Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER TEN

Matthew’s Point Of View

I exited the cafeteria and left Gabriel and his friend Bellia. Everyone on this campus knows her, so technically, I know her, too. But I’d decided to pretend to Gabriel that I don’t know his childhood friend. I can say that she’s popular in her own way. I already heard her name from every student and also every professor on our campus. She can’t deny that she is well-known here.

When I’m in the bulletin’s hallway, I can’t help taking a glance at the board. And there it goes, tomorrow is our debate, it will start at 8 o’clock in the morning. I freaking want to refuse it and just lay on the bed for a couple hours.

“Goodluck, Matt.” I heard a girl's voice behind me.

I moved myself and looked at my behind, “Yeah, thanks.” I said as I nodded.

She crossed her arms as she nodded as well. “What about tomorrow? I mean, you said you have to go to the Solden Mansion, your grandmother’s mansion, right?”

I stared at the bulletin board and realized that I already forgot to visit my grandmother’s mansion tomorrow. I bit my lower lip as my mind started to think if I should cancel my visit, but my grandfather already received my message to visit him there.

She grabbed my left arm. “Hey, you're ‘kay? Tomorrow is your debate, you can’t run over it, you will lose your scholarship, Matt. I shouldn't have mentioned the ‘visiting’ thing, ginulo ko lang ang isip mo, I didn’t mean it.” She apologized.

I pat her head, “You don’t have to apologize, Bianca. I should check my schedule and also my reminders before I’d accept their offer to me on the last day.” I said.

She laughed and remove my hand on her head. “Anong oras ba dapat ang punta mo kay lola? You can do me a favor, if you want to.” aniya at saka inayos ang kanyang suot na salamin.

Umiling ako sa sinabi niya, “No. I don’t want you to get involve, baka madamay pa ang scholarship mo, thanks to your offer, I do appreciate it.” I said and tap her shoulder two times.

“No. My scholar wouldn’t be involved here, trust me, and so what if my scholar gets away from me? I don’t mind it, it’s not a problem. You’d better trust me from now on.” She uttered.

Umiling akong muli sa kanyang kakulitan. “Look, I’ll call Maia later, okay? I will tell her that I have a debate to attend tomorrow and I had no choice but to accept their offer. I’m sure our grandfather will understand it. And you can’t go in there for me, you have a quiz bee by tomorrow, right?”

Tumingala siya at saka nagpapadyak, “I hate quiz bees, Matt. I hate it. Why can't Mr. Valdeviezo understand our reason? I mean, my reason. It’s no fun for me, why are they pushing us to be their ‘genius-asses’ kuno. It’s a torture, Matt. It’s a torture.” She said as she smacked her right hand.

I smirked. “To promote? They are just using us, yes, and I know that crap. Pero wala na rin naman tayong magagawa, A-1 students are their one and only hope for now.”

Tinakpan niya ang kanyang bibig gamit ang kanan niyang kamay, “I also think if what will happen if we both decided to move in other University.” She whispered.

I laughed at what she said. I looked at Gabriel who was carrying Bellia with a bloody palm with a quick step, he went straight to the clinic and was followed by the nurse and Yco who is also a student councilor.

“Was that Bellia? Gabriel’s best friend? Am I right?” I heard her whisper.

I nodded and crossed my arms, “Yeah. Don’t ask me what happened to them.” I said.

She laughed. “I won’t.”

I saw Yco come out with Gabriel. Less than a minute ago it turned out that they were not with Bellia, “I’m scared for Bellia, Matt.” She said sincerely.

Tiningnan ko siya. “I, too.”

“Do you ever think that she can escape from it? I’m really, really worried about her every time.”

I watched as Gabriel and Yco entered the headteacher’s office, “Being worried about her is alright, just don’t you dare to get close to her, okay? You’ll be in danger if you let that happen, be selfish for now, Bianca, it’s for your safeness.” ani ko habang nakatingin sa pinto ng pinasukan nila Gabriel at Yco.

Lumabas si Yco na hindi kasama si Gabriel. What’s the meaning of this, Gabriel?

“Yeah, you’re right. I should be over on it. I should not think of Bellia’s situation every time. I’ll keep avoiding her, you’re totally right, Matt. I might get involved.” She said while nodding.

I took a deep breath and put my two hands in my pocket. “I gotta go, I must go to the student council’s room.”

I saw her smile and nodded, “Yeah. Papasok na rin naman ako sa classroom, ingat ka,” aniya.

I pat her head one last time. “Gotta go, see you.”

Naglakad na ako palayo sa kanya habang napakaloob ang dalawa kong kamay sa aking bulsa. I went straight to the student council’s building and Yco got there with the other councils.

“Hey, Mr. President! Look who’s here, guys!” Ethane opened up to me.

I entered the room and went in front of them. They all sat in respect when I went in front of them. I leaned back on the table and laid my left hand on it while loosening my necktie.

“I can’t cancel the debate for tomorrow, right?” I asked them.

They nodded. “Bakit? May balak ka ba?” tanong ni Ethane, our editor.

“Ano, Mr. Ortega? Meron, ‘no?” Gia asked me, she is our secretary. Yco’s closest friend.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Maureen, “Hmm. Let’s respect his decisions, guys. We don’t have the right to judge his decisions.” She said to everyone in the room.

Pumalakpak si Ethane, “Hey, Shilo. Look at Maureen, may ibang nililigtas na,” pang-aasar niya rito.

Shilo rolled his eyes from Ethane. “Stop it, Ethane. You’re irritating me, bastard.”

“Hey, stop that nonsense, everyone. Let Matthew talk to us.” Kalea said to them, she nodded at me as a sign for me to start talking in front of them. “Hey, Matt. Spill the tea.”

Kalea is cool, I’m just being honest. Everyone can’t deny that she’s a smartass, I can tell that she’s a grunge. Every time she wears pure black coloured outfits, that’s included from her being cool all the time.

I caressed the edge of the table as I licked my upper lip. “I don’t have a plan. What’s the deal with y’all, huh? I just asked, it just popped in my head earlier, and you all are overacting this time.”

Ethane took a glance from Maureen and Kalea after what I said.

I pointed at Maureen, “Except for Maureen.” I pointed to Kalea after Maureen. “And also her.”

I saw Ethane crossed his arms and smirked, “Sinong third wheel sa inyong dalawa, ha? Oh my god, Maureen. Bakit hindi mo kami ininform na nakikisabit ka na lang ngayon?” sabi niya at saka tinakpan ang kanyang bibig sa magkabila niyang kamay.

Maureen glared at Ethane for a second and then rolled her eyes to him, “You aren’t funny, Ethane. At kailan ka pa pala naging katawa-tawa? So shut your goddamn big mouth and get up your ass in this room, now!” She shouted without a glance of Ethane.

“Alam mo, ikaw babaita ka, you are so, so overacting na. Don’t ya’ know the word sarcasm, huh?” ani Ethane kay Maureen.

I further loosened the tie of my necktie and removed my badge on the uniform.

I saw Shilo looked after me. “Hey, hey, guys. Tigil niyo na ‘yan. Oh, crap.”

“Let them be, Shilo.” Kalea said to Shilo as she crossed her arms, watching Ethane and Maureen fighting using words.

Ethane stood up in his chair and then walked over to Maureen’s table. He passed Shilo who blocked him with his arm, Ethane just walking straight as he looked straight at Maureen.

“Hey, Ethane. Stop being a child!” Shilo shouted.

Tumayo si Maureen at saka hinarapan si Ethane sa kanyang tabi. “Stop using the word sarcasm as an excuse, Ethane.”

I just watched them face to face and forced myself to cough to get the attention of others. Tumingin sa akin si Yco, “Yes, Matt?” He asked.

I pointed to the door while still resting one of my hands on the table behind me as a backrest.. “What happened to Bellia, Yco?”

“She got wounded, why did you ask?” He adduced in a curious tone.

I shake my head left to right. “More. What’s with Gabriel and you a while ago?”

“Ah. Mrs. Casanova reached me and requested to call Gabriel. I don’t know what’s with them, Matt.”

I nodded as I crossed my arms. “Okay? May I ask how it happened? Why did she get that censored wound? I saw her palm with a lot of blood, Yco.”

He laughed and shakes his head, “I don’t freaking know, dude. Gabriel didn’t mentioned that to me a while ago, though. Sa kanya mo dapat itanong ‘yan, nautusan lang ako kanina, you both are friends, aight?” aniya.

I nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

Tumango rin siya at saka sinabihan si Ethane na itigil na ang pagiging bata. Yco is the Mr. V, which means the Vice President, and while me is the one who pushed to be a President.

“Uh, Yco. I would like to ask something.” I uttered.

Tumayo siya sa kanyang upuan. “Yeah, sure. What is it, then?”

“Who do you think is in the headteacher’s office?”

“Mrs. Casanova and Mrs. Tuan, but I’m pretty sure that Mr. Valdeviezo ay pumasok na rin, or kasunod ko lang noong lumabas ako ng office, why?”

I nodded again as I tapped my arm. “Okay, thank you.”

“What’s up, Matt?” Kalea suddenly asked.

I took a long breath. “Does anyone in this room know where they placed the guide questionnaires for tomorrow’s debate?”

Nagkatinginan silang lahat except from Kalea.

“Huh? Anong meron, Matt? What’s your plan? I mean, bakit mo natanong?” Naguguluhan na tanong ni Maureen sa akin.

“What’s with you right now, Matt?” Yco asked.

“I do.” Kalea said.

“Bingo.” I whispered and couldn’t help myself but to smirk at Kalea’s direction.