Some of his classmates remained quiet as they listened attentively.
"For the final exam, you will be required to create a research study," the teacher announced.
"Take note, for this final exam, the scope of your research must be limited to our school. Any topic outside the school's parameters will not be accepted."
"Also, the content that will be included in your research study should only cover Chapters One to Three. You do not need to collect data from respondents, as this is just a practice for all of you. The actual data gathering will take place during your Senior High School year."
"Your main goal is to defend your research study, which is why you must take it seriously and study your work thoroughly. Now, let us begin selecting the group leaders. Since there are a total of forty-three students, five leaders will be chosen."
"For those whose names are called, please come to the front," Eve said to the class as she began the selection.
"Tala Navarro, stand and come here," Eve called out.
The girl sitting in the third row near the window was stunned. "Why me?" she growled in her mind, reluctantly accepting her fate.
She was a good-looking girl, and even Jeff had a small crush on her, though not enough to try courting her.
He was not ready to be in a relationship yet, and he also lacked the confidence to approach her, especially since she was somewhat well-known among their peers.
So yeah, even though he was quite popular in his classroom and in other sections because of his good looks, whenever he looked in the mirror, he only saw someone he thought was unattractive.
He had pimples and dark lines on his face, which, in his eyes, clearly meant he was not handsome.
Even though his features had a slight Chinese appearance, he could not see any charm in the way he looked.
Yet some of his female classmates and friends often called him cute or even very handsome when he smiled, making him wonder if the mirror was broken.
Or perhaps it was simply a matter of perspective, the way one sees oneself versus how others see them.
As Tala walked toward the center, Eve called out once more.
"Celeste Maravilla, come in front," she announced, and another student stood up.
Celeste carried herself with confidence. She was slightly overweight, though not to an extreme degree.
Her skin was somewhat dark, and she held the most influence in the classroom.
Known for being smart, a high achiever, and often moody, she was one of Jeff's classmates.
She excelled in reporting and recitations, and she was also fluent in English, making her well-known throughout the entire school.
She could have easily been the class president, but she chose not to, instead passing that responsibility to Tala.
"Arven Santos, come up," Eve called next.
This time, a male classmate stood up, it was Jeff's best friend, the one who often shared his thoughts and mindset.
He was the type of person who appeared serious and mature but was also a bit of a playful friend beneath that composed exterior.
Like when a classmate was reporting at the board and struggled to read, Jeff and Arven would simply glance at each other and laugh quietly, both immediately understanding what the other was thinking.
It was as if they had a kind of mind-reading ability, able to communicate everything with just a look.
Whenever something silly happened in class, the two would exchange a glance, and not a single word was needed.
Just like Jeff, his best friend Arven was very smart, sometimes getting perfect scores on tests and other times missing only one point, often scoring 29/30.
"Ariana Willow, stand up and walk here," the teacher called out.
This time, a girl stood up.
Ariana Willow had long, golden blonde hair that shimmered under the light, and fair, glowing skin that gave her an effortless charm.
Her amber eyes held a quiet, approachable warmth that made others feel at ease.
She wore the school uniform with natural grace, each step calm and poised. Even those who weren't paying attention found themselves glancing her way.
She wasn't just pretty, she was captivating.
Even Jeff was mesmerized by her beauty the first time he saw her, but that was as far as it went.
What he truly liked about her was her voice, it sounded so cute, like a child's, soft and melodious tone.
Not only was she incredibly wealthy, but she was also kind and approachable.
He and Ariana were friends, but not close ones. Jeff struggled with how to communicate with girls, so even when they were seated near each other from the first day, he often stayed quiet.
He never initiated a conversation because he felt he had nothing to say. He had been like this since childhood.
Yet, when it came to talking with boys, he could easily come up with any topic, which made him wonder why it was so different with girls.
Because of this, his friendship with Ariana never deepened, though Jeff didn't mind.
As Ariana joined the others lined up at the center, there were still two more leaders to be chosen. Eve scanned the room, and her gaze stopped at another student.
"Lyra Esperanza, come up here to the front," Eve said, motioning to her.
Lyra felt as if her entire worldview had been shaken. Panic surged within her, and though she was completely unwilling, she knew better than to speak out.
If she voiced her refusal, she would surely face the wrath of their teacher, so she had no choice but to submit to this unwanted responsibility.
Jeff couldn't help but feel pity for her.
Lyra was the quiet type, average in appearance, but undeniably smart, though not quite on the same level as the other three. Still, she wasn't far behind.
Then Eve shifted her gaze to the center row and looked directly at me. A smiled crept on Jeff's face, already knowing that he was the final one.
"Jeff Anzon, come up here" Eve called out.
With his name called, he stood up and walked toward the center, feeling the weight of many gazes behind him.
"Now that the selection of team leaders is complete, it's time to choose your team members," Eve announced.
"The rule is simple. Each team leader will have one chance to choose a member for their team."
"But keep in mind, once you have made your choice, there is no turning back. And the decision is final."
"This rule also applies to the members. If you are chosen by a team leader, you have no say in the matter. If you have a problem with it, then you are free to work on your research study alone. Understood?" Eve shouted firmly from the center of the room.
The students in their seats responded in unison, "Understood."
"Well then, let's begin. Since Tala was the first one called, she will choose first, followed by the second, third, fourth, and fifth," Eve explained.
"So Tala, go ahead and choose your team member," she said, turning to her.