"Those aren't mine nor my coach's…" I explained without any sense of guilt while sitting in the conference room of the board.
" ...Before the competition started, the contestants were asked to wait in the hallway. I was sitting on the long bench when a girl suddenly dropped her envelope. Its contents scattered on the floor. I helped her pick it up and the papers fell. That's how I had a glimpse of those printed layouts" I added confidently.
My mind brought me back to what happened earlier. Clearly, I just wanted to confirm if the contents in the envelope were the same with those that were given to us in the competition. And here I was few hours after, in front of twelve people trying to clear my innocence. Since I was confident that I didn't do anything wrong, I didn't tremble a bit.
"When the competition started and the links and articles were revealed, I noticed that those were the same ones I saw earlier. I know perfectly well that those are supposed to be confidential and shouldn't be given to any contestants before the competition. Seems like she was cheating, but I wasn't sure of that yet. That's why I tried to check it again when I saw the envelope in the bench during break."
"And that is when Mr. Lagdameo saw you right?" The Chairman of the Board asked.
"Yeah right."
I frowned when I remembered him—Darryl Lemmuel Lagdameo. I heard these adults talking about him earlier before we started, as if that boy was some kind of a celebrity or whatsoever. I even managed to know his full name just by listening to their unending stories about him. Not that I care much, truth was— just the thought of him made me want to vomit out of disgust.
"Well, thank you for explaining yourself Miss Dugmoch" The Chairman spoke with formality. "Actually, we have already investigated your case and have found your innocence. We just wanted to hear your side as a witness in this case. Also, we are a bit worried knowing that you passed out earlier. You think you can still continue throughout the competition?" He asked with some sense of concern.
I blushed a bit out of shame. I didn't know that my fake fainting had reached their knowledge. Was my acting that great that rumors about it spread as fast like wildfire?
"Well, I think it was a nausea I got from the long trip. You see, we came from a very far district."
I glanced towards the direction of my coach who sat on a chair beside me quietly. I gave him a sign to confirm what I just said and in return, he nodded hastily in front of the Board in agreement, but didn't say a word. Did coach Gem just lost his tongue?
Well, all I said was true. It took us twenty hours by land to get here, imagine the long drive we've come through. The competition we were attending was held in the capital city where they were commonly sponsored. We were on a STEP conference this time—a competition for student technologists and entrepreneurs. In this competition, all schools in different parts of the region competes in different kinds of contests like bar tending, cake making, painting, embroidery, dance sports, publishing etc.
I was here for the desktop publishing contest where I needed to do a layout for a publication. A contest like this isn't new to me. I used to travel here in the city almost every two or three months to join one but this was the first time some beast accused me of some cheating. Did he even know I was from Rivendell? I wanted to slap that truth to his face. The nerve!
"I see. In that case I think you need to rest then. I'll dismiss you now, so you can go and find your room assignments."
"Thank you, Chairman," I replied gratefully. My coach shook hands with the Chairman and some of the Board members before we headed out the room.
When we were already alone outside, my coach sighed in relief. I looked at him with a sad smile knowing that I caused him too many inconveniences today.
"You did a great job earlier at the Board," he praised me when he noticed my uneasiness.
"Thanks Mr. Gem, I'm really sorry for earlier." I pouted like a baby in front of him. I did it to escape his fury for the trouble I made.
"It's okay girl. Also, you did me a favor earlier. When you hit me badly, the coach of San Sebastian High ran to my aid and held me in his arms!" He narrated with shining eyes.
I rolled my eyes at the sight of him being delighted with the incident. I almost thought he would nag all throughout the night over my silliness this morning. Never did I expect that the coach that meddled with us earlier would be my saving glory.
"San Sebastian High?" I asked as soon as I realized that the school's name sounded familiar. "Isn't that the school that always win as the overall champion in this competition?"
"Oh yes. That's why their coach is popular because of his expertise and his muscles" He said with full admiration in his face. "Wait a minute! Why did you try to punch that Lagdameo kid earlier?"
"Eh? because he was so distrustful and he made me a culprit. He was so harsh and threatened to eat me alive! " I narrated with fear all over my face. Of course, I faked the emotions. I knew coach will pity me when he realized how much trauma that jerk created.
"Errr—really?" He looked at me with suspicion and narrowed his eyes. Since he has been my coach for the last three years, then he might have known that I am exaggerating it. He knows me pretty well.
"But Coach, aren't you the one who taught me that?" I added as soon as I realized that he was not convinced over my drama.
"Taught you what?"
"That if I couldn't make a deal with words, then I should make the deal with swords! I just used my hand as a sword instead," I chinned up and put my hands on my hips while I reminded him.
"Did I teach you that?" He questioned while trying to escape my gaze. His face was full of guilt.
"Coach! Xhem!" A familiar voice called over. A young boy with curly hair ran towards our direction. Ziggy's grey eyes were shining at the sight of us. He almost lost his breath when he stopped in front of us.
Another boy was walking behind Ziggy with his hands on his pocket and another hand on a bag. Like the latter, he had fair complexion, but he had long hair that was neatly tied. His ocean blue eyes and Roman nose gave him an Adonis look.
"Hey boys!" Mr. Gem was also delighted to see them. Before we entered the conference room earlier, he sent them a text about our situation. Ziggy and Huzey are my classmates and best friends. They have constantly been my companions for as long as I can remember, especially in competitions like this.
"Xhem, are you okay? I heard you had trouble," Huzey asked me with concern. I could tell that he was worried from his eyes.
"Oh, she's fine. Also, she always gets in trouble so she sure is used to it." Mr. Gem assured both of them.
I smiled towards Huzey and he tapped my head to cheer me up a bit. Huzey has always been like this. Even though he's older than me, he treats me like a little sister who needs his protecting.
"Mr. Gem, we went to the information area and got our room numbers already" Ziggy informed our coach. "It's on Annex 8, room 206. I believe that's on the third floor of the university dormitories."
"We should go there now so you guys can rest," Mr. Gem suggested as he glanced on his wrist watch. "We still have an hour before dinner, so let's head there so you kids can take even a few minutes nap".
While walking towards the university dorm, Mr. Gem told the boys in detail about the incident involving that beast.
Both boys went to an early orientation for their respective competitions when the incident happened. I was the only one who had a competition earlier; that's why coach was with me. He made sure first that the boys were settled in the orientation before accompanying me to the competition area this morning. However, because I was sent to the clinic and was later called to the Board, he was not able to attend on them the whole afternoon. He ended up asking them to wait for us and get our room numbers and meal tickets instead.
"This is it, room 206," Ziggy pointed to the room in front of us. The door was wide open, and I could see a couple of students inside.
I frowned as soon as I realized that the room was not exclusive for us. As I was about to convey my disapproval, Mr. Gem and the boys already entered the room.
"Hello everyone!" Our coach greeted the crowd in a buoyant mood.
"Hello Coach Gem! " A couple of students replied. Our coach, for some reason, is popular so it's normal for most students to recognize him.
"Rivendell Academy, right?" A woman with red hair, and probably in her mid-twenties, approached us. "I'm Miss Lin, assistant coach in this team. We are glad to share this room with you guys."
"Mr. Gem De Silva" Our coach formally replied before reaching out her hand. "You may call me Gem. Also, this is Huzey, Ziggy, and Xhem".
"The four beds at the corner are available. Feel comfortable here with us," She replied warmly. "By the way, we are going down for our meals, would you like to join us?".
"You guys go ahead first. I'll have my kids unpacked their things first before having dinner"
"Okay, suit yourselves," She answered before instructing her students. "Kids let's go. Also, can one of you inform the other students and coaches from our team that we are going down to eat?"
"Yes Miss."
A minute after, only the three of us were left in the room. I dragged myself to an empty bed in one corner and unpacked my stuffed animal, Cryzer. Cryzer is a cute lamb that my grandfather gave me when I was three. Since then, he has been with me constantly especially when I go out of town.
"Bathroom directions and bathing schedules are in here" Ziggy instructed while checking out a small green board placed in the corner. Since it is a one-week competition and several students from different schools participate, it's only practical to have bathing schedules to cater such number.
"I didn't know that we have a company." I started while crossing my legs as I sat on the bed. I gazed to the coach's direction and added, "You didn't mention."
This was the first time that Mr. Gem decided to settle us in university dormitories. Ever since we started competing, we always have the privilege to stay in nice hotels, not until now.
"Is it a big deal?" He didn't bother to look. He picked up his phone and busied himself with it.
"Nope. It's just that I didn't know" Actually this was the first time I would be sleeping in room with a couple of people. There are ten double decks in this room and I saw an extra mattress spread out neatly on the floors. To be honest, sleeping in a room with a couple of people didn't bother me. But sleeping in a room with strangers—a lot of them—did bother me.
"We are only four in a team. This room will look empty if we keep it to ourselves." Huzey said calmly. I know he was trying to convince me to let the issue pass. However, I was already frustrated when Mr. Gem told us days ago that we would be staying in university dorms. Much to my frustration, I needed to squeeze myself in a room with people that I don't know.
"Also, this competition has a lot of students this year. Thus, they need a small team like us to share rooms with other teams." Huzey continued while unpacking his things.
"What team is that coach by the way?" Ziggy asked while retreating to a bed beside me. He finished checking the green board and decided to unpack.
"San Sebastian High" This time, the coach put down his phone and gazed towards the three of us.
"The school who always win as the overall champion?" Ziggy confirmed with amusement.
"Yes, and this is the reason why we are not staying in a hotel this time," he explained. "To be able to mingle with the top team will be a good experience for the three of you"
"San Sebastian is a big team. I heard that in each contest they have a participant. There are at least fifty contests in this whole conference. In my calculations, the people here earlier were only fifteen to sixteen. I believe the organizers gave them at least two or three rooms to cater their students and coaches. This must be one of their rooms." Huzey calculated while lying on his bed comfortably with both arms supporting the back of his head.
I thought of it as I decided to lie down and hugged Cryzer on my bed.
San Sebastian High is a great school and they always make it to the top when it comes to competitions. That school has a very strict admission process and the only qualification they require is your brain, regardless of what social class you come from. Thus, San Sebastian High is known for its brilliance and standard education, but not for luxury since most of their students are from either the low or the average class.
Our school on the other hand is different. It is an exclusive school for rich kids with above average IQ—not necessarily geniuses but advanced kids. Throughout the generations, Rivendell Academy has been dominated by the wealthy class and it hasn't changed till now. But due to the peculiarity of every student they require, only a few gets admitted. That's why we have a small population and that fact alone disqualifies us for being an overall champion.
At the thought of this, I fell asleep. An hour later, the boys woke me up and we headed out to have dinner. The canteen was in the first floor of the dormitory, so we took the stairs down to get our meals. When we reached the counter where the foods were displayed, I was stunned by what I saw.
"WAAAHHH!"