Chapter 2 - In broad daylight

During the time I was walking, I saw people, subsequently gathering in the front of alleyway, a lone police vehicle is on standby, flickering it's Blue-Red candescent in the main road, I poked my head and shoulder, squeezing myself through the crowd to see what is happening, there were police investigating, capturing a laying corpse covered with a blood stained white sheet of a cloth with their camera. It looks like it was a place of a crime… No, it was a place of a prior murder. I try to pry in but It was too crowded to intervene.

I decided to ask the people afar watching the scene, coming across the two infamous women, known for their love to gossip with neighbors, Ms.Beth and Ms.Jasmine.

Mark: "What going on here?"

Ms.Beth: "A guy working from the facility in the fourth street was killed, his head was crushed by a blunt object. The suspect was still at large." She said in great detail as if she was the detective in crime.

Ms.Jasmine: "No wonder he was killed, that building was rumored to be scheming illegal business." She added.

Mark: "How come?" I ask daintly.

Ms: Beth "It was said, they engage in human trafficking, kidnapping, drugs, and even human experiment. That guy is one of the employee."

Mark: Huh?! [*Isn't that really bad!?*] Even it was just a rumor, they should try and investigate the case, don't you think?

Ms.Beth: "Apparently, authorities said they'll be checking on it, but they really don't seem to care about it. You know how our justice system works."

I lowered my head in shame. Sadly to say, it was the truth. In this nation, money is everything, that you can pay your own rights and justice, if you have that prosperity, no matter how grave your sin is, you'll be spared by that purchased compassion, and on the other hand, the poor will be put in the prison without a second thought, or even be killed at some occasions. Maybe we should consider that —becoming a Filipino is a disability.

Ms. Jasmin and Beth kept talking to me, I nodded consecutively while wearing a faint smile, they're too immersed in their make-believe stories, such as Espers going rampant, human combustion that occurred last week or even alien lifeform abducting people. They're connecting it like a missing puzzle which is too dumb to pay heed anymore, when things have calmed down I swiftly left the area. [*At this rate... I'm really going to be late*]

I walk tirelessly in this scorching daylight without making unnecessary stops.

---

I was sweating like crazy, and it took almost thirty-minutes to reach my destination. As I raise my head, I looked toward the huge school building; from afar the skyscraper was mammoth structure -an enormous and edifice rising from the terrain. The campus was built fifty-floor story building with broad walks through a maze of hallways piled with classrooms and academic stations. This place never ceases to amuse me.

Mark: "Jeez, I shouldn't be walking like this… That damn bus."

I continue walking, until I could hear voices of people above the distance. I immediately recognized the group of people sitting in the area, three senior students which I known as bullies, I noted the surprise looks of displeasure from those who recognize me.

[*Seriously?… I just got here, what a heartwarming welcome.*] I thought.

Snaking across the area, I gave a glaring look returning back those gauntlets of narrowed eyes following me; as I passed through them. I knew staring daggers or not, still would put me in trouble somewhere down the road. I just refuse to be humiliated anymore.

[*Good thing they're not in the mood to jump on me.*] I thought.

Moments later, I reach the main entrance, where a carved granite sign announced.

*First City Providential University* (FCPU)

Two armed guards flanking the large door, one was straight ahead while the other searched me for bugs. I passed between them. Feeling the same sensation I always felt as I pushed through these doors...another long day of school.

Mark: "Ugh… I hate school. I'm sure most people think so."

Inside the lobby, I sensed the faint echoes whispered around me as if the words were passing through from the guidance office above. It was Mr. Julius' office. It was no surprise for everyone seeing me there, sitting and being scolded by the school principal Mr. Julius.

The wall here in the lobby was lined with bulletin boards with massive pinned artworks, photographs, incredible test results, achievements, announcements, reminders, and upcoming events that could only be celebrated within the campus.

As I approach the hall, one of the staff emerged from the office nearby and takes the same path that I took. My smile grinned from ear-to-ear when I approach her.

I immediately recognize its gorgeous looks; the person is Ms. Rachel Harper. She resembles an innocent smile -not arrogant just pure bliss. Her posture was straight and tall...slim but sexy, white-skin, long-haired with black color, in her mid-twenties Ms. Rachel could outmatch every known celebrity with her looks, brain, figure, and attitude. She's a woman that a man would always fall for. I trust Ms. Rachel a lot, she's my teacher since grade school, not only giving good advice but also helps—treat me whenever cluster headaches attacks, the same reason I graduated was because of this goddess.

I greeted her as we arrived and entered the elevator.

Mark: "Good morning, Ms. Rachel," I said, smiling.

Rachel: She smiled back, "Good Morning, Mark." she paused for a moment. "It's been ages since we met. How are you?"

Mark: I whined, "Same as usual, my headaches never back down every night…just a while ago, people outside gave me a heartbreaking welcome..." I pressed the controls and endlessly talking inside the elevator "…I had argued with mom last week, and then I walked into broad daylight for thirty-minutes, since our school bus didn't come to get me."

Ms. Rachel only stared and gave a weird smile, as she watched me grumble. I paused a moment, realizing that I talked too much and felt like a garrulous old fool.

Mark: I changed the topic and joked, "Since you're always here to spoil me, everything is rewarded."

Rachel: She chuckled, "If your joking like that you must be fine now…but I'm also glad to see you're doing well."

Mark: "I miss this type of kindness, ahh…so nostalgic. If all of my teachers were this kind, my life would be a paradise."

Rachel: "I was happy even though I know you're just flattering me." She patted my head.

[*Ahh… Such a bliss…*] I thought.

She checked her wristwatch and looks worried before glancing over me.

Rachel: "Aren't you late in your class?…"

Mark: I scratched my head "I am…Mr. Nelson will scold me to death now…"

Rachel: "I'm also not good terms with Mr. Jake Nelson…Then I'll make sure to visit your funeral."

Mark: I pouted. "Come on… don't joke like that Ms.Rachel, you'll make me cry for real."

Rachel: "Hmm? That would be unusual. Since you've never cried all these years. Even students always pick on you or being scolded by Mr. Julius by an hour"

Mark: I shrugged. "I'm even surprised at myself. At first, I thought I was tough, but I'm just stubborn as a kid can be."

Rachel: "I wish I was confidently stubborn like you" she said softly.

We went silent for a second and Ms. Rachel asked.

Rachel: "By the way, have you heard the news? Everyone is fixated there."

Mark: "Um... Since I'm holed up in my room… I only heard a few, it's about a few people that possess strange abilities. Some of them were branded as Exiles because they escaped and could pose a threat to us civilians."

Rachel: "Everyone calls them as Espers. According to news, one of them was able to use psychic abilities, and read someone else minds by touching them…it must be great to have powers like that." She touched her chin. "I'm a little jealous."

Mark: "I guess, neither would be great to be an outlaw nor to be dissected in the lab" I said sarcastically.

She let out a small laugh, and before Ms. Rachel could reply the elevator reached floor twenty-two and halted.

Mark: "Bye, Ms. Rachel." I said.

Rachel: "Tough it out okay? Not for your own sake, but for the ones that you love." She patted my head and stepped out.

Mark: "huh?".

I didn't understand what she meant, but it was too late to ask. Ms. Rachel left and I have already thrown the switch.

Without Ms. Rachel that few moments felt like an eternity. The elevator reached floor thirty-one, I hop off the large metal box, and I head to the south wing of an endless loop of hallways that lead to my class. With several steps, I arrived at my destination where a small sign is hanging on top of the door

*CLASS A-102*

[*This is it*]. I thought.