The Five Star Academy 2

 

By Esther Arikanki

Aura walked in majestically, her presence radiating power. Ela shot her a challenging look but was ignored as Aura went straight to Jane, offering her a handshake. The class watched in silence as Aura whispered something into Jane’s ear, but before Jane could respond, she deliberately stepped on Aura’s heeled loafers, creating a cloud of dust around her feet.

Aura smirked and signalled to one of her followers, who quickly helped clean the shoe. Ela’s patience wore thin, but the real shock came when she realised that her poem, one she had poured her heart into, was now in Aura’s hands. How had Aura gotten it? And why did she wait until now to reveal it?

Fueled by anger and betrayal, Ela confronted Aura. “Give me my poem back!” she demanded.

Aura, her face twisted into a mocking smirk, turned to face her. “Oh, Ela, sweetheart, is this how you want to begin our little reunion?” she taunted. She held the poem up for everyone to see and began flipping through the pages with a dramatic flair, teasing Ela further.

“Maybe I should read this aloud,” Aura teased. “Let’s see if you’re a better poet than Vivian, though I highly doubt it.”

Just as Aura was about to read aloud, the door to the classroom opened, and the coordinator entered.

Aura smirked and lowered the poem, her plans spoilt for the moment. Ela, feeling a mix of relief and frustration, realised that the tables might have turned.

The coordinator addressed the class. “We’ll be having a meet-and-greet session today, but only students who have submitted their I-Did project will be eligible to participate. The student with the best project will automatically be appointed the Class Chair leader.”

Jane’s eyes sparkled. She was the only student who had completed the project, having been trained in organisation and discipline from a young age. This was her moment.

But Aura and Ela exchanged dark looks. Neither of them had completed the project, and the thought of Jane becoming Class Chair leader sent a cold shiver through their spines.

Ela was faced with a choice: stick with Jane, or side with Aura? Both options were risky, but she knew she needed to act. She approached Vivian, the class nerd, seeking her help.

“I need you to do something for me,” Ela whispered urgently. “If Jane becomes the chair, we’re all doomed. We need to stop her.”

Vivian eyed her carefully, suspicion in her gaze. “Why should I help you?”

Ela hesitated. “Because you and I know that Jane will crush us all if she gets the chair.”

Vivian looked uncertain but finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll help, but don’t expect me to do it for free.”

Ela’s smile was sly. “You’ll get what you want.”

The day of the announcement arrived. The coordinator began to call out the names of those who had completed their projects. But just as Jane was about to be named the new Chair leader, Vivian stood up and handed in her I-Did project, claiming to be the true top performer.

Jane’s heart sank. How could this happen? Vivian, the quietest and least likely candidate, had beaten her.

But as the coordinator prepared to announce the new leader, Vivian’s face twisted in guilt. She had been blackmailed by Ela.

In an unexpected turn of events, Jane revealed that she had kept a backup of her original project, proving that Vivian had submitted a fake. The coordinator, after reviewing the evidence, disqualified Vivian and reinstated Jane as the class chair leader.

Aura and Ela exchanged stunned glances. The game is over. Jane had won.

Ela sat, seething with fury, but Jane stood tall, her eyes filled with quiet triumph.

“You may have tried to take everything from me,” Jane said to Ela, “but integrity always wins in the end.”

And just like that, Jane had risen above them all.