PROLOGUE
 
 
“Damn! Hindi ba nila alam ang salitang opinyon?” reklamo ko sa kausap ko sa teleponong si Clio habang tinitingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I let out a harsh breath upon seeing my reflection.
“Whatever, Celeste Louisse. Sabi mo nga, opinyon mo lang. Hindi naman palaging masusunod ang opinyon mo, okay?” I rolled my eyes before pouting my lips.
“Ibig mo bang sabihin ay haharap ako sa camera habang suot itong napakapangit na dress na ito, ha? God! You knew that everyone will watch my interview. Ano na lamang ang sasabihin ng mga taga-Avalon kapag nakita nila ang itsura ko?”
“Stop throwing tantrums and just fix yourself, okay? Para namang may magagawa pa ‘yang pagrereklamo mo, e nandiyan na. Sabayan mo na lamang.” I heaved a sigh before nodding my head as if she can see me.
“I’ll try to work with it,” I remarked.
“Teka nga, why are you so grumpy? Para kang si Kelly niyan kung makapagreklamo. May nangyari ba?” usyoso niya kaya’t awtomatikong umikot ang aking mga mata. Napaka-tsismosa talaga nito kahit kailan.
“Long story, tinatamad akong mag-kuwento at huwag mo ng alamin. Sige na nga,  I'll hang up na.” She just laughed as a response while I ended the call.
“Miss Celeste, start na raw po within five minutes,” pagtawag sa akin ng isa sa mga staffs. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya bago muling pinagmasdan ang sarili ko sa salamin. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako bago lumabas sa dressing room.
“Celeste?” Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at takang tumingin sa tumawag sa akin. She's a petite girl with a blonde hair. Nakasuot rin siya ng id tanda na isa siya sa mga staff kaya’t agad na nagsalubong ang aking kilay.
"Uhm. . . Hi?" I greeted awkwardly.
“Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan? Ako 'to, si Yna. 'Yung Vice President ng club natin dati!” My brows furrowed as I tried to remember her face. My eyes widened upon remembering her.
“Hala, Ate Yna, ikaw pala 'yan! Pasensya na kung hindi agad kita nakilala dahil sa buhok mo. How are you?”
“Executive Director ako rito,” she answered before pointing at her ID. "Alam mo bang sobrang tuwa ko nang malaman na ikaw ang ig-guest dito? Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita!"
I nodded before smiling at her. “We need to catch up soon. Paniguradong marami kang chika sa akin dahil hindi ka na nakapagpaalam noong grumaduate kayo.”
Mahina siyang tumawa at tinapik ang aking balikat. “Let’s talk about it over a cup of coffee, shall we? Treat ko mamaya pagkatapos ng interview.”
“My schedule kasi ako mamaya, Ate Yna, e. Puwedeng next time na lamang? My friends and I are going to meet up,” I declined her offer shyly.
Her brows arched an inch before she nod her head. “Close pa rin pala kayo hanggang ngayon?”
Sasagot pa sana ako sa tanong niya nang tinawag na ako ng isang staff para umakyat sa stage dahil magsisimula na raw ang shooting. I just bid ny farewell to Ate Yna before going up on stage.
“Lights, camera, action! Rolling!”
Hinawi ko ang buhok ko bago mahinhing tumingin sa host. She's quite famous in the country dahil maganda at successful ang mga shows niya.
“Welcome to our show, Architect Celeste Villareal. How are you?” she asked before handing me the microphone.
“I'm doing good as always,” I answered shyly.
“You're one of the highest paid architects in our country, Architect Villareal. What can you say about that?”
I smiled at her while my cheeks turned red. “Well, it is truly an honor for me as an architect and to be honest, I am still shy up until now whenever I hear praises about my works. But still, I appreciate it so much.”
The audience clapped and I just bowed my head to them as a sign of gratitude. Hindi naman kasi ako sanay sa harap ng ibang tao o sa harap ng camera tulad ni Kelly.
The interview went well just like what I expected but not until when she mentioned one thing.
“So Miss Villareal, graduate ka pala sa Avalon High?”
I pursed my lips together before I slowly nod my head.
“Can you tell us a story about Avalon High? I mean, that's a really famous school and I heard, it's a neck to neck battle to get in."
"Uhm. . . Sure," I answered. Muli akong tumingin sa audience at mukhang interesado nga silang marinig ang kuwento ko.
“We all knew that Avalon High is such a prestigious school. Let's just say that it is a home of spoiled brats and smart students. Mahirap makapasok sa Avalon High dahil unang una, mahal ang tuition. Pangalawa, mahirap ang entrance exam. Matanggap ka nga lamang sa Avalon ay napakalaking achievement na, paano pa kaya kapag grumaduate at napasama ka pa sa Rank Five?” A smile crept my lips as I reminisce my highschool days. Ang tagal na pala mula noong grumaduate kami?
“Oh! The Rank Five? 'Yan nga pala ang tatak ng Avalon High. Can you tell us something about that?”
“The Rank Five are like the face and the rulers of the school. Once you were a part of it, you would experience an extravagant highschool life,” I answered and the audience awed in amusement. I mean, who wouldn't love extravagance, right?
“You are successful now, Architect Villareal. Do you mind if I ask if you're a part of The Rank Five?” I bit my lower lip and looked down.
After a couple of seconds, I looked up and smiled. “Yes. I was once a part of The Rank Five together with my friends.”
“Friends?” she asked curiously.
I nodded and swallowed the lump on my throat. “They are actually my bestfriends--Kelly, Ashanti, and Clio,” I answered.
“We are once a part of The Rank Five,” dugtong ko. I smiled bitterly upon mentioning it.
“Wait. Did you said once? What do you mean?”
“We were dethroned by some jerks.”
“J-Jerks?” she asked, almost inaudible.
Mahina naman akong tumawa nang maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin. Rated G nga pala ang programa kaya’t hindi ako maaaring magsabi ng mga ganoong bagay. I secretly winced—Mom and Kuya Yvvo will surely scold me.
“It wasn’t easy to become a part of the Rank Five in Avalon High. People say that it is an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth—but it wasn’t always like that. You can’t expect fairness in this world where everyone was blinded with greed and money. At the end of the day, those who have the power and priviledge were the ones who would have an advantage. Being part of the Rank Five is hard but maintaining the title. . . that is surely the hardest part.”
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