3 In Denial

It takes a great talent and skill to conceal one's talent and skill.

***

One of my pet peeves is someone who can't be true to herself. Those who live by Sun Tzu's, 'Appear weak when you are strong. And strong when you are weak.'

And there's only one person who does that.

Mrs. Sandoval

I can't stop smiling. Maybe that professor will soon start to realize that when the time comes when her life and freedom is at stake, even she would fight and disobey their own rules.

And that's just what I exactly need.

That one word.

Fight.

I may have denied it earlier, but at least I also made it obvious that I have my own principle in life that contradicts that of the Academy's.

Somehow, there's a progress in my plan. Thanks to Mrs. Sandoval.

And besides, I know her.

But why is she even here in the Academy?

Paije poked my shoulder. "Xaye, hey."

"What?" I looked at her, annoyed.

Can this girl at least stop pestering me?

Paije stared at her. "Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"You're thinking. It's scary."

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously Paije, what's with you? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Paije raised her hands in the air. Surrendering. "Okay okay, chill out, Anxiety. You're too serious. Pft---" She suddenly stopped, well, my death glare made her.

She definitely knows that she shouldn't laugh.

"I told you to stop calling me that, Book Page." Paije looked at me with widened eyes.

"Xaye!" I laughed softly 8as I stuck my tongue out.

Paije rolled her eyes. "But, kidding aside. What's your plan?"

"What plan are you talking about? I don't have any."

I just want her to admit that our system here is vitiated.

But she's such a coward.

And a great pretender.

But anyways, the plan still worked out and made a progress, a slow progress though.

Someday, Mrs. Sandoval. Someday.

"With Mrs. Sandoval. All those things you did yesterday. I mean, we all know you did that on purpose." Paije gave me a wide smile.

Okay, that was. . .unnecessary.

"Well, I don't know. It just feels like. . .she's hiding something." I said as I munched my bread. "And I want to prove it yesterday, but she didn't play with me."

Paije may be my friend, but. . .

I'm not going to trust anyone with my plans.

Or at least. . .not now.

Paije looked at me, shocked. "Eh? You mean to tell me that. . ." She took a deep breath. "I mean, Xaye. . . what happened to your 'I always win'?"

Yeah, I won. But I can't tell her anything. They can't know that I'm already on my move.

Just not. . .yet.

I can't help but roll her eyes at my best friend.

Best friend?

Uh, nevermind.

"You know what, Book Paije, you're definitely a slow-eater." Yes, it's better to change the topic. I wouldn't say a thing about it, unless the professor tells me her whole plan. "I'll just go to the library." I was about to stand up and leave when Paije held my arm.

Why do I feel something sticky---wait, Paije just ate fries!

Ugh, ketchup.

I'm gonna kill her.

"But Anxiety---" That's it. She'll be double dead. Paije laughed at my sudden death glare. "Alright, alright I won't call you with that silly nickname. But, isn't it unfair to leave your beloved, beautiful, stunning, gorgeous bestfriend behind?"

Best friend, huh?

And what? Beloved, beautiful, stunning, and gorgeous?

Seriously?

"Okay, first of all, you know I hate ketchup." I pulled out a tissue and immediately wiped the ketchup on my arm. I glared at her.

Can anyone at least remind me why I'm friends with Paije?

Oh, friend. Yeah, that's more like it.

I hate ketchup eversince I was a kid. I don't even know why. There's just something in it that creeps me out.

"Second, you eat like a snail. I still need to read our lesson for next week, and guess what? Break time's nearly over, thanks to you." I said as I rolled my eyes for the nth time.

"Are you going to leave me?~" Paije pouted, singing the lyrics of. . .her new song, probably. "In this evil, distorted world we live in, won't you stay with me?~"

Ugh. This girl.

Alright.

I sat down and chose to arrange my things while waiting for Paije to finish her food.

"You know, your name doesn't suit you."

Then there was silence.

Who said that?

It wasn't me.

I turned to Paije who's busy eating her fries.

But seriously, how long would she be eating those fries? Ugh.

Okay, it's not one of us.

Who said that, and to whom?

Who knows?

I turned only to see Mair, smirking.

Is she talking to me?

Well, is it really applicable for Paije?

Don't think so.

"What do you want, Mair?" I casually asked.

Well, we're not really that close or something so, where is she getting all the confidence to just walk right up to me and say that kind of stuff?

"What? Look, I mean your name is pronounced as---" Paije's eyes widened as she realized what Mair is about to say so she looked at her with a 'No, don't say it. Don't say it. Mission abort. Mission abort. Bomb approaching.' face. But Mair did it anyway "---Anxiety, but---"

"Excuse me?" I said with my infamous death glare.

Argh, I really hate the fact that my name sounds like anxiety!

"Look, atleast let me finish, will you? Like I've said, it doesn't really suit you. You're a strong-willed woman, confident, competitive," Mair stopped for a while, then continued in her whispering voice. "Conceited..." then she continued with her normal voice again. "See? That's all I wanted to say."

Oh.

"Well, of course. Just because that's my name doesn't mean I'm gonna be an anxious person---" I made a grimace as I looked at Mair's eyes. "and I will never be." Mair took a step backwards, giving me a hint that the girl got horrified.

Aw, poor little Mair.

I, then, tapped Mair's shoulder. "Names don't make a person, just so you know." I gave her my sweetest smile, that made her want to leave the cafeteria in an instant.

Yeah, that's right. Run to your mommy, little Mair.

Paije pointed her index finger to me as if saying, 'ya go, girl!'

"Er, uhm, yes of course" Mair said as if she's trying to find the right words but she can't.

As Mair did her fourth step away from me and Paije, she remembered something.

The girl stood properly and took a deep breath, seems like she's shaking all her fears off her because of what I did earlier. Hah, her reaction makes me laugh. Then, she spoke.

"By the way, Mrs. Sandoval is waiting for you." She said, leaving the area as soon as she can.

Paije and I exchanged glances.

I creased my forehead. Then it turned into a smirk.

What does Mrs. Sandoval want from me?

Is she going to tell me her secret already?