PROLOGUE

"Damn, hindi ba nila alam ang salitang opinyon?" Reklamo ko sa kausap ko sa teleponong si Clio habang tinitingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin.

"Whatever Celeste. Sabi mo nga, opinyon mo lang. Hindi palaging masusunod ang opinyon mo, okay?" I rolled my eyes before pouting.

"So haharap ako sa camera habang suot ko 'tong napakapanget na dress? Ugh!"

"Stop throwing tantrums and just fix yourself, okay?" I heaved a sigh before nodding. 

"Tss, as if I have a choice. Alright, I'll hang up na." She just laughed and I ended the call. 

"Miss Celeste, start na raw po within five minutes," pagtawag sa akin ng isa sa mga staffs. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya bago muling pinagmasdan ang sarili ko sa salamin. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako bago lumabas sa dressing room.

"Celeste?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at takang tumingin sa tumawag sa akin. She's a petite girl with a blonde hair. Nakasuot rin siya ng id tanda na isa siya sa mga staff.

"Uhm... hi?" 

"Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan? Ako 'to, si Yna. 'Yung Vice President ng club natin dati!" My brows furrowed and tried to remember her face. My eyes widened upon remembering her.

"OMG Ate Yna, ikaw pala 'yan! Hindi kita nakilala dahil sa buhok mo, I'm sorry. How are you?" 

"Executive Director ako dito." She answered before pointing at her id. "Alam mo bang sobrang tuwa ko nang malaman ko na ikaw ang ig-guest dito? Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita!"

I nodded before smiling at her. "Yeah, busy kasi ako. There is a lot on my plate right now and it's quite hard to handle all of them. Halos wala na nga akong social life eh." She laughed before tapping my shoulder. 

Maya-maya pa ay tinawag na ako para umakyat sa stage dahil magsisimula na raw ang shooting. I was invited to do an interview to a famous morning show. 

"Lights, camera, action! Rolling!" 

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko bago mahinhing tumingin sa host. She's quite famous in the country dahil maganda at successful ang mga shows niya. She's a good host too.

"Welcome to our show, Architect Celeste Villareal. How are you?" She asked before handing me a microphone.

"I'm doing good as always," I answered.

"You're one of the highest paid architechts in our country, Miss Villareal. What can you say about that?"

I smiled at her while my cheeks turned red. "Well it is truly an honor for me and to honest, I am still shy up until now whenever I hear praises about my works but still, I appreciate it so much."

The audience clapped and I just bowed my head to them as a sign of gratitude. 

The interview went well just like what I expected but not until when she mentioned one thing. 

"So Miss Villareal, graduate ka pala sa Avalon High?" 

I bit my lower lip before slowly nodding. "Can you tell us a story about Avalon? I mean, that's a really famous school and I heard, it's a neck to neck battle to get in."

"Uhm... sure," I answered. Muli akong tumingin sa audience at mukhang interesado nga silang marinig ang kuwento ko. 

"We all knew that Avalon High is such a prestigious school. Let's just say that it is a home of spoiled brats and smart students. Mahirap makapasok sa Avalon High dahil unang una, mahal ang tuition. Pangalawa, mahirap ang entrance exam. Matanggap ka nga lamang sa Avalon ay napakalaking achievement na, paano pa kaya kapag grumaduate at napasama ka pa sa Rank Five?" I smiled upon remembering my highschool days. Ang tagal na pala?

"Oh! The Rank Five? 'Yan nga pala ang tatak ng Avalon High. Can you tell us something about that?"

"The Rank Five are like the face and the ruler of the school. Once you were a part of it, you would experience an extravagant highschool life. You can actually rule the school once you were a part of The Rank Five." I answered and the audience awed in amusement. I mean, who wouldn't love extravagance, right? 

"You are successful now, Architect Villareal. Do you mind if I ask if you're part of The Rank Five?" I bit my lower lip and looked down. 

After a couple of seconds, I looked up and smiled. "Yes. I was once a part of The Rank Five together with my friends." 

"Friends?" She asked. 

I nodded and swallowed the lump on my throat. "They are actually my bestfriends— Kelly, Ashanti and Clio." I answered.

"We are once a part of The Rank Five," dugtong ko. I smiled bitterly upon mentioning it. 

"Wait. Once? What do you mean?" She asked curiously.

"We were dethroned by some jerks."

-----

:)