SECTION 5: The Code Violet Class

Code Violet II. Challenger

“Before anything else, I want to remind you, Kishia of Section 1 and Sphere of Section 5, that none of you shall take the conversation later personally. Be professional. Using curse words and insulting phrases is strictly prohibited. Any violation has equivalent consequence that can lead to disqualification. Also, this challenge will only have one round dahil busy kami,” panimula ni Drayven kaya mas lalo akong napangiti.

He flipped the notebook to the other page saka ilang sandali niyang binasa ito gamit lang ang utak niya. Then, he gave it back to our classmate.

“Situational is Jayce's specialty. I wonder kung ano'ng magagawa ni Sphere?” rinig kong pag-uusap sa likuran ko.

Ano'ng magagawa ko? Well, I'm a judge. I can disqualify her if I want to.

“Let's begin.” Silence took over the entire place kaya mas ramdam ko ang spirit of competition. “The—”

Itinaas ni Kishia ang kamay niya kaya naagaw niya agad ang spotlight. “Wait!”

“What is it, Kishia?” tanong ni Drayven.

“Let's make a bet. Kung mananalo siya, magba-backout ako sa ranking contest. If I win, isuko mo na ang Section 5, Dray.” Natawa pa siya pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon kaya sinulyapan ko si Drayven at ang iba pa naming mga kaklase.

Lahat sila, nag-iba ang mga mukha. They are all pissed na kung pwede lang ay pinagkaisahan na nila ang babaeng nasa harapan ko. Wala naman akong masasabing comforting words dahil napi-pressure ako kaya ibinalik ko ang paningin ko kay Kishia.

She laughed while staring at me. Alam niyang hindi tatanggi ang Section 5 kaya gusto niyang maramdaman ko ang tensyon sa paligid. Nakakatuwa. Kaya niya rin palang gumawa ng ganitong klaseng strategy. Pero kanina pa siya, ha. She badly wants to eliminate section 5 for some reason.

Drayven was too pissed to answer. I stole the spotlight from her kaya ngumiti ulit ako nang nagkatagpo ang paningin namin ni Kishia. “Bakit hindi na lang natin simulan 'to? You're wasting our precious time.”

She smirked in exchange. “I'll take that as a yes. Drayven!” Tinapunan niya ng mapanlait na tingin si Drayven. “State the problem.”

“Let's start, then. A student has been accused for getting himself into a fight which happened outside the campus. His reason was his girlfriend was harassed by other students. This guy holds a high position in the school which resulted to negative comments and questionable learning environment.  If you have the authority, what will you do and how will you judge the student?”

Habang nire-recite 'yon ni Drayven ay hindi niya nilubayan ng tingin si Kishia. Parang may nakaraan yata ang dalawa at mukhang story nila ang situation na 'to. In most cases, kung totoo mang may experience sila sa sitwasyong 'yan, of course, talo ako.

I've never been into a fight since then kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ng estudyanteng 'yon.

Kishia laughed. Tumayo siya kahit hindi pa tinawag ang pangalan niya at taas noong humarap sa mga audience. Ang taas talaga ng confidence niya. “I understand the guys reaction. After all, girlfriend niya ang na-harass. But it doesn't mean na justifiable ang actions niyang pakikipag-away sa mga taong nang-harass. Dapat hindi siya nagpadala sa bugso ng damdamin niya.”

No wonder why she choose situational rather than competing with me through solving math problems. Lahat naman ng sinabi niya, may point.