Grade Check: Off Your Stupid Brain

Prologue

Okay, let's get one thing straight. I am not stupid.

I just freeze. Most of the time, actually. Especially when there are a lot of eyes on me, waiting for me to say something smart, something that won't embarrass me the next day sa group chat ng section.

I don't have that.

It was a Wednesday. I remember because we had a quiz in the morning and then recitation in the afternoon, like the schedule was designed specifically to ruin my day. Philippine History class, second floor, the room that's always hot kahit naka-aircon dahil forty of us were crammed into a space meant for maybe thirty.

"Mr. Bernstein." Sir Padilla's voice was flat, no emotion, like he already knew what was about to happen. "What is the significance of the Cavite Mutiny to the rise of Filipino nationalism?"

I knew that. I swear, I knew that. I read it last night, in between chapters of the manhwa I was reading, but I did read it. Something was there, I could almost see my notes in my head, but every time I tried to get the words out, something closed up my throat.

"Uh," I said. Very impressive answer. A-plus material.

A few people laughed from the back. Not loud, not exactly a whisper either, just loud enough for me to hear but not loud enough for me to call them out on it. I could feel the heat creeping up my face, that kind of embarrassment na gusto mo na lang sumuko at maging parte ng sahig.

"Mr. Bernstein?"

"It's, um, because of the Cavite Mutiny, three priests were executed, and, uh-"

I stopped.

Blank. A complete shutdown right in the middle of my own sentence.

Sir Padilla just nodded, not angry, worse actually, disappointed, then called on someone else. I sat down, stared at my desk, and felt time move slower than it should.

I don't really remember how the rest of class went. All I know is that the moment I stepped out of the room, I went straight to the CR, locked myself in a cubicle, and let everything out.

I didn't cry, okay, maybe a little, but I was angrier at myself than sad. Why is it always me? Why am I always the one who freezes, who stutters, who's always one step behind everyone else?

I went home that day without eating, dropped straight onto my bed, and opened my phone just to scroll through anything, kahit chapter lang ng manhwa, kahit ano, basta hindi ko na maisip yung nangyari kanina.

And then something happened.

Suddenly there was light in front of me, not too bright, kind of like a screen glow but without a screen, floating in the air above my bed.

I wasn't scared right away, honestly, I thought I was dreaming or maybe something was wrong with my eyes from staring at my phone all day.

Then the light spoke.

"Hello master. I'm Ding-Digi-Ding."

I sat up, still not quite believing it, pinched my arm, it hurt, so not a dream.

"Uh," I said, deja vu from the recitation earlier. "What are you?"

"I am an integrated cognitive-assist system, currently designated to Host: Elmer Bernstein. I am here to help and guide you for Project 'Off Your Stupid Brain and Be Smart.'"

There was a good ten seconds of silence from me.

"Off my... stupid brain?"

"Confirmed."

"Could the project maybe have a nicer name?"

"Negative. Project name is fixed by system parameters."

I looked at the light, then at my own hands, then at the ceiling of my room, like I was searching for a sign that I wasn't losing my mind from stress.

No sign came.

Instead, a small window appeared in the air, like a notification:

[QUEST AVAILABLE: Survive One Day Without Embarrassing Yourself]

Reward: +1 Confidence, +1 Focus

I laughed out loud, not because it was funny in a good way, but because of how absurd the whole situation was.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Confirmed, master. Shall we begin?"

I stared at the notification, then at the floating light that apparently called itself Ding-Digi-Ding, then at myself in the mirror across the room, the same guy who, just a few hours ago, couldn't answer a simple question about his own country's history in front of the whole class.

I didn't know what the right answer was here. But, I told myself, there wasn't much to lose by trying.

"Alright," I said to the empty air, still feeling stupid but a little less than before. "Let's start."

And that's where everything began.

End of Prologue.