Surprise, Surprise

YSABELL'S POV

Is he okay now?" asks Gia as I slide my body through the red couch. She's sitting on the other mustard yellow sofa that's facing mine. I take a deep breath using my nose and the cold breeze coming from the air conditioner passes through my nostrils.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Are you serious? Danielle's injured, too."

"And so?" she asks in a weary tone.

"What so? She's our friend, asshole." I glare at her at tuluyan kong ibinagsak ang likod ko sa malambot na sofa. The soft fabric is touching my bare skin, causing me to wriggle a bit. I already cleaned myself and changed my outfit into a pink spaghetti strapped crop top and a black skirt that reveals my thighs and belly button.

Nobody's allowed to go home until further notice because of what happened to the director. Even us, the gifted students are stuck in this large white room. Danielle was sent to Balibago Hospital alone since everyone's prohibited to go outside the campus.

"Ano ka ba? Mabubuhay 'yon. Parang napatid lang e. Arte-arte." Gia cocks her head and shakes it.

I didn't get the chance to argue with her because Leighton is already walking inside the room. He's still wearing his black tuxedo and the ribbon is still there, but his hair is now messy, which it always is. Sa kaniyang leeg ay nakasabit ang kulay green na headphones na siyang sumira sa outfit niya.

"Hey, jejemon." pagbibiro ko ngunit wala ni isa sa kanila ang natawa.

"You're so funny. The circus needs you," Leighton spits and he sits beside me. He lets out a sigh of frustration as he struggles to remove his bow tie, so I give him a helping hand.

Gia stands up from her chair and strides toward the corner part of the room where there's a long brown table and eight chairs. Clay is sitting on one of those.

Gia slumps her butt on the table then I hear Leighton mutter a word, "She treats me like a germ, isn't she aware that she looks like a virus?" he whispers in an annoyed tone and that made me chuckle. He always acts like a child.

"Why are you whispering?" bulong ko sa kaniya pabalik.

"Because she's annoying." his words are making my chuckle turn into a laugh.

"Well, you're annoyed to everyone," I exclaim with a shrug. We probably look stupid right now because we are too close from each other while gossiping Gia.

"Because you guys are ugly." he slumps his back on the couch violently while crossing his arms to his chest and it created a gross sound that caused everyone in the room turn their gazes at us.

"Did you just fart?" Ylise blurts out while raising her eyeglasses. She's sitting on the library section of this room while reading a book which I think has five hundred pages. Siya lang naman ang nagbabasa riyan, well, sometimes Agnes is reading novels too dahil pinipilit siya ni Ylise.

"Does your fart sounds like that?" pabalik na tanong ni Leighton sa kaniya. Tumayo siya mula sa kaniyang pagkakaupo at muli niyang ibinagsak ang kaniyang katawan sa sofa na nagdulot upang sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay gumawa ito ulit ng nakaririnding ingay.

"Wow, Ylise, your fart sounds so good," Leighton teases her but he's not smiling, his face is still stern. Parang kailangan pa naming bayaran ang isang 'to para lang ngumiti, ah.

"Taray, Ylise, may tono," bulalas ni Gia at narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa nina Agnes at Clay na parehong nakikinig nang tahimik sa bangayan nilang tatlo.

"Whatever," spits Ylise then she continues reading her book, the one she probably won't need because she almost knew everything. Well maybe except for when the universe will come to its ending and the date of our deaths.

"Am I the only one who's worried about Danielle?" I allegedly mumble when silence filled the entire room. The only thing you can hear is the air conditioner's machine and the cold breeze that's coming out of it.

"Nag-aalala din naman ako sa kaniya," mahinahong sabat ni Agnes. There's a hesitation in her voice, like she's afraid that I will swallow her if she says something that will contradict me. She's not wearing the crop top anymore that Danielle obviously forced her to wear. Nakapagpalit na siya ng kulay blue na hoodie at ng simpleng jeans. "Ang kaso lang, iniisip ko pa rin kung sinong maaaring kumuha nu'ng remote control sa AV room." she slowly shifts her head to the other side habang malalim na nag-iisip.

That's one of the things that keeps on bugging me. Why didn't the light turned on when the Director was poisoned? The darkness became a hindrance to everyone because we all struggled to see anything, the only object that gave light was the two spotlight that Leighton, I, and Danielle used in our performances. Well, I forgot to mention Gia, the wicked witch who's now wearing an off shoulder crop top matched with a dark ripped jeans.

Then, Gia speaks out, "I think we should look at Noah's shots, baka may nahagip siya sa AV room," suhestiyon niya at lahat kami'y napatango dahil doon maliban kina Ylise at Leighton.

But I think her suggestion is not necessary anymore.

Because a sudden screeching sound burst out from the speaker of this room. Nakalagay ito sa gitnang bahagi ng kisame.

Then, an unfamiliar voice of a lady comes out. Based on her voice, she's like same as our age or maybe a year older or two.

"Attention to all Meddleton students, I would like to invite all of you to come to the auditorium, there will be a big, big surprise," saad nito sa mikropono. Her voice is creepy as hell.

My eyebrows furrow. I thought she's already done speaking. Just a stupid lady who decided to pull out a prank. She will surely be expelled within this day for the ignorant decision she made.

But she's not yet finished with her statement.

"Especially you, gifted students."

Isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang namayani sa buong kuwarto matapos niyang banggitin ang huling apat na salita bago tuluyang nawala ang tunog mula sa speaker.

We all gaze at Agnes while waiting for her explanation. We're hoping that she will burst out in laughter and tell us that it's just some sort of a joke and a new gimmick from their club. Pero sa tingin ko'y hindi ito ang tamang oras para sa mga ganitong klase ng pakulo.

The director just got poisoned and he almost died because of the incident a while ago kaya kung isa ito sa mga naisip ng club nina Agnes ay sigurado akong agad nila itong kakanselahin dahil sa nangyari.

Something's wrong here.

"W-wala kaming pinlanong g-ganiyan." umiiling na sagot niya kaya walang anu-ano'y mabilis kaming tumayo lahat at patakbong lumabas ng kuwarto.

We left the door open and didn't bother to close it. In the hallway towards the auditorium, I can feel the darting gazes of the students at us. Their curious faces cause shiver to my spine.

I almost stumble but Leighton fortunately catches me in time. "Stupid," he mumbles as he helps me regain my posture.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. My head is so preoccupied with the words that the anonymous lady said on the microphone that is connected to every speaker in this university. And we have almost a hundred of speakers inside the whole school, meaning everyone already knows about this shit and they are may be curious or wondering about what the big surprise is all about. Like us.

Her words keep playing in my head. I almost stop from running and hit my skull on the wall just to stop that creepy voice from playing.

Nang marating namin ang auditorium ay napahawak ako sa aking tuhod habang hinahabol ang aking mga paghinga. This is when we just realized how stupid we all are. Hindi namin ginamit ang hallway na para lang sa mga gifted students. Instead, we chose to huddle with numerous normal students. Wow, what a bunch of morons.

Tuluyang nawala si Leigh sa aking tabi nang magsiksikan ang mga estudyanteng nasa paligid namin.

I catch a sight of Noah near the stage, it seems like his mind is full of thoughts, too.

Nang makalapit ako sa kaniya ay bigla siyang humarap sa akin. "H-hey, are y-you okay?" he asks at hinawakan niya ang balikat ko.

"You still have a nerve to ask that?" I can't stop myself from bitching because I'm starting to go crazy. This entire thing is too much to handle for today.

He ignores the arrogant way I welcomed him and he just hands me a bottled water from his hand. I accept it while still panting.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ko mabilisang nilagok ang tubig na inabot niya.

"D-do you h-have any idea w-what the s-surprise is all ab-about?" he asks while his gaze is fixated on his camera. I know he's worried too and he's just altering his attention to other things to keep his mind clear. His knees are shaking, tho.

"I have none, but I'm sure that this surprise will freak us out."

Us.

Pertaining to my co-gifted students.

He tugs me closer to him that made my face bump into his chest. He smells so manly. Pinagpapawisan siya, but the scent is not awful.

"I-It's okay, n-no one can h-harm you as long as I'm h-here," he assures in a deep tone that suddenly calms my brain but caused my heart to skip a beat. He's so warm, his body heat is contrasting with the coldness of the air in the auditorium.

For a minute, I forgot everything. I feel safe whenever his arms are wrapping against my body. He feels home. He can remove all my woes in just a single word or touch.

Then everything fucks up.

The screech of the speakers in the auditorium shriek every students inside. It normally doesn't make a sound like that. Maybe whoever doing this did that on purpose to get our attentions.

To let us know that the show they have prepared, is about to begin.

"Good afternoon, Meddleton University," panimula niya, but nobody could see her because there's no light. Even the spotlights are turned off. Tanging ang kaniyang anino lamang ang nakikita namin.

Her silhouette is standing ahead of the microphone in front of everyone.

"Sabihin mo na lang 'yung gusto mong sabihin."

"Ang daming keme!"

"May tanga na namang nakawala, kaninong anak ba yan?"

Judgments and gossips filled the entire auditorium. Halu-halong mga boses ang namayani sa aking tenga ngunit iisa lang ang pakay nila at 'yun ay upang insultuhin ang babaeng nasa harapan namin.

The speaker suddenly turns silent. I can hear the lady's heavy breathing and her thin patience for the students who are making fun of her.

"Go ahead, laugh. That's all you can do, right? To pretend to be stupid?" she forces out a sarcastic laugh that made her look really stupid and trying hard.

"If standing on the stage and creating a scene isn't stupid enough, what is it then?" one of the students shouts back that causes the laughter and gossips to become louder.

Where are the professors?

Oh, fuck.

Don't tell me that they all went to the hospital and left no one in charge in the university?

Sometimes, adults think like first graders.

"Stop being stupid, will you?" there's anger in her voice. Ramdam ko ang panginginig nito. She's just controlling her emotions because if she explodes, no one will give her the sympathy that she wanted.

"And stop using drugs, will you?" pagtataray ng isa sa mga cheerleader ng university. I can tell that it's Loisa. She even imitated the speaker's tone para mas lalo niya itong mapahiya.

Nakarinig kami nang gigil na buntong hininga mula sa mikropono. The lady is already furious with the reactions of the students.

Well, what did she expect? That the students will respect her and listen to her insights?

If you're not a gifted student, no one will waste their time to listen on your rants.

"Okay, okay. If that's what you want. Just watch this video first bago kayo magsalita ng mga kagaguhan," she furiously spits at napansin ko ang anino niyang mabilis na tumakbo patungo sa backstage.

My eyes went shut the moment the light from the screen of the stage comes to life. I feel like I'm about to go blind for a couple of seconds dahil sa biglaang pagsindi nito.

May mga iilang napasigaw sa biglaang pag-flash ng video sa screen at ang karamihan ay napamura na lang dahil sa pagkagulat.

The video plays.

And my heartbeat starts to increase as seconds passed by.

I know that this isn't good.

Where are those fucking professors? Why didn't they even left a single person who will look after a thousand of stubborn brats? They're getting into my nerves.

Noah entwine our hands and it ease my woes a bit.

Leighton and our other colleagues aren't here. Only I, Noah, and a bunch of ordinary students are gathered in the same area.

Nasa ibang parte sila ng auditorium.

Malawak din kasi ito kaya imposibleng makita ko sila mula sa posisyon ko lalo pa't madilim ang paligid na kinatatayuan namin.

"D-don't worry, it'll b-be ok-kay," he whispers and he grasps our hands tighter like he's afraid that he'll lose me if he lets his guard down.

The video starts playing. It shows the montage of the whole university with a voice and captions below.

When will you be awake from the reality?

That this university, this fucking university, doesn't care about any of us.

They are only after those gifted students.

Some of my schoolmates turn their gazes at us, but they lower their heads a second after.

They are aware.

They all were.

There's no need to slap that fact in front of their faces.

We are not the knights in the game of chess who will end up sacrificing just to save them because they see themselves as kings and queens.

Can't you really see?

Or you're just pretending to be blind?

You're all blinded by the fact that we are only here because we have the money... and not because we deserve to be standing in this university.

I feel guilty on what I just heard.

I know that I shouldn't feel this way about anything because it's not our fault that our school has this kind of unfair treatment among their students. It just happened that we're fortunate enough to be in their favor.

They want our money, to protect them.

To please them. So they won't leave.

Sure they're even willing to sacrifice a hundred of normal students just for a dozen of gifted.

That's not a lie either. Maraming university ang nagkakandarapang mapapayag kaming mag-aral sa school nila just because they think that we're gifted.

We all excel in different platforms that other people don't.

Danielle is very flexible in dancing.

Noah is in photography.

Leighton knew how to play piano when he was just one years of old and right now, he almost could play every instrument.

Agnes invents new electronic devices every month.

Clay is the best in swimming.

Ylise's intelligence is world class, and both I and Gia fits in Theater.

We all gave and still giving honor to the university.

We're not good, we're one of the bests.

Elites.

That's why they're willing to do everything just to keep our asses in here. Hinahayaan nilang gamitin namin sila, pero anong pinagkaiba namin? They are also using us.

We're both using each other to satisfy our individual needs. They gave us everything, even the power over everyone, but we are giving them fame.

It's a win-win game.

'Yun nga lang ay may mga taong apektado dahil sa likong paniniwalang ito. And those are the normal students.

But I'm uncertain about her last words. Are they really willing to sacrifice everyone just to make us stay?

If that's so, they're completely insane.

And that's not the only dirty secret of our school.

D'you wanna hear a bedtime story?

Oh God.

What is it again? I know nothing about the secrets of the school. Ang alam ko lang ay ang hindi pantay na pagtrato nito sa mga estudyante nila and this matter is not even a secret.

Alam 'to ng lahat.

So what is she referring about the word 'secret'?

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa kamay ni Noah na ngayo'y nagpapawis na ang noo na marahil ay dahil din sa kaba. We have no idea, but this secret that she's talking about might ruin our identities.

Or the university's reputation.

Listen carefully,

Her voice becomes eerier.

Have you ever heard about the case of Ea—

The video suddenly went shut and darkness fills the entire auditorium.

That's it.

Someone cut the connection of her device on the stage's screen.

Agnes did.

Everyone remained silent. No one wants to utter a word. We hear nothing but the frustration on the woman's breathing near the microphone, she's starting to get furious because she didn't finish stating the other secret.

Pilit niyang kinalikot ang remote na hawak niya at marahas niya itong pinagpipindot habang nagbabaka-sakali siyang muling magpe-play ang inihanda niyang video presentation.

In a matter of seconds, biglang bumukas ang dalawang spotlight sa magkabilang sulok ng auditorium at mabilis itong dumaplis sa katawan ng babae na nasa itaas ng stage.

Napasinghap ang lahat nang mamataan namin ang kaniyang mukha at maaninag kung sino ang nasa likod ng lahat ng kaguluhang 'to.

Tara Yareli.