Lahat ng Kabanata ng Everyone Thought I Was Just a Pretty Face: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

I was standing at the back of the line at morning assembly, reapplying my sunscreen, when the foundation's ultimatum was announced.The September sun was so harsh that it was hard to keep my eyes open. I held up a small mirror and carefully checked the sides of my nose."This side isn't blended." I handed the mirror to my deskmate. "I need to add a bit more, or my face is gonna be two different shades."Every head around me snapped toward me. The dean of students, Mr. White, stood on the assembly platform, still clutching the foundation's notice.His lips twitched. In the end, he just couldn't hold it in. He said, "Geraldine, the foundation just gave us their ultimatum. If Greenwood doesn't win the National Scholastic League this time, we're losing all our funding next semester. Over 2,000 students might not have a school to come back to, and you're worried about a tan?"I looked up. "Morning assembly is school-mandated. It's not like I'm banned from wearing sunscreen just because

An hour later, the organizers finally replied. No substitutions or no-shows were allowed, and the fourth contestant had to be present the entire time.Their notice came with the foundation's final confirmation letter. Greenwood would only stay in the competition if the roster was submitted by midnight. If the deadline was missed, the funding would be stopped.Once the news spread to every class, everyone blew up. The doorway was jam-packed with people when I returned to my classroom.Evie Snow stood in my way, her eyes red. "Geraldine, my mom's raising me and my younger brother on her own. Without the financial aid, I'll have to drop out next semester."The boy behind her spoke up quietly. "My dad was in a car crash last year. Everything we had went into his treatment. I'm only one semester away from graduating. You don't even have to answer the questions. Just sit there. Please?"More and more people crowded around. Some were panicking, and some were terrified. Some just stared a

The arena went dead silent.The host stood there with the mic, speechless. Tech staff rushed onto the stage, frantically checking the screen, the question set, and the buzzer system.I lowered my head and used the blacked-out screen as a mirror. I'd rushed when I tied my hair earlier, and my bangs on the right side were a bit messy.Sasha grabbed my hand. "Geraldine.""What?""Just now, you…" She glanced at the board full of green lights, her voice shaking. "Did you really just choose the answers at random?""More or less," I said.Sasha just about lost it. "You got all ten questions correct, and you're calling that 'more or less'?"Brookstone's coach shot to his feet. "This is impossible! She hands in blank tests every month. How could she answer ten tie-breaker questions in a matter of seconds?"Hugo's expression darkened. "I want the buzzers checked. For all we know, you preloaded the answers in there."Greenwood's section erupted. "So you accuse others of cheating the m

The awards ceremony hadn't even started when Brookstone filed a complaint. They said my performance during the competition was way too different from my usual grades and demanded that the organizers do a public review.Word got out, and Greenwood's students were even angrier than I was."So getting all ten questions right doesn't count, and winning the tie-breaker doesn't count either?""How many times does Brookstone have to lose before they admit defeat?""If they want a review, then they'll get one. Might as well make the humiliation official."Sasha dropped a stack of scratch paper in front of me. "This time, you're not allowed to say your hand's tired."I picked up a pink pen. "This is ugly. It's throwing off my game.""Geraldine…""Fine, fine. I'll write as much as I can."Five teachers came up with the questions for the review match on the spot.Hugo was Brookstone's representative. When the first question appeared, he immediately lowered his head and started calculati

School life didn't change much after my identity was exposed. People were just suddenly a lot more enthusiastic.Before, I could leave my backpack on my desk all day, and no one would touch it. Now, as soon as the bell rang, several people would rush over to grab it."I'll take it!""You had it yesterday. It's my turn today!""Quit fighting. There's a laptop in there. You break it, you pay for it."I stood off to the side and said, "There's only a curling iron and sunscreen in there."Everyone went quiet.Sasha pressed a hand to her forehead. "No wonder you keep saying your bag's heavy. You don't bring any books?""I leave my books at school.""Then how do you do your assignments?""I already did them.""When?""When I was 12."Sasha had nothing to say to that.…For the monthly exams, my homeroom teacher dragged a desk over and sat right next to me. He said, "Geraldine, you're not turning in a blank test this time."I'd just taken out my lip gloss when he reached over