"Ahhh!", Mike screamed as he shockingly sat up on the bed. Brushing up his hair, soaked in sweat.

*Huff, Huff* SFX

"That dream again," he thought. He stood up and went to the restroom. Washing his face, he saw on the reflection, a young adult, half naked, black disheveled hair, hazel eyes, and a scar on his left eyebrow.

Sighing, he started his day. He doesn't want to be late on his first day at college. Walking out of the apartment with his v-neck black shirt, beige jeans, and wearing his father's merrel shoes.

Its still 5:00 AM, and the University he enrolled is one and a half hour walk away, and with his bike, he may get there earlier.

______________

"Okay Mike, this is your area, you need to be fast, in about 2 hours the University is going to open," the Sid, President of the SAO, Student Assistant Organization, said as he left.

Mike stood at the area he is designated in, the Universities Park, withered leaves scattered all over the place.In his hand is a broom stick, a dustpan, and a garbage trolley by his side. Sighing he said ,"Yeah, need to be fast", as he observed his area ,"Two hours? Tsk", as he started doing his clean up.

______________

"Hey! Brian! Long time no see, but now Sinaw(1)", a skinny man, with thick glasses, walked though the hallway as he addressed to a well built man.

"Oh, Adam, hahaha, yeah," as Brian, the well built man, scratched his head, "Erpat(2) and me had a bet. I lost so," he shrugged off, as he tilted his bald shining head.

"Haha, you and your father's gimmicks," Adam glanced at Brian's back, trying to find someone or something as he questioned, " Where's everyone?"

"Don't know, come on, lets go to our class, we don't want to be late."

"Look whose talking. The Master of Cutting."

"Shut up!"

As they went to their respected classes, they saw a familiar guy. Both of them shocked and stood still. Silence pervaded the atmosphere and was broken by three women shouting and calling at them.

But the two doesn't seem to hear the three beautiful girls, and stared right at the guy cleaning up the park. Then the three girls gazed at where the two are looking. They too, got shocked. But one of the girls had tears on her eyes, and a petite girl had widened eyes but a smile spread on her face.

______________

"Oh Thank God! I'm done!," Mike thought out loud, as he finished his work. On the hallway, two boys and three girls, stared right at him.

He felt his face burning, he lowered his head, then sprinted off with the things he had. "Need to get change for the class."

Going to the storage room, dumped the things, then change his clothes. White Top, shoulder boards with and anchor on it, black pants, and a shiny black shoes. College of Maritime Educations type-A uniform.

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"Whew, time to go," carrying his bag, he went to his class. But he failed to notice an owl, staring at him on a tree.

______________

"Discipline, Attitude, Character, is what most companies want in their crew," the Instructor lectured, "Remember the work ASK. Attitude, Skill, and Knowledge. Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering courses are semi-military, we discipline you. If you don't have what it takes and you dislike how we handle you, I don't CARE! You are in the wrong place my boy, so quit before regretting 'IT'."

Mike and and the others stood at attention in front of the instructor. They are in the classroom, Mike is seated just beside the window. While the Instructor is lecturing, Mike saw on his corner eye, an owl on the branch. The owl jumped on the other branch which is near the window where Mike stood, and stared right at him. Mike focused his gaze at it, then a bumped on his head startled him.

"Where you looking?," the Instructor said, gazing at Mike, seemingly melting him on the inside. Mike straightened his back and stared back at the Instructor. "LOOK STRAIGHT FORWARD!." Mike complied.

The Instructor walk right in front of Mike, "You don't stare at my Eye!," in a low voice he said, "Give me 50!", Mike dropped down and pushed up.

*Ding, Ding , Ding*

"Alright boys, see you tomorrow, read the history tonight, we have a test." Everybody took their bags and went out, Mike still doing push ups.

______________

At Night, Mike was walking with his bike on the sidewalk. Exhausted and starving, he though about what happened today, his work as student assistant, him being a Marine Transportation student, and the scholarship he had.

"Whew, God help me. Life is hard," he thought, gazing up in the stars. He heard a swishing and flapping sound. He looked at his surroundings, then before he know it, he saw an owl flew over him, and his consciousness faded .

______________

Everything was black. Mike started to wake up. He can't move, except his eyes rolling around, observing.

A Glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. He focused his gaze on it, and a voice came, booming all around him.

"The Beginning is the End, The End is the Start of the Beginning. Why bother seeking the truth? The Truth cannot be seek, it seeks you."

Then the glimmer of light expanded and Mike's vision were covered with light.

______________

Notes:

(1)Sinaw - means Shiny in visaya terms in the Philippines.

(2)Erpat - means Father in Tagalog.