Heartfilia's Premises

Chapter 5

Monday's first subject was good. Wala naman kaming masyadong ginawa bukod sa pagdi-discuss ulit ng panibagong lesson. Kanina ko pa gustong lapitan sa Fiarrah to clarify things out pero hindi naman ako makahanap ng matinong timing. She arrived on time and when I say on time, ibig sabihin ay on time din na dumating ang aming prof at on time ring nagsimula ang aming klase.

"Fiarrah," I called her out pagkalabas ng aming guro.

"Oh, Leigh," aniya habang nag-aayos ng kaniyang mga gamit.

"Can we talk? For a while?"

"I'm sorry Leigh. I need to meet the president. I violated one of the rules and I need to face my punishment."

Hindi pa gaanong narerehistro sa akin ang sinabi niya at nabalik lang ako sa wisyo nang marinig ko ang marahang pagsara ng pinto. Agad kong iniligpit ang aking mga gamit at sinundan si Fiarrah.

I froze for a while nang makalabas ako sa aming classroom dahil sa nakita ko. It was strange. Wala pa ang mga ito kanina bago ako pumasok.

"Orange code again," rinig kong saad ng isang estudyante na dumaan sa likuran ko.

Orange code?

"Excuse me, Miss," tawag ko sa kanya at agad naman siyang napalingon, "What's with orange code?" I asked out of curiosity but I guess this is what Nazaire was referring to yesterday.

"You must be Aleighna Lowrie," bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang malamang kilala niya ako. How come? "I guess you are wondering why I know you. I'm the vice president of III-A and regarding your question, see those orange stickers?" tanong niya at itinuro ang orange stickers na nakadikit sa mga pader, "That's level 3-4 Aleighna."

"What do you mean?"

"Level 3-4 stage of studying here in Heartfilia. The SCB did not consider your suggestion yesterday so we are back with orange code for the UNATEX," she said as she started to take a walk and so I followed her, waiting for her to continue what she was saying.

"Since malaki na rin naman ang impact mo rito sa Heartfilia, I will tell you. Patayan ang pag-aaral dito. Pwedeng literal," pagkikibit-balikat niya at bahagya pa siyang tumawa, "at ang orange code, ibig sabihin ay regular classes plus regular review. It's depressing sometimes kasi kailangan ng matinding time management kapag nagkataong may performance tasks kang gagawin at deadline to beat the next days at nagrereview ka for the UNATEX. Yet hindi naman natatamaan ng UNATEX review ang regular classes since nagiging effective lang ito sa isang estudyante once his/her class is done and the SCB and the higher council really make sure that everyone is obeying. Walang takas ang kahit na sino dahil mahigpit na binabantayan ang lahat," mahabang litanya niya.

"What. The. Heck?"

"What the heck talaga. This feels sick but I have nothing to do with it and I cannot leave Heartfilia even if I want to."

"Why?"

"You don't have to know Aleighna. Anyway, it's my free time and I am heading to the library. May assignment kasi kami para bukas and I want to maximize my time before my review starts. We have to start reviewing. Want to share ways?"

Tumango-tango lang ako habang naglalakad kami. I still could not digest what was going on here.

"What's the worst level?" I asked out of nowhere.

"Red code comes after the orange and violet is the extreme. I heard that violet case already happened before. Sa pagkakaalam ko, iyong naging SCB President bago si Nazaire failed for something which no one knows kaya naging violet code and having Nazaire as the president for three years, isang beses pa lang namin naranasan ang red code. It only appears kapag nagsasabay ang UNATEX at midterms."