#hu11

Story by: Ella P. Esquilona and Bryan Illagan

Everyone in the university were busy in studying. Nobody was willing to waste their precious time. The university in which Mina was enrolled was known to be very competitive in academe aspect. Faculty was chosen wisely and must have a higher degree of education to be qualified. Students must be also intelligent enough to pass the entrance exam.

The bell already rang, signaling the dismissal of the quarterly examination for the mild afternoon, but Mina executed no move from her seat. She felt exhausted. Weaker than the time she saw her father with another woman. Usually, she was one of the people to leave the four-walled classroom early. She would hurry to leave the university, often going either straight home or to the town library where she invest her time in finishing school-related works. Everyone adored her. Although, nothing in particular about his physical appearance was striking, her natural black hair seemed to compliment her white complexion. Her dazzling smile emphasized her innocent look. She stood at 5’3”, defining her tall and hourglass-shaped body.

As always, she aimed to accomplish her year as an eleventh grader just like how she finished her past ten years of education—with grades no lower than 90. She was the leading student in the top section of every batch she was in. Always acing every quiz and examination. She wasn't always quick-witted, but she worked hard to earn those extra points. And now it's all gone. She felt terrible. Worse than she had ever been. She could imagine it all. She could anticipate in her head how fast the news will spread. And soon Mina "The Ace" Sanchez will become “Mina the Cheater.”

How so? Her adviser had caught her cheating in their third quarter examination.

She had placed herself at the very back of the class, the farthest corner, by the wall, much like she always did during the first semester of school year because there was no seating arrangement this year. She did it so no one would be able to cheat on her from behind. But lately, she felt so stressed and unmotivated. She didn't review a single thing before the examination, and so she made a last minute cheat sheet tucked inside the plastic scientific calculator she had. She would pretend to compute for solutions in the middle of her test, only to check the inside of the calculator the math formulas and scientific solutions.

Mina haven't noticed her adviser, Mr. Rombaoa getting closer to her seat. She had looked up just in time to recognize the teacher peering into her calculator as well before saying out loud,

"Hand me your test paper and your calculator or else I will throw it along with your report card. Cheaters are not tolerated in this classroom!"

With a pounding heart, she handed both items to the proctor. Her classmates looked at her in disbelief. She had never felt more ashamed in her life.

"Pay attention to your own papers," her adviser said to the class.

Her classmates removed their attention from her and continued on with their exam. Without another word, the teacher headed out of the classroom. Probably to report the incident to the Director’s Office. She had no one but herself, and the past events of her life to blame.

She regretted everything. If only she didn't follow her father that day when she saw him with another woman. She wouldn't have seen them ride a car with two other kids. She wouldn't have discovered the truth. She would have just went on with her school works just like before and she wouldn't start feeling sorry for herself and for her mother. She wouldn't have felt mad at her mom. She wouldn't have these mixed emotions that ate her up inside, causing her to lose focus, destroying her sweet personality.

Mina thought she led a normal life and that her father was only away from home because of work. Lies. All she heard about her father were lies.

"That's not true!" she once yelled at her mom.

"It did not look like he was working so hard! It did not! She was with another woman! Tell me, mom. Was he cheating on you? Do you know any of this?"

"Yes," her mother replied, her voice was fading.

"And you did nothing?!" Mina exclaimed incredulously, throwing her hands up. " We should confront him! We should make him choose! His mistress or us—"

"Mina," her mother raised her voice to get heard over her daughter's outburst.

"She is not the mistress." Mina frowned. "What do you mean? You clearly said you know about his cheating!"

"Yes! Because he is cheating with me, Mina! I am the mistress!"

It was the first time she ever saw her mother cry in front of her. The news that unfolded in front of her broke her terribly. Then, she felt empty afterwards.

"Sanchez, the Director wants to have a word with you," a call from the doorway snapped her attention back to reality. It was her adviser. She stood up and gathered her things, quietly walking around the chairs towards the man. Mr. Rombaoa accompanied her towards the office.

"Go on in, I called one of your parents," he informed her while opening the office door. Mina's face crumpled into a scowl.

"One of my parents?" she asked hysterically.

"Yes, your father. He just got here as well."

She slipped inside the office with Mr. Rombaoa and they stood by the doorway, looking at the director behind the big desk before moving her gaze to her father, seated on a chair at the right side of the director's table.

"Ms. Sanchez? Take a seat," the director gestured to the vacant seat across her father's. She sat down and took a deep breath. Mr. Rombaoa stayed in the doorway.

"Good afternoon, I am Mr. Armando Gaspar, the Director for Senior High School Department. You are both here because..." Mr. Gaspar trailed off and looked at Mr. Rombaoa, who cleared his throat and continued the sentence.

"Mr. Sanchez, I caught your daughter red-handed, she was cheating during the examination with this." Mr. Rombaoa gave the calculator with the cheat codes to her father. Mr. Sanchez looked at the cover of the calculator, then looked at Mina who was now down-headed.

"I’m sorry dad, I didn’t mean to cheat. I-I just did it because I was upset. I know that I made you disappointed. I really don’t know what to do these past few days. Suddenly, I felt tired physically and mentally but I am ready for the possible consequence to face with. I’m sorry.” Mina cried and her father hugged her to comfort.