I’m about to raise my hand when Max holds it.

“I know that you don’t want it for now, but please can you give it a chance? I don’t want any other pair aside from you” she looks at me like her eyes were begging me to say yes.

“Then I see no one raise their hands, so I assume that you all will do your best to bring home the crown, for now hear me first before I’ll let you go to the committee” Joseph stop for a moment, he clears his throat.

“You all know that only one of you will represent our faculty, but I choose those top Students so that the committee will surely pick the best of the best, we choose you base on your academic performance because I never question the beauty that you hold, you all unique and beautiful in your own ways, I just want to make sure that we’ll fight in question-and-answer portion, because I really believe that, that portion of the pageant will lead us to the victory that we want” Joseph leave us with his smile like it’s telling us that he trust us. And handed the microphone to Lia.

“Everyone, remember you’re competing not just for yourself, but you compete for our faculty, to all architecture students. You’re in behalf of us, the archi community. Bring your heart with you the moment you enter that room” Lia pointing the auditorium where the committee waiting for us.

She ends her reminder with that then Joseph announce that we should now proceed to the auditorium for the screening.

The moment that we enter the auditorium, I feel strange, my heart is beating so fast, and I’m starting to feel cold all over my body.

“Are you okay?” Maxine lean towards me as she feels that I’m very nervous.

“Yeah, don’t worry” then I smile, trying to calm my self.

“Prof Kana said that, we’re the last Faculty, and they’re almost done” pointing the student in front of us, students from College of Business Administration.

Really, that was fast.

“My friend from Engineering told me that they ask the same question for all of us, it depends on how good our answer. That means if we answer their questions in something that don’t please them, they won’t choose us” Maxine smiles devilishly.

“I though you want it” as I really thought.

“I’m just kidding, come on, release that unwanted stress you have right now, we need to win this, okay?” she cheers me like she’s not trembling of nervous too.

“Architects it’s your time, ladies please form a line, and gentlemen after this ladies you’re next, so be prepared” the student inspector, one of the members of the organizing team of this event.

“Do you really want it, Kyle?” I heard from Jacob, they’re in front of me.

“How about you, Nine?” now Jacob facing me, waiting for my response.

“I don’t know if I really want it, but one thing for sure right now, I want to give justice to Joseph, Lia and our other seniors expectations” then I smile.

“It’s quite interesting huh” he chuckles and face Kyle to get the answer.

“We have the same thoughts” he answers simple and that.

We just smile and good luck to each other.

It’s almost 20 minutes, Kyle were done and maybe Jacob is about to end his time too.

And I’m not wrong, the assistant call me and he let me in to face the committee.

“Architect Nine, would you answer this question please. How would you define success?” The committee ask me with curved in his lips.