Something Special

-CEDRIC-

Another boring day has come in Eastwood High. There's nothing new in my life so far. I'm still stuck being in the last section, and still currently stuck listening to the boring discussion of our boring teacher whom I heard is an old maiden.

Okay, I probably should stop listening to rumors.

Finally, thank goodness, when the teacher saved us from boredom by dismissing us exactly on the time of our thirty-minute break, I hurriedly picked up my bag, went out of the classroom, and almost ran my way towards the cafeteria to meet up with my best friend Andrew as usual.

Be careful with the running in the hallways though. I sure don't want Ms Reyes to see me zooming around her territory.

I better enjoy my break today, because yesterday was a total mess!

"Bro, I have something to tell you." My best friend said as soon as I got the chance to sit in our usual place next to him after getting my free food from the counter.

On my right hand is the styro cup of once again macaroni soup. Yup, better than nothing to eat.

"From the tone of your voice, I bet that's kinda interesting." I merely guessed. Well, he seems so excited about it so it must be a very good news.

I took off my glasses for a bit and placed it beside the cup of soup to avoid foggy vision while I eat the broth. Afterwards, I picked up the styro cup with my right hand and started to dig in.

"Yep, interesting indeed! Because just a while ago...my classmate Mitch was transferred to Alpha Section." he said, getting all pumped up all of a sudden.

I first swallowed the macaroni soup that I've been chewing on before responding to what he had said.

"Really? I thought we are being transferred to other sections in a yearly manner based on the average that we will get every end of the academic year?" I responded as a matter of fact. "And now we're on what? 2nd sem?"

I don't get it. There are basically three semesters in one academic year in Eastwood High, if I remember it correctly. How can a student be transferred to another section in an instant? Is that how the school works, probably?

"Oh. Good for him." I acted just as hyped up as he is just to match his pace but I somehow know where all of this leads to. Then I continued eating.

"You know what this means?" the energetic tone in his tone is still visible to him.

I emptied my cup first with all of the remains of my soup before paying attention to him.

"It means that if we study hard, there's also a chance for us to enter Alpha Section. Right?" I said in a flat tone and with a bored look as well.

"Exactly! That's a really good motivation for both of us to study hard." he said, having no idea that all of this crap doesn't interest me even just one bit. "Imagine if we both enrolled in that section, you don't have to eat that thing anymore." he said, pointing at the now empty cup resting on top of the table.

"Hey! What's wrong with eating macaroni soup for the rest of my stay here in the school?" I said in a sing-song manner, looking slightly pissed.

"There's nothing wrong for enjoying it for the rest of your high school life..." he tries to explain, one arm draped around my shoulders. "...but there's also nothing wrong with wanting more than you currently received, isn't it?"

I mentally rolled my eyes by his last statement while shaking my head sideways in disapproval. Why does he want to include me on his plans anyways? If he wants it so badly, then so be it. But why include me?

"Bro, I get it that you badly want to enroll in Alpha Section. But it's really not necessary to include me on your plans." I said, pausing for a moment and heaved out a sigh.

"I don't have a brain that is the same as yours, okay? And I get it that you somehow pity me and my situation as a last section student, but you don't really need to rub it in my face, you know."

As soon as I let my emotions get the best of me, Andrew became silent all of a sudden, so I decided to speak again.

"Excuse me for a moment. I have somewhere else to go to."

I didn't wait for him to respond, I automatically picked up my glasses and wore them, picked up the styro cup and plastic spoon I've used and stood up from my seat then headed straight to the exit.

I made a quick stop at the trash bin and threw the used styro cup and plastic spoon before completely went outside.

***

The truth is, I actually have nowhere else to go to. I just want to stay away from Andrew and to this never-ending discussion about enrolling in Alpha Section even just for a while.

Lately, I noticed that all I can hear from my best friend's mouth is how to enter that sketchy school organization. I mean, I get it that they have some exclusive privileges from the school. But is it really worth it?

I wasn't aware that my feet brought me into the school park. The cool shades of different trees planted here, away with the noises coming from students and that calm afternoon breeze blowing all around me today is just the perfect serene place that I'm looking for to chill.

I sat on the very first wooden bench that I found then brought out my smartphone and my earplugs inside my bag. When I was able to attach the earplugs on my phone, I scrolled through my playlist and decided to play the very first song I saw which is I'm Yours by Jason Miraz.

I gently rested my back on this wooden bench, closed my eyes and feel the rhythm of the music.

Aaaaahhh this is just all I want. No grades to maintain, no alpha section talks. Just chillin' by myself.

I guess this is the perk of being in the lowest section.

When I decided to open my eyes again to look for another song on my playlist, something caught my eye on a far end corner of the park. I spotted a group of four high school girls bullying another high school girl their age.

I thought that I might have just misinterpreted it at first, but when I saw that girl they're somewhat bullying pushed by one of those four, that's when I started to get concerned.

I brought back my phone and the earplugs inside my bag before zipping up my bag and walked towards the scenario.

"Students as weak as you are do not even deserve to be on Alpha Section." I heard the blonde girl say in her rough voice when I was able to reach them from behind.

Oh? So that girl they're bullying is an Alpha Student?

"Hey. Leave her alone."

As soon these four mean girls heard my voice, they simultaneously turned around to look at me and crossed their arms in sync.

"Who's this? Your last section boyfriend?" The red haired girl beside the blondie barked an insulting laugh.

I really hate girls like her, swear. Without uttering a word, I quickly grabbed for the wrist of the red-haired girl and firmly looked straight to her eyes.

"Hey! Let her go!" said by her friends. I just ignored them and focused on this ill-mannered girl.

"Get your asses out of here and don't you ever go near this girl ever again." I sternly said while pointing a finger at the girl who's crouching on the ground right now.

After saying those words, I let go of her hand. Still looking a bit flabbergasted, she turns to look at her friends.

"Let's get out of here girls." she said to them and soon they are now out of our sight.

When they are nowhere to be found, I turn to look at the girl who's still taking her time crouching. The first thing that caught my attention is her round-shaped grayish eyes that's also looking back at me with full of confusion. Her forehead is slightly covered with her straight bangs dipped in ash grey. And so is her shoulder-length hair, with curls foamed on both ends.

"Here. Let me help you." I stretched forth my right hand for her to hold which she gladly took.

"Ow!" I heard her slightly screech in pain, face distorting for a bit as soon she was able to get up.

I scanned both of her feet and I immediately saw the bluish mark on her right ankle that's causing the pain. Maybe she twisted her ankle while she was pushed by those mean girls.

"It looks like you've got a sprain and it will be a lot worse if you pushed yourself to walk." I stated the obvious. "Let me carry you instead towards the clinic."

"Wait, what-"

Before she could even complain, I scooped one arm around her back and used my other arm to steady myself as I lifted her up and made my way towards the school clinic.

Good thing she has a petite figure, it's easy to carry her like this.

I am very much aware that all eyes on the hallway are now looking at me but I simply ignored them all and focused on reaching the clinic.

As soon as I arrived at the clinic, I placed this girl on one of the vacant beds here and looked for a nurse to whom I spotted watching k-drama on her station.

"Hi, please do take care of my..." I paused for a split second trying to find a correct label for the girl. "... friend over here. Thanks."

The nurse gladly turned off her phone for a while and followed me towards the bed where I had placed the girl.

When I made sure that the girl is now being checked by the school nurse, I immediately turned around and faced the door.

I was about to reach for the door knob when it suddenly twisted by itself, and afterwards I saw the manly figure of that same teacher I saw way back when we were punished in Ms Reyes' office, now entering the facility.

His name is Mr. Cruz, if I remember it correctly.

"Mr. Magbanua, we've seen each other once more." A mischievous smile appeared on the corner of his lips as he looked at me.

"Yeah. I happen to help one of your students here, I suppose." I responded.

There he goes again with his awkward stare. And maybe he had a glimpse of my ID. That's why he knows me by my surname.

"She is, indeed, my student. Thank you for helping her." he said in his usual formal tone.

"No problem." I said, avoiding his gaze. "If you'll excuse me. I have another class to attend to."

"Of course." He nodded at me as his dismissal and so I went again to reach for the doorknob.

"Wait..." I heard the girl say before I can completely get out of here.

Geez...what is it this time?!

"I can feel something special within him."

I paused for a moment, my forehead furrowed upon hearing that from the girl. When I turned to face her one more time, I could see her index finger pointing at me. Well, not exactly directly in my direction. It's as if she can't really see me.

Wait, is she blind or something?

I also saw Mr. Cruz turned to look at me.

"Mr. Cruz, I think we already found the last student that will complete our group." added by that weird girl.

"I-I'm sorry, but what are you exactly talking about?" I asked, confusion is still visible in my tone and in my face as well.

"Well then, if that is the case..." Mr. Cruz stretches his right hand in front of me, completely ignoring what I just said earlier. "Welcome to Alpha Section."

I just stood there, frozen, as my brain still tries to analyze what I just heard from this teacher. When I didn't reach for his hand, Mr. Cruz swung it back to his side.

What the heck is happening here?!

I, Cedric Magbanua, who is a known student to be in the last section, is now being invited to be a part of Alpha Section?!

I wasn't even aware that after this day onward, my once boring life here in Eastwood High will soon slowly begin to change...