Novel Preview: A Clash with the Knight

*Filipino version is also uploaded on Wattpad but the English version will have a terribly slow update. The Filipino version is my priority because it will be submitted to Reb Fiction. My English is not perfect. I am just doing this for fun. The story is set in the Philippines so you will encounter some words and expressions in Filipino.

Lancelot "Knight" Valdrez was the most popular young adult writer in the country. At the age of eighteen, he amassed millions of followers on social media, he had sold out books and his story would be adapted into a major motion picture soon. To put cherry on top, he was invited to study at the prestigious Bright Minds Academy where only the elite and the gifted could join, the school that rejected him several times.
Until he was criticized by his new classmate, Sylvie dela Paz. In front of the whole school, she said that his book was garbage - it has loopholes, incorrect grammar, and people only buy his book because of his pretty face. She said that someone else deserved to be in his place who had more sense than him - her deceased boyfriend.
Wanting to prove himself, he offered to write the story about her boyfriend. He could help her give the recognition that her ex-boyfriend deserved and to prove to Sylvie that he was deserving to be called an a real author.
It was a deal. He didn't expect to like her a lot. But how would she recognize his worth if he was different from his ex-boyfriend who was being compared to Jose Rizal for his intelligence and as a real-life hero?
Because Lancelot was no genius or a saint. He was just one lucky knight.

Chapter One

Sylvie adjusted the focus of her DSLR camera. As the official student photojournalist of The Newsmaker, Bright Mind Academy's school paper where she was on her first year as senior high school, her camera was her responsibility. She was using her own, not the organization's property. She preferred working with her own camera. She was used to her own equipment. She couldn't mess up in the middle of her assignment. She always prided herself as a professional despite the young age of seventeen. With photography awards under her belt, it would be a shame to ruin her reputation.

Yes, she was trained that way. To be ready and to make sure that everything would be perfect. After all, she was enrolled in the school of the elites and gifted in the country. Not that she considered herself as an elite. Her parents had an organic farm and spa resort in Antipolo. They had enough to send her to one of the most expensive schools in the country. But they don't belong to the high strata of the society.

But according to her father, she must not depend on the name of her family or their wealth alone. She must create her own path and work hard. She must always give her best. So as early as six in the morning, she was already at the headquarters of the school paper even if the start of the class is at seven-thirty.

While she was busy with her camera, other members of the organization were so into fixing their faces. Mindy, the group's video jock for their online newspaper and media site was expertly shaping her eyebrow. Her motto is "Kilay is life". (Kilay is eyebrow in Filipino)

While Thanos, the videographer, was pouting at the compact mirror with his violet lips. When Sylvie looked around her, everyone was busy fiddling with their own grooming kits.

He tapped Mindy's upper arm. "Do I look perfect?" He put put his face naer hers so she could get a closer look. His face was ashen white, his eyes were rimmed with thick eyeliner and his mouth the color of ube.

"Is this Halloween? You look like a Gothic character with your one-inch thick eyeliner and your violet lipstick. What the heck, Thanos! Mindy leaned back to put some distance between her and Thanos. "You look horrible."

"This is the Gem of Hades look. So Knight will notice me right away."

One of Sylvie's eyebrow lifted. The mention of the name Knight made her cringe more. It was what the fuzz was all about. He was the most popular young adult writer in the country. He wrote a horror book that garnered millions of reads online and will be turned in a major motion picture soon. He had millions of followers on social media and a single status from him or a picture could make young men and women alike shriek with excitement. He was charming with his bad boy looks.

The ultimate "kilig" according to his fans. Did anyone discuss about the merits of his job? No. Nada. Because it was trash. But it didn't bother his fans if they buy his ultra-expensive crappy book. For her, Knight was more of a model than a writer. He was better off endorsing products than as an author.