January 14, 2019. At the Institute of Technology of the Philippines.
It was the first day of Matthew's class and compared to the previous semester where he wasn't optimistic, today he was confident that in this semester, he will pass the subject that he had been failing every time.
In this semester, he only had two courses left in his curriculum, that is the Capstone 1 and the Capstone 2.
Capstone 1 is simply the theory of the product. If passed, that theory must be put into application which will continue on Capstone 2. It's also the reason why many graduating students are getting delayed due to the fact that the Capstone 1 was so hard to pass.
He could focus solely on those courses now as he had already passed the remaining course. Now, he hoped that he'd find his previous group members as they were reliable and get things done.
With that in mind, Matthew went to the room assigned to the course of Capstone 1. It was in building five, fifth floor, room 13. Upon arriving, he already saw his previous classmates on the course already forming cliques as they plan on whatever it is that they are planning.
He looked around and saw his two friends, Saimon and Leo, who were speaking to one another in the corner of the room.
Saimon had a glass and had a fair look and height but his cheeks were dotted with acne scars. He is about the same age as him and an irregular student. As for Leo, he has a thin build, and a fair looking face.
"Saimon, Leo," he called out, catching their attention.
Both turned toward him, and their faces lit up with recognition.
"Matthew!" Saimon said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I didn't expect to see you! I mean you blocked your facebook account, we thought you committed suicide…"
"What the heck?!" Matthew exclaimed. "You really thought that?"
"Yeah…" Saimon replied.
Leo shook his head, his tone lighter but still tinged with concern.
"Man, Saimon and I were worried sick. After you failed Capstone 1 and your dad said he wouldn't support you anymore, we really thought… you know…"
Matthew raised a hand to stop him, a small smile playing on his lips. "Relax, guys. I'm fine. I just needed some time to figure things out and, well, I sorted it out."
Saimon tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed. "Sorted it out? You mean you managed to convince your dad to let you enroll again?"
Matthew chuckled, shaking his head. "Not exactly. Let's just say I'm not relying on him anymore."
Leo's eyes widened. "Wait… Are you saying you're paying for this semester on your own?"
"Yep," Matthew said confidently. "I've got everything covered—tuition, materials, even a place to stay."
"That's good then. Now that the squad is back, let's not fail in this subject okay?" Saimon said.
"Yeah let's lock in boys!" Leo patted both Matthew and Saimon's back.
"Let's do this," Matthew said.
As the three exchanged more ideas about their capstone project, the room suddenly went quiet. The door creaked open, and a figure walked in, capturing everyone's attention instantly. A tall, elegant girl with long, jet-black hair and an icy, composed demeanor entered the room. She exuded a cool aura, her posture straight and her sharp gaze scanning the room briefly before heading toward an empty seat at the corner.
The whispers started almost immediately.
"That's Samantha Ortega," Saimon muttered under his breath.
Matthew glanced at him. "Who?"
Leo leaned in closer, smirking. "You don't know her? She's the campus bell. Top of her batch in academics, a literal genius… or so they say."
"Why 'or so they say'?" Matthew asked, puzzled.
Saimon adjusted his glasses, keeping his voice low. "Well, she's great in everything, except for Capstone 1. Apparently, she failed it last semester."
Leo nodded, snickering. "Not just failed, dude. She went on a full-on rant about it on the school's Freedom Wall."
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Freedom Wall? Isn't that where everyone posts anonymously?"
"Yeah," Saimon said with a sly grin, "except she didn't bother to make her post anonymous. Her full name and profile were visible."
Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "She basically called out the professors, saying the system was rigged to make students fail, and that the panel was out to destroy everyone's confidence."
Saimon leaned closer to Matthew, whispering dramatically. "People started calling her 'Ice Princess Meltdown' after that. The memes were everywhere."
"Wow." Matthew turned his gaze toward Samantha, who sat alone in the corner, her expression unreadable. She took out her notebook and began writing, seemingly unaffected by the whispers around her.
Leo leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Still, you've got to give her credit. It takes guts to post something like that. Most people would just accept it and move on."
"True," Saimon said, nodding. "But now she's back, and from the looks of it, she's probably planning to crush Capstone 1 this time."
"Good for her," Matthew said, watching her for a moment longer.
Leo chuckled. "Think she'll join a group, or will she try to solo the project? I mean, she's sitting alone like some tragic heroine."
"Who knows?" Saimon shrugged. "But if she's as determined as they say, she might pull it off."
Matthew thought about Samantha's situation. He could relate to the frustration and the sting of failure. And while he didn't know her personally, he respected her resolve to come back stronger despite the ridicule.
"Well," Matthew said, turning back to his friends, "if she can handle all the attention and still try again, we can definitely pass this course too."
"Damn right," Leo said, grinning.
Moments later, the professor entered the room, and everyone knew who it was—Mr. Calerio, one of the terror professors infamous for his rigid expectations and sharp tongue. The chatter in the room died down instantly as he strode to the front, his briefcase in hand and an ever-present frown etched on his face.
"Settle down," he said in a voice that was firm but not loud. The authority in his tone commanded immediate attention.
ou all know why you're here, so let's not waste time. Capstone 1 is not just another course. It is the gateway to your future as engineers. Pass this, and you move forward. Fail, and you either try again or find another career path."
The silence was deafening as Mr. Calerio scanned the room, his piercing gaze making every student feel as though they were under a microscope. When his eyes landed briefly on Samantha, there was a flicker of recognition, though he said nothing.
"Now," he continued, placing his briefcase on the desk and opening it, "this semester will be no different from the last. You will form groups of four, present your proposed projects, and defend them rigorously. Only those that meet the standards will proceed to Capstone 2. Any questions?"
"Can I do the project alone?"
Samantha raised a hand as she asked that question, all eyes were on her.
"Well, well," he said, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed. "Miss Ortega. Back for round two, I see."
Samantha's posture remained poised, her face devoid of emotion. "Yes, sir."
"And you're asking to do the project alone?" His tone was laced with mockery, and several students exchanged uneasy glances. "Didn't last semester teach you anything about the importance of collaboration, or is this another attempt to prove you're too good to work with others?"
A few quiet snickers rippled through the room, but Samantha didn't flinch.
"With all due respect, sir," she replied evenly, "I believe I'm capable of handling the workload on my own."
Mr. Calerio's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Ah, capable. That's an interesting word coming from someone who publicly declared our system 'rigged' just a few months ago. What was it you called me? A confidence destroyer?"
More muffled laughter followed. Samantha's jaw tightened ever so slightly, but her voice remained steady.
"I made a mistake last semester, sir. I won't repeat it."
"Sorry, but I won't allow an individual project. Capstone 1 is about collaboration. Engineering is a team effort, Miss Ortega. You cannot expect to survive in the field without learning how to work with others."
Samantha's calm exterior cracked slightly, her brows knitting together. "But sir, I believe—"
"No buts," he interrupted sharply. "This isn't about what you believe you can do. This is about adhering to the structure of the course. You will join a group like everyone else. Consider it a chance to redeem yourself—properly this time."
All eyes darted between Samantha and the professor, waiting to see how she would respond. For a moment, it seemed like she would argue further, but then she exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Understood, sir, I'll join a group."
"Good," Calerio said, his tone dripping with finality. "Now, find a group before the session ends. I won't have anyone sulking in the corner because they think they're too good for teamwork."
Samantha gave a curt nod and sat back in her chair. The class started buzzing again as students hurried to solidify their groups. Matthew, Saimon, and Leo exchanged glances.
Leo leaned in, whispering, "Do you think she'll actually join a group, or is she just saying that to get him off her back?"
"I don't know," Saimon replied, adjusting his glasses. "But if she's serious about passing, she'll have to…right Matthew—"
Saimon didn't finish his sentence. He blinked and looked around, realizing Matthew was no longer standing beside him.
"Wait, where's Matthew?" Saimon asked, his head darting around the room.
Leo furrowed his brows and scanned the area as well. "I don't know… He was just here a second ago."
Their search was cut short when they spotted Matthew across the room. He was already standing in front of Samantha's desk, leaning slightly to speak to her.
"What the heck is he doing?" Saimon whispered, nudging Leo.
"I have no idea."
Matthew stood in front of Samantha, a calm smile on his face. "Hey, Samantha, right?"
Samantha nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes. Can I help you?"
"I noticed you're not in a group yet," Matthew said, ignoring the whispers behind him. "My group has three members, and we're short one. We'd like you to join us."
"You want me to join your group?"
Matthew nodded. "Yeah, we're short a member, and you're serious about passing this course. It makes sense to team up."
Samantha leaned back in her chair, studying him. "How many times have you taken this course?"
Matthew hesitated for a moment before replying, "Four times. This is my fifth."
Her lips parted slightly in surprise, and for a split second, her cold facade wavered. She opened her mouth to say something, perhaps a cutting remark about his persistence—or lack of success—but then stopped herself. She glanced around the room, taking in the cliques forming and the hushed whispers directed her way.
He's the only one who approached me without hesitation, she thought, her gaze returning to Matthew. Everyone else either avoided her or saw her as a liability, a walking punchline. She didn't know anyone here well enough to trust them, and at least Matthew seemed genuine.
Samantha sighed and straightened in her seat. "Alright," she said, her voice softening slightly. "I'll join your group. But I expect all of us to put in the work. I'm not here to babysit anyone."
Matthew grinned, unfazed by her blunt tone. "Fair enough. Welcome to the team."
Samantha grabbed her notebook and stood, following Matthew back to where Saimon and Leo were seated. The two were whispering furiously, their heads jerking up as Matthew and Samantha approached.
Leo's eyes widened, and he nudged Saimon. "No way… He actually convinced her."
"Guys," Matthew said, gesturing to Samantha, "this is Samantha. She's joining us."
Saimon adjusted his glasses nervously. "Uh, hi. Welcome, I guess."
Leo gave a lopsided grin. "Welcome aboard. Let's crush this course together."
Samantha nodded curtly. "Let's hope so."