Chapter Four

“I’m so nervous! I think I’m gonna pee!” Scarlet exclaimed.

We all rolled our eyes at her. In our group of friends, she’s really the overacting one .

“The comfort room’s just a few rooms away. Go, we don’t want to smell like pee. That’ll be gross,” Teagan said.

Scarlet rolled her eyes and went to the comfort room.

We’re all waiting for the contest to start. Yukira’s the representative of our class for this Biology contest. I know she can do it! I saw how she worked hard to study everything they might ask.

We’re sitting at the front seats. We finished our activities early to be here earlier than the other spectators. We don’t want to sit at the back, it’ll be hard for us to watch well over there.

The contest is held at one of our campus’ classrooms. The capacity of this room is fifty people, including the judges, the host and the guards that’s why not everyone can watch. We’ve been told not to cheat because if we’re caught, we’ll be expelled.

The original venue was the gymnasium but sadly, the varsity are practicing for their upcoming game next week.

Just as Scarlet settled down on her seat beside me, the contest starts.

“There are three rounds in this contest. On the first round, two people from the same year will compete. Second round, the winner per year will compete against the other winners. First year versus second year and third year versus fourth year. And on the final round, the last two competitors will go against each other,” the assistant principal, the host explained.

We’re fourth year college students that’s why the teachers have high expectations for us. They expects us to win.

The contest starts and we all went silent.

I was watching them answer all the questions thrown into them and I can feel my head spinning. I’m amazed… The only thing I know about Biology is… oh, I forgot, I know nothing.

We’re watching the contest until the final round came.

Yukira is our class president and she’s also a Dean’s Lister since first year. She’ll be competing against the second year’s most popular girl for the final round.

The assistant principal threw hard questions I never knew existed. Yukira is leading with a score of fifty-three while the other scores fifty. The last question will be worth five  points.

“What is the importance of studying Biology?”

They started writing down their answers at the paper provided to them and after a minute, they both raised their hands.

The assistant principal collected their works and gave it to the judges who started reading it quietly. I can’t tell their reaction, I don’t know who they are in favour with.

They told everyone, including the finalists to have some lunch first because the judges needs some time to determine who the winner should be.

Yukira hugged us when she saw us waiting for her at the door.

“Thank you for being here! It doesn’t matter if I lose. Having you all here is the greatest achievement I’ve received.”

“You’ll surely win,” Scarlet said.

“Aww! You’re so sweet!” Unira said.

We all went to the cafeteria to eat some foods when Teagan decided to treat us. He said that we all worked hard to be there and we deserved a treat.

“How was the coffee yesterday?” Yukira asked.

Yunho looked at me before answering. “It’s only me and Unira who went to the coffee shop. It was good.”

Yukira raised her eyebrows. “Why? Hikari’s supposed to be with you two, right?”

“Yeah but we didn’t notice she went home. We didn’t found her when we reached the coffee shop. She said she wanted Yunho and I to enjoy together,” Unira shrugged.

Scarlet nudged me. “But…”

I shook my head to stop her from saying those words.

Scarlet’s prying eyes led her to know my crush on Yunho. She didn’t dare say it to our friends as for my request.

I don’t want them to know about it. It’s not that important and also, I don’t want them to be awkward around me.

We all went at the back of the school after eating. This is our group’s spot for practices, making assignments or projects and for relaxing.

There’s a bench that can fit all of us though we often prefer to sit on the ground covered with green grasses. The trees are surrounding the whole place that made it look more relaxing. It’s filled with fresh air in here.

Teagan sat on the ground and Yukira laid on his lap. Yunho wrapped his arm around Unira. Their actions made Scarlet and I vomit.

“Ew, gross,” Scarlet commented and act as if she’s about to vomit.

“Yeah, I don’t want to look at them,” I laughed.

Only the both of us are not in a relationship. Scarlet’s pretty and she have lots of suitors but she said she’s not ready to commit. She wanted to have fun and do things without caring about someone.

The couples are busy talking to each other and Scarlet looked at me.

“Aren’t you... you know, hurt?” she whispered.

I looked back at Yunho and Unira laughing with each other.

“I am but I’m also happy. They’re finally in a relationship now.”

“But... you like him.”

“It’ll fade away. I don’t love him, it doesn’t hurt that much.”

Scarlet nod her head. “Well, we should be thankful. We don’t have someone to please. We can do everything we want.”

“Yeah. Let’s look at the bright side.”

We spent half an hour relaxing in there. We played a game to pass the time until the finalists were called.

We’re all nervous when the judges gave their speech. They’re all praising the contestants for their hardwork. They passed the microphone to the assistant principal after their speech.

“And the winner for this year’s Biology Contest is...”

I gulped. Oh my gosh! I’m nervous as heck although I know Yukira’s gonna win-

“Second year college, Elana Wilson!”

My forehead creased. I looked at our friends and they’re all shocked. I am shocked as well but my confusion is greater than it.

What just happened? Yukira’s score is fifty-three, Elana’s is fifty. The last round is worth five points.  Elana won’t win unless she got four or five. But... Yukira’s score... they gave her one? Zero?

Yukira smiled despite her, losing. She congratulate Elana and went to where we are after receiving her certificate.

“Sorry to disappoint y’all,” she smiled a little.

We all shook our heads. “We’re not disappointed! We’re proud of you!” Teagan exclaimed.

“Yeah, you’re still a winner for us,” Unira smiled.

“Yeah, it’s just that... It’s kinda fishy,” Scarlet said that made us look at her.

I thought I’m the only one who noticed.

“Let’s talk outside. We don’t want them to hear us, right?” Yunho suggested.

We all went at the back of our school again and sat on the ground.

“What seems wrong?”

“Elana... She’s not that smart. I mean, she’s popular, yes but a lot of people especially her classmates are against her, competing in that contest. I planned to tell y’all this earlier but it slipped my mind. I can’t believe she won,” Scarlet said.

“How’d you know that?”

“I overheard the students outside when I peed.”

“I’m also not convince about the scores. They gave Yukira one or zero for her answer and Elana got four or five?  What kind of nonsense is that?” I added.

“Elana won’t be in the final round if she isn’t smart. Maybe she’s really smart because it’s impossible it’s just pure luck,” Yukira said.

“It’s not pure luck and she isn’t smart based on what Scarlet overheard. I think they cheated,” Unira muttered.

“They?”

“Yes, they. She won’t win on her own. She’s not smart, remember?”

We’re all deep in thought. Did Elana really cheated? How can we prove it?

“There’s a CCTV in that classroom. All we need to do is to go to the security office and ask the guards if we can watch,” Yunho suggested.

We stood up and went to the security office. There’s a guard standing outside the door and he raised his eyebrows when he saw us.

“What brings you here, children?”

“We need to look at the camera footage in Class A2-“

“You can’t unless you have a permission from the assistant principal.”

“Can’t we just look even for a minute? This is an emergency,” Teagan asked.

“No. Rules are rules. If this is an emergency, better ask for the permission right away for you to have an access.”

All of us are frowning when we left. We can’t ask the assistant principal for permission because we’ll be doomed if our speculations were wrong.

We’re walking around the school, figuring out what we must do to get an access until the rain started to fall again.

It’s been four days since the last rain and I haven’t heard from Raui ever since. I wonder where he is now.

Scarlet shared her umbrella with me because I forgot to bring mine again.

“Let’s go home, it’s getting cold,” Scarlet said.

Teagan and Yukira left first. Yunho, Unira, Scarlet and I are going to share a ride.

Only Scarlet and I always share a ride with Yunho because we don’t have our own car. Scarlet is clumsy and might get into an accident if her parents give her one and as for me, I don’t have enough money.

Unira called her mother to tell her not to pick her up because she’s with Yunho.

I have the closest house to school that’s why I’m the one who’s dropped off first.

I waved them goodbye and is about to go inside my apartment when I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.

“Hikari! Hikari, wait!”

I looked around looking for him until I found him running towards me.

He smiled at me. “Hey?”

“Hey... What are you doing here?”

“I thought you want us to spend time together? I mean, you said you wanted to do what we did last time more often?”

“Oh, yeah. I just didn’t know you’ll be here today. You didn’t show yourself in the past four days.”

“I was busy, I’m sorry. If you have something to do today, I’ll leave now. I’ll text you next time,” he smiled at me and starts walking back to his car.

“Wait! I’m not busy today. We can watch some movies, drink coffee and maybe order dinner?”

I prepared some coffee for the two of us after I changed into a more comfortable clothes. We watched a movie on my small television and we talked about what happened to us this past few days afterwards.

I’ve told him what happened at the contest earlier.

“Do you have a plan now?” he asked while sipping his third cup of coffee.

“No. We don’t have a solid plan up until now.”

“Just don’t forget to tell me if you need some help.”

I looked him in the eye and smiled mischievously. “I actually have a plan. I’m just not sure if they’ll agree. Probably not but I have you to help me now.”

His forehead creased. “What is it? Based on your smile, it doesn’t look good.”

“Let’s sneak in.”

He almost choke because of what I’ve said. “Sneak in? Are you out of your mind?”

“Yeah, maybe but that’s the only plan I can think of!”

“I didn’t know you have a bad side.”

“I’m not bad!”

“Yeah, right,’ he chuckled.

“Okay, I am bad but not all the time! We all have our own bad side, right?”

He shrugged and didn’t answer.

“So, will you help me? We just need to go to the security office, copy the video and leave. As easy as that.”

“It’s easier said than done and no, I won’t help you. I don’t want to go to jail.”

“We’re not going to jail!”

“I am not but you are if you continue your plan.”

I frowned. “I thought you’ll help me?”

“Yes, but I didn’t say it includes me, doing something illegal.”

“Fine. I’ll handle this alone. I don’t need your help. I don’t know why I expect you to help me. You’re not even my friend.”

He looked at me intently. “What? I thought we’re friends?”

“I thought so, too. You didn’t bother to call me or text me to tell me you can’t spend some time with me. My friends always updates me, you didn’t and it means you’re not my friend... anymore.”