Ding… Ding… Ding....
“Alright students. That’s the bell, class dismissed. A reminder for today afternoon, we have guests from one of the prestigious embassies in our white hall school. Our eleven grades must participate in this encounter.” says the teacher.
“Thank you so much, madam.” Everyone in the room replies.
“And… Mrs. Valter, do you have a moment?” She asks me when she’s about to leave the class.
“Yes, madam” replying to her.
Stand up from my seat then head to the door where the teacher is waiting for me.
“Mrs. Valter,” My homeroom teacher says “as your homeroom teacher, I want you to participate in the upcoming contest, especially in the encounter later. This is a request from the headmaster and those embassies.”
“Of course, I’ll do it madam.” I reply immediately.
“I know I can count on you, Mrs. Valter. I’m so glad that you’re in my class.”
In your class? Is this something that involves the other classes?
“Pardon me, madam. But, may I know what kind of contest this is?” I ask her
“Oh. My apologies, Mrs. Valter for not giving you a chance to ask. The contest is like a Wild Wisdom Quiz but in a group. Our opponents will be the other three classes. One group with three members. Do you have any questions by any chance?” The teacher explains.
Nice! the twins can come with me.
“Nothing for now, madam. Thank you so much for informing me.” respond to her.
“I’ll take my leave then. See you later, Mrs. Valter.” She leaves and I bow a little to her.
Does it sound like a competition? I’ll discuss it with the twins later during our lunch break.
**Lunch break**
“It’s definitely a competition between other classes.” Mana conclusion.
“But, we never had something like this last year.” Mari Replies.
“This school just keeps getting weird.” continuing Mana and Mari.
We let out a loud sigh together.
Even though it’s a competition for those embassies, we might count this into our challenge.
The problem that stuck in my head right now is Mr. Sneg.
Still don’t know anything about him.
His background, his capability, anything from him still stays unknown.
Personally, it’s fine for me to team up with Mana and Mari, great even.
It just keeps bothering me especially whenever I remember that night.
His father.
“How about we try to predict who our opponents later?” I suggest.
“There will be three groups against us right?” Mana says.
“Yea… let’s start from class D. Our opponent might be Carl Jefferson and his two other friends right? Jefferson group.” Mari says.
“Do you remember those other friends of Mr. Jefferson?” asking Mari.
“I guess it will be Albino Montenegro and Gerardo Raffa since the two of them are on top of their class.” Mana replies.
Must have forgotten about them.
“Tell me anything about them.” biting my nails.
Knowing who your opponents are important in this group competition.
I don’t want to get any unexpected surprises
“Albino Montenegro is in fourteenth place. His chemistry score is almost the same as the averages. For Gerardo Raffa, he is in twelfth place. This one is about his physics score.” Mana describes them.
“I see. If I’m not mistaken, Carl Jefferson is in ninth place, right?” asking for confirmation.
“Actually he got derank last week. He is in tenth place for now because of one of his projects.” Mana clarifies.
“I didn’t know about that.” replying Mana.
That’s not my priority for now.
“Alright next,” I say “class C. It must be Colombain, Brugière, and Léger. Do you guys know anything about them?”
Mari raises her eyebrows like she is surprised by what she’s seeing.
Maybe she’s checking the school rank on our school application.
“I didn’t realize that Colombain is in second place. He’s taking Quinne place. Now she’s in third place.” Mari tells us.
Even myself don’t know anything about how he can surpass Quinne.
Quinne always stays at my back as far as I remember.
Is it because I only focus on Quinne? So that I’ve never seen that Colombain might be taking my place?
Knowing this makes me become more cautious about him.
I might get impaled from someone that’s close to me.
The atmosphere in our place becomes intense because of me.
The twins realize this so Mana takes an action to break this silence.
“Mari, do you know why Quinne got derank?”
“In here said that Quinne got ninety five in her last history quiz. That’s why she got derank in overall ranks.” Mari answers.
Her lowest score all the time is ninety seven. How can she get lower from it?
“Last history quiz was last Friday, right?” I ask them curiously.
“Yes, it’s last Friday. What’s wrong, Vil?” Mana answers.
“Nothing. So far I knew about her, she never got lower than ninety seven.” giving explanation to the twins.
“Oh! I remember that I’ve heard that Quinne looks like she’s in some kind of problem?” Mari says.
“What do you mean, Mari? Where did you hear those things?” Mana asks.
“The other day that I delivered our assignment to the teacher’s room, I overheard about Quinne. One of the teachers said that Quinne is not like herself. She’s even not paying so much attention in her class.”
For all this time, Quinne problem is only to surpass me.
For me, I don’t want anyone to take my place.
That’s our only goal.
Even the teachers realize this significant change on her.
There must be something bothering her, right? She even lost herself.
“What could that be bothering her?” asking them in curiosity.
“Dunno, but it’s just a rumour. It’s still fifty fifty to be true.” Mari answers.
“Put that aside for now. Let’s continue about our discussion here.” Mana says.
“Oh yea, almost forgot about that. Let’s see here… Brugière is in ninth place and Léger is in eighth place. Looks normal for me.” Mari tells.
“You guys talked so much with them last friday in the cafe right? What do you guys know about them?”
My question almost feels like examining the twins.
They are surprised from the way I ask them.
Probably not expecting myself to become this aware because of this whole thing.
“We were just chilling back then, Vil.” Mari answers.
“That’s not even an answer for my questions, Mari.” I say almost intimidating.
“Our topics are so simple Vil. Like what we are doing usually, where we usually hang out or take lunch together in school. There’s nothing sensitive about the topic we’re talking about back then.” Mana explains.
“Whose the one asking first? What’s their answers to you guys? And what’s the point of asking about those things?” Still with my intimidating tone.
“Hey hey… Calm down…” Mana tries to calm me down.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! I want you guys to answer my questions. Is that too difficult for you guys?” Raising my voice unwittingly.
Even glaring at the twins this time.
Their faces look surprised from what I am doing.
It’s not just a surprised look, more like a mix of surprised and scared faces.
They both take a deep breath and try to reach my hands.
“Vil, they are the one who ask first. They told us about where they usually hang out. For your last question, we don’t know what their point is. But I feel that there’s no threat from them. They honestly want to know about us as a friend.” Mana answers.
“We know that you feel more aware because of Colombain and Quinne, Vil. It’s true that I also didn’t feel any threat from them. If something happens to you because of them, we’ll be there for you. I promise.” Mari says with a calming voice.
“A wolf won’t show their fangs when it is disguised as a sheep.” no more intimidating tone right now.
My voice is more like I’m worried and scared that I’ll get stabbed by them.
“Calm down, Vil. You need to focus on yourself, okay? Remember we’ll fight for you together. You’re not alone.” Mana says comforting me.
“Even though they turn your back on, we’ll break our friendship with them right away. And if I catch them doing something that might give you some bad effect from it, I’ll tell you right away to be more aware of them.” Mari continues.
That’s right. I still have these two over here.
They’ll never turn their back against me.
Also their colours are yellow.
Maybe I’m overthinking this.
The twins are always successfully comforting me.
Glad they always stay by my side every time.
“Alright, I’ve calmed down guys. Thank you very much.” I say with a calming voice.
“Anytime, sis!” The twins answer at the same time.
“Who are our opponents from class B?” try to change the topic we’re in.
Fortunately, they’re coming with the flow.
“Probably Quinne, Sneg, and one from the two friends of Quinne who always follows her anywhere before.” Mana says.
“Unfortunately for Sneg, he is in twenty-sixth place. Quinne in third place. The other two of her friends' names are Rosalia Görder and Tiana Kohlmann, correct?” Mari says.
“Correct. Probably between those two will join her group.” answering Mari.
“Rosalia Görder is in fifth place and Tiana Kohlmann is seventh place.” Mari tells.
Alright all ten places are clear right now.
“Who is in fourth place and sixth place?” I ask them with a teasing voice.
“Us!” They answer me almost like shouting to me because of the excitement.
Let out a little laugh because of how they react to me.
Thank you guys for being by my sides.
...
Still can’t be that honest, huh?
But hopefully they realize what’s the meaning of my smile to them.
It’s so different when I make a fake smile towards the others.
Then our bell school is ringing.
“That’s the signal.” I say when I get up from my seat.
With that settled, we’re all heading off to our white hall.
In our way, none of the students eleven talk about the contest.
Every homeroom teacher must talk about this with the selected one.
Well, that’s not something rare though.
Even the teachers in here are still competitive with the other teachers.
That doesn't matter for now.
The time we enter the white hall, they have split the room into four rows.
Each row already has the sign of our classes.
Alright, let’s play some games.
****
Everyone’s applauding.
“Thank you for such a great speech from Mr. Joris Hubert. Coming up next, let’s play a game, shall we?” says the narrator.
From here, everyone starts chattering with each other.
As predicted before none of the other students know about this.
“When we were kids… Well, you can still be able to play this game when you get older. It’s a classic game called...“
Waiting for something to pop out on the screen.
Dart game.
“Dart game.” He says.
The chattering becomes louder than before.
None of the students, including us, know about this.
I’ve never heard about this before.
If something happens in school, usually my brother will tell me as soon as possible.
Somehow the twins also almost have the same expression as the others.
They already knew about this.
Why do they have that kind of expression on their faces?
“Guys? What’s wrong?” asking them worriedly.
“There’s probably something odd from this game, Vil.” Mari says.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” Mana explains.
Looking back at the screen.
Circle diagram that has two rings.
First ring splits into five parts; physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and history.
Second ring, the circle right in the center, is a question mark sign.
They are really full of surprise today huh?
“As you can see,” The narrator says “It’s a dart game. All four classes have their own team who are already selected by their own homeroom teacher.”
Take a glance at the other classes.
Some of it looks exciting, others feels the opposite of it.
The pressure becomes intense in other ways for me.
Wait… I don’t have time to worry about the others! I need to focus on myself about this strange game, especially that question mark.
Servants of the embassies bring three chairs and a long table in front of all groups
“Each group has their own darts that we already prepared. Let's greet each of the group classes shall we? Please, class D, Carl Jefferson, Albino Montenegro, and Gerardo Raffa!” He calls the member of group four.
All of the class D students start cheering for their group.
“Yeah!” Carl Jefferson shouting excitedly and raising his right hand.
The other two members only follow him calmly.
Everyone in the room starts clapping their hands.
“Wow… they get very lively support from their friends.” Mari comments.
“That’s a good opening to lighten up the pressure.” Mana continues.
Mr. Jefferson smirks towards me before he takes his seat.
Try to provoke me huh? Nice try.
“Class D, as predicted as before.” replying to the twins.
“That’s a lively cheer from class D! Coming up next, class C, Gofar Colombain, Célia Brugière, and Henry Léger!” The narrator greets them.
Class C cheering louder than the previous class.
Only Brugière is the one who replies to their supportive friends with a small wave.
Colombain and Léger follow right behind her.
When my eyes meet with Colombain’s, he smiles and bows a little to me.
Replying to him only with a smile on my face.
“Didn’t know that we are going to face them at this short of time.” Mari says.
“Another tough rival for Vil.” Mana says looking at me.
Spontantly, I let out small chuckles.
“What are you saying, Mana? All of them are tough rivals for me.” smiling
Show me what you got, Colombain.
“Wow looks like class C doesn't want to lose either. Next up! Class B! Agatha Quinne, Rosalia Görder, and Lenya Sneg!”
The cheering becomes louder than before.
It’s not only class B that is the one cheering them but also the other classes.
Even some of the guys start shouting Quinne’s name loudly.
When all of them get up from their seats, Quinne's eyes look like she throws a knife from it.
That look in her face says that “I won’t lose this time”.
Well, that happens every time though.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Mr. Sneg replies with his hand wave to all of them.
“We’re not cheering for you, you dunce!” says one of the guys voices.
That only makes one of the sides laugh at him.
But he seems like doesn’t care about anyone's comments.
“He’s already hated, huh?” Mana says.
“The rumour says that everyone in this school dislikes how he turns out so extroverted, arrogant, and… too striking.” Mari replies.
“It can’t be helped.” Adding to their comments.
Mr. Sneg position is right in front of his seat.
He turns around then looks at everyone's faces.
After that his eyes land right on my face.
Finger gun, smirking, and give a wink to me.
That only makes the situation worse, you know?
“Yep.” I say “Absolutely hated by everyone.”
“And finally! The last class and the one that we’ve been waiting for! Especially for those embassies.” The narrator lowing his voice purposely on his last sentence and makes the guest laugh a little.
“Class A! Starting from…. Einhard twins! Mariana Einhard and Manarina Einhard!” Once again he purposely gives a pause before calling my name to make the twins stand up first.
The twins stand up first then replying to the cheering with waves.
“With such honor, that I’m allowed to call her name. Please, The greatest and the most honorable person for us! Queen… Vilheimina Valter!”
This one is the loudest one, even the embassies start clapping their hands.
Actually, this greeting almost makes me pass out at the moment.
Gotta keep the figure.
Just stand up from my seat then go straight away to our group place.
Don’t even look at the other classes that are already on their seat.
“You got it, Queen!”
“All for you, my queen!”
I can hear a lot of people calling my name… No, that’s not exactly it is.
But that’s not what I need to focus on right now.
Also it’s not like it’s the first time for me, I’m getting used to it.
The cheering stops right when I’m already in my position.
Just about taking my seat, the narrator is approaching our place.
“Queen Vilheimina Valter. May we have a word from you?
Can just one person here make the situation better here?
“Much obliged for such a great encounter. I’m looking forward to it.” giving my best smile to everyone in the room.
Hope this can loosen how intense the room is.
“Thank you for your beautiful words, Queen Vilheimina Valter. Next, I’ll explain how we’re going to play this game. Operator, please.”
The screen changes into a video that includes how to play and the rules of the game.
“As you can see, we’ll spin the dart board and each of the group turns need to throw their dart to get one of it. The fastest one that answers the question will get the point. Very simple game. Any questions?” He’s explaining the video.
Someone raises a hand.
It’s from class C, Colombain.
“I do have one, sir. May we all know what’s in the middle of it? With the question mark.”
“Thank you for your question, Gofar Colombain. We called it a mystery ring. What’s inside of it are random things and unfortunately I can’t ruin the surprise of it. Anything else?” The narrator answers the Colombain question.
“Scared already? We haven’t started it yet.”
I don’t want to look whose the one who said that.
Familiar voice even though he just came two weeks ago, Mr. Sneg.
“I beg your pardon?” Colombain replies and looks at him.
Yep, they successfully ruin the situation that I’ve made of before.
“Looks like we really have aggressive groups right here. Alright let’s just play the game! We start from… “
The music starts to beat.
Making the situation more intense and competitive.
“Class A! Please! Spin! The… board!”
And with that declared, I’m taking one of the darts and stab on one of the dart board parts.
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