"Thank you, girls. Be sure to practice your routines for the cheer off next Tuesday, okay?" They all nodded and smiled at my remarks.

Pareparehas kaming tagaktak ang pawis dahil sa practice. My squad and I will represent the Laodicea City for the cheer off, and hopefully, manalo muli kami. Tahimik kong pinapanood ang mga kasama ko habang isa-isa silang lumalabas sa gym.

I let out a sigh and decided to change my clothes because classes will begin soon.

I can't help but still be amazed by the surroundings. It never gets old-parang kahapon lang ay hindi ganito kaunlad ang teknolohiya sa bansa.

Marami ang nagbago sa Pilipinas, lalo na't opisyal nang hiniwalay ang Luzon sa Visayas at Mindanao. Luzon decided to evolve, but the Visayas and Mindanao chose to keep their culture and simplicity.

And as Luzon took a huge step ahead, a new state was formed. The newly founded government made a considerable change by lining up the cities according to ranks. Because of that, the twenty-six cities in Luzon were born; Zerehiah is placed in the last, and our city, Laodicea, was in the 12th, while the first rank is Alpheus.

Alpheus City is considered the Philippines' capital. It is the city where evolution began, and it is also the city with the most elegant and latest pieces of equipment and is one of the reasons why the Philippines is no longer one of the world's poorest countries. Alpheus also possesses the tallest building in the Philippines, and LIVE Corporation's tower can be seen in all the cities- wide and clear, where all the research and experimentation are being studied.

And the tallest building was founded by the Live Corporation; a group of scientists obsessed with the term "evolution," they are so drawn to it that they have a long term project known as "Genesis," they have been studying it for three years. Still, it seems like that their research is somewhat pointless.

Nang makita ko na maayos na ang mga kagamitan namin sa gym ay napagpasiyahan ko nang umalis. Marami ang estudyante na lumilingon sa direksyon ko, hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa ingay ng aking takong o dahil ako si Amira.

When people talk about me, they tend to think that I am Amira Paige Fernandez- a stupid bitch, who luckily claimed the top spot. My co-cheerleaders? I know that those smiles plastered on their lips were just masks, in short, plastic. Wala silang masabi sa 'kin tuwing kaharap nila ako, at sa oras na tumalikod na ako saka lamang nila ako nasasabihan ng masasakit na salita.

The rowdy noises from our classroom were filling up the hallway. Napatingin ako sa relos ko't napansin kong tatlong minuto na lamang ay 7:15 AM na, ibig sabihin oras na hindi dumating si Ms. Esguerra ay wala ng klase.

Ilang segundo ang pinalipas ko bago talikuran ang classroom, naisipan kong tumungo sa rooftop upang makalanghap ako ng sariwang hangin.

"I'm really serious, Ma'am. Wala po akong pakielam kung mapatalsik ako sa eskwelahan na 'to-"

"Mr. Gesmundo, you are my student. Let's be both professional. I'm your teacher, so set aside your infatuated feelings." My eyes widened upon hearing Ms. Esguerra's voice; I even halted and pinched my arm to know if I'm not fantasizing things.

Dinikit ko ang likod sa pinto papuntang sa rooftop. Hindi ko rin sila masilip ngunit kilala ko ang kausap ni Ms. Esguerra. Si Parker Chase Gesmundo isa siya pinakakilala sa eskwelehan na ito. He is mostly known as the ace of the baseball team.

Sinong mag-aakala na may pagnanasa pala ang lalaking 'to sa professor namin?

"Please, Miss-" Parker was unable to finish his sentence when a loud explosion occurred.

At gusto ko rin murahin ang pagiging inner chismosa ko dahil napasigaw ako dahil do'n. Marahas na bumukas ang pinto at ang galit na mukha ni Parker ang bumungad sa 'kin.

At dahil hindi ko alam ang dapat kong gawin ay napagpasyahan ko na lamang na mag-peace sign sa kanya dahil wala lang, feeling ko ang cute ko tingnan.

"Bitch," He spouted right in front of my face. Pinanliitan ko s'ya nang mata, napansin kong may hawak siyang baseball bat kaya't ngumiti ako sa kanya. Baka mahampas pa ako. No, thanks.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang higitin n'ya ako papunta sa rooftop. Pilit kong kumakawala sa kanya ngunit masyadong mahigpit ang kapit niya sa braso ko.

"Hoy, bitaw!" I gritted. He just glared at me saka niya sinarado ang pinto sa pamamagitan nang pagsipa niya.

"Anong mga narinig mo?"

"Let me out, Parker!" I commanded. Hindi niya pinakinggan ang sinambit ko't humarang sa nag iisang pinto paalis sa rooftop.

"No,"

"I heard nothing, okay?"

"As if na maniniwala ako," He jeered. Wow, ang talino. Sana hindi ka na nagtanong 'no?

Tinalikuran ko siya at napansin na tahimik si Ms. Esguerra sa dulong bahagi ng rooftop. Napansin kong may abo na lumapat sa 'king balat dahilan upang igala ko ang aking mga mata.

And to my surprise, the Live Corporation's tower is on fire. The ashes acting like snow came from that building, kahit na malayo ang Alpheus City sa amin ay abot pa rin dito ang mga abo mula sa pagkasunog ng lugar.

"What is that smell?" Parker asked. Hindi ko siya nilingon dahil puno pa rin nang pagtatakha ang isipan ko sa dahilan kung bakit sumabog ang tower na iyon.

Secured ang lugar na iyon dahil palaging nililinis at iniinspeksyon ito pagkatapos magtrabaho ng mga empleyado.

"Umutot ka ba?" I asked.

"The fuck are you saying, bitch?"

"Ah, I forgot. Hindi nga pala ako naiintindihan ng mga bobo. Sorry, hindi ako nagamit ng bobo language."

I heard his tongue clicking, "You are getting on my nerves, woman."

Nang harapin ko siya ay agad akong ngumisi. At kitang-kita ko kung paano siya lalong nainis dahil do'n, napansin ko rin na mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa baseball bat niya na medyo nagpakaba sa akin.

He was about to take a step when he heard a faint growl. Parehas nanlalaki ang mga mata namin na tinuro ang isa't-isa.

"Did you fart?" He asked.

"Bobo ka ba? Tunog utot ba 'yon?" I asked.

He shrugged and gave me a judgy look.

"I don't know-"

I laughed, "Don't tell me... Hindi ka umuutot? Tao ka ba talaga-"

"I do fart, but it doesn't sound."

I playfully covered my nose, and he did the same. Hala, bobo. "So, mabaho?" I teasingly asked. Nang alisin niya ang takip sa ilong niya ay masamang tingin ang binigay niya sa akin.

And once again, we heard a faint growl. Medyo malakas nga lang ito kumpara kanina, upang tumingin ako sa direksyon kung saan iyon nagmula.

Ms. Esguerra.

Nakatalikod pa rin siya sa amin, but I noticed something different to her. She was paler than her usual tone. Her head was also tilted with her beginning to get frizzy. Parker was about to walk in her direction when I stop him and pointed Ms. Esguerra's facade.

Droplets of green substance were dripping out of her mouth, and I can now tell that the faint growl was coming from her because it was starting to get loud.

"Parker... Noong nagconfess ka ba kay Ms. Esguerra ay may binigay kang chocolates or something?" I asked.

He squinted his eyes and pulled his arm, "I thought you heard nothing?"

"Answer my question, moron."

"I didn't give her any treats," He said.

"Tsk. Slapsoil," I commented. I carefully watch Ms. Esguerra- her veins were carefully showing along with the small cracks coming out of her body.

Weird.

"Ms. Esguerra?" I called.

I twisted my mouth when she slowly looked in my direction; she mumbled her name like a psychopath.

Ms. Esguerra's teeth were covered with charcoal, and her eyes possess crimson hues.

What the hell?

I ran towards Parker's back when Ms. Esguerra sprinted in my direction. Para siyang asong ulol na gustong manakmal.

Alam kong yummy ako pero hindi ko gusto masakmal sa ganitong paraan. Rawr.

"Bat, bat!" I said to Parker.

"Gago ka? Crush ko-"

"Crush mong hindi ka na-crush back! And now, she's acting like a dog with rabies!" I shouted.

Parehas kaming tumakbo ni Parker dahil hinahabol kami ni Ms. Esguerra. "I told you, use your bat!"

"No way-" Inagaw ko ang baseball bat sa kanya at hinampas iyon sa ulo ni Ms. Esguerra, saglit akong nagdasal upang humingi nang kapatawaran sa paghampas ko sa professor ko.

"Bitch, what have-"

We both laugh awkwardly when Ms. Esguerra slowly stood up as if I didn't smash her. Dahan-dahan na kinuha sa akin ni Parker ang baseball bat niya at marahan akong tinulak papunta sa likod niya.

"I have a conclusion in my mind... But I can't find the right words to explain it." Parker whispered. "Don't make any noises, bitch."

"You are the one talking, moron,"

Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone sa bulsa at hinagis iyon palayo sa pwesto namin, malapit sa exit, to be exact.

"Give me your phone," Parker said as he extended his hand. I unlock my phone first before giving it to him.

Nang tumunog ang cellphone niya ay mabilis pa iyong nilingon ni Ms. Esguerra. Para siyang tanga na kinakagat ang cellphone ni Parker.

I was about to laugh when Parker sprinted to Ms. Esguerra's direction, and swings his bat to her head.

Ako ang napangiwi dahil do'n, nang bumagsak ni Ms. Esguerra ay akala ko tapos na si Parker ngunit paulit-ulit niya itong hinampas hanggang sa masira ang bungo nito.

Naramdaman ko ang pamimilipit ng sikmura ko dahil sa ginawa ni Parker.

"Pinatay mo si Ms. Esguerra dahil hindi ka nakacrush back? Are you insane?"

Inis niya akong nilingon, "Kung hindi ko ginawa 'yon, parehas na sana tayong gaya niya."

"No way,"

He suddenly smirked, "Yes way, bitch,"

Can someone wake me from this nightmare?

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