Chapter 11 Result

It was one of those days when everything seemed to be going wrong at the same time. My morning began with Dad and Auntie Julie having a heated disagreement. They had a few spats now and then. When they fought, though, it was a serious matter.

"Will you please listen, Julie? How many times do I have to tell you that Frida will be in charge of her wedding? Not you. Not someone else. Let Frida decide what she wants because she's the one getting married, not us," Dad said, forcing himself to calm down.

"Yeah, I know but you knew what Frida did. A mistaken judgement of her lead to unpleasant consequences," she replied. Frida opened her bedroom door and went downstairs. I can sense that she heard the clashed with Dad and Auntie having. "It's not up in two months."

"It's okay dad," Frida interrupted. "I'm fine with it. Don't be too stressed out."

"Frida, I tell you," Auntie Julie said and turned her gaze to me. "Andrea, there are many things to do and prepare. You're not helping with anything and yet you are always engaged in trouble. Look, I didn't punish you but it doesn't mean I tolerated it. You need not give me a headache and all."

"It's not like I'm culprit here," I muttered.

"Andrea," Auntie Julie heaved a sigh. "Don't you dare?"

"We'll talk about this later," Dad finally gave up. Frida went to her spot and dragged a chair. So, with dad and Auntie.

We began to eat breakfast and Auntie Julie was throwing a death glare so I hurry up to eat.

Days had passed and nothing happened new.

During the weekend, aside from giving snacks when Frida's wedding planner. If she has visitors, I will be the entertainer. I, even, accompanied Frida in picking wedding flowers, deciding for wedding tokens and all. As if I became Frida's assistant according to Auntie Julie's order and I have no right to complain. While I'm busy accomplishing my school requirements.

Day came for our final defence. We are already done reporting regarding the Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person and presenting our Business Proposal.

"Andrea, are you okay?" Skyline asked me. I'm getting nervous though, this is not the first. We even had our mock defence before and the result was good but now that it is the real day made my emotions consumed me.

"Yeah," I said unsure. I was sweating and my legs are trembling.

"Hey, don't make any stupid action, Andrea. You are even the leader," Danice looked at me from head to toe. "Don't waste our effort for this day and our outfit."

"Danice, stop!" Sheldon said calmly.

We are now on the next in line. We are just waiting for the group of Amber to finish.

"Stop, what? I'm just telling the truth," Sheldon didn't answer anymore. I looked at my group mates and they have even no hints of nervousness or negativities. They are confident enough that they can do it while I didn't understand what kind of feelings I have. Even their corporate attire was showing elegance and confidence while I was not.

I began silently praying for help and it will become a success.

"Just think all the advice that Mrs Reyes told us." I inhaled and exhaled. After a while, the group of Amber finished and our group are called.

I saw Amber looked stress but managed to give a smile and comforting words to me before we finally came into the AVR room.

Whatever the consequences, I will accept it.

I saw Mrs Reyes and the other three panellists. They are now starting to browse the paper place on their table.

I thought our presentation would not go well but to my surprised, we did a job well done. All their questions about our research, we answered correctly. Everything was polished and I felt that my groupmates had prepared for it. the panellists were satisfied so we received some praise.

"Congratulations to your group especially you Ms Madrigal, all your answer was direct and well prepared," Mr Andrew Morris commented, one of the panellists.

My tears are not shallow and I do not cry easily but this time I want to cry. I want to cry because I feel the sincerity of what was said.

We are all dismissed and the next group called to come in.

"Thank you, everyone," I said but Danice just walked out glaring at me.

"Thank you as well. We can now have our snack," Sheldon replied. One of these days, Sheldon changed. It's not like it used to be so rude.

"It's good that we managed. I thought every word written in our research paper would be torn into every letter," Skyline sighed.

I was in a good mood in the following hours so I became fond of everything even after it was followed by a periodical examination the next day.

Lunchtime. Amber and I decided to eat our lunch in our usual place, Talisay.

"Congratulation to both of us," Amber greeted me enthusiastically. For ABM student like us, defending our research is the most stressful part but when you delivered it successfully and receive positive remarks was like a cloud nine.

We are in the middle of our lunch when I heard noises near me.

Because the voice seems familiar, I got curious. Amber dragged me and went near to the voices leaving our food alone.

I saw a group of girls cheering on a girl who's in front of Asher. The girl was pretty and have a feature that can stand out in the crowd.

"Asher, will you go out with me?" enough voice for us to hear in our places. My eyes widened upon hearing it. Amber nudged my elbow looking pissed.

"Say yes!"

My jaw dropped at the screams of the group of girls watching them. They were rooting the two of them to become a couple. I didn't know why I have the feeling that made me want to stop them.

"Stop, girls!" the girl giggled and looked back to Asher who is now poker face. "I'm sorry."

Even the voice of the girl was so soft and good to the ears. She was like a talking angel coming down. It pained my heart because I feel like I'm not right to feel this way towards Asher. The girl was so good to be true.

"I'm sorry but I like---" Asher was cut off by the girls who booed at him. He looks irritated with it and takes a small step away from the girl.

"Love is different from love," the girl was smiling widely and her cheeks were all red. I can see that the girl was into Asher. She is into him.

I clenched my fist trying to calm myself. I was about to turn my back when Amber shouted that made Asher and all the girls turned their attention to us.

I saw how Asher widened his eyes. Maybe, he doesn't expect us to witness the confession of a girl to him.

"Oh, sorry! There's a mosquito," Amber made excuse while doing an invisible fight for the mosquito. I grabbed her arm to stop what her doing and excused us leaving them curious.

The pain to think that I don't even have the right to say how I feel. The pain to think that others can afford to say they like someone without hesitation. While I was nothing but a girl named Andrea.

I became focused on our incoming examination to let go of the thoughts about Asher. I shouldn't be affected because I have no right and I should be contented with it.

Periodical examination day came. I didn't have that much trouble because I studied everything. I am confident that my answers to each item are correct. I smiled. Asher has done something good for me because it gives me a reason to show that even if I'm not beautiful, I still have a brain left.

Someone poked in my back. Because the voice was familiar, I froze. I gently turn my gaze in her direction.

"Hey," Shantal hissed. "Let me copy your answer."

I frowned at her remarks. I close my eyes while biting my lip. "Can you? We're classmates. We're friends?"

When did she treat me as her friend? I didn't even recall that she treated me as a friend.

"Come on. From one to fifty," she said carefully trying not to be caught by our teacher.

"Our examination is out of 50 items," I said in disbelief. Sometimes, some people become kind when there is a need.

"Please," Mrs Reyes roamed around and carefully looked at those naughty students.

I sighed and handed my paper to Shantal praying that I won't be caught and cause so much trouble. She happily got my paper and copy my answers. I clenched my fist out of frustration. After a minute, I was cautious enough to get back my paper after copying.

I knew it was bad but I can't help if someone accused me selfish.

"Thank you," Shantal suddenly exclaimed and Mrs Reyes scolded her for creating noise.

There are decisions that you thought were right and the wrong turned out to be right. That's just the answer to the exam but wrong.

Unexpected to happen.

The examination results were delivered. Many of my classmates, particularly in the accounting subject, are crying over it. We didn't go through about half of the part. My intelligent classmates were not expected to fail. Because accounting is one of the most crucial aspects of ABM, the world of others appears to have crumbled as well. Some were ecstatic to have made it through.

Like me, I got five mistakes and I'm contented with them. Though it was from a perfect score, I'm happy.

To my surprised, Shantal was crying also while Gelou trying to console her.

Why she's crying? It was to be a celebration because we have the same answer. We have supposed to have the same score.

"Did you purposely did it? Did you know what you've done?" she said furiously. I shook my head because I do not know what's the reason.

"Don't act as if you don't know. Our examination was set A and set B. Unfortunately, you got different questionnaires," Gelou said.

" I don't know," I started stammering and looked down at my shoes.

"You are too selfish," Shantal suddenly shouted that cause attention to everyone.

"What's happening here?"

"It's all Andrea's fault. She's making herself innocent when in fact she's ruthless and selfish. A selfish bitch who want recognition and an attention seeker who want to help her classmates but the truth was, she wanted to drag her down to the ground," Gelou announced that made me speechless.

Why did I go wrong?

"You do not even have a pleasing physical feature and your attitude added it more unpleasant. Shame on you! That's for sure the reason why your crush doesn't like you back," Shantal added even if she's crying.

I did a favour, but it turns out that I was wrong? Am I living so hopeless?

Sometimes, no matter how I try, no matter I much try to do good, everything goes wrong. Everything I did bad will eventually go wrong. I do not know where to put myself. Not everyone understands my worth.

"Who told that Andrea does not have a pleasing personality? Do you know who she is? Don't judge someone if you don't know her?" A voice from outside said those remarks that made Gelou and Shantal shut up.