TODAY is the last day of the campaign for the student council election. Later on, the candidates for the position of president will have their final speech before the election day tomorrow. Well, it was just Nathan and Freeda for no one wanted to join except of them. Maybe because of one main reason... They are afraid of Freeda. I’m glad that Scott and I pursued Nathan to build our own party list. If not, then Freeda’s whole group will win by default.
“Are you ready?” Scott asked to my bestfriend.
“Damn! I’m so nervous. I mean, why do I even joined in this activity? You two should be the one to talk on that stage later on,” Nathan complained.
“Nat, don’t worry. We are just in the backstage if ever that you needed help. We are here to support you.”
He sighed harshly, before picking up the remaining pieces of flyers on his desk.
“Let us just roam around and distribute these to the students.”
“Sure, sure, Mr. President,” Scott teased.
“Shut up if you don’t want me to make you eat this flyers, Scott.” It was Nathan, plastering a mad expression on his face.
“Sorry...” Scott stated, secretly laughing at Nathan’s frustration.
I widen my eyes towards his direction. I don’t want them to fight again. I mean, I know that Nathan could do it. He’s just panicking, that’s why... And Scott, he’s always making fun of everything and I already knew him pretty well so I’m not being affected by his silly jokes anymore.
To ease Nathan’s frustration, I held his hand, hoping that this one simple action will make him feel better.
“What now?” he looked at me, raising one of his brows.
I instantly let go of his hands out of embarrassment. I guess his not up for this kind of support and comfort from me. I looked down, feeling awkward.
“Nothing... I just thought that maybe it would help you... I guess not.”
I was about to walk away from him when he grabbed my hand, making me stop. When I turned around to look back at his direction, he pulled me closer, giving me a gentle hug.
“H-Hey...” I muttered under my breath.
“Sorry... I’m just so nervous.”
I heard him sighed, and I just smiled to myself before looking up at him, slightly pulling away from his embrace.
“Don’t be... I know you can do this.”
I flashed my sweetest smile towards him, and that made him blushed for apparently no reason. He then pulled me along side with him, as we continued to distribute our campaign materials. He didn’t bother to let go of my hand ever since then, and I just let him do it for I’m also enjoying this little set up of ours.
Until that time came. The time where the candidates are going to say their final words before the election day and their final chance to convince the students to vote them for their chosen position.
Scott and I didn’t know that we should stay upstage too just to present ourselves and to show support to our president. Because we are both unprepared, I keep on biting my nails out of nervousness. Same as Scott, who are now practicing his two minutes speech.
“This is karma,” Nathan stated, laughing at Scott who are now currently glaring at him. I guess the joke is on him now... Well, more like us.
“Damn...” I whispered. Again, I broke the rule number ten on my manual. I cursed.
“Did you just cursed?” Nathan asked, smiling for apparently no reason.
“I can’t do this,” I answered straightforwardly.
“Yes, you can. Remember what you told to me earlier?”
I nodded, and Nathan patted my head. Scott came rushing towards us then, panting as he heard some announcement coming from the stage.
“I t-think... We are up now.”
Nathan and I took a deep breath, before reaching out for the hands of each other. Somehow, holding his hand makes me feel better... Only just a little bit anxious.
“Let us all welcome, the Democratic Party List, leaded by Mr. Nathan Brooke, from second year department! Around of applause, please!”
The three of us went up to the stage, I even almost slipped but thankfully, Nathan is guiding me very well so that I wouldn’t fall down. We waved our hands to crowd, and from the corners of my eyes I saw a familiar face... The freshman student that I’ve encounter two weeks ago.
She was holding a banner with the name of our party list written on it, waving it up high in the air while shouting our names. Most of the audience are staring at her for standing out in the crowd because of her loud voice, shouting its never ending support for our team.
“Go, Natalia!” she shouted.
I waved my hands towards her, and she smiled to herself, maybe thinking that she didn’t waste her energy by supporting us... Maybe she thought that her efforts are all worth it. I still don’t know what she meant for the last words she told me two weeks ago... But I hope, it wouldn’t lead her getting into a bad thing. Specially when it’s against Freeda and her subordinates.
“And for our Republic Party List, let us all welcome–”
The emcee’s statement was cut short when Freeda grabbed the microphone from her, before her members followed her up to the stage.
“I don’t need an introduction. These people already knew me as their queen,” she stated, confidently.
She then dropped the microphone before the emcee picked it up once again. She then ran down the stage, before calling one of the teachers to replaced her instead. She looked so terrified, leaving for she couldn’t handle Freeda’s attitude.
Silence reign in that moment before the teacher tapped the microphone several times, trying to see if it’s still working right after what Freeda had done to it. As the teacher made sure that it’s still working, he cleared his throat, before sighing.
“Good afternoon, students of Jackson High! We are here to witness the presentation and the final speech of our candidates for the members of next year’s student council. Are you ready?” he energetically asked, and the students gone wild. “Let’s start then!”
He looked at us, before nodding his head as a signal that we can now speak.
“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Nathan Brooke, one of the sophomores students here in Jackson High. And I’m running for the position of President,” Nathan professionally stated before passing the microphone to Scott.
“Good day. I’m Scott Smith, captain of the basketball team. Maybe you’re wondering why I’m here when I should be dribbling a ball over there... At our gymnasium,” Scott started, making the crowd laughed and giggled. “But yeah, I’m right here because I wanted to support my friend... So I guess, I’ve got what it takes to be his vice president. So please vote for me. Thanks.”
He winked, making the girls from the crowd of students giggles and chuckled to themselves. Only now that I realized that it was my turn to speak. I got so nervous and anxious at the same time. I feel like throwing up, but it suddenly fades away as Scott passed me the microphone, giving me a sweet smile. I guess I shouldn’t be nervous at all.
“Uhm... Hi! I’m Natalia Carter... That is Natalia without H. And uhm... I’m running for the position of secretary. I’m hoping for your support. Thank you very much.”
“Go, Natalia!” Again, it was the student from the freshman year.
“And now let’s give it up for the Republic Party List!” Again, Freeda grabbed the microphone from our teacher, only to received an awful glare from him.
“I’m Freeda, running for the position of president. I know you will vote me.”
“Hi, I’m Lia Valle, running for the position of the vice president. I know you will vote for me.”
“Like, hello! I’m like, Elyzz Houston. And I’m like, you know, running for the position of secretary. I know you like and you will vote for me, of course.”
Seems like everyone of them are very much confident about the results of this upcoming election. When it was Becca’s turned, she get the microphone from Elyzz, before flashing a devilish grin over our direction.
“Do I even need to introduce myself? I’m Becca Valle. And before the election even started, I already won.”
Well I guess so. Maybe she’s right, for nobody wants to fight for that chosen position of hers. And also, Nathan haven’t got anyone to be our party list’s treasurer.
“And now, for the most awaited part... Their final speech! Let us start with Nathan Brooke from the Democratic Party List!”
Nathan took the microphone, before taking a deep breath. Scott and I cheered him up, ready to support him whatever happens. He smiled widely at the crowd, before starting his speech.
“Good afternoon. I’m Nathan Brooke, and as I’ve said earlier, I am running for the position of president... And if ever that–”
“Bla, bla, bla,” It was Freeda.
We glared at her for taking Nathan’s chance to prove himself. Even our teachers are now looking very pissed at her attitude.
“I’m... Uhm...”
“Psssh. Stuttering...”
“Ms. Samson! Would you stop talking and let him speak?! If not, then I’ll disqualify you from this election,” our teacher madly warned her.
She shut her mouth up, before clenching her fist. I guess she deserves to hear those words. I mean, she’s ruining everything, mainly the process of this final day of the campaign.
“Sorry about that, Mr. Brooke. Please continue your speech.” Nathan nodded at him, before starting over.
“Heck!” he exclaimed, making the crowd looked shock. “I don’t need a freaking introduction anymore. I mean, we pretty much know each other so well ever since the first day of this school year. The only thing that I wanted to say to all of you students, is that if ever I won in this election, I’m here not to lead, I’m here to guide and inspire you all instead. Be a president who would help you grow and correct your wrongs, not a president who will put too much pressure and a never ending set of rules just to make our school perfect. Together, let us do some mistakes. Then let ourselves learn from it, for it is the only way to grow, mature, and achieve something. Together, we could make those things happen... Not as a leader and a member, but a fair and square respectful students.”
The crowd cheered, before clapping their hands up in the air. Some of them stood up, and I’m glad that Nathan did well. Scott and Nathan did a high five, and my bestfriend even offered me the same, but I refused to give it to him. Instead, I gave him a light hug before whispering something into his ears.
“You nailed it. I’m so proud of you.”
He smiled, and I did the same. We took our seats before the emcee announced Freeda’s name, and she took the microphone, ready to say anything at the moment.
“So you guys really wanted to vote that nerdy guy over there?” she started, only receiving a “boo” from the crowd.
“Boo!”
“You don’t deserve to win!”
“You’re not even qualified to participate in this campaign!” Those are the few statements that she got from the crowd, mostly from the freshmen students.
“What did you just said? I don’t deserve this? And who do you think you are to say that in front of my face? You’re just a geek freshman student!”
“Yeah!”
I was shocked when I saw the freshman student I’ve encountered last two weeks ago stood up from the crowd, grabbing the attention of everyone. Even Freeda’s eyes widen because of surprised.
“I’m just a geek freshman student. A student whom you tried bribing with your money just for me to vote you in this election!”
The crowd gasped, and even Freeda couldn’t move a muscle. After that freshman girl said that, some students stood up as well, plastering a mad expression on their faces.
“Me too! She tried to buy my freedom to vote!”
“Me, as well. That candidate supposed to be disqualified by now!”
Suddenly, more and more students confessed about their experience, mostly consists of Freeda threatening them and forcing them to vote for her. I don’t know where they got it, but they started to throw some crumpled paper over Freeda’s direction, shouting and repeating the word “boo” over and over again.
“I’m... I...” Freeda stuttered, covering her face before running away.
Lia, Elyzz, and Becca followed her, flipping their hair while glaring at us. Well I guess that was the end of this final speech programme. I feel bad for Freeda, though I couldn’t blame those freshmen students as well for publicly humiliating her right after what she did to them before. If only she’d been good towards them... Then maybe none of this would have happened.
“Hey, Nat. Are you okay?” Nathan asked me.
“Uhm... Yeah, I guess so. I just feel bad for Freeda.”
“Don’t be. She did that to herself,” Scott joined in.
“I guess we just need to wait for the results of the election tomorrow, Nat. For now, let’s just take a rest first. It’s been a long day for all of us.”
I guess my bestfriend is right. I should avoid over thinking and start praying for the best thing to happen tomorrow. For now, all I can do is to just sit tight and relax.