POTENTIAL: TWENTY-THREE

**ALEX POV**

We're in the classroom now, waiting for the Professor. Everyone was talking nonstop about the sudden death of five of our classmates. The room was filled with this mournful ambiance, making the air heavy. I feel like I'd rather not breathe in here.

I looked at Quinn, and it was evident that she was also deeply saddened. The five escorted her home yesterday, and this was what happened. Her first day here seemed to be cursed. I hope she was okay.

While others were busy talking and crying, the three of us were the opposite. Instead of mourning, our awkwardness prevailed after what happened this morning. Because of that, Maica would suddenly blush every time she thought about what she saw.

Sky and I also explained to her how he ended up in my room, which was very embarrassing. She couldn't even eat breakfast this morning when I told her that something happened between Sky and me last night. So, until now, she's been acting like that. I hope she won't do it in class.

Speaking of class, the Professor stepped into the classroom, shutting all the students into silence. Everyone sat properly and focused their eyes on the front. Prof's face showed sorrow, adding to the heaviness of the air inside the classroom.

"Shall we start the class?" Prof asked without enthusiasm. Few of us nodded in response, while others just kept their heads down, seemingly reluctant to start the class. We had no choice but to begin the discussion since we paid for it.

The class officially started, but unlike before, the discussion was more boring and gloomy.

I endured this kind of class for five hours and I could say that it was the most challenging class ever. Everyone else was asleep, while some didn't pay attention to the class just doing things that amused them, probably diverting their thoughts from the grim truth of what happened. It was like they were sucking up the joy that once lingered in this class.

Lunchtime came and we decided to eat with Trisha. I thought Quinn would join us, but she stayed in the classroom, mourning the loss of her five new classmates. We were on our way to the canteen and as expected, students were looking at me again. Some were whispering while looking at me from head to toe. I opened my clairaudience and tried to listen to their conversation even though it was against their will.

"Look! It's Alex."

"You mean the one who killed Xander 10 years ago?"

"Yes, and it seems like she has a new victim again."

"Who? Don't tell me it's the five?"

"Who else?"

"Come on, friend! Do you know that accusing is bad?"

I deactivated my clairaudience and focused myself on what was in front of me. Listening to them would just be a waste of time. I just continued walking until we reached the canteen. We quickly lined up to order which took us thirty minutes of our time. We immediately looked for Trisha but failed to spot her.

"Where is she?" Maica asked in surprise, grabbing her phone. She took a quick look at it and seemed like she didn't find anything.

"No text?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"Come on! Let's find a table and wait for her there." We agreed with Sky's suggestion and quickly found a table to sit at. After a minute or two, we spotted her. The place was too crowded, and add to that the stares and whispers about me. I just ignored them and started eating because I didn't want to waste the food I bought because of them.

"That Trisha girl is so dead."

"She deserves it. She even defended that... who's that guy again? Alex?" I looked at Sky and Maica who were also looking at me seeming to have heard the conversation of the two girls. We didn't waste any time and left to find Trisha.

We went straight to the second-year classrooms and immediately searched for Trisha's room. We quickly spotted the room upon seeing the pool of students sticking their noses into what was happening. We rushed over and saw Trisha, standing awkwardly in front of the two girls.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Trisha. I never expected you to take the side of that Alex who killed your sibling!" the girl in front of Trisha shouted angrily.

"And you even made friends with them. What's wrong with you, Trisha?" another one asked. Trisha just stood there silently, as if trying not to worsen the situation. I looked at Maica and I could feel her growing anger inside.

"Speak, Trisha! Tell us why?"

"What do you want? Do you want money? Because as far as I know, you only befriended me because of my money," Trisha retorted. The two girls were caught off guard and took a step back.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I heard it from you, Danella. At first, I thought we were real friends but after what I heard from you, I realized that you are just using me."

"Tsk! So what!"

"So what? I trusted both of you! I gave you money when you couldn't pay for your tuition. I bought you food when you had nothing to buy. And I even let you borrow my clothes for your stupid dates! And this is how you repay me?" Trisha angrily and tearfully explained. I never thought that Trisha was like this with her friends—helping them in times of need but none of them appreciated it. Their tendency to be users prevailed.

"Alex," Sky called and so I turned to face him. He was looking to my right, and when I looked I was surprised to see Maica trying to get into the classroom where Trisha was.

"Whatever. What's done is done and you can't do anything about it."

"Really?" Maica suddenly interrupted Danella, catching her off guard. Danella tried to slap Maica but Trisha pulled her hair. Danella's friend retaliated by also grabbing Maica's hair. The classroom turned into an instant fighting ring because of the brawl between the two groups. I was about to help them but Sky stopped me. I looked at him with confusion, but he was too entertained by what was happening inside.

"Don't meddle in a girls' fight," he said, irritating me.

"What's going on here?!" a teacher suddenly interjected causing the other students to disperse. Sky and I were the only ones left and the ongoing situation inside the classroom stopped after being ceased by the interference of the teacher. The four were called into the Dean's office which they promptly followed. I told Maica that we would wait outside which she agreed. After all, I didn't feel like going in after what happened during the morning discussion.

******

It's the third day since the news of the death of the five. The case was still open, but the police hadn't found any possible reason or suspect yet. However, what's puzzling is that the autopsy revealed that the five experienced simultaneous cardiac arrests. So, the case is now a mystery and a puzzle. Many people claimed that something demonic or supernatural caused their deaths, but they had no substantial evidence for it. The Mayor immediately declared a curfew after what happened.

We were in the classroom now doing our own businesses. Some of our classmates still couldn't get over what happened. Add to that the commotion between Trisha that became the talk of the whole university.

I looked at Quinn again, but she remained the same: sad, quiet, and mourning. I knew she was struggling right now, especially without someone to talk to. I've been there, and it could be insanely depressing. Fortunately, Maica talked to me at that time, easing my heart.

Maybe I should do it for her too. I didn't care what Sky thought of her; all I knew was I didn't want her to feel what I felt before.

"Argh! I can't take this anymore! Are we just going to sit here and do nothing?" one of our female classmates suddenly exclaimed. Everyone looked at her, except Quinn.

"Just get over it, Thania," the President ordered her while busy reading a book.

"Get over it? Easy for you to say because you don't care about us! All you think is yourself!" Thania retorted angrily.

The President slammed her book on her desk and glared at Thania. "What do you want me to do?! Investigate their deaths?"

"Maybe you should! After all, you're the President here and everyone's safety is your responsibility!"

"So, you're blaming me for their deaths just because I can't do my job?" the President implied. "I'm a freaking President not a damn bodyguard? And for the record, Thania, I didn't choose this! All of you put me in this position in the first place!"

"Because we saw a leader in you! That's why we chose you!"

"Then think better next time!"

"Can you please stop!" the Vice President intervened, who hadn't contributed anything to the class except for her looks. "Stop blaming everyone. None of us wanted this to happen! We've known each other for five months!"

"Not everyone," Mikee, the Treasurer, chimed in while looking at Quinn. Everyone was now staring at Quinn and I could feel suspicion and distrust in their gaze, just like Sky. This is not good. "This only started when she arrived. And besides, she was the last one seen with the boys on the day they died."

"Mikee is right," echoed one of our classmates, imitated by a few more.

"That's impossible. How could she kill the five jocks in our class? Quinn is defenseless against those five," argued another guy.

Finally! An ally!

"Maybe she's not what we think she is," countered Mikee.

That's precisely what Sky said.

"Yeah! In fact, we don't know her," agreed the Vice President.

"Maybe she's a witch!" they joked and laughter filled the room. Quinn suddenly stood up surprising everyone and silencing them. She still had her head down and her hands tightly clasped. I couldn't help but stand up too, diverting their attention from her to me.

"Stop blaming, Quinn. She just transferred here and this is what you're going to do to her? You don't even know her so you have no right to accuse her."

"Exactly, Alex," the President agreed, which pleased me. At least someone understood me. "We still don't know Quinn that's why she's suspicious."

Looks like no one actually understood.

"Oh, by the way! Why didn't we think of this? You killed someone ten years ago, right?" Mikee suddenly asked. I knew what she was doing.

"I admit I killed someone before but what does that have to do with what happened now?"

"They say, Alex; once you start it, it's hard to stop."

"Are you saying that I killed them?" I implied.

"I didn't say that."

"Alex was with us at the time the crime happened so stop blaming him," Maica defended me.

"As expected, that's what you'll say since you don't want your friend to be exposed and jailed," Thania sarcastically replied.

"Enough!" Quinn suddenly shouted, shutting everyone up. I noticed Quinn's body jerking making me feel sorry for her. "You have the right to blame and accuse someone but make sure you have enough evidence first," Quinn said seriously and quickly left the classroom. I followed her gaze until I couldn't see her anymore. I wanted to go after her but—

"Follow her. She needs you," Sky suggested surprising me. I looked at him and he just nodded before returning to his book. I didn't hesitate and left to catch up with Quinn. When I got out of the classroom, I couldn't see her. But that didn't mean I would stop. I closed my eyes and used the same technique I used to locate the bombs.

When a person is experiencing extreme emotional impulses, their body releases adrenaline, increasing their heart rate thus giving them more energy. Using this technique, I could intercept her location using the energy she emitted.

After a minute of locating her, I found her. She was at the rear of the school - the same place where I killed Trisha's sibling. But I didn't have time to be sentimental now because someone needed my help.