Graduation Day

CHAPTER THREE

"ARE you the new student, darling?" Ianna was greeted by a teacher, her long hair was curly, and she was not tall and chubby. Ianna nodded. Maybe the teacher is in her late 40's. She went straight to the Guidance Office because she has to get her class schedule in there according to the head teacher's secretary.

"Yes, I am, teacher," she answered and she even caresses her uniform that she had just bought yesterday. She just got her salary yesterday from YouTube, so only then she was able to buy her school supplies and household items.

"You’re Ianna Maria Conception, am I right?" she just nodded. The teacher looks rude. Her eyes were cold and not even smiling. "I'm Teacher Zeffy Buenafe. I will be your adviser."

"Come, let's go to your classroom and I'll introduce you to your new classmates," she said it seriously so she followed out quietly.

As they walked to the classroom, she noticed that the school was old. The building looks quite old and it seems like it has been left behind by time. But people say that the students who are studying here are smart, so even though the school is not modern as the other school, many teens like her still choose to enroll here. But anyway, even if it's old the buildings are still beautiful. There are carved on every wall. The walls are also thick and really obviously can survive an earthquake.

She even smiled at the thought, that the school has the potential for a scene in a horror movie. They also pass many old trees, such as the balete tree, acacia, and the dry leaves that are scattered on the pathway. She then thought, is there no janitor here?

After a minute of walking they entered a building. "Senior High Building" was written on the main door of where they entered. They went up to the second floor and then turned right.

"We're close. Good luck, Ms. Conception." the teacher said before they finally entered the classroom.

***

SHATILE bowed her head as she entered their classroom. She hurried to his seat in the back, fortunately, she was not late at all. Her classmates are almost completely inside the classroom. They were busy chatting about what they did this summer.

She just hopes that no one will be going to notice her. Especially those girls she hated the most.

"Oh my gosh, guys, look! Here's our in-coming class valedictorian!" whatever she hides she can't really escape from those girls, they notice her again.

Everyone stopped when Elai speak. She just stays quiet and just sat down at the desk at the back. She was the only one who occupied the desk. The desk was for two people and she doesn't have a seatmate.

"Hey, Shatile! Why are you so snobbish?" Elai even walked toward her with her friend Lynna and her boyfriend Zon.

"Babe, why are you so hot-headed with Shatile? Stay away from her, you might even get infected by her acne." Elai's boyfriend said so everyone laughed.

"Yuck babe! No way!" Elai answered then rolled her eyes while laughing.

"What did you do last summer, Shatile? Did you remove some of your acnes?"  Lynna teasingly added at the same time so everyone laughed again. She felt sorry for them. They have faces that are even more beautiful and near to perfection. Why can't they just be kind? Why do they even need to mock someone like her? Do they enjoy doing that?

"That's funny, Lynna! Anyway, look at her, I think she put foundation on her face." Elai actually noticed that.

Shatile is actually good at doing make-up. She can imitate any actor. That was probably the talent God had given to her. If she could only maybe put on make-up every day when she goes to school, she would like to do that. But, make-up is not allowed in their school during class.

"OMG! Really? But why are your pimples still visible girl? Do you know why? You have a lot of them and even make-up won't hide them." they continue to mock her.

She wanted to walk out because her tears were about to drip.

"Hey hey, guys! What are you doing? Why are you guys laughing at Shatile again? Are you so pretty and handsome? Are you the gods and the goddesses?" they turned to the one who had just spoken. It was Lexi. She's with Kit and Marco. Lexi raised an eyebrow looking at Elai. Lexi is also beautiful but she is not like the other girls who take time to make themselves more pretty. She just a simple girl.

"Hi, Lex! Did you enjoy last night at my party? Sorry huh, I have many guests so I didn't get to say hello to you."

"No, I didn't enjoy it. And even if I enjoyed it Elai, I won't say thank you to you, instead, I'll be thanking Lynna. She was the one who prepared your party, right? The food and everything? Shame on you." Lexi's answered.

"What the. . .?" Elai's mouth fell open at what Lexis said.

"Lex please..." Kit asked his sister to watch her mouth.

"You know what Lexi if you're not just Kit's sister, I might have slapped you a long time ago—"

"Okay, class!" Elai couldn't continue what she is saying because their teacher Zeffy Buenafe had already entered the classroom. "Go back to your desk now!"

As usual, teacher Zeffy is mad again,  she always arrives in class like this, a mess. Last year, teacher Zeffy was their adviser, and even now. Shatile raised her head a little when she saw that teacher Zeffy was with another lady with her. A beautiful lady who also wore a uniform similar to theirs.

"Okay, class! Listen, you have a new classmate. From now on, she will attend your classes too." the teacher said and looked next to her. The pretty lady just smiled. "Introduce yourself, Ms. Ianna."

"Hi guys, I'm Ianna Maria Conception. I'm just new here and I want to finish high school as you." she greeted then smiled. Even though Ianna is smiling she noticed that she was nervous because she saw that her fingers were shaking.

Ianna? It was as if she had heard her name before.

"Oh my gosh, no F way! Are you the vlogger?" Lexi was shocked and stood up. "I know you!"

"Wait I know her too!" Zon also stood up. Zon seems to be surprised in excitement. "Hey Marco, she's the one who stumbled on you last week, isn't she? Ianna!"

"Okay okay! Everyone shut up and settle down," teacher Zeffy commanded. "Ianna, just sit next to Ms. Shatile, as you can see that's the only vacant seat in this classroom."

"It's okay, teacher." Ianna replied.

Shatile was nervous to see that teacher Zeffy points to the empty seat next to her. Surely, when Ianna going to be her seatmate, she would only look even uglier.

***

"VLOGGER? No way! I'm the only one who supposed to be the vlogger here at school!"

"Elai, you can't control the lives of every student here!" Said Eana. Eana is graduating student from the college. Elai and Lynna go to the same school as her, it's just a different department. Every noon they just meet to have lunch together. They are talking about a new student Ianna. According to Lynna, the girl they're talking about is really beautiful.

"I'm just annoyed, Eana!" Elai answered out of frustration. Eana is older than the two and she is the one who told them not to call her big sister anymore. After all, they are friends and the word big sister is making her old more.

"Just let her be,” she responds.

"No! I won't let her. Knowing that Lexi and even Zon already know her!"

"And Marco!"

"So what?" she asked because she really don't have an idea about what is the point of her friends. She couldn't even paint the annoyance on the faces of the two. She already figured out why they didn't have lunch with Zon, Elai probably fought with him.

"So, what’s your poin now?"

She is not numb or stupid. She already knew what the two getting with. They don't want anyone to take away their popularity. They want to be the only ones who are beautiful and attractive in everyone's eyes.

She used to think the same way before. But as she matures, she also learns to be sober and to be humble. She only lets Elai and Lynna with their childish and immature problems because she knows someday they're going to be older and then change their mindset as well.

"Look girls, the newbie is coming!" Elai said while smirking at the woman entering the cafeteria door.

***

AFTER class, Ianna quickly put her belongings in her bag. She learned nothing today, she was listening but she can't absorb all the lessons that teacher Zeffy was saying. She was bothered, someone knows her videos and someone knows her as well. She didn’t know but she was feeling nervous about that.

What if they will ask her about what she eats in her videos? How can she answer that?

She hurried out. Even if she didn't know where she was going. She doesn't have friends yet.

"Come what may," she said.

After all, she wanted to be alone and get acquainted with the school. There were many old trees everywhere. Even though the school was quite old she was not afraid. In fact, she was even more pleased with the scenery of the place. This is the kind of scenery she likes. Those who are creepy.

Lots of trees, old buildings, noiseless, as if there was a hidden secret. She compares this school to her life. Dark but many secrets.

After about thirty minutes of walking, she finally saw the cafeteria. She had money with her so she can afford to buy her food. When she entered the cafeteria door, someone greeted her.

"Hi, are you new here?" two women approached her. They're beautiful, she was stunned when she realized that they are one of her classmates.

"Y-yeah. . ." she just answered.

"Ianna, right? I'm Lynna and they're my friends Elai and Eana."

"Hi," the woman named Eana smiled at her. She’s obviously older than them because she noticed that she was already wearing the college uniform of their school.

"May I ask why are you talking to me?" she asked gently and with a smile. She doesn't want to be misinterpreted.

"We're here to take you on a school tour! Are you in?" Elai smiled. Do they really want her to be friends with them? She asked herself. After all, in her previous school, she was really friendly. So, she will do the same here.

"R-really?" she couldn't believe that her first day can be this easy. Yes, she did go around but she didn't know what buildings she went through. Even though she hadn't eaten yet, she decided to go with them. She is also eager to have a friend.