This girl's something. She has the ability to make everyone fall on their knees with a single phrase. There doesn't seem off with her though. From the way how she is, she's manipulating us with her kindness. And I think it's not a bad idea.

"First, all of us should sit down and form a circle to keep the same distance and also, for us to pay attention and see our faces," she said.

The four of them, including Kenneth--- the first person that would come into my mind when speaking about pride, then get their own chairs since they're just very removable and can be carried with one hand. Unlike those seats in our classrooms before, very comfortable yet not removable since they're theater-like seats.

As for me, I didn't have to stand up and get my own chair since I was pushed in here by this hot-headed Nabito. They then formed a circle with and sat, all ears open.

"I'll go first," the guy with the snowy-almost-white hair volunteered with his hand raised, "My name's Xinon Val Benedicto, thirteen years old, and the second person that was chosen. I was from Class 3-3, the new student from this school. I have no idea why I came in here but the only thing I did for the past days was to find my long-lost sister. Basically, I came to this country to find my sister, not to be in this crap room."

So this is the second student that was chosen. I wonder as to what extent does the school planned on putting students in here.

This guy, Xinon Val, must have gone through a lot of trouble. Just to get and find his biological sister, the authorities stopped him from searching by putting him in this class. It must take a lot of time and money to find someone, yet it all came into ashes because of this bullshit school.

"My full name is Nabito Victor Villegas. A lot of students call me Victor so keep at it. I don't want any of you in here to call me by my first name. If I caught you calling me that way, I won't hesitate to tear your neck up into two. I am strict in terms of my principles so live or die, you'll call me by my first name. I am thirteen years old and was a student in Class 3-4. I was brought here for participating in illegal businesses and trading money one way to another. I refuse to trade and use drugs. I am no drug lord but I did these kinds of illegal things to survive... to have my family free from hunger and to clothe them with the money I earned. By the way, I am the fourth chosen person."

The fourth student, huh...

This one's got principles on his own. Having principles in life keeps us from being alive, either in a good or bad way. To think that he was put in here because of doing illegal activities for his family must be one of the tough things to do in life.

I feel like he didn't want to do it, but since it involves his family's life, just to keep surviving, he did all of those troubles even if doesn't seem he liked it from the start.

I wonder why doesn't he want his name to be mentioned. Was there a bad thing tied up with it? It's just a name though.

"I am Karina Eowyn Magdangal, thirteen years old, the same age as Xinon and Victor here. I am the third. I came from Class 3-2 and ended up in this classroom... maybe because I applied a damn lung surgery on a robber. Well, what do I have to do then? That guy was shot in the lungs and was literally dying, almost bleeding to death, and I had no choice but to apply what I have learned. Then, the authorities suspected me of that robber's accomplice. And shit's happened."

This one must have dreamed to become a surgeon.

Since we were put now inside this room with a lot of filed negative backgrounds behind, for sure this school won't allow us to achieve and reach the school we wanted to attend on college. They must've done several unfavorable records for us to fall apart.

"Kenneth Asmodeus Reyes, thirteen years of age, and the fifth person. I was chosen to be one of the students because of private matters. That's all."

This one's so secretive...

Of course, that's the kind of person I've known he is. So hot-headed, so self-centered, so aggressive with his words, yet he's so smart, so quick at things, and so composed.

He appeared to be so mad all the time that even a person like me would really love to punch his head. But I heard he's also a fighter. I have no idea what kind of martial he trained but he's such a goddamn brat. Not only he's intellectual, but he's also a good fighter. What a crap of bullshit.

"Oh, finally my turn."

Now that it's already this girl, the one who treated my wounds' turn, I really paid attention to her.

"My name is Clara Dennise Melecio, thirteen years old, same as you guys. I work a lot of part-time jobs but the only job I love is working as a pianist in a resto-bar. I am the first person to be alone in here, and I really don't have a particular reason to recall why I was chosen. But believe it or not, I volunteered myself, guys. Haha."

All of us were astonished, of course.

Volunteered herself?

Who the heck in this world would put themselves in line for such crap like this?

This room doesn't have an air-conditioner, no curtains, no doors, no windows, uncomfortable seats, no TV, no lockers, no bookshelves, and there's a lot more lacking in this room. How can we be able to live peacefully?

"I-I mean, I know that was risky but I think it's better to stay in this classroom rather than stay in those fake classrooms or whatever. I realized that a spoiled brat in there receives a lot of praises, but us? We were chosen because we were discriminated against and belittled. So what do we have to do? We have to protect this classroom no matter what. I also come to the conclusion that if any of the students in Bihira High would end up in this class so soon, this classroom is a remarkable memory of them because this classroom will save their lives. Let this classroom be our home. We won't let anyone destroy this even if we'll face war soon."

Her words stated everything... gentleness, peace, and so kind.

I wonder if she's really telling the truth about her voluntary though. She's a kind of suspicious one here, as well as Kenneth too.

Now that all of them were done, it's time for my turn too.

I wonder whether they'd believe me if they heard my story. Of course, I am renowned throughout the country, and I understand that some of them may not recognize me, but in any case, I am here in this classroom. It's entirely up to me whether I disclose the truth or not.

"My name's Zeus Dimitri Curaraton, thirteen years old and is the sixth person that was chosen. I came here because my parents were both tight with money. They needed to pay for taxes and my school fees. And when my father was diagnosed with cancer, I feel like the school authorities took advantage of that, and then they eradicated my emotions apart. So, as soon as I got drowned by their own trap, they threatened me and my family, knowing how financially insecure we had become."

Yes, the school took advantage of not only me but my family as well.

I've heard now all of their stories, and now that they've heard mine, I wonder what's on their mind now.

"You know, we really have to find some ways to destroy this bullshit school. Clara was right. We have to protect this class since it's ours now. They didn't say about renovating the classroom, right? They only told us that we shouldn't be setting foot on school grounds and we should obey their rules no matter what," Karina, the one who applied surgery to the robber, said.

"And as Clara said earlier, we should make our own rules, not to conquer the school but to conquer the students," said Victor.

"Now that we're now known to be prisoners, why don't we act like criminals?" a good suggestion coming from the guy who wanted to search for his sister, Xinon.

"What the heck! Nice idea!" they high-fived with Victor.

Did he really not think about his sister discovering about him being a criminal? His sister might even run away from him if he'd exactly act like one though. This guy's wild.

While watching them, I sighed, "But we should be careful. We have watchers and those are the school's bodyguards. They're not just some regular workers though, they're police officers."

"Why don't we conquer the school as well? They couldn't do anything though. If they have to spread the rumors about us being real criminals, then let them be. That's already enough for them to be afraid of us, right?" suggested the intellectual guy, Kenneth.

It's still our first day but now it looks like we've really known each other. So it's the six of us who came into this room first. I wonder who will be the next candidate for the seventh person. I hope it's not one of my friends. I will feel really crap if it had to be one of them.

Ring...

Ring...

When my phone vibrated on my pants, I took my phone and first looked at who's calling.

It's a phone number from the hospital.

I wonder what's up. If it involves my father, I'd be so glad to end the call right away.

"Sorry, guys. I have to take this call."

I stood up and went from the classroom's corner to take the call.

"Hello? This is Zeus Curaraton. What's up?"

The five all went silent and looks like they're observing my reaction. They seemed to freeze and stop talking though. I feel like they're showing respect not to make any noises while I took the phone call.

"S-Sir, this is Miss Giovanni, head nurse of the FGD Hospital. Please stay relaxed. I-I wonder what time you'll come here? It seems like your father was calling your name before he fell asleep."

Those words...

I feel like everything went black.

My sight...

My ears...

Everything blocked me from feeling something. I feel like I'm underneath the sea, searching for light lifelessly.

"Sir? Are you there? Your father's in critical condition. Sir? Please come here right away, sir!"

That's when I first knew that a kid like me couldn't do anything beyond rules. The school prohibited us from going out until ten at night. Fucking ten at night! Right now is still ten-thirty in the morning. How the fuck do I get there when my father's condition has worsened? He needs me! He fucking needs me right now! What do I do when I couldn't witness him seeing me?

He's dying!

Fuck everything!

He said seven days! AROUND SEVEN DAYS! He fucking told me that after a week, he'd pass away! What's it now? Why is it now? Did he lie to me again!? What the fuck, Papa! Why do you have to be in a critical condition while I'm still inside in this motherfucking classroom!?

My father!

He needs me!