10 Torn Pages (Part One)

-CEDRIC-

"The guy student... looks exactly just like you."

My mouth suddenly gaped in awe upon hearing Kylie's statement. W-what is she even talking about?

Before I could even bombard her with my series of questions that suddenly popped out of my head, I noticed Kylie's whole body quivered hysterically as her back is still behind a shelf.

Mitch and I suddenly panicked.

Without wasting any time here, I hurriedly scooped up Kylie with my right arm and supported my stance with my other hand as I stood up. Along with Mitch who's trailing from behind, I hastily went to the school clinic.

When we finally reached the facility in just a matter of time, I then placed our friend on one of their beds. Mitch was the one to call the attention of the school nurse to take care of Kylie.

We were just standing at a corner of the room as we watched the school nurse take Kylie's blood pressure, with her still lying unconscious on the bed. After a few more seconds of waiting, the nurse turned to face us with a worried expression plastered on her face.

"Your friend's blood pressure went high, I assume it is because of too much stress. But you don't have to worry anymore since it became stable after a while. Just avoid stressing her out too much, okay?" the nurse said in her kind, gentle voice.

"Okay." both me and Mitch said in unison. We were somehow relieved to know that Kylie's condition is now stable.

When the nurse already went out of the room, we took that chance to go near her bed. I was a bit surprised to see her already awake.

"Kylie, are you feeling better now?" I said with a hint of concern in my tone.

She looked at me then her lips curved up into a smile.

"I'm fine Cedric. This normally happens every time I use my powers." she said in a low tone.

I almost gaped again with what she just said. Then why didn't she mention that in the class, or even to us? In this way, we can avoid this untoward incident from happening.

Well, no time to be angry at her…

"So that means every property that we possess has its significant side effect every time we use it?" Mitch's brows drew a line together as he looked over our friend here.

"It's possible. Though I don't know if it's true with others, but for me it's really happening." Kylie exhaled an exasperated sigh as she now stares at the big windows of the clinic.

Here I am again with my negative brain of mine as I think about what Kylie just said. If I indeed have a property like them, it's kinda scary to have a significant side effect along with it.

A few moments passed, we all heard the school bell ringing which signifies that our two hour break is over and we need to attend our regular classes.

"Dude, we need to go to our classes already... though I'm too lazy to attend and would prefer to ditch in class." Mitch said casually.

I looked at him in disbelief. Am I really talking to the rank 1 student of section 1?!

From Mitch, my gaze then shifted to Kylie.

"We better get going Kylie. Rest as possibly as you can, and sorry I made you use your powers all of a sudden." I excused ourselves and apologized to her at the same time.

I really wanted to ask her about that student she mentioned earlier that has a spitting image of me so badly. However, I know now's not the right time.

"It's totally fine with me. Off you go, you two." she responded.

After that brief conversation, I turned to face the door and was just about to open it when it suddenly opened by itself. Later on, we all saw the manly figure of our adviser Mr. Cruz standing in front of us.

I was a bit surprised to see him here all of a sudden.

"I heard what happened to your friend so I immediately went here to check her condition. After all, I'm your class adviser." Mr. Cruz automatically explained himself before we could even ask.

Of course... Adviser duties.

"Oh okay. Kylie's fine now sir. The nurse said so." I reassured the wary teacher. "Well then sir, we better get going to our regular classes."

Our adviser just gave us a quick nod as a dismissal before he proceeds to where Kylie is.

Before I completely left the room, I secretly glanced over my shoulder and watched how our adviser talked to our friend.

If he's been there in the yearbook, I bet he knows everything about those two missing students in their batch.

***

"Where's your homework, Mr. Magbanua?"

I stared blankly at our Filipino Teacher who's name is Mr. Ramos as he stretched his right palm and waited for me to hand over my assignment while grumpily looking at me.

To be honest, I freaking forgot to do my homework! With all those crazy things that happened yesterday, do you think I could even concentrate on making my assignment?!

"Uh... just a sec-" I swiftly grabbed my backpack from behind and pretended to be looking for my assignment notebook.

After a while, I faked out a long, pronounced sigh as I looked at my teacher, who's palm is still not leaving in front of me.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Ramos but I think I might have left my notebook at my dorm." Then I flashed my nervous smile. "You know, since I'm still adjusting to being in Alpha Section, I'm becoming forgetful nowadays. But I promise that I will submit you my notebook tomorrow."

As soon as he heard me, his gaze landed on the badge that I'm currently wearing at the left portion of my chest.

"I see you're that famous student from this last section who had a shot to be transferred to Alpha Section." Mr. Ramos' right eyebrow arched as he carefully observed my Alpha badge.

"I'll let you off this time. Just continue to be an excellent student and I'll let you pass your assignment notebook next time."

A victory smile secretly forms in the corner of my red lips.

"Thank you sir." I said happily.

After he walked past me, I heard him slam the desks of other students who are sitting behind me as he collects their assignments as well.

Phew... I never knew I could use my new section as an excuse for ditching an assignment.

Sorry Mr. Cruz... it won't happen again next time!

*Bzzt bzzt*

I felt my phone just vibrate all of a sudden which I placed in the pocket of my brown slacks.

I turned to my teacher to see what he was up to now. Seeing that he's still busy collecting our assignment notebooks, I hurriedly slid out my phone and turned on the screen.

Again, I was surprised to see a private message sent by Kylie on messenger.

"Meet me in the cafeteria after classes." was all it says on the chat message.

My forehead creased upon reading it. I thought she's still at the clinic?

Well nevermind, maybe she was discharged early.

A smile then immediately appeared on the corner of my lips. Like me, I know Kylie is also curious as to what happened with those two missing students in the yearbook.

With my teacher still busy collecting notebooks to mind what I'm currently doing, I quickly tap on my GO-keyboard.

"Noted."

***

After we were dismissed by our last period teacher in History at 5:30pm, I went straight to the cafeteria. I was humming to myself as I walked down this alley which will lead me to my destination when suddenly... I coincidentally crossed paths with my best- no, screw that- with my ex-best friend Andrew.

I felt everything around us went in slow motion as he gave me his sharpest look while walking passed me in the opposite direction. I gave him a blank stare.

I guess he's still mad at me huh?

When Andrew was already out of sight, I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't know I was suppressing.

Afterwards, I decided to shrug it off and continued to move forward towards the cafeteria to meet up with Kylie and Mitch.

"Where's Mitch?" was the first thing I asked upon seeing Kylie sitting on an empty chair all alone.

"Oh. Good thing that you're here. And unfortunately, Mitch can't join us for today since he's got stomach problems earlier. The dude's been excused from the last period class."

"O...kay. I guess we'll have to do this, just you and me." I said, looking down all of a sudden.

"Why do you want to do a meetup in the first place?" I asked, just to divert the topic, but deep down I somehow have an idea as to where all of this would end up to.

She beamed, as if remembering something all of a sudden.

"Well, I was able to talk to Mr. Cruz earlier about those two missing students on the yearbook." Her response immediately sparked my attention.

I am really itching over here to ask about that particular student she mentioned that has an identical feature with my looks, but I have to tell myself to remain calm and there would be a perfect opportunity to do so.

"Surprisingly though, he volunteered to help us know about them by giving me a box filled with things that belongs to Jay Abella, the guy I mentioned earlier who looks exactly like you." she continued.

I think this is now my perfect opportunity to ask about that student.

"So about that, why would you think we have similar facial features? You don't mean that I have an identical twin in the year 2000, right?" I crossed my arms and chuckled with my own ridiculous question, which earned me a light smack on my shoulders from Kylie.

"Duh, that is way too impossible." She rolled her eyes. "The only reason that I could think of for that is..." she paused for a moment and stared at me intently.

"... maybe you and him are related to each other."

My eyes went round upon hearing that theory from her. Kylie has a point there. There's no other obvious answer as to why Jay and me are pretty much identical... as what Kylie claims us to be.

Wow... just wow. I never knew that I have a relative who was also an Alpha Student, like me.

After a few moments of silence that's slowly building up between us, Kylie stood up from where she's currently sitting, and turned to face me.

"Well then Cedric..." she beamed.

"...let's do some reminiscing tonight."

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