2 The Divided System

-CEDRIC-

At some point in your lives, have you asked yourself what's really your purpose in this mortal world?

Maybe for me, given that I'm still a freshman student in a prestigious school known as Eastwood High, my temporary purpose in this life is to be a good student so that someday modern society will get to have a hold of me and my life.

However, is that the only purpose why I exist in the first place?

*Toink!*

Suddenly, I stopped looking at the window of our classroom on my right and came back to my senses when I felt that tiny solid object hit my head out of nowhere. When I was able to pick it up under my chair, I later found out it was a small piece of chalk.

Which only means...

"Class, don't you ever be like Mr. Magbanua over here. He's not even paying attention to the class and it seems that he has an imaginative world of his own. Students like him don't stand a chance of accelerating to better sections in the next years to come!"

I slowly turned to my right, only to be greeted by my grumpy old teacher named Ms. Santos. I can only imagine both of her nostrils filled with smoke as she looks at me right now, like a raging dragon.

And as expected, my good for nothing classmates instantly laughed at the teacher's remark, like there'd be a plus on their grades if they'll do so.

I rolled my eyes mentally.

Few seconds passed, my classmates immediately stopped laughing when we all heard the school bell ringing. This grumpy old teacher picked up her books first then turned to face us.

"That's it for today's class. You're dismissed."

After we all heard our favorite teacher's phrase, my classmates soon stood up from their seats and fixed their things inside their bags. As for me, I swung one strap of my Jansport bag on my right shoulder and stood up from my seat as well. I left my classmates and made my way towards the cafeteria.

This is my most favorite subject of all- RECESS.

As I walk my way here in the hallways of the General Student Student building towards reaching the cafeteria, allow me to introduce myself to you.

The name's Cedric Magbanua, fifteen years old, and a freshman student in this prestigious and very well-known school in the whole country of Cordova: Eastwood High.

I can honestly, and shamelessly admit that I am not your smart type MC who buries his nose on a thick book and exactly doing nothing but to read that thing.

No, I'm not like that.

But this school is known to have the smartest brainiacs in the entire country! Even foreign students are studying here as well.

Well, I'm just one heck of a lucky guy to have entered the said school. Ironically though, I wear glasses. But starting today, you'll learn that not every individual who happens to wear glasses are the smart ones.

There are a few out there, like me, who genuinely had issues with seeing. That's all.

"Bro! I've been looking all over for you!"

As soon as I reached the cafeteria, I immediately spotted my best friend Andrew Dela Torre who's currently sitting in the very first chair that you can see the moment you entered the cafeteria. Smiling, I walked over towards him.

Again, I'm not a smart kid, but my childhood friend here is. Ever since elementary, he's already a consistent top 1 student of our class. No wonder he easily got placed on section 1.

"You know that people in my section are the very last ones who got their chance to take a freakin' thirty minute break, right?" I glared at him which he only responded with a cringey peace sign.

"Anyway, I'll just go to the counter to get my food." I quickly added and headed towards a long pile of students in the same section as I belong to

Like any other schools, Eastwood High is also strictly following their so-called "Divided System." wherein every student in each year is divided into six sections; section 1 being the highest and section 6. of course, being the lowest.

However, the difference from them is, this is their own kind of version of the divided system. Each student in Eastwood High is treated according to our sections. The higher your section is, the higher are your privileges as well in terms of food, break schedule, school facilities, medical care, and lastly school dorms.

Since Eastwood High is also a boarding school, most students who are from farther provinces and countries, like me, chose to get a dormitory room here in the school since it's more convenient.

If it weren't for my best friend here, I sure would end up sleeping in the dusty and creepy attic room which has been rumored for being haunted by a white lady. Section 1 students have a privilege to choose their roommates, and luckily for me, he chose me as his roommate to his double-decked room.

Finally, when it's my turn to get my food, I came face to face with this grumpy-looking bloated woman. I noticed her eyes landed on the copper-plated badge pinned on the left part of my chest, that clearly says the roman numeric VI, before those pair of eyes finally averted its gaze on me.

She handed me a styro cup which I bet contains the never-ending served macaroni soup for lower sections like me. My face turned sour the moment I noticed that the cup wasn't even full!

While walking away from the counter and back to our table with the styro cup in my hand, my gaze suddenly fell on a secluded table where a group of freshman students like me are happily having a feast from their deliciously-served snack for today.

If I'm not mistaken, these students belong to a mysterious group organized by the school itself which is known as the Alpha Section.

Except for section 1 being the known highest section, Alpha Section is even higher than them in terms of privileges. In other words, they have the special treatment from the school and that's why most people around here either dreams of becoming part of their group or hate the students that belong to that group.

According to rumors spreading across the campus, Alpha Section is a group wherein only the smartest brains in the whole school are selected to be invited to be part of their secret company.

In other words, this section is merely composed of the best students among the rest. But of course, rumors are rumors. We never knew if they're true or not.

Because no one among us really knows the secrets that lie beneath the four corners of their classroom except for its members.

I just shrugged all of my thoughts away and hurriedly went back to our table. Sometimes, I think that the school's divided system is kinda unfair... but what can a student from the lowest section, like me, can do about it?

As soon as I turned to continue walking, I suddenly bumped into this guy that is also walking in the opposite direction whose right hand is buried beneath the right pocket of his brown slacks. A little of the soup on my right hand accidentally spilled his shiny black leather shoes.

I suddenly felt that all the students witnessed that accident stopped from what they are doing and gasped at the scenario.

"S-sorry, my bad." I said, looking sincere as I could while unconsciously scratching the back of my neck.

When he didn't utter a word after that, I thought we're already done from what happened and soon I continued to take a few steps forward towards our table. That's the time I heard this guy speak for the very first time.

"Clean up my shoes." he said... or more like a command with full of authority.

His almond shape aqua blue eyes sternly stared at me with no emotions at all, it's as if he's trying to intimidate me.

Who does he think he is--

My eyes slightly squinted on the gold-plated badge that has a symbol of a letter A. At both sides of the letter are the wings carved into it.

Wait a minute, I know what section this pin belongs to...

You mean this jerk is an Alpha Student?

"Hey! Are you deaf? I said-"

He was suddenly cut off when my best friend suddenly appeared on the scenario to my rescue.

"He heard you, stupid. Why do we need to take orders from you? Because you're an Alpha Student?" Andrew sneered as he saw the badge pinned on his chest, intending to taunt this jerk. "Oh, come on!"

That taunting sure did have an effect on this selfish jerk when his face was distorted for a split second.

"Between us, who belongs to a much lower section? It's you right? So therefore, if there's stupid here..." Then he points his index finger to my friend while a smirk curved up on the corner of his lips. "... it's you."

Being the hot headed as he is, Andrew wasn't able to contain his anger and suddenly pushed this jerk here which sent him flying straight to the ground for a few inches away from my friend.

Adrenaline soon kicked in on my body system and I hurriedly put the cup of soup on a nearby vacant table before running towards my friend to stop him from doing something that could harm him and his stature in school.

Good thing I came on time, or else his fist would have landed on the jerk's face.

I looked at the jerk and I almost kicked him myself when I saw him still smirking from his end. Unbelievable!

Our attention soon diverted to the direction of a loud screech that seems like it's coming from a whistle. When we turned to our right, surely we would be greeted by the lady with an hourglass figure who is known here as the head of Student Affairs. If I remember it correctly, she's called as Ms. Reyes.

"What is this fuss all about?" She looks at each one of us, arching one eyebrow upwards.

We became silent for a while given that we were all intimidated by her presence.

"These imbeciles do not know how to look to where they're going." Well, of course except for the jerk we have here who was able to stand up again at this point.

"What did you just call us?" Andrew attempted to land a punch on his face but I immediately stopped him.

"To my office! Now!"

She didn't wait for us to respond and soon turned her back on us and started to walk away. We first each gave this jerk a sharp look before following Ms. Reyes to his office.

Thanks to him, I wasn't able to enjoy my soup for the very first time.

***

As soon as we arrived at her office, Ms. Reyes then motions the three of us to sit down to the three chairs prepared in front of her table. Me and Andrew sat next to each other while this jerk took a seat in front of us.

"Speak." said the school official.

"Ma'am, he started it all. My friend here ACCIDENTALLY spilled some soup on his shoes and the next thing we knew, he acts like this high and almighty. Then he started to insult us." Andrew explained our side.

"It's not my fault if your ego was hurt." casually said by that jerk with the same smirk on his face.

Unbelievable! If we weren't on the campus grounds, I'd sure would want to land a punch to his annoying face right now.

I heard my friend next to me hissed but I rested my hand on top of his to stop him from attempting again to punch this egotistic jerk.

This very tensed and awkward moment was soon interrupted by three consecutive knocks on the door of the office we are currently in. Our eyes automatically went to the direction of the door to see who it is.

"Come in." Ms. Reyes motions for the intruder to come in.

After a brief moment, the door finally swung open, revealing a not so tall-looking gentleman in his clean cut hair, grey polo with matching red necktie, black slacks and dark brown leather shoes.

By the looks of him, you could immediately tell that he is one of the teachers of the school.

For a split second, I saw his meaningful gaze landing on me before swiftly turning away as he came inside the office and was able to stand beside this jerk who started it all.

"I apologize if my student was involved in this kind of mess. However, I will take full responsibility for his actions and see to it that he wouldn't have to repeat it next time." the teacher says in a formal tone while looking at his student.

Oh. So he's the adviser of Alpha Section?

"Mr. Cruz, I expect that you handle your students well. From this day onwards, I shall expect that no Alpha Student will be involved in any kind of incident such as this. Are we clear?" Ms. Reyes sternly looks at the teacher which she called Mr. Cruz.

"Yes, Ms. Reyes." Mr. Cruz responded while slightly bowing his head.

After that, he then motions for his student to get out of here. As that jerk stood up and walked right passed to us, I saw again his annoying smirk while looking at us. A few moments later, he was now out of our sight.

That's it? He's already acquitted for what he has done earlier?

"And as for you Mr. Magbanua and Mr. Dela Torre..." Mrs. Reyes soon went back to the both of us.

"Clean up service!"

***

Later that night, in Andrew's dorm, after we spent almost 3 freakin' hours of cleaning the entire school gymnasium with no breaks in between, we then landed straight to our beds like some withered plants which were not watered for several days.

Me, being on the upper deck, I mindlessly stared at the ceiling and the image of Mr. Cruz giving me a meaningful look suddenly flashed at the back of my head. I don't know if it's just me, but... there's something into it that I can't lay my finger on.

"Hey Cedric."

I suddenly heard my best friend's voice which interrupted my series of thoughts.

"Yup?" I responded loud for him to hear.

"I hope you'd let me land a punch on that moron's face earlier. We'd still get punished anyway." he said which made me chuckle.

"Y...eah. I could have done that. But then I bet we won't only land on clean-up service as our punishment for beating up an Alpha Student." I said as a matter of fact.

"Yeah right. They are being highly favored by the school. I hate them."

After his last statement, there was again a moment of silence before he again spoke up.

"But even though I hate their guts, I admit I'd do everything to be a part of their group. That's why I'm doing my best in my studies, in hopes that I'll end up enrolling in Alpha Section next school year." I heard him sigh after hearing him say this.

Well, I can't blame my friend here for wanting to be a part of that section. They already have all of the privileges that a student of Eastwood High can enjoy.

However,thinking about it, I think for me I have to say no to being an Alpha Student. And I never ever dreamed of becoming one honestly.

"For me, I'd say that I don't want to be a part of the Alpha Section." I muttered.

"Bro, are you kidding me? Everybody here secretly wants to be an Alpha Student!" he said in disbelief.

"Everybody, but not me." I repeated. "You know I don't even stand a chance of becoming one. I ain't that smart, remember?"

"But bro, all things are possible to those who work hard." he said in a preaching tone. "I'm willing to help you. Together, we will set our goal of enrolling in Alpha Section next school year. Do you copy that?"

I just rolled my eyes before I unwillingly gave my response just to satisfy him.

"Roger that."

The reason actually why I don't want to be a part of this section, despite its exclusive privileges, is that I can somehow feel that Alpha Section is not just a bunch of genius students.

I think there's something more to it... something mysterious.

And I don't want to involve myself in it.