Chapter 54: Chapter 54

David’s P.O.V.

“Hmm… I’ll go straight to the point, David. I regret to inform you that you will never be the class valedictorian for this year. But still, I want to congratulate you for being the class salutatorian,” Mrs. Cheng seriously said while we were having a closed-door meeting today in the faculty room.

“Wait, Ma’am! If you d-don’t mind me asking, h-how did it happen?” I couldn’t help but grimace at what I heard before I felt my knees suddenly tremble.

Then, I continued. “I’m sorry to question the rankings, but I’m just confused. I mean—from the first up to the third grading period—I am always the top one in the final gradings. Maybe… there’s something wrong with the computation, Ma’am? Can we double-check it?” I almost sounded like I was begging. I had a feeling that my dream was being taken away from me.

This can’t be happening! How can I tell my sister now that I will no longer get a full scholarship grant in college?

“I’m sorry, David. The school administration had decided to include the grades from the first year to the third year, not just the current year, and that’s what came out in the final computation. We have accurate, clear, and computer-generated results. Fair enough, we even triple-checked them, but your grades are still the same.” Mrs. Cheng gently explained, but why does it feel like she couldn’t look at me straight in the eyes?

Opening a folder—her eyes moved again as she continued. “Miss Helena Delgado only exceeded you by three percent. Being a consistent top performer, she has high grades from her previous school, and even if you will perfect all the exams in the fourth grading period, she will still be the class valedictorian. I’m sorry, Hijo… but the decision is already final and irrevocable. You know what? Being a class salutatorian isn’t bad at all.”

So, is Mrs. Cheng persuading me to just accept the second-highest position here? Being a salutatorian isn’t bad, yes… but how about my supposed-to-be five-year scholarship grant in college?

I didn’t say anything, but at the same time, I couldn’t hide the fact that what I heard suddenly put me in distress. I was truly happy for Helena, but I couldn’t help to be upset because being just a class salutatorian wouldn’t give me a full scholarship grant in college.

From the very beginning, I already knew that Helena was already eyeing for the valedictorian title. It was also her dream, and for her, I was willing to give way.

To think about it deeply, I didn’t even care about how the school administration came up with that computation or whatever decision took place. All that mattered to me right now was to talk to Helena—because she was more important than any award. I was in despair—not because of that award but because of carrying the burden of losing Helena.

“Noted, Ma’am. I understand,” that was all I could say. Although my knees started to feel weak, I still found the courage to stand up and leave.

I decided to silently get out of the faculty room then. I was lost for words, and nothing would happen even if I continued to question them—their decision would no longer change, and I just had to be genuinely happy for my girlfriend. I had to show that I really loved her, to the point of giving up my dreams for her.

With my head down and hunched posture, I still managed to walk. There was still this bizarre thinking that my world was crumbling apart, so with that, I didn’t see a student rushing in the corridor.

Perhaps, he or she wasn’t even looking ahead, so it was already too late for both of us to notice each other’s presence. The two of us already collided, and that person’s books fell on the floor. Her light squeal made me realize that she was a girl.

“Sorry,” we apologetically said in unison. I helped her by picking up her things, and I was just surprised that it was actually Helena who was standing right in front of me.

“Helena…” I immediately grabbed and held her arms. It was a kind of hold that would not simply let her go. I was desperate and possessive of her, causing her to drop the things I already picked and gave her earlier.

Although a bit startled a while ago, I didn’t want to miss this chance to talk to her. I envisioned hugging and kissing her, but I knew I could not. I didn’t have the right, and Helena would not want me to do that. Every day, she was only sitting at my back. Every day, she was so near yet seemed so far.

Helena looked at me with sadness in her eyes while forcefully removing my hands clutched on both of her arms. She had this sullen and brooding look—far from how her face would coldly appear in the class.

“Please, C-Cristoff… not now,” Helena almost choked in her words. Her facial expression was a window to her soul.

Somehow, despite the zero sparks now, I could still feel the same feeling whenever those green pair of eyes were looking at me. I knew that she still loved me no matter what happened, but what was making her stay away from me?

Why was she distancing herself when she knew that I would always be here for her—that I would never leave her? Why was she doing these things that would only hurt the two of us? Why was she acting like she already fell out of love?

Helena might get mad at me, but I didn’t let her go. The past few months were never a joke, and I guessed I already had waited for so long.

“Please, Helena… talk to me,” I pleaded. “It has been two months already since you left me in the Music Room—with that quote of yours that no matter what happens next, you would still love me. But what now, huh? Why would you decide to complicate things between the two of us?”

I paused for a while before I continued. “You know that I can definitely understand everything that’s happening to you. But can you just tell me the truth without hanging me clueless? Please, no more secrets.” I ended up wrapping my arms around her, even kissing her forehead.

“Oh, what’s going on? Isn’t she the green-eyed transferee?”

“Yes, I’m also curious! Are they already in a relationship? O-M-G!”

“Hmm, it looks like they were. They even got married at the sports fest!”

“But from what I am seeing right now, it looks like they are about to break up!”

Honestly, I was only controlling them not to stream down my cheeks, but my tears were already stinging my eyes. I didn’t care anymore about what those people passing down the corridor would say because I was with the love of my life.

I knew that Helena also wanted to hug me in return, but she was only trying to resist it. She pushed me away with all her might, but I still didn’t let her go away. I still believed that she should be with me, and my mind didn’t want to accept any excuses.

“Please, Cristoff… please. If you really love me, you will respect my decision. Let’s talk about us later, okay? Not now, and not here…” Helena almost whispered. Her eyes darted everywhere as if she was looking around nervously.

Secretly scanning the area using my peripheral visions, I saw no one else except some students passing by. There was no suspicious person here that could make Helena afraid.

“But what’s the real definition of your ‘later,’ Helena? Next week? Next month? When else can we talk, huh? When we both graduated from high school, months from now? When we were already separated in college because we have different courses to take up? I don’t want to wait for that ‘later’ when we can talk about us right now!”

Helena was able to remove my hands on her forearms, and it felt like everything was falling in front of me. It was too late for me to hold up my tears while overthinking that the future would be zeroing out all our dreams.

“Helena, I don’t care anymore if I will never get the valedictorian award. It’s all yours. Just don’t avoid me like I have a contagious disease. Don’t give me that cold treatment of yours either. I can afford to lose everything, Helena… but I can’t live without you.” I was begging for her, hoping Helena would realize that I could no longer bear what she was doing because it was slowly killing me.

Desperate, I could not control myself anymore. I knelt in front of Helena while sobbingly kissing her hands. I loved her so much, and I could not afford to lose her. I was willing to be this low just to prove my unconditional love for her. I was more than willing to sacrifice everything, but not her!

Helena’s hands seized my shoulders as she was trying to raise me. But I only used that opportunity to hold her again. She was now crying as well, and that pierced my heart a few times over. My adrenaline rush urged me to hug her legs, and that was what I did.

“Please, Cristoff. Fix yourself, please. I hate to see you like this, but you’re only putting us in an awkward situation I never want us to be in. We will talk at our J.S. prom next month, I promise! Just give me time,” Helena voiced out, as she slowly removed my grip that was now on her thighs.

I was left with no other choice but to sob my heart out. After that, Helena tearfully picked up her belongings on the ground and left me without looking back.