Tale of Arcillana

Chapter 16

Cam’s Point of View

"Hi Cam, Good morning."

I smiled at Alliah when I saw her and greeted me. We are currently entering the entrance of the high school department. I am early today than yesterday because I don't want to receive another warning from Nicolai. I am thankful that Miss Hudson saved me yesterday.

Mitch and I had a conversation last night and according to her, Nicolai is indeed strict in implementing rules and regulations of the university. He is an active leader and no one dares to defy him. At exactly seven o'clock in the morning, Nicolai is roaming around the campus to make sure that there is no students who are scattering around. And at the end of the day, he always check the CCTV cameras if there are students who are outside of their classroom during class hours. If you got caught and you have no valid reason, you are doomed.

"Hi Ali, good morning." I greeted back to her. We enter the campus together.

"By the way, I have something to show you. Come on, it is only six thirty in the morning, we still have thirty minutes before the time and before Kade would check the floors." She said and pulled my arm. We are now heading to the right wing of the ground floor. "I will show you students that consists of the student council of the university." She said. I let her dragged me.

After a while, we are now in front of a big and long bulletin board.

"This is the information section. You will see here the University's Mission and Vision, the faculty and staff, the breakdown of the faculty and staff's on every organization here in high school department, the different organizations itself. Ow by the way, speaking of it, you have to choose one organization to join. It is required to every Arcillanian student. I will tell you the different organizations we had here but right now, we have not enough time. So I will only introduce to you the members of the student council because aside from the council president, these students were also assigned to patrol the campus." She said and pulled my arm again. We took few steps to the right of the bulletin board.

"This is the student council chart." She said while looking at the flow chart in front of us.

"UNIVERSITY OF ARCILLANA HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS." I read at the top of the chart. I scanned the whole chart and what I am seeing are students of Goldens and are few of those who does not belong to the group.

Kade Nicolai Buenaventura is the president and he have an executive secretary named Vivoree Harlington. An o shape formed in my lips when I saw Viper's name in the position of Vice President. Not that I am judging her, but I didn't see it in her that she's into leadership at first met. Next is the Secretary which is the girl beside me, Alliah Alejandro. Followed by Hytham Samaniego as the Treasurer. Thelonious Costillana is the Auditor and Hymitch Samaniego is the event organizer. That suits her personality.

The students that I am with, that I am friends with are on the student council. They really amazed me more. I didn't know that they are all into leading. I couldn't see in the faces of some of them especially Thelonious who are easy go lucky kind of person.

Aside from them, there are still other members, the representatives of every grade level. There is a representative from Goldens and a representative which is not from the group but majority came from the upper class.

And of course, there is a special position, the faces of University of Arcillana High School Department that is none other than, Margaux Dela Fuente. She is escorted by the male student named James Valencia. He deserves to be the face of the University in male category but I think the organization lower their standards to have that girl got the position.

"As you can see, the student council almost consist of students who came from the Goldens. That is because even here in school, we follow the hierarchy of social status." She said explaining to me.

"Hierarchy?" I asked. Is it the classification I heard from my brother?

"Yes. Haven't you heard it? Have you read the history of Arcillana?" She asked. She is now looking at me and I am looking at her at the same time. I shook my head as a response before returning my attention to the chart.

"Aww. You have to read it to understand why Arcillana has a hierarchy in social status. Don't worry, we will help you. I know you are still adjusting in this new environment but it is also important that you have to know especially that what we have here in the island is different from the environment where you grew up." She said. "But anyway, I will tell you the hierarchy. We have five here and these are Elites, Upper Class, Middle Class and Lower Class." She added. I think I heard this classes already.

I think of when did I heard it and from whom. And I remember, just two days ago when we went at the mall, my brother said those classes when he talked about the gold card.

"Ow I forgot, the lowest if all is the Servitor." I automatically turned to Alliah when I heard her say the last word.

"You mean, Servitor? A slave?" I asked and I could not belief what I have just heard from Alliah.

"Yes, a slave indeed." She confirmed.

"Can you please enlighten me Al?" I ask. Why do they have a slave here?

Alliah glances at her watch and I saw how her eyes bulged. She grip my left hand and run. I almost fall down of what she did. Thanks to my reflexes and I immediatey balance myself. I followed what Alliah is doing, running fast as she can.

"Faster! We only have five minutes left. I will explain some other time the why we have a Salve here. We are doom if Kade or some other student councils who are on patrol if they would see us." She said while running and almost catching her breath.

I did what she told me and run as fast as I could. We passed the escalator going up to the second floor still by running. I can feel my heartbeat beating fast. I opened my mouth to help me breath. There are also students who are running along the hallway, afraid of being caught by the student council President.

We also passed the escalator going up to the third floor. Alliah is still holding my left hand. She raised her left hand and check her watch once again.

"Thirty seconds. s**t!" She said after seeing the time. I mentally cursed also after hearing her said that we only have thirty seconds left. I tried my best to double my speed even if my knees are hurts already.

The students inside the classroom were surprised when the door was opened in a harsh way. Me and Alliah entered while still in a rush. Alliah knelt down on the floor while catching her breath. While I grab the nearest chair and able to sit on it. I looked at the ceiling while catching my breath as well. I can also feel my heart burning.

"f**k!" I mentally cursed. I am still not aware of what are the consequences after being caught but I heard how brutal Nicolai is and I don't want to get punished. I don't want Nicolai to get even to me.

I feel that everyone are looking at us. Some even came near us.

"What happened to the both of you?" I heard Viper asked but I did not respond so did Alliah.

We are busy having some air.

"Water." I uttered after feeling better.

"Water guys. Do you have water?" Hymitch asked our classmates.

"I have a tumbler here." Of them responds.

One of our classmates gave her tumbler to me. I don't know what is her name and I did not bother to look for her name on her uniform. I didn't even bother to thank her.

I drank her water nonstop. I placed it to the table after I got it half.

"Who have some more water? We also need one for Alliah." Viper said. They are assisting Alliah to stand and let her sit on the chair.

Another one of our classmates get her tumbler out of her bag and gave it to Alliah.

"Why are you even running?" Hytham asked.

"Duh. You think I will let Kade punish me? No waaaay." Alliah exclaimed.

"And who said that you will be punished if you get caught today?" Mitch asked.

"She probably didn't read yet the announcement." Hytham replied.

"What announcement?"

"There will be an announcement at the auditorium. All students are required to attend. We are actually going down to the first floor.” Hytham replied. Alliah closed her eyes and said “Are you fvcking kidding me?”

So, all the efforts we gave in just to get inside this fvcking classroom to avoid the punishment are all for nothing?

The room is filled with silence not until we all heard the manly voice of the great student council president on the speaker. He’s probably in a broadcasting room. That is where all speaker connects to.

“Attention students.” We all looked at the speaker attached to the upper corner of the room that touched the ceiling. “Please proceed to the auditorium. Attendance will be disseminated while the announcement is on going. Those who are not in the auditorium will receive a punishment and those who will forge the signature of their classmates will be subject to discipline. Everyone are expected to gather in the auditorium in ten minutes.” He said before turning off the microphone.

My classmates fixes their things and get ready. I wiped my sweat from my face down to my neck and put some lip tint on my lips. I also put some powder on my face. I don’t want to be haggard because I ran for just five minutes from the first up to the second room for nothing.

We left the room altogether and headed to the auditorium. There are also lots of students who came out to their room and are also on their way to the venue.

After ten minutes, the huge auditorium of the University were full. I commend the how these people follows their leader. Going back at Manila, students won’t be as obedience as the students in here. They would always love to argue and look down on the officers. Students have more power that the student government and I know it is not good already.

From the first row of the chairs, I saw Nicolai entered and went directly at the stage where the microphone is.

“Good day everyone. This is a sudden call of your attention because it is an important matter. Without further ado, let me read you the agenda of today’s announcement. First is the Foundation Day and second is the Coastal Clean Up.” Everyone began to show their excitement at the upcoming event of the school. Some are already having an idea on what to do on the Foundation Day.

“I know you are all excited but can I request first Miss Camelle Arabella Montidalgo to come up the stage.” Nicolai said that surprised me. My friends looked at me and smiled as if they are saying to stand up go. “Again, Miss Camelle Arabella Montidalgo please come up here.” He reminded.

Clueless of what is happening, I stand up and walked to the mini stair to reach the stage where Nicolai is standing.

“Everyone, this is Camelle Arabella Montidalgo, the newly assigned Executive Secretary of University of Arcillana High School Department.”

I don’t understand what is happening. All I can hear and see right now are the applaud of the students who are inside this auditorium.