Chapter 5: The Incounter

★–[Luce Veritas Academy| Front gate| 7:30 AM]--★

A grand campus looms ahead—tall buildings, sleek architecture, and ivy-covered walls that scream prestige.

Inside a parked car, Jacob sits quietly between his adoptive parents. His eyes lock onto the academy gates.

> Giuseppe (smiling): "Son… this is it. Everything you've worked for—right in front of you."

>Isabella (kissing his cheek): "Take care of yourself, okay? Mom loves you. Mwah!"

>Giuseppe (chuckling): "Same here. Knock 'em dead, champ."

>Jacob (smiling softly): "Thanks. I'll make you proud."

He kisses them both on the cheek and steps out of the car.

---

★--[Intrance]--★

Jacob walks with quiet awe, taking in the elegant surroundings—students chatting, leaves rustling, the occasional laughter echoing through the old stone walls.

Suddenly—BUMP!

He collides with a girl in uniform. Her phone slips from her hand and slides across the pavement with a soft clatter.

> Jacob (quickly): "Ah! Sorr—"

He doesn't finish the sentence.

His eyes meet hers—and then—

---

***[MEMORY FLASH |January 13, 2013| Valencia | Bukidnon]***

He thought he was just watching the kids playing in the distance…

But then—

A crying girl, standing beside a couple near a white van.

She was holding a small bag.

Their eyes met. Just for a moment.

Then the van door shut.

She was gone.

★--[Back to Present]--★

> Girl (thinking): "Weird idiot".

>Girl (annoyed): "What the—?! Don't look at me like that!"

>Jacob (flustered): "Sorry!"

They both crouch down to grab the phone—their hands nearly touch. She freezes. Glares.

> Jacob (awkwardly): "I didn't mean to—really, I'm sorry."

>Girl (coldly): "Whatever."

She snatches the phone and walks away without another word.

Jacob watches her leave, confused.

> Jacob (muttering): "What a snob..."

But… she feels familiar.

He scratches the back of his head and continues walking.

---

[Cut to: Classroom Entrance|8:20 AM]

The Door swing open.

Jacob enters the classroom—calm, focused. Students glance up. Whispers ripple through the room.

> Girl 1: "Is he new here?"

>Girl 2: "Yeah! That's Jacob, right? The one who won that contest in Rome."

>Girl 3: "He's kinda cute. And a writer? Ugh—I like him already."

Jacob quietly finds a seat and puts on his earpods, eyes forward—expression unreadable.

Then—

The door opens.

Selena Kaile De Gracia walks in—confident, elegant, sharp-eyed. A girl who turns heads without trying.

She notices Jacob immediately. Their eyes meet.

> Selena (raising a brow): "What?"

>Jacob (nonchalant): "Nothing. You just walk like a main character."

Selena scoffs, flips her hair, and walks past him.

> Jacob (thinking, half-smiling): Snob… but pretty.

He leans back, unaware this is just the beginning.

A Fe moments later.

The chatter fades as a man enters—tall, refined, commanding.

Professor Geo Venci Romano. A literary legend in his forties.

> Prof. Geo: "Good morning, class. Take your seats—we're starting."

He sets a thick attendance book on the podium and flips through it.

> Prof. Geo (reading): "Mr. Jacob Dagasdas Bellini?"

> Jacob (raising hand): "Present, sir."

>Prof. Geo (glancing up): "Ah, there you are. Fresh from Rome, I heard?"

Jacob nods slightly.

> Prof. Geo: "Very well. I am Professor Geo Venci Romano—your instructor in Advanced Literary Structure and Creative Expression. Or, as you call it, simply 'Writing Class.'"

He gestures toward Jacob.

> Prof. Geo: "Now, Mr. Bellini—introduce yourself."

Jacob stands.

> Jacob (confidently): "My name is Jacob Dagasdas Bellini. I write… because I breathe."

The class stirs. Selena raises an eyebrow.

> Selena (thinking): Cute, sure… but did he have to stare at me like some lovesick maniac earlier? What a creep.

> Prof. Geo (smirking): "Excellent. You may take the seat beside Miss Selena De Gracia."

Jacob walks over and sits beside her. She doesn't even look his way.

> Jacob (thinking): Yup. Attitude: activated.

A few moments later~~~

★--[Lecture Begins]--★

Professor Geo walks to the center of the room, brushing chalk dust from his sleeve.

> Prof. Geo: "Before we start today's lesson, I have a simple question."

(He turns to Jacob.)

"Why do you write?"

Then he addresses the class.

> Prof. Geo: "Let's hear from all of you. Miss Blanche, would you start?"

A confident girl flips her hair and stands.

> Calie: "First of all, it's Calie Blanche, not just 'hey you'—especially you, Jacob." (She winks.)

"I love writing because my imagination is insane. Like… a man falling in love with a mosquito."

The class laughs.

> Prof. Geo (chuckling): "Creatively disturbing. Sit down."

> Selena (muttering): "Overconfident clown."

Jacob catches her comment and looks at her.

> Selena: "What?"

>Jacob (covering): (pointing at the board behind her) "Delulu? What's that?"

Selena looks puzzled, and a bit irritated.

Everyone shares their answers—until only Jacob and Selena are left.

> Prof. Geo: "Miss Selena De Gracia?"

She stands, calm and composed.

> Selena: "I write because I love it. It runs in our family."

> Prof. Geo: "A legacy, then. Beautiful."

(He turns to Jacob.)

"And now, Mr. Bellini."

Jacob stiffens. The class goes silent.

> Jacob (hesitant): "Uh… I like writing…"

His voice cracks. Grammar slips. Some students giggle.

> Student 1 (whispers): "That's the writing champ?"

Student 2: "His English sucks."

Jacob bows his head.

Selena watches, but says nothing.

> Prof. Geo (firmly): "Enough. Respect goes both ways."

(He eyes the student in the back.)

"Mr. Alejandro, your grammar isn't exactly Shakespeare either."

Silence.

> Prof. Geo (calmly): "Go on, Jacob."

Jacob breathes in. Lifts his head.

> Jacob: "My English… isn't perfect. I know.

But I write because I love telling stories.

And more than that—because I want to fulfill my mother's dream.

Even if she's no longer here… I want to finish what she started."

The room quiets. Even those who laughed now look down.

Selena glances at him—still unreadable.

> Prof. Geo (softly): "Thank you, Jacob. That was brave. And for the record—you're more than good enough."

RING!

The bell rings loudly.

> Prof. Geo: "That's all for today. Class dismissed."

--

After class ended, both of them hurriedly packed their things into their bags. Just as they were about to leave, they bumped into each other again.

> Selena (annoyed): "Seriously?! Are you doing this on purpose?"

Jacob just stares—not at her, but past her.

A photo on the nearby board catches his attention.

A landscape from Bukidnon. A place he visited before leaving the Philippines.

Selena follows his gaze…

And sees the photo too.

--

[FADE TO BLACK]