The ceiling fan hummed softly as both the principal and the guidance counselor were glaring at me, yes I was aware I did beat the transferee to a pulp and it was an accident... I swear. I didn't know what got a hold of me that exact moment but, it was just...
"Jean, we're you listening?" Said the principal as she was glaring sharply at me through her thick glasses.
"Ma'am Crisanta, I'm truly sorry for what happened yesterday ma'am, I... I'll control my temper next time." I lied, the two of them the principal glared for a moment as the guidance counselor Ma'am May let out a soft sigh.
"You know the damage you did couldn't just be fixed with a simple and genuine apology, look at what you did to his face he could've faced severe brain injury or let alone die. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Ma'am May replied with her arms crossed.
"Yes Ma'am May, I do understand that which is why I'm to be held responsible for my actions." I replied to her as I turned my gaze through the hallway seeing Keon head upstairs with his entire body covered in bandages.
"Alright, I can see that you're genuine and are willing to repent so I'll tell you this. You'll be serving community service helping the canteen workers for one month, and for the rest of the school year you'll be Keon's seatmate and group partner until the year ends got it?" Ma'am Crisanta intoned as she stared deeply into my soul, so deep I could notice the thickness of the lenses on her glasses reflect my eyes distortingly through her wrinkled face.
The scolding was over, for now... I still have a lot to explain to my aunt when I walk back home, seeing that she was furious when she heard that I got into trouble yesterday I could only imagine if she heard the results of today's "lecture" or so they call it in there.
I've got my fair share of "lectures" ever since I transferred here, I'm not quite the troublemaker. I only beatings to those who deserve it or even worse...
I... I don't even want to think what I did that day. I should definitely stay out of trouble this year, I don't want to go inside that office again.
I walked to the classroom letting out a soft sigh, it had always been a bad habit of mine... sighing for no reason my aunt would always warn me to never do that often since it would make you older, and it's somewhat disrespectful but I couldn't help myself.
Looking around a few people were sat down on their chairs and armchairs, some of them were even using their phone and the most evident being the kid with down syndrome playing his Minecraft Parodies on speaker, seriously... grow up already.
I turned to the back row to see Keon sitting down with bandages wrapped around his arm and his left eye, I didn't remember eye gouging him... maybe I did that but does that even matter anyway? Well, I guess I gotta see how he's holding up to.
With my chest tight as ever, I walked to Keon as he was scrolling through his phone. I placed my bag on the chair next to his, he abruptly stopped was he was doing glancing at me, he was still giving the same stare he was giving me yesterday.
Everything feels off with this man, I swear...
"Can I help you?" Keon asked as he placed his phone to his desk for a moment.
"Well, I'm- I- uhh..." I don't even know what to say...
"If you're gonna sit, feel free." Keon intoned in a confused tone.
"Yeah, Ma'am Cristana has she told you yet?" I asked him as I sat down at the chair next to the window.
"No, what about it?" Keon asked without making eye contact staring blankly at the blackboard with his head resting on his palm.
"We're assigned seatmates 'til the end of the year." I told Keon looking at his dark phone case for a moment.
"I see." Keon replied back as he grabbed his phone and began scrolling through social media again, is this guy allergic to social interaction or something?
Well, I did just beat him up yesterday but... well I guess there are no buts it's only natural for the guy not to talk to me after what I did yesterday.
The silence was practically deafening. Even though the other classmates were talking to each other, meanwhile I was there sitting next to the guy I beat half to death to. It was just weird, everything is weird, I'm weird and he's weird. Fuck...
I pulled out my phone out of boredom, opening a game called Mobile Legends. Very overrated game here in the Philippines but it's the only normal game considered by these squatting ants, the only fun part about this game was the trashtalk and stuff if you play to rank up or solo it would just get boring quickly.
Keon slightly turned to me while I was practicing a difficult hero on practice mode called Fanny, I was slightly yet smoothly gliding my fingers through the second button trying to cable smoothly yet I couldn't seem to get the hang of it.
"What's your rank?" Keon asked curiously as he was watching such disgusting gameplay on practice as I kept bumping my character through the wall.
"Mythical Glory, why you ask?" I replied as I continued to practice the hero.
"Let's 1v1 your choice of hero." Keon glanced to me as he booted the game up on his phone.
"You sure about that? Don't come crying when you loose." I smiled as I turned on my mobile data to reopen the game.
"Just choose a hero, I could even let you choose what hero I'll choose to give you an advantage." Keon smiled as he created a custom lobby.
"You don't need to do that, I don't want to utterly embarrass you."
"So, what's your ID?" I asked Keon.
"957759398" Keon replied as I added him on the game.
"Done, invite me now." I replied to him.
"So, what hero are we gonna use?" Keon asked as a small crowd began to form encircling around us.
Whenever there were one on one battles like this, they love to watch the games just so the looser would get picked on the entire day, well as for me I only lost a few times cause these guys don't know the meaning of the word's "sleep" and "study" they're professional truants.
Prince rushed by to my chair as he placed both his hands on my shoulder while he was watching me pick a hero.
"Oh boy, it is on the transferee vs the almighty adobo!" Prince shouted as a larger crowd encircled around us, I walked to the third row to follow an unspoken rule.
You cannot play one on ones while the two sides are sitting next to each other, since that would encourage the guy to look at the other guy's screen and have an advantage via what we like to call "map hack" and the use of this dirty strategy is frowned upon on this classroom.
"I'm placing my bets on Jean here, you guys saw how he was playing right?" Ben muttered from behind as he was watching Keon's screen.
"You do you man, but me I'm supporting the underdog judging by his skins he looks like a decent player." Gani replied to Ben.
"Skins don't mean skills dumbass!" Ben shouted to Gani.
"Well, tell me this why would you even spend a wad of cash on a game you're not good at?" Gani intoned annoyed.
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"I'm picking Gusion." I told Keon as I locked in Gusion while Prince sat next to me.
"Well folks, it looks like Jean is using his main hero against the underdog here I wonder who will stand victorious! So far we have Ben and Gani betting a hundred on each players so let's see what our contestants can show off!" Prince intoned trying to imitate the shout caster from the reality tv show Showtime.
"Gusion huh... well then, good luck." Keon replied with a confident tone, well the guy is five ranks lower than me I should give him a little bit of a chance-
The picking was finished, I glanced to the icon next to Keon's flag to see that he is ranked Number 21 Globally and he was also equipping my dream skin! What the hell is this bullshit...
"Oh well folks, I think we know how this match is about to end." Prince intoned nervously.
While I was busy getting wrecked by the mummy, I can't help but notice everyone laughing and smiling everyone was so happy. It was just the start of the second day, yesterday was filled with issues yet seeing them like this feels so... it doesn't feel so right.
Tick... tock... tick... tock...
It was silent. This feels, much more mundane no laughing... no smiling... no gaming, just this loud clock paired with the peaceful humming on the ceiling fan. It was all I ever wanted... no, I don't want this I need this.
Is it because there was beauty in mundanity? Or maybe is it because of my sense of distrust... either way my brain says it wants it but my heart objects. Now that I'm in this state, tell me have I always treasured these friendships?
Were my feelings always valuable to them? Do they only see me as some... clown, pretending to be this kid with issues just to make them laugh in exchange for attention. But what is attention without respect?
I've always hated them haven't I? I've-
"I've won!" Keon shouted with a bright smile slightly covered by the bandages.
"You really should stick to the basics man." Keon intoned mockingly, while Ben paid Gani a hundred pesos after he lost the bet.
"Yeah yeah whatever, you got lucky." I smiled as footsteps were heard entering the room.
"Okay class, surrender your phones!" Sir Andrew stated as he opened a empty first aid box it was mainly for keeping the surrendered phones but you could try being more creative, no?
A single file line was formed in the middle, one by one my classmates were placing their phones inside the box. I followed through behind same with Keon who stood behind me each of us waiting our turn to surrender our phones.
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The crowds were bustling at the canteen, it was like a view you'd normally see on the night markets on Divisoria. The only thing that differentiates our school cafeteria from that chaotic stinky mess is that inflation is starting to be a bitch.
Yesterday, fried chicken from the canteen only cost ₱25 a piece, now it had sky rocketed to ₱39 in a span of a day. They even had the decency to subtract a coin from the amount even though they fully take ₱40 as the original payment.
I weren't the one to bother lining up on the canteen during the time of chaos, I'll just wait until the crowd lessens or there was no crowd to be seen at all. Even though half of the food would be gone once it was empty, doesn't mean the the other half was gone.
"Hey, it's you!" a warm voice intoned behind the bench.
Turning to the voice, I saw the same girl from yesterday and it was confirmed from her outfit that she was one hundred percent a "handsome" young woman. She was sitting on the railing of the wooden bench with a gleeful expression. It feels like she's up to no good.
"Oh, hey do you need something?" I asked the girl, as she got off the bench railing and sat on the edge of the bench resting her arm on the armrest with her legs crossed.
"Nothing, you just seem so lonely sitting by here alone."
"You got any friends or do you just despise social interaction?"
"Well, seeing as you approached me yesterday I kinda doubt that." She replied to herself letting out a soft sigh while she rests the side of her face on to her palm while staring at the canteen.
"So kind of you to spare a thought." I replied to her while also staring st the canteen as the crowd wasn't anywhere near minimizing.
"You mistake kindness for pity, plus I'm bored and you're one of the only guys I know in this place." She replied with a blank expression as she moved slightly closer to me.
"So, tell me... what exactly are you doing here alone?" She asked.
"Just waiting for the crowd to disappear." I responded still staring at the canteen's bustling crowd.
"Well give a clap for Mr. Edgy and Mysterious here..." She intoned sarcastically.
"I meant the crowd at the canteen..." I corrected her with a annoyed glare.
"Jeez, chill out your emo side is showing... Anyways, what if the food runs out?" She asked curiously
"You think this place would run out of food, have you seen our enormous tuition fee? If the money's not enough to supply food for a entire city then I don't know what is." I answered in a sarcastic tone.
"You've actually got a point! But sadly, the rich kids probably bought half the food on stock hehe..." She chuckled slightly.
"That's literally what's happening right now." I replied, in the distance I noticed a group of tall boys probably on the eighth grade walking by with large portions of food on their hands.
"See, just as we predicted." I pointed at them as they were walking at the separate hallway
"Aren't they afraid to get fat?" She smiled slightly while resting her chin on her palm slightly pressing her lip using her thumb.
"To be honest, I won't be afraid of getting fat. I'll be afraid of whatever fhe hell they put on the food."
"Think about it, all those shit is probably processed. We could die early just by eating their food." I replied, in a moment we both stared at each other as if we were linking our braincells.
I know what I said didn't make sense, it was just a thing Ben would always tell Gani. While staring at each other, she confusingly began bursting with laughter for a few moments, I did not know why she laughed. Was there something on my face? Do I look that funny? Am I funny? Little by little, as she laughed harder, I didn't realize I was laughing with her.
Two maniacs on a bench, laughing over processed food. We probably had hotdogs or meatloaf for breakfast, both of them being processed goods well I guess we we're just that insane... laughing at the face of death. For a few moments, I noticed some people slowing down as they stared at us. It would be embarrassing but, I just didn't care now.
"Bwahaha! You're insane dude, so you're saying all of us are going to die early for eating street food?" She responds, still bursting of laughter as her glasses slightly slid down falling on the floor.
She quickly picks up her glasses from the floor wearing it again, she looked at me with a wide smile on her face.
"Cazandra, with a z not an s." Caz smiled gently as she adjusts her thin round glasses.
"Jean, but most of them call me Val." I responded smiling back.
"Val? That's a weird nickname." She laughed
"Ca"Z"andra? Your name literally has a spelling error." I replied back with grinning.
"Well yeah, whatever... Val." She rolled her eyes as she stood up as walking to the canteen.
"Don't die early, Cazandra with a Z!" I shouted to her, she slowed down for a moment as she glanced at me slightly to give a slight thumbs up with a annoyed expression.
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"Well class, don't forget to have a good rest stay safe as you go home!" Sir Andrew stated as while the others were preparing their bags as they go home, the second day... wasn't that bad in my opinion.
"So, you down to play ranked later?" Prince asked while he was sorting out his books
"Sure, I'll try to login later if I'm not busy." I replied to him adjusting my backpack to a comfortable position.
We both walked out the room, heading to the gate. The crowd was murmuring to one another as usual whenever one was to go home from school. The tricycle drivers we're even stationed outside next to the street vendors selling sorbetes, siomai, and some fishbols.
"Later bro." Prince uttered as he clenched his fist facing it toward my face.
I raised my hand with an open palm and in a instant, Prince delivered a strong right hook onto my hand. It used to hurt when I did it the first time, but everytime we do this secret "handshake" my right hand would start feeling numb. I think it's time to do that to the left too I guess.
"Ow." I shook my hand and patted his shoulder walking past him as I was heading home.
Well, heading home again... I really shouldn't be walking home. Whenever I walk home my aunt would scold me, I have enough money to commute but I'd rather walk because I could observe the people around me, and who knows I might meet someone along the way.
While I was walking, I turned to the city hall for a moment... Should I do it? Alright, just one more ride... I walked inside the busy city hall as I approached the man at the counter who was busy scrolling at his phone, he had a very pathetic expression. The same expression I have... I always had.
"Sir, do you know where the C.R. is?" I asked him
"Go straight and turn left st the second corner." He replied without batting an eye.
"Thanks." I replied, following the directions he gave me.
It was surprisingly empty today... well, let's make this quick. I want to go home, but I don't want to go home broke or my aunt will kill me. I've spent too much money and she'd be mad if she finds out I only got ₱10 left on my wallet.
As I entered one of the empty stools, I placed my backpack at the toilet tank zipping it open while I stripped my clothes, changing into a full black outfit. I pulled out a box of contact lenses and two black bandanas placing it onto one of my pockets. Dressing up completely, and lastly... I pulled out the knives.
You can't be safe these days, right? I strapped them up concealing them on my pants. I placed my school uniform on the bag, with my ID and some personal belongings. I walked outside the stool, pulling out the box of contact lenses on my bag as I faced the mirror changing my eye color to the color gray.
I walked outside the comfort room and I approached the man in the counter once more.
"Sir, can you take a look of my belongings? I'll have to go somewhere." I asked the man
The man dropped his phone for a second and we've exchanged glances for a while. He must be high or something... weed is illegal in the Philippines though, but who cares fuck the government.
"Place it on the lost and found box." He said as he went back to scrolling on his phone.
"What a weird kid... " he muttered to himself.
Well get used to it dumbass... I placed my bag onto one of the lost and found lockers walking out of the city hall, I looked around the area noticing a local convenience store on the street. Bingo...
I crossed the street as I entered the convenience store with my bandanas covering my hair and the second covering my face. I got my knives ready, the job might seem easy as there was no security guard. I just need a few couple of things, cash and chips.
Looking around, I noticed there was a entrance to the back of the convenience store. The plan was simple, walk onto the staff room and sneak up on the cashier while I slightly injure the other staffs who see me no killing just disable them for a while.
Following the plan, I snuck in at the back of the convenience store seeing multiple dumpster bins and a employee smoking a cigarette on the corner. He was alone... it was a chance for me to strike. I looked around and noticed a metal pipe laying near one of the dumpster bins.
Staying low I hid on the side of the dumpster bin, then grabbed the metal pipe laying around the corner. It was the same routine as ever...
"Help, please open the dumpster lid! I'm tied up inside, some guy knocked me out and I'm stuck here, help! " I shouted trying to imitate another person's voice.
"Huh- O-okay, hang in there ma'am." The employee said with a nervous tone.
Ma'am... seriously? I'm good at imitating voices but ma'am? Ugh, who am I to complain... at least it worked. Footsteps approached rapidly on my position, and the moment I heard the dumpster slid. I swung my pipe on the back of the man's head.
Well, that went much more smoothly than my other attempts... this man's pretty weak being handled like that by some 9th Grader. I stripped him off his work clothes leaving only his underwear and shoes, while I wore his clothes, taking my bandana off.
I walked into the staff room, filled to the brim with boxes. Some boxes probably storing food, skincare, or possibly some tools who knows what's inside those tightly sealed things, plus I can't just grab one heavy box away and expect nobody to chase me.
After looking around for a while, I walked out of the small room walking to the shopping floor... I really don't know what this area is called so I just call it either shopping floor or main floor who gives a shit, all I know they sell shit here.
While walking around scanning the area, I see the cashier on sitting alone on the counter distracted with his phone. Normally there would be two people there, but maybe I got lucky and got rid of the other nuisance. I now wonder where the manager is...
I slightly pulled out the knives from my pants placing them onto the pockets. I walked to the cashier and stood there for a moment, he glanced slightly at me while he was busy playing some block game on his phone.
"What is it? Look, I can't loan you another hundred pesos last time you did it you said you'd use it to feed your brother but you spent it on some booze." He replied unconsciously as he continued playing on his block game.
I took a deep sigh... I'm sorry.
The man glanced at me for a moment, as I curb stomped him on the jaw, pulling him close shifting onto a chokehold while pointing the knife on his neck stabbing him on the middle traps using one of my knives.
"Code, ten seconds, shout you die. " I muttered to him piercing the blade deeper onto his back.
He wailed in pain trying to hold back his voice as he opened the cash register. I quickly removed the knife behind his back and slammed his head onto the marble edges of the counter knocking him out cold. Swiftly, I took the money from the cash registrar and quickly ran away outside the convenience store.
I kept running as fast as I could, it was only normal for me... to run away. Nobody was even chasing me, but I still ran. Why... why did I run even though, I was the only guy inside that room.