THE SCHOLARS HOUSE

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"For the first time in the history of Fornax Proficient School, there are four enrollees who ranked first in the practical examination," napatigil ang lahat nang bigla na lamang sumusulpot si Theodore Edevane.

Nagsimulang magbulungan ang mga tao na nakapasa. I'm so disappointed with myself. How am I being leveled with these unknown guys? I'm the top student of North Academy... I know there's a possibility that Lennon will be tied with me but still..!

Cerys, you've become naïve.

A reprimand keeps on ringing in my head. Napapikit na lamang ako upang pakalmahin ang sarili. The disappointment that I felt is extreme, this is the first time that I have felt so much disappointed with myself.

"And we have 231 passers out of 1 074 enrollees," ngiting-ngiti na saad ni Sir Theodore.

"I don't know if that's even good news," Lennon comments. I can't help but to give him dagger looks, I'm getting irritated at my surroundings right now. It's worse than I thought it would be.

"What?" He looks so happy as if he has already won the house rep position.

"Shut up," matigas kong sabi dahil naiirita pa rin ako. It's not like it's his fault na naabutan niya ako pero ugh! This is so frustrating.

"By the way, how's the exam Malcolm?" I ask my cousin who looks like he's having a deep thought but with a creepy smile on his face. He is ignoring me.

I blow an air; not getting a response makes it even more irritating for me. Magsasalita sana ako pero napatingin na naman ako kay Malcolm na mukhang excited na malaman ang results. He was appointed to the modern city and I know he absolutely love it that's why he has that creepy smile. Talk about a sadist.

"IT WAS SUPER FUN!" He beams as if he just had the best experience in life. Ang iba ay umiwas ng tingin kaya naman nagtaka ako.

"I was able to make robots that trapped others, you know. Maybe that's why only a few people passed in our area," he grins widely that it is almost scary. Yeah, talk about a real sadist. I subtly roll my eyes, I expected myself to be smiling in joy too hence as celebration pero hindi ito nangyari, instead here I am frustrated at my poor performance.

"The highest number of passers are from the island area while the least number of passers are from the modern city," balita ni Sir Theodore.

"Yeah," late na reply ko kay Malcolm nang sabihin nito na baka siya ang dahil kung bakit kaunti lang ang pumasa sa area nila. Pero kung titingnang mabuti, ito talaga ang pinakamahirap na lokasyon sapagkat napakalawak ng lugar which makes me more annoyed because one of the top scorers was from that area.

"Now, let's see the results of the practical examination from highest to lowest scorers," nagpintig ang aking mga tainga sa narinig at mabilis na napatingin sa malaking screen sa unahan.

I just need the top five enrollees because they have the highest chance on the Scholars house. Sinabi kasi kanina ni Sir Theodore na ito ang powerhouse; ibig sabihin mapupunta doon ang pinakamahuhusay na enrollees. And since I'm a top scorer, I'm probably going to that house. I'm pretty curious who will be the other members.

1. Lennon Falstof 00:20:18:06

1. Cerys McIntyre 00:20:18:06

1. Nero McNamara 00:20:18:06

1. Loey Sullivan 00:20:18:06

2. Poppy Forster 00:30:59:11

2. Malcolm Watchtel 00:30:59:11

3. Primrose Hale 00:34:00:47

4. Sabina Standifel 00:40:11:09

5. Zinc Regan 00:40:11:38

"Woah! Ang bilis nila! Lalo na yung mga top scorers. Amazing, sabay-sabay talaga silang natapos!"

"Awesome! I suddenly feel small. I've finished at an hour. I feel ashamed."

"Yeah. Me too, natapos ako in an hour and a half. They are so fast!"

"Sino kaya yung mga yun? Excited na akong makita sila lalo na yung Cerys McIntyre! Narinig ko na siya noon mula sa parents ko, they say she's a North Fornacis Princess!"

"Talaga? Wow!"

Napabuntong hininga naman ako dahil sa mga naririnig ko na bulong bulongan. It's not a surprise that some people know me because apparently, I really am a princess of the north. My family is the ruling royal clan of North Fornacis which also mean that it will really be a shame kapag hindi ko nakuha ang title ng house representative. I don't know how I'll face my family.

I sigh; frustration is really taking a toll in my system. Just say it already, Sir Edevane.

"As you can see, there are four top scorers in the practical exam. But it is not the end of the test. Now, let's see who ranked first on the written examination," napalunok ako sa sinabi ni Theodore Edevane.

Kinakabahan ako sa resulta dahil napakahirap ng written examination. It's not only about the academics, hindi ko alam kung sino ang gumawa but I bet he/she has the great intelligence. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka ang kapatid ko ang gumawa nito. Damn, kung siya nga ang gumawa I'll be ashamed kung hindi ko talaga makukuha ang title ng house rep.

Please.

I bit my gums to keep my composure. The anxiety is there, for the first time.

Dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa screen upang tingnan ang results and...

1.Cerys McIntyre 490/500

Yes!

Napayakap ako kay Lennon dahil sa tuwa. Hindi ako pwedeng sumigaw sa publiko kaya naman sa kaniya ko na lang ilalabas. He's totally fine with it, after all he's my bestfriend.

"Oh, a tie again?" Napatigil ako sa pagsasaya at napatingin sa kaniya. "Look."

Unti-unti kong nilingon ang screen at nanlaki ang mga mata ko. WHATꟷ?

1. Cerys McIntyre 490/500

1. Nero McNamara 490/500

2. Lennon Falstof 487/500

3. Malcolm Watchtel 486/500

4. Sabina Standifel 465/500

5. Poppy Forster 459/500

5. Loey Sullivan 459/500

Automatic na hinanap ng mga mata ko ang lalaking may brown na buhok. I think that's him, Nero McNamara!

Nagulat ako nang mahagip ko siya ay nakatingin din siya sa akin at bigla itong ngumisi. Nagtangis ang aking mga bagang. What?!

"Oh, it is also my first time seeing the results and wow, McIntyre and McNamara are in tie! What should we do now?" Nakangiting sabi ni Theodore Langston at bigla na lamang itong tumango.

"According to the adviser of Scholars House, we will let it be two house representatives in the house of the Scholars," napanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

I don't know if it's a good thing. Well, it should be. Having two house reps will make things go smoother, though, I don't think that'll be the case. I have a feeling na hindi ko makakasundo ang lalaking iyon.

"Now then. Cerys McIntyre and Nero McNamara, please come in front," nakangiti sabi ni Sir Theodore. I have no choice but to go pero bago iyon ay tumingin muna ako kay Lennon. A smile makes its way to his lips.

"Don't worry, we will go next," he assures before I return a smile of gratefulness too. I would be happier if Lennon is the other class rep but it's just not.

At hindi nga ako nagkamali, Nero McNamara is that brown-haired guy as I walk my way to the front. He stares intently at my direction as if he can see through my soul. Napaiwas tuloy ako ng tingin. Tss. Hindi ko talaga siya makakasundo.

"McIntyre, huh," rinig kong bulong nito nang makarating kaming pareho sa unahan. Muntik na akong mapaatras nang may napagtanto akong isang bagay ngunit napatigil lamang ako.

McNamara...

An Evgenis! The House McNamara is one of the top five most powerful families in Fornax just like the McIntyre. I knew his family since it is the ruling royal clan in South Fornacis. And I think may tension sa family niya with mine. Damn. How could I not notice na isang McNamara pala ang kaharap ko?!

I looked at him in the eye with a smirk forming on my lips, "Nice to meet you, Nero McNamara."

He simply nods. Tumango lang siya?! What the hell is wrong with him? I'm being nice then... UGH!

"Now that we have the top scorers of the overall entrance examination, let us now proceed to the houses!" Masayang sabi ni Sir Theodore.

Ako ay nasa unahan na ngayon at kitang-kita ko ang lahat ng freshmen. 231 passers, Sir Theodore said but it looks so few.

"All of you in here have done excellent in the practical exam but what brought you down is the written examination. That's why it failed you to be in the Scholars or the Honors House."

Scholars.

"First to be called are the students of the Scholars House. This will be the advisory of Maximus Leon Jon Ferid Venilde Berne or Max Berne," pagpapahayag ni Sir Theodore na ikinagulat ng lahat.

"EH? S-Si Max Berne ang adviser ng Scholars House? The Max Berne of the Skia Group!?"

"Max Berne! Kyaaaa! Sana sa Scholars House ako! Balita ko gwapo daw yun!"

"Ang swerte naman ng Scholars House. Adviser nila ang Mist Prince."

Nagsimulang magbulung-bulongan ang mga studyante. That's because it really is a surprise.

Sir Max Berne is a 24 year old famous Neos and Evgenis since he is in the Skia Groupꟷ one of the best neos teams that mainly works in the shadows. Kilala siya bilang Mist Prince sa Skia dahil isa sa mga asset ng kanilang grupo si Max Berne since he's a genius. He's still young that's why he's the talk of the town. A hot guy like him is really someone to gossip, lol.

"Sadly, there are only eight students in this House," napataas naman ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya. That's... really few.

"But don't break down kids, it is not really easy to be in the Scholars House," biglang nag-appear sa unahan si Max Berne. He's a dark messy-haired man with a brown cloak smoking a cigarette. I admit he's really attractive.

"The entrance exam was judged by me and other teachers. In order to get into the Scholars House, you need to get a 98% and above passing rate. Unfortunately, there are only eight people who met this rate," pagpapaliwanag ni Max Berne.

98% huh, Fornax Proficient School is too strict in the Scholars house. They are really putting only the best students of this batch. Ibig sabihin ay magiging exciting naman siguro ang house na pupuntahan ko. Hindi ko maiwasang mapan mapangisi dahil sa ideyang iyon. This is what I came for: meeting formidable people.

"Just like what Max Berne said, the Scholars House is only composed of students who have 98% and above passing rate. And those whom I call shall proceed to the house representatives line. Scholars House representatives, please go to that side," itinuro ni Sir Theodore ang isang area na walang tao. May mga nakahilerang flag doon. Nakita ko ang gold na flag na may lion print sa gitna.

Oh! Naalala ko na nakita ko ito kanina nang papunta pa lang kami dito kung saan may mga sumalubong na mga estudyante. Napatingin tuloy ako sa ibang flags at may silver, red, yellow, and green pang iba. So there are five Houses in total.

"Cerys McIntyre
Nero McNamara
Lennon Falstof
Loey Sullivan
Malcolm Watchtel
Poppy Forster
Sabina Standifel

And..." pinapakaba pa ni Sir Theodore ang mga estudyante pero obvious naman na ang last student ay kung sinuman ang natitirang topnotcher.

"And Primrose Hale," napatingin ako sa mga paparating sa aking kinalalagyan. I'm a little disappointed kasi may nakita akong isang taga-North na hindi nakapasok sa Scholars House.

Suddenly I felt like I was in a different environment when I looked at my new classmates. Papunta ngayon dito ang isang kulot na babae na nakangiti sa akin which is so weird kasi hindi ko naman siya kilala tapos nginingitian niya ako. Didn't her parents teach her how to deal with strangers?

Mayroon namang isang redhead na napakakintab ng red niyang buhok and her freckles are just pretty. She looks like a badass bitch, though.

May isang babae pa na mahinhin kong magdala, she's beautiful who definitely suits the word "princess." I'm kinda intrigued how this beautiful miss is capable of, knowing how she acts like a princess.. like me.

May lalaki naman na nakahood na mukhang ayaw makipagsocialize who is the other top scorer. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay Loey Sullivan ang pangalan niya. He looks aloof.

Kumakaway naman sa akin si Malcolm na ngiting-ngiting papunta sa kinaroonan ko. Kasama niya si Lennon na nakangiti sa akin ng genuine which makes my heart soft. I knew we'd be in the same house; my boys.

At huling nahagip ng mata ko ang mysterious looking na lalaki na nasa tabi ko na nakatingin lang sa akin with judging eyes. Tss. I'm actually getting annoyed now. This McNamara is so creepy.

But still, it's a surprise that I have not expected: this intimidating aura surrounding each one of the members of this newly-formed house that I'll be leading. There's this feeling na karapat dapat talaga sila sa house na ito. It makes me happy.

"Wonderful!" Napatakip ako sa bibig ko sa bigla kong nasabi. What the hell, excited ako masyado.

"Cuz, are you okay?" Malcolm teased at napansin ko ang pagtingin ng lahat ng myembro sa akin. Napangiwi ako.

"Next are the Honors House, it consists of twenty three students. Students who have 93% to 97% passing rate will belong to this house. This house can even defeat the Scholars House so be alarmed, Scholars. The Honors' adviser will be Stella Emerald Alvira Homer Payne or Stella Payne. And those whom I call shall proceed to the silver flag which is next to the Scholars," tinawag niya isa-isa ang mga estudyante ngunit hindi ko na napakinggan dahil nagulat ako sa biglang pagsulpot ni Sir Max Berne sa tabi ng flag.

"Okay, Scholars, follow me," kinuha niya ang flag at tahimik naman kaming sumunod sa kaniya.

Scholars house, I see. Mukhang magiging masaya talaga ang susunod na tatlong taon ko dito sa eskwelahan na 'to. How capable is this house?

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