Chapter 2: THE ULTIMATUM
1300 Words
Chapter 2: The Ultimatum
Mikha Isla Alluria Acosta stormed through the hallways of Lagman Legacy Academy, her heart hammering with every step. She didn’t care if people stared or if whispers followed in her wake. Right now, all that mattered was getting to the principal’s office and shutting down this ridiculous muse nonsense before it went any further.
The humiliation from the gym was still fresh—Haze’s smug face, the laughter, the whispers, the giant screen flashing her image mid-bite like some cruel joke. She wanted to erase it all, to pretend it never happened, but the weight of the entire school’s eyes on her made that impossible.
By the time she reached the principal’s office, her anger had settled into something sharper, more controlled. She flung the door open without knocking.
"Ma'am, I refuse—”
But the principal wasn’t there.
A secretary barely glanced up from her paperwork. “Miss Acosta, the meeting has been moved to the faculty office. They’re expecting you.”
Mia’s stomach twisted. Expecting her?
The unease creeping up her spine deepened, but she forced herself to move. She was not about to let them dictate her future.
---
The Faculty Office
The moment Mia stepped inside, she knew she had walked straight into a trap.
The faculty members sat in a half-circle, their expressions unreadable. At the center of it all, Coach Jairu Gardon, the sharp-eyed basketball coach, sat with his arms crossed, watching her like a hawk. Next to him, Miss Genevieve Aurora, the drama director, held a clipboard, her smile too sweet to be trusted.
And then there were the students.
The entire basketball team. The entire drama play cast. And standing in the center, like she owned the room.
Kierra Lilliene Evangelista.
Mia’s stomach dropped.
Kierra was everything Mia wasn’t—poised, stunning, effortlessly perfect. The kind of girl who turned heads in hallways and spoke like the world revolved around her. She was Lagman Legacy Academy’s undisputed queen.
And the way she was smirking? Mia already knew she wasn’t going to like what came next.
“Oh, finally,” Kierra drawled, tilting her head. “The big star of the show arrives.”
Mia ignored her, turning to the faculty. “I appreciate the opportunity, but I’m not interested in being the muse. Please give the title to someone else.”
Silence.
Then, Coach Gardon laughed.
Like she had just said the funniest thing in the world.
“Not interested?” he scoffed, shaking his head. “Acosta, this isn’t a request.”
Mia’s breath hitched. What?
Miss Aurora beamed. “You’re not just the muse, dear. You’re also the lead actress for the drama play. It will be shown in National TV.”
Mia blinked. Lead actress? National televesion?
Kierra sighed, tossing her sleek brown hair over her shoulder. “It should’ve been me,” she said, her voice dripping with entitlement. “If my team didn’t need me for cheerleading, I would’ve been the obvious choice.”
Coach Gardon gave her a pointed look. “Well, Evangelista, unlike you, the role requires both beauty and brains.”
Snickers rippled through the basketball team. Kierra’s face stiffened, her perfect lips pressing into a thin line.
But Mia wasn’t laughing.
She was still stuck on lead actress.
Her heart pounded. “There must be a mistake. I don’t act. I don’t do pageants. I don’t—”
"That’s a shame, Miss Acosta. I would’ve expected someone in need of a scholarship to be more… cooperative."
"The CEO personally requested you."
Mia froze.
She turned to see Principal Beatrice Lagman entering the room, her face stern, her presence commanding.
She adjusted her glasses, her gaze piercing. “You will accept both roles, Miss Acosta. And you will give your best performance. Is that understood?”
Mia’s hands curled into fists. “With all due respect, ma’am, I didn’t sign up for this.”
“And yet, here you are,” Principal Lagman replied smoothly. “Your name was put forward. Your performance at this school has been exceptional. It would be unwise to throw that away over a simple request.”
Simple?
Mia felt her pulse spike.
“But I don’t even act! And I definitely don’t want to parade around as some basketball team’s decoration!”
“He believes you are the best choice to represent the school. You will have two months to prepare. If you refuse…” She slid a document toward her.
Mia looked down.
Her stomach plummeted.
It was her scholarship papers.
Her blood ran cold.
Mia swallowed hard. This isn’t happening.
Her education—her future—was on the line.
She had no choice.
Mikha Isla Alluria Acosta was trapped.
“You know what?” Kierra’s voice rang out. “If Mia doesn’t want it, maybe we should reconsider casting. I, for one, would be more than happy to take the lead.”
Before Mia could respond, the sound of measured footsteps echoed through the hallway outside the faculty office.
A hush fell over the room.
Then, the door opened.
And in stepped Everard Lagman.
Gasps erupted.
The faculty members stood up immediately. The basketball team stiffened. Even Kierra seemed to shrink in his presence.
Everard Lagman, the CEO of Lagman Legacy Academy, the most powerful man in this institution, entered the room like he owned it—which, of course, he did.
His silver hair was neatly combed back, his suit impeccable, his sharp, calculating eyes sweeping over the room.
Then, those intense eyes landed on Mia.
Mia’s heart raced, but her body moved before her mind could process it.
She stepped forward and lowered her head, pressing her forehead to the back of her hand in respect.
“Mano po, Lolo Sir.”
The entire room went still.
Mia had stepped forward and bowed slightly, her voice barely above a whisper as she blessed the old man in front of her.
Her words hung in the air like a heavy secret. Everyone stared at her in stunned silence.
Principal Everard Lagman, the powerful CEO and grandfather of Haze, gazed at Mia with a mix of surprise and recognition. His usually stern expression softened, and he nodded in acknowledgment.
“You’ve grown, Mikha,” he said quietly, but his voice carried across the room. “It's been months since your last visit.”
The room was in shock. No one had known that Mia’s father, the personal chef of the Lagman family, had brought her into such close proximity with the family. It was a connection that had been hidden under wraps, and now, Mia’s sudden act of respect to her grandfather stunned the faculty and the students.
Kierra’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open as she exchanged glances with the others. She was visibly rattled by the unexpected revelation.
Mia stood tall, despite the weight of the moment. The shock didn’t bother her as much as it should have. This was her family, after all.
The room went dead silent.
More gasps.
Whispers broke out.
How does a nobody like Mia Acosta know Everard Lagman personally?
Everard turned to the faculty. "I assume you've all informed her of the terms?"
Principal Beatrice Lagman nodded stiffly. “She was just about to accept.”
Mia felt every eye on her. She looked back at her scholarship contract, her hands trembling slightly.
Haze was staring at her, his gaze unreadable.
Kindrew Rustiq Velasquez—her longtime crush—was watching her with something close to curiosity.
And Everard Lagman, the man who unknowingly held her fate in his hands, stood calmly, waiting for her decision.
Mia clenched her fists.
Two months.
That was all she had.
She lifted her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I accept."
- Writer
