The Lost Story

Chapter 6: Foundation week

It's the time of the month where classes are suspended, and enjoying the student life is in. It's already 9 in the morning and the Mfi students are busy preparing for their stall and booth, while the teachers and instructors are wandering in the lobby checking each stall or sometimes buying from them.

In the corner near the staircase, the Mechatronics food stall is located. Vince, wearing a red collared shirt, is responsible for selling their products which are Filipino street foods such as kikiam and kwek-kwek. While the others are cooking and cleaning the area. One teacher's approach their stall and bought a couple of kikiam sticks, then it was followed by other students.

The bell rings at 10 am and the students are called in the assembly hall for the opening program of foundation week. At once, the lobby was deserted leaving only the stalls and booths while the assembly hall was filled by students.

Vince is the last one who entered the hall, he looked around and found Kat at the upper seat. He walked towards her and was ready to greet her, When Khalil popped out in front of him from nowhere.

"eyow brother, you should sit beside your section," Khalil said and pointed at the seat near the stage. At first Vince was hesitant but Khalil pulled him to the seat. He rolled his eyes and followed Khalil with a deep sight.

Kat looked around and noticed Vince walking towards the seat near the stage, she's going to call him, when she saw Vince sat beside his classmates and they started laughing. She felt a bit disappointed that he didn't sit beside her or even greet her. She pouted and released multiple sights. Carol and Hannah who's sitting beside her found Kat a bit out of herself.

"what happened? " Carol asked.

"nah… " Kat replied.

Carol didn't ask for more as Hannah pinch her arms, they went fighting again.

A loud his from the microphone gets the attention of all the students and teachers in the assembly hall. Everyone looks at the stage. A woman with a black long hair who's wearing a blue printed shirt and slacks stood up on the stage and greeted everyone.

"Good morning, students, teachers and visitors, welcome to the 43rd year foundation week of MFI… "

The crowd filled the hall with loud claps. The program starts with prayer then followed by a message from the principal and ceo. The woman announced that there will also be some talent shows and contests within the foundation week. During the poem writing contest, The teachers allowed the students to go back to the lobby and open their stalls again .

Vince, who got bored from the poem writing contest, walks out the hall and goes to the lobby. He met James in their stall and asked him if he could be the guard of their section stall. James agrees but Vince's stomach aches before he gets to shift with James. His eyes got teary as his stomach felt like being punched by a hundred people. He put his arms around his stomach trying to stop the pain, but it got worse. His leg felt numb and powerless, making his body fall down from standing up. Laying on the floor in a curled position, James got worried and went to help Vince to stand. He pulled one of Vince's arms and tried to stand him.

James asked, " Hey, you okay? "

Vince's sight starts to spin as he tries to stand up. He put his left hand to his head covering his temples while his right arm was held by James. He blinked a couple of times thinking that his dizziness will go yet it doesn't. He wants to reply to James however his throat is in burn, making his word hard to spit. His sweats are turning cold as ice and his breath becomes heavy. Later on, the heat from his throat climbed into his cheeks. He felt itchy in his mouth like something was trying to come out but there wasn't. He pushes James as he tries to stand alone but his leg becomes weak, he falls down at once. With closed eyes, he grabbed his uniform but he couldn't break it so he tapped his chest trying to get the burning feeling out. Nothing happens, his body becomes weaker, making it harder for him to sit. He curled down on the floor shouting out his pain.

James looks worried and panicking at the same time, when Vince lays down on the floor, he calls for help but students only surround them. The more people surrounding them the more the air becomes thinner, as a result Vince is almost losing his breath. Fortunately, one of the teachers came and helped him. The teacher tried to drive the students away from Vince. Vince felt a little relieved but the pain still lingers to his body. When he couldn't hold back the pain, he fainted.

In a couple of minutes Vince's consciousness came back, he opened his eyes and felt his back ache.He looked around and found himself lying on a school bench. The aircon releases cold air that touches his skin, making his body shiver from the cold. He stood up and fixed his shirt. He turned around and it was late to realize that there's someone sitting on the floor beside the bench.

"so, you already woke up? " it said

"Do you know why I'm here? " Vince asked.

The man stood up and fixed his slacks. He looked at Vince and said, "you fainted a while ago, Mr. Mike put you here…"

Vince is still in the middle of confusion, he asked, " then why are you here? "

The man raised his eyebrows and looked at him with annoyance, "Well… Unfortunately I was called here when Mr. Mike put you on that bench. And before I leave he asked me if I can wait for you to wake up because he needs to do his business." The man clenches his teeth.

Vince doesn't know how to react, if he's going to laugh because of how the man tells the whole story of his unfortunate event or he's going to frown because of how this man indirectly tells that it was his fault that this man didn't have the time to leave?

At the end, Vince releases a sigh of relief and thanks the man.

The man replied with a "tss" and left. As the man left the faculty room he sat on the bench for a couple of moments to settle himself.

The man who just left closed the faculty door carefully and decided to go down to the lobby. He was walking silently when Calex suddenly appeared.

"eyebrows meeting each other, again?" Calex said and flicked the man's eyebrows, "not today, Andrei. "

Andrei frowned and looked at Calex with deadly eyes, "your friend is in the faculty, don't you wanna see him? "

Calex looked away and start walking,

"as if he'll like to see me," Calex smiled bitterly.

They got down to the lobby and went to their stall that was located in front of the parking lot. Calex sat on one of the plastic chairs while Andrei shifted to one of their classmates in selling products. He wears a cute bunny headband and smiles. He call every person he saw to sell their products.

A group of girls gets the attention of people at Andrei's stall. They were talking loudly that even though they are way too far from their stall, the topic could be heard. The One who's wearing a pink long sleeve and a badge of C-prog B on her left sleeve was being pushed by the two girls.

"Come on, Kat" the girl with a loose pink shirt said while pushing Kat to Andrei's stall.

Even though Andrei felt disgusted by what these girls did, he remained smiling.

"Girls, no need to push her" he said

But it was too late, Kat was finally pushed in front of him. At first she was hesitant but with the girl's support on her back she sighed deeply and looked at Andrei.

"I-I'll b-buy this one," Kat said and randomly pointed at the objects in front of her.

Andrei stall is selling handmade jewelry and not just ordinary designs. The jewelry is inspired by different bands, from local to international bands, and Kat pointed to a design which is rare to be bought.

"You're a fan of MFS? " Andrei asked while trying to hold his smile.

Kat just realized that he pointed at a ring that has carved a j-rock band logo, My First Story, which is Vince's one of favorite bands.

She faked her answer and nodded.

Andrei didn't question her anymore since he felt that she really didn't know about the band. He packed the ring and gave it to her.

"250" he smiled.

Kat gave him the p*****t but she didn't move even though she already received the ring. Andrei looked at her still holding his smile and said, ``Is there anything you want,?"

Kat shook her head and looked away. She inhales then exhales in front of Andrei.

"uhm… ?" Andrei hesitate to asked her,

"I like you," Kat said without any stammering.

Andrei's eyes widened as he looked at her in shock. Even his classmates suddenly stop moving when they hear her. A loud cheer of people around Andrei and Kat immersed. Everyone was praising Kat's courage. However their smiles faded when Andrei spoke.

"But I like someone…" Andrei said under his breath.