One

One

“Settle down, students.” Mrs. Onevic ordered the moment she set her foot inside the classroom.

All of the students turned their heads to their adviser who was walking towards the teacher’s table. Without any unnecessary noise, they went to their perspective sits. Mrs. Onevic was eyeing on them, making sure that they would pay attention to her after they are settled. They were all quiet after sitting so she didn’t need to give them another sermon to get their attention.

She glanced on everyone making sure that they are all paying attention to her. All eyes and ears are on her. She cleared her throat before she spoke.

“Congratulations everyone for having good grades in 3rd quarter.” She complimented, “Now lets give a warm applause to the following names that I will mention for making it to the top 5 this quarter.”

After stating, she pulled out a piece of white paper from the folders piled on top of the table. The students were secretly gossiping to each other. Wondering who could be the new top 5 for the 3rd quarter.

“I’m kindda excited.” A girl with short curly hair whispered to the girl with golden straight her, sitting next to her.

“That’s weird. I’m nervous.” The girl with golden hair whispered back on her while keeping her eyes on Mrs. Onevic.

“That’s because you’re wishing you won’t be doomed in Mathematics.” A girl on her left answered while her eyes were focused at the front.

“Sort of, Vanessa.” The blonde girl replied to the girl in her left as she glanced on her, “I don’t want to take summer class just to pass in Mathematics.”

“Okay, here’s our top 5.” Mrs. Onevic started and the gossiping of the students were cut off, “Top 5, Alvarez, Nicole with the average grade of 89.”

The students turned their heads to Nicole who was sitting second row from the front. They were clapping and others were cheering for her.

“Next, top 4, Dela Cerna, Jasper with the average grade of 90.3.” Mrs. Onevic continued and the students lively applauded. Students sitting next to Jasper were tapping his shoulder.

“Followed by Jimenez, Warren, top 3. With the average grade of 90.5.” Mrs. Onevic paused and at the same time students applauded while looking to Warren sitting at the very back.

“Then Top 2 Carnillo, Daniel King. With the average grade of 92.2.” Loud cheering echoed in the entire room while others are proudly clapping. Students sitting next to King were briskly shaking his shoulders while he was grinning from ear to ear. Mrs. Onevic giggled for a while then continue.

“And for our top 1 this 3rd quarter, Gonzales, Shanice. With the average of 92.4.” Everyone was cheering right after Mrs. Onevic mentioned Shanice’s name. She had been top 1 ever since 1st quarter and King had always been top 2. Their average grades keep on rising but their positions stayed the same.

“That’s our top 5 this quarter. And once again, congratulations.” Mrs. Onevic remarked before she stood from her sit. She walked to the left corner of the black board and posted the white paper where she read the top 5 and after, she went back to the teacher’s table.

“How I wish I have brains like them.” The curly girl said as she leaned on her sit and threw a quick look on the blonde girl.

“Me either, Clarisse. Even just Carnillo’s intelligence.” The blonde girl hopelessly said.

“It can’t be, Hannah. He’s too smart in Mathematics for your brain cells.” The girl sitting on Hannah’s left commented.

Hannah hopelessly sighed as she leaned her back on her chair. Hoping she would pass in Mathematics, this quarter.

“Now, I’ll be releasing your cards and be sure to return it by tomorrow.” Mrs. Onevic stated as she pulled out a pile of rectangular cards from the pile of folders on top of the table.

Everyone was excited. They were gossiping to each other about what their grades could it be. And what subject they have with higher grades.

Mrs. Onevic called their last names one by one alphabetically. She started with the boys and after they received their cards, they had to sign on the master list to prove that they received it. As they sat on their sits while staring on their cards, their seatmates would lift their heads and peek on the card. And after, chatted with each other. Compering their grades in every subject.

After calling 23 boys, its girl’s turn to receive their cards.

“Brickson, Clarisse.” Mrs. Onevic called the curly girl, sitting on Hannah’s right.

She immediately stood with a nervous smile and walked to the teacher’s table. Mrs. Onevic handed her card to her. She took it and signed on the master list. She turned her back to Mrs. Onevic after signing and placed her card on her chest. She slightly closed her eyes and walked back to her sit.

“De Vera, Hannah Mae.” With hands shaking, she stood and put her hands together while walking towards the teacher’s table.

“You must improve your grades in Mathematics, De Vera. Otherwise, you better book a class in summer for Mathematics IV.” Mrs. Onevic informed as she handed her card to her.

Nevously, she swallowed and took the card from the teacher. She signed on the master list and headed back straight to her sit.

“How’s your grades, Hannah?” Clarisse asked her while peeking on her card, trying to have a glimpse of it.

“I don’t wanna know.” Hannah babbled and slowly looked on her card. Her lips started to shake while eyeing on her grades. Clarisse lean in to have a good look on her card.

“Guillermo, Vanessa.” Mrs. Onevic called the girl sitting on the left side of Hannah.

She confidently stood and walked towards the teacher’s table.

“You’re screwed, Hannah.” Clarisse blurted while pointing her finger on a certain subject on Hannah’s card.

“Again, in Mathematics?” Hannah complained under her heavy sighed. Looking on the subject that Clarisse was pointing.

“I got a total average grade of 83.” Vanessa boasted while walking back to her sit, “How’s yours?”

“I got 80. Not bad at all.” Clarisse replied, smiling.

Hannah looked down with a hopeless face as she put her card on her lap in disappointment, “I’m doomed.”

Vanessa’s brows crossed as she took Hannah’s card and look on it. Her lips parted after seeing Hannah’s grades.

“You need to recover your Mathematics in 4th quarter, Hannah.” Vanessa pointed out as she put back her card on her lap.

With a hopeless sighed, She pouted and reach for her backpack. She put her card inside it before hugging her backpack while leaning her chin on it.

“We’ll help you out, Hannah. We want you to graduate with us.” Clarisse encourage her, seeing that she’s losing hope.

The bell finally rang to end their class for today. Their classmates immediately fixed their things, gossiping about their grades and rushed to the door even before their teacher could hold them.

“Be sure to return your cards by tomorrow.” Mrs. Onevic reminded them before she stood and left the room.

When Mrs. Onevic was totally out of eyeshot, a group of guys walked towards King while he was busy tidying his things. They were blocking his way.

“Excellent grades, top 2.” One of the guys approached him.

He looked over his shoulder and saw one of the guys standing close to him. He turned around to face him.

“Thanks, Sanchez. Study is the key.” King calmly replied and was about to put his report card in his bag when the guy he called Sanchez instantly took it from his hand.

He burst out in laughter on a sarcastic tone and his friends joined him. Half of his classmates turned their attention to them upon hearing his loud laugh, including Hannah’s company.

“Thanks for this, Carnillo. My mama will surely bought me Mercedes bench after seeing this.” He joked in a mocking tone. He laughed again as he turned his back to him and walked to the door. His friends smirk on King and followed him to the door.

“Oh God. Brian Sanchez is creating another scene.” Clarisse mentioned as the 3 of them were walking towards the door.

As they were passing by, Hannah was observing King’s problematic posture. He sat on his sit with hands covering his face and leaning his back on the seat. Somehow she felt pity but there’s nothing she can do. She don’t want to get her nose in other’s business for she also have her own problems to resolve.

“I’ll take care of that punk.” Vanessa declared and rushed to the hallway to catch up with Brian, the one who took King’s card.

She saw Brian in the hallway. He was a distance from them and was laughing his lungs out with his friends. She walked ahead of Hannah and Clarisse to catch him.

Meanwhile, Hannah was looking on the ground with disappointment and problematic silence while heading to her locker. She stop halfway when something caught her attention in the trash bin, beside her locker. Out of curiosity, she walked to the trash bin with brows crossed and peek inside. She let her curiosity get the best of her as she took whatever caught her attention from the trash bin. She let her eyes examine it and her eyes widen when she realized what it was.

“That’s Carnillo’s report card.” Clarisse mumbled. She was standing behind Hannah, peeking on the card she was holding.

“But now, this is mine.” Hannah replied on a possessive tone as she looked on Clarisse eyes.

Slowly, Clarisse moved her eyes to meet hers with lips slightly parted.

“What do you mean?” Clarisse was puzzled. But she got a slight hint that it won’t be anything good.

Hannah was mischievously smiling as they exchanged look. Hannah’s smile gave Clarisse a bad feeling, making her brows crossed harder. Something dangerous is running in Hannah’s mind. And just by seeing her smile, she is desperate to do it whatever consequences may result to.