CHAPTER 6: DIVIDED WE STAND, UNITED WE FALL

They started to form a circle to discuss what they are going to do with their skit. Their English class only lasted for an hour. They were only given ten minutes to work with it. Carmella was just looking at Hope's group when one of her members poked her.

She returned to her members that seemed to be chilling out, most of them not interested in joining the skit.

"Aren't we doing something, perhaps?"

She looked around. She only had eight members who were really looking at her as they paid attention. Others are just doing their own thing, not even minding the ten-minute chance to practice for their mini-skit.

"Oh, I am so sorry." She apologized but she looked at some of her members who even sat to their own seats.

"Gosh, guys, c'mon. Let's not waste time. Aren't you gonna practice for our skit?" Carmella's bossy classmate took over her at that moment.

"Let me add some suggestions." Someone stood behind her. When she looked back, it was her overly enthusiastic friend who loved to share her ideas.

"Are you sure it won't be a mess, girl?" One of Carmella's close friends answered.

"Well, let's just add some romantic words as part of Juliet's lines in some parts. I guess it would be awesome."

"Well, what if our teacher will check every word from our skit? Remember, we need to be careful with the words Juliet says." Carmella pointed out, looking worried. Some of her classmates nodded as they agreed to what she said while folding their arms.

"Most definitely, Carmella. Our teacher is particular with the original lines from that scene. We can't eliminate or add any single word...that would be a big No-No." One of her classmates who is wearing a pair of eyeglasses suggested.

"So, what should we do then? Our time is running up and we're still on the planning stage." Upon hearing that to one of her classmates, Carmella glanced at her wristwatch.

"I guess what we're going to do is to improve the acting part. I guess that's more important." Someone talked behind them. They transferred their gaze at the other member who is busy doing his make-up even if he's wearing a boy's uniform.

"I think John will play the role of Juliet. I guess her eyelashes are more than ready for it." One of Carmella's classmates from her group commented. There was a sudden burst of laughter from Carmella's group that the other group's attention was on them for a while.

"Four minutes more." Their English teacher reminded them of the time.

She gently pulled her hair as she frowned. Her other classmates just look at her while whispering to each other.

"See? I told you we should select Hope. She's always bad as a leader."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I should agree with you. She's selfish and she only thinks of her own and not other people around her."

Carmella panicked when one of her classmates cried because the other one from their group was a bully as well. She wanted to shout and express her disappointment but she was already caught off guard.

She didn't know what to do first: To comfort her groupmate or to continue their remaining minutes for practice. She's torn between two decisions.

"Can we all focus, just this once? Please? I am your leader, not a referee. Six minutes has passed and yet we haven't done anything yet." Carmella calmly told her members which made the others argue among themselves.

"This is Dee's fault. I don't know if she's a crybaby, I should've given her some feeding bottle full of milk." Dina cried even more when she heard Lissy.

She seemed to be tough and insensitive even if Dee is crying right now. It almost stopped everyone from what they are doing, especially in Carmella's group.

"What is happening?" Their teacher roared all of a sudden that caught the attention of most of them in the room.

The group became silent, however some whispered and blamed each other for the commotion.

"Dee and Lisa, what happened?"

"It's her fault! She's teasing me. She keeps on telling me that I am a crybaby!" Dina said between sobs.

"Duh! Are you not?" Lisa rebutted with raised eyebrows. She's too unafraid to air her opinions even if our teacher is now looking really mad yet trying to look composed.

"I am just suggesting something and you always tell me I have bad opinions. Why, are you even perfect?" Dina said between sobs.

"You easily cry. Do you think our classmates will find you cute? Grow up, will you?"

"Silence! Both of you! I want you to sit down. You're not getting any score from me. I also want you to go with me at the guidance office later. You have some explanations to do with me and your parents."

Carmella followed them with her eyes. Dee is wiping her tears with her hands while Lisa is folding her arms as she frowns. They both stomped their feet as they went back to their seats because of what they did.

"Now, to those who are not involved, please continue your practice. You only have less than two minutes before you wrap up."

Now, it is Carmella's turn to feel bad. She wanted to break down and cry. Right at the very moment. She now lacked two important members of her group. As she glanced from the others, they were silent as they all listened to Hope. Some were giving suggestions and she smiled as she took some notes from them. Carmella closed her fist because of annoyance. She feels as if she can't accept what is happening right now. From the sight of it, it is unfair and too unacceptable to endure.

"Everyone, please polish everything. I need you all to act a good skit. If you need a lot of props, please feel free to use our resources inside this room.

Everyone was overjoyed and they even had a high five to some of their classmates.

"Let's start presenting." The teacher finally said. She gave each group ten minutes to present what they have prepared as a graded activity.

Carmella looked really worried because she knew they didn't prepare well enough. Carmella's group started with some few lines, with some songs inserted. When their classmate who acted Romeo started to step in front, he already forgot his lines and paused for almost two minutes. The other group members whispered aloud the lines which caused a funny scene. Some of the members from Hope's members laughed at them. Their teacher told them to be quiet which they obliged right away.

The class skit presentation ended a bit okay but it was described as 'messy' overall. Now, it's now time for Hope's group to present. Everyone even stood at once which amazed the group of Carmella. They are all well-disciplined and full of confidence. Maybe Hope even taught them about how to execute confidence and style at the same time. She was able to let them follow her with the way she wanted the group to start and finish the lines assigned to each group member.

She secretly closed her fist. She never even noticed the tears running on her cheeks already. Good thing nobody ever saw that because she wiped her tears with her hands right away.

When everyone is in front, each member executed their own lines perfectly. With chins up, they were able to present as if they've been practicing for one, whole week. Carmella's group members started to blame each other for the mess. The announcement of their teacher even confirmed that they were all 'losers'.

"See? I told you we should've selected Hope's group instead of Carmella's."

"Of course. That will be the rule next time." Not a word from her group mates escaped from her hearing which made her feel bitter even more.

She can see some of her classmates, even her best friends gave their high-fives to Hope. She can see some of her 'best friends' smiling at her too. Everyone cheered with delight in their eyes. She looked very happy from the results of their teamwork which Carmella failed to implement discipline among her members.

She saw Hope coming towards her. She suddenly felt terrified seeing her. She felt as if she's not ready to greet her victory.

She was looked down by her other classmates and because of confusion and bitterness, Carmella stood up and told her seatmate that she'll be going to the comfort room. Before Hope reached her, she already left the door of their room. Hope tried to catch up with her but Carmella was too fast in going outside that's why she didn't have the chance to follow her anymore.

Carmella locked herself inside one of the cubicles of their comfort room. She never even minded the strong, putrid scent of the comfort room from what she's feeling right now as she can't stop herself from weeping uncontrollably.

Good thing there was no student at that time. It would be too embarrassing for her to pour everything as she sobs when a lot of students will see it.

Meanwhile, Hope noticed the disappointment in Carmella's eyes as she went outside. Does she really hate her for what happened? Hope wished that Carmella didn’t hate her just because her team won.

"Did you really overdo it? Poor Carmella..." Hope can hear her other classmates saying something against her best friend.

"Why do you say that to Carmella? I knew she tried her best. You can't just blame the group's fault to a single person alone!" She replied to some that silenced them as they all looked down.

"Gosh, haven't you seen what happened earlier? Your group won. Of course the leader of the losing group will really be anxious."

"Duh...C'mon Hope. You pulled it off with us, I'm sure if she's good at handling our other classmates, they should've won the presentation. We all know that our teacher gave them the best scene, and the boring one to us." Her classmate baffled as she folded her arms. She looked around and she saw her other classmates agreeing as they nodded.

"But it is so unfair to only put the blame on her. Remember, it is a group activity and I have seen that most of you did not listen to Carmella."

"She's being irresponsible and you're always there to defend her. Is that being fair to you? Because for me, it is not." Thelma said while folding her arms facing her.

"Yeah I agree with Thelma. Why are we going to listen to someone that's too bossy? She's also overreacting to things which made it worse." Her classmate defended the first to argue with Hope that made her look sad.

"Of course Carmella is her friend. She can't help but to react to what they were saying against her.

"Everybody, go back to your seats." Their English teacher interrupted their argument. They all scampered as they went back to their seats.

"Half of you here did your best. I saw it with my two eyes. While the other group was too messy." Everyone started to whisper and argue again.

"Please be quiet," Their teacher stopped them. "I know you all did your best. I hope it will not happen next time. Please listen more to your leaders for they know what to do the most."

"Yes, Ms. Sevilla." The whole class chorused.

As their teacher walked at the center aisle of the room, she roamed her eyes around the room, she noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Carmella?"

"Ms. Sevilla, she went to the comfort room." One of her classmates said as she raised her hand.

"Ms., I'm sorry I went outside for a pee break. I am back now." Everyone turned their backs on the door and they saw Carmella. They noticed her swollen eyes and her gloomy expression.

"Please go back to your seat, Carmella. We'll start with the written activity about what you have presented." She slowly walked towards her seat. She sat quietly and got her activity book inside her bag. While most of the eyes were on her, the teacher reminded them to look at their own activity workbooks.

Hope looked at her best friend as if feeling everything she's feeling right now. She's answering her activity workbook, looking very unmotivated. She felt guilty all of a sudden after she witnessed how Carmella took the presentation seriously. She needs to talk to her after the class. She felt like she needed to do it because she's partly to be blamed.