INTERTWINED FATES

The noisy chatter in the cafeteria instantly died down at the loud slamming of the door, causing hundreds of heads with matching pairs of eyes to turn in the direction. Some widened in surprise whilst some didn't look too surprised at the arrival of the five famous attention - attracting seniors.

Who Crystal Heights Senior High didn't know 'The Unbeatable Five'? Having made their name after arriving in the school together in the middle of the second semester of the first year with their great looks, mysterious wealthy backgrounds, fearlessness and aloofness, as well as their care-free nature in school.

Not forgetting their marvellous intelligence inspi-te of their frequent absence. Especially Michael who faught his way with the second year stu - dents in the Computer Science and Technology department to participate in their class test. And Philip.

Even though more than half of the class ended up in the Principal's office for fighting, he explai- ned himself and got to participate in the test after being made to apologise to the class for intrusion. Whilst his attackers initially had two weeks of suspension, he kind of took pity on them after some of them asked him for help in pleading with the principal for a lighter punish-ment and begged on their behalf. Resulting in them jogging for two hours around the basketball park in the school.

Eventually he had formed an unshakable bond with the class after the test results came out and topped the class. But his parents still refused to allow him to switch courses, even with the inter - vention of the department head and the Principal. Leaving him so angry and heartbroken that he had stormed out of the office and then out the school, leaving his bag in the practical room where he took the test.

He was absent for three days and his friends didn't force him to go to school, neither did his family as they knew he needed an alone time. But his friends came around his apartment anyway, just kind of walking on egg shells around him.

He returned to school on the forth day to realized the news was allover the school. Increasing his irritation. But the Principal called him and told him he could only allow him to learn in the depar- tment on his own free time. In order words, he could always go to the department to learn. That had somehow made his day.

What he didn't expect was for the seniors to accept him wholeheartedly this time, even apo-logising again and suggesting friendship. He didn't have any problem with it. He just wanted to be able to learn when he had the time, just not too often as his family would find out. His only problem was the female seniors in the depart- ment starting to get too close for his liking.

While Michael's intelligence was proven through violence, Philip's was through a special Science assessment in front of the school's authorities and the students who had reported him for sus- picion of examination cheatings. He was practi- cally acused of cheating in all tests, with some parents pulling some strings behind the scenes.

But he wasn't affected. He sailed through all oral, theoretical and practical questions with stunning ease. Pointing out some errors in the questions whilst suggesting different ways they could have been made. From his own will, he explained their recent test and what his mates did wrong, adding solutions and his own developed methods of learning that were surprisingly simple. His me - thods were precise and left no room for doubts. All through the process, he was very calm and collected. Showing no signs of being under pressure or nervous. It was the longest anyone had seen him talk -two straight hours! 

Right after ending, he had surprisingly told them to send Mrs. Crimson, his fifty - eight years old female physics teacher to the hospital. It was then that the authorities and students there had realised the woman who was previously pale had gotten more pale. But the stubborn woman had insisted she just had a little headache.

Philip, with his brows furrowed for the first time that day had known something was seriously wrong and had a familiar really bad feeling. Not being able to keep too much in, he had told the woman her condition seemed to be getting worse. But she wouldn't budge. 

Seeing the severity of the situation, the Principal had granted her the rest of the day off to go for a check up. But just after she stood and took a few steps forward, she had suddenly collapsed.

Half an hour after she was sent to the hospital, four professional looking guards from Philip's family arrived to take him-who had gone to his home room to sleep home. Looking disapprovingly at the Principal and some stuff members who had to come meet them outside in the hallway after they refused to talk in the Prin- cipal's office, saying they came to take their 'Little Master' home. Ignoring the curious looks of the students in the hallway and peeking out from windows and doors. 

Once two of the guards had gone into the homeroom to get Philip, the remaining two had sternly but calmly told the authorities the school had made their Little Master talk too much, and he needed to go home and rest. 

Christopher's case was both intriguing and scary. Unlike the first two at all. The boy had been fixed at the third position, neither stepping up nor down, and he seemed perfectly fine being there. Concerned, his family had teamed up with Philip and Micheal with some teachers to force him to step up. 

With Micheal in the Business course with him shifting from the first position and the second always, it was easy to assume Chris was intentionally being lazy and staying a comfortable step right behind Michael or just a step away no matter what position he had. Prompting even Michael to be strict on him, forcing him to learn more . 

The end results was the boying losing some wei- ght and constantly complaining that he didn't want to step up. Adding that it was too tiring to step up and that stepping up would kill him. But of course, no one took him seriously, because he wasn't sounding serious. 

That was until he collapsed in front of the class after submitting his last paper, and stayed in comma for three weeks and three days. Only waking up two days after school reopened.

When the boy woke up, his first words were a question of who his parents were. Frightening everyone into thinking that he might have lost his memories. But a moment later, the silly boy burst into dry throaty laughter, teasing them of looking like 2D cartoons on a cracked screen! 

How they wanted to give him a beating! But none of them had the heart to. When given the report of the tests he took, he had merely glanced at the second position and the other grades, huffed and stuffed the card into his dad's hand and leaned back against the bed.

Looking at Michael, he had asked of his position. Hearing that he had the first position, he had smiled weakly and then with a grime look at his father -and older brother Collins, he had firmly told them to lock the report in a safe because that, was never happening again! 

None of them knew exactly what to feel at that moment. It was Philip who was standing by the door way who let out a burst of laughter then quickly wet out. Looking at his retreating figure, Chris had smiled, then without any warning, slipped right back into sleep. Frightened, they thought he had gone back into coma. 

Afterwards, he gained unlimited freedom in his studies. No one dared to force him to study again but the crazy boy maintained his third position. 

For Richmond and Raymond, they had no press-ure from their grandfather and their two older bro - thers. Provided they stayed within the first five positions in the Arts class. And by far, they've had all the required positions except the fifth which was their bottom line. So it seems they are doing fine. 

The previous years had let the school to realise the five boys preferred keeping to themselves,not allowing outsiders into their circle. There's been various tries, mostly from girls of all classes, but none worked. And it seemed there would be another again. Certainly a really good one that would provide a good show in the cafeteria. 

Instead of the silence ending quickly and the chattering continuing, the silence stretched on with heads and gazes shifting from the five boys to their secluded table now occupied by the school's Cheerleader ; Joana, and her two best friends ; Stacy and Juliana, mostly referred to as Julia. And their boyfriends ; Tyler, the school's soccer captain and his best friend, Albert the basketball captain. 

Joana and her friends started sitting at their table on Wednesday. Their on and off boyfriends feeling insecure about the girls' recent break up with them and their unexpected change of tables, joined them the following day and today. Now with the sudden arrival of ' The Unbeatable Five', a good show was bound to happen. 

Casting a helpless look at Raymond who had opened the door so dramatically, Michael just shook his head but chose to keep quiet. 

" Can't you just keep it a bit low, considering we just came in?"Chris however asked, not intending to keep it in like Micheal. 

" Nope. " Raymond replied with a silly grin on his face." This is much better. "

 Richmond just chuckled, giving his brother a thumbs up and a fist bump. " Same here." 

At that moment, the later two's gazes fell on their now occupied table. Their eyes dimmed and their expressions turned serious. A stark contrast to their previous jovial selves. 

" What the hell..." Both brothers said in low voi - ces in synchronisation. But an almost inaudible shushhhing from Philip at the same time Mich - eal subtly signaled them to follow their lead silen- ced them. It was then that they realized Micheal and Philip were already in the know about what was going on and seemed to have their own plans. 

Chris seemed a little lost, but was just going with the former two. Seeing the situation, the siblings decided to go with the flow. Not wanting to act on their own and destroy any original plan. 

Under the watchful eyes of ninty- five percent of the students in the large cafeteria, the boys, led by Philip and Micheal a foot away from him went casually to the counter. Where an average heigh - ted slightly chubby californian woman in her early sixties, with a dark-brown bob and bright lively eyes smiled at them as she saw them coming. 

" Long time no see Mrs. Blunt." Philip greeted cheerfully, his face lighting up with a rear smile as he neared the older woman. His dimples deep and clear, giving him an unusual cuteness as his eyes sparkled with fondness. His enthusiasm creating a lot of surprised and shocked express - ssions.The four behind him not being exceptions.

Michael had a brow raised slightly with a light smile on his face. Chris' eyes were wider and loo-ked like they might actually fall out of their so - ckets. But thankfully his mouth remained closed. But unlike Michael and Chris, Richmond and Raymond actually had their mouths wide open.

" The Silent Demon can be anything but silent and calm?" Richmond asked, not really expecting a reply, but Micheal gave him a quick one; 

" Shut up." 

" Oh my boy!" The older woman replied just as cheerfully, reaching out from over the counter for his hands." It's been so long. I've missed you so much! "

" Missed you too." Philip replied, chuckling as he held her hands on the counter. Leaning closer, he planted a warm kiss on her cheek before leaning back, grabbed a high stool close by and sat down. Looking at his friends, he said ; 

" Meet my friends." 

" Hi... Mrs. Blunt." Micheal greeted with a warm smile. Not having to put in any effort as the wo- man's warmth was contagious. He found himself feeling really comfortable with her, something that didn't happen often. " I'm Micheal." 

" Hi dear..... " Mrs. Blunt began when a sudden realisation hit her. " Oh my! I remember you boys.... from that photo Phil showed me five years back. It was the same day I went back to my country." 

" Yeah... the same." Philip replied her pushing another stool near him closer to Michael, who grabbed it and sat down.

The rest getting the hint, picked up some around and followed suit. All the while being casual and not casting a single glance behind them. 

" You boys have grown so much over the years." The woman went on, her eyes twinkling. " I've been asking around since I started working here about you boys. Angela here...."She pointed at a beautiful dark skinned woman in her late thirties making sandwiches behind her, who just respon- ded with a light smile and a nod in their direction before continuing with her work." told me you you all really school here. But never told me you were such royal truants!" 

Her voice raised a tiny bit at the end dramatically. A frown etching itself on her lovely aging face. Causing the boys to laugh shamelessly. 

" Oh trust me grandma," Raymond began mischie-viously, all innocent and and comfortable.Work- ing his charm on the older lady. " If not for me, they wouldn't ever remember they have school. I'm always the one who wakes those lazy bums up every morning these days." 

" what! " Chris yelled, his face full of disbelief.