Already, several other articles had gotten published as promised and Faith had long ago resigned her fate to the Most Holy being that dwells in the third heaven.

Today was her day. Or so, she guessed. Appearing neat as usual, she looked impeccable in her cream coloured short sleeved shirt, black tie, straight cut grey skirt with her long black stockings and wedged shoe.

Thursday was today and that was the uniform meant for the day. The senior students had two uniforms and two day wears. A peach short sleeved shirt, black tie, straight cut black skirt and a long black stockings with double peach coloured lines on it; was to be worn on Monday and Tuesday. And also, on those days the footwear could anything that was just black coloured.

The Intra School SSEC was taking place today. Faith couldn't wait to beat Esther hands down and then be chosen to represent the senior secondary two science class in the forth coming Inter school SSEC.

"Why do you look so peng today?" Faith felt someone behind her and the back of her neck heated up really quick, reacting to his presence.

"Oh please, I look like how a Stardom Academy student should be. And this has always been my look for months." She rolled her eyes and finally turned, facing Paris.

"No," Paris shook his head as he placed his right hand on her right shoulder. "You look extra sexy today."

"I doubt if that's what an SSEC candidate should be saying right now. You better go and do your revisions and represent the SS2 art students well." Faith advised as she took some steps backward, widening the distance between the both of them.

"You should also be telling your stubborn self that. You better win and then get to be my indirect partner. You know, during the regional level, we would be lodged in a hotel and we could as well request to be roommates." He grinned while making the last statement. On God, that guy was really naughty.

"To be honest," Faith heaved a sigh. "I'm not even too serious with competition. I think I should just give up and let Esther handle all this. Music club needs me and all day long...I hear voices singing in my head and calling me back to my root." She paused and stared at him briefly. He was giving her all the attention she wanted. "Paris, If those people ask for poetic lines and all that...then I'm gonna fail."

Paris sighed as he drew her closer to him with just one hand. "I know that most of you poems are in that missing thick note. I know that you hardly get poetic inspirations and that's why you cherish any poem you finally get inspired to pen down. And...I also know that you are going to make it in this competition."

Just as her lips were about to break into a beautiful smile, loud voices began yelling. "Faith and Paris sitting on a tree, K. I. S. S. I. N. G!"

Faith literally froze and unfroze. What sort of classmates are this? Foolish her, she even forgot that they weren't the only ones in the class.

But then, it happens. When we are with the right people at the right moment, every other persons become invisible and of less importance.

A strong hand drew her into him and she wrapped her hand around his torso.

●●●●●●

"I'm worthless, you say
Unpolished, Undeserving and Unspoken, you mean
Beautiful and wholely me, I accept
Battered, Bullied and Soulless, I'm transformed to be
Darkened and Imperfect, I remain
Relief and Redemption, I seek

I seek what you can't give me,
I receive what you never can have,
And I retain, that which I must

You mishandled me and now I am trampled
You failed me and now I am dead
You broke me and now I must be buried
In your cold arms I lay, being fed and soothed in anguish."

I was filled with bliss as everyone present gave me a clapping ovation. Thankfully, I remembered some of my poems. But I didn't know how many more rounds that the once I remembered could sustain me.

The questionnaire asked me to say something poetic with the topic: SOULLESS. And then Esther was to reply something slightly antonymous, yet inspiring.

"You chose your path and I chose mine.
You could have handled your heart better.
You know it really deserves better.

Elastic hearts also have their yield limits,
Chemical hearts dissolves,
And paper hearts gets shredded,
But mine is metallic; It gets bent and straightened again."

"Two more questions to go before we take some minutes break." The middle aged woman stated. The judges who were external bodies were busy penning down some important points. While the students who were seated in the hall as well, were cheering their favourites.

"Numbers ten, thirteen and sixteen are the only once left out for this quarter. The next person should choose a number." The woman said while adjusting her mic.

I was heating up. I hoped it was something that I could do. The tension was so much that it weighed me down and threatened to drag me mental health through the mud. "Nu...Number sixteen!"

The questionnaire sighed and then studied me for a brief moment. "You are wrapped up in the thickest blankets of darkness and you hear the whispers in your ears. What could be the sources of those whispers? And your answer should be in a poetic form."

I almost gave up. I ran my both hands over my face and then my hair. Just then the button was pressed and the timing began. What could she figure out within thirty seconds?!

"Whispers of the unruly spirits that lurk in the pits of darkness,

Whispers of the breathing skeleton that rattles in the dark,

Whispers of the raging storms that foams out their own morbid desires,

Whispers of the blackness of the darkness of the world that calls us to slumber."

Immediately I finished the little poem my brain could produce, the timer went off.

"And here goes the last question. Contestant number 12, Miss Esther Darwin can you step up to the stage." Esther looked care free. It was as though she had all of this at her finger tips. She smiled as she courageously stepped into the stage.

"Number ten and thirteen are the only numbers remaining. Make your choice and bear the cross."

"Number thirteen!" Esther confidently proclaimed and the woman nodded. "Funnily, question sixteen happens to be the second section of that particular question. So, Miss Esther. You must answer this question with a bit of tact. Just like other previously answered questions, just slightly different, this must also come out poetic."

What the fuck was with this people and poems? I wondered if that was what Paris and Robert would go through.

"Noted, ma'am." Esther responded.

"Amidst where the occurrence of the ungodly are having their divination. What are your supposed words and reactions?"

That was really stupid!, I thought.

"NO!!!" Esther suddenly shouted. Everyone stared at her to be sure if she was still okay. The timer had already began.

"The voices that speaks to my very ears
Unreadable mysteries that ministers to me
Oh!!! The shivers that threaten to break my spines
The very long stroke of death and the beauty of demise.

Beyond the horizon of the tinted clouds,
I see the cracks of thunder.
I feel the heat of the brimstone that will slay
mankind.
And I see YOU, watching ME."

Five seconds later, the timer went off. And Esther was greeted with both a standing and clapping ovation. She was getting the spotlight.

A bell was rung and a quarter of the Seals Stars Educational Competition literally came to an end.