13.1

 As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the lights of the academy shut off one by one, casting the campus into darkness. Thus, streetlights flickered to life, their dim glow casting onto the street. The remaining students, families, and faculty moved about, heading home for the evening. Security guards patrolled the grounds, their flashlights piercing through the dark. 

 Once it was confirmed that no one was left behind, they radioed each other and began the closing protocols. The iron gates creaked as the guards slowly pushed them closed. And so, the Guevarra Academy Admission Day came to an end.

 Megan and Melvin walked towards their car, ready to be driven by their personal driver.  Melvin opened the car door for Megan, but she hesitated, standing still.

 "What's wrong?" Melvin asked. 

 "I told someone to come with us," Megan replied, looking around in concern. "Where is she?"

 Wait, she's looking for someone?

 Could this really be...

 "Megan, I'm here." Brielle called out.

 ...

 The twins turned around to see Brielle approaching, her steps quick as she was a bit out of breath.

 "There you are." Megan crossed her arms, her voice high with irritation. "Don't make us wait again."

 Melvin glanced at Megan, a small frown on his face. "Be careful who you invite to our house." He muttered, "Father wouldn't like this."

 "It doesn't matter." Megan sighed, "She won't be there for too long."

  Melvin turned his gaze at Brielle, a blank, stern stare. Believing Megan's judgement, he opened the car door for the two girls. Megan and Brielle lowered inside, and Melvin settled in the front seat.

 Their car started, a black S-class, of course. Its engine began to run, and there they began their journey home.

 Seemingly, it would be a peaceful night for them... after a long day of triumph.

...

..

.

 But little did they know...

 I was hiding in the shadows,

...

..

.

 Watching them from afar... Getting clues to the situation...

 Brielle's situation...

 ...

 I must save her from this.

 13.2

 The car drove through the bustling city, gliding past tall buildings and skyscrapers. The driver played a classical tune on the radio, and gentle melodies filled the otherwise silent car. 

 NOW PLAYING :

 LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - PIANO SONATA "PATHÉTIQUE" NO.8 IN C MINOR

 II. ADAGIO CANTABILE

 Inside, Megan gazed through the window, the city lights casting a subtle glow on her face. Brielle sat quietly, her body tensed as she kept her movements minimal. She feared that even the slightest action might provoke the twins, and being in this vulnerable situation, she opted to remain behaved. 

 Melvin, in the front seat, stared at the road ahead. Feeling the peace of the moment-

  Bzzt... Bzzt...

 The silence was interrupted when Megan's phone vibrated beside her. She glanced at the screen, seeing the name "Aria" calling her.

 "Aria?" Megan answered, bringing the phone to her ear. "What is it?"

 Megan listened intently to Aria's voice- vibrant, continuous, yet slightly muffled due to the phone's volume. It seemed like she was ranting about something.

 "Ah... they fought again. I see." Megan replied calmly. "Is it about Kai pranking her again?"

 Meanwhile, Aria was in her car, also being driven home by her driver. She laid down in the backseat, twirling her hair as she spoke on the phone, resting after a long day.

 "It isn't about a prank this time," Aria said in a low tone of worry. "Suzie just criticized Kai's work and he didn't like that..."

 She continued, "I mean, I've always known Suzie doesn't like his sculptures that much. But that was the first time I've seen her just... be very disappointed in him."

 "Haha," Megan let out a soft laugh. "Does Suzie think she's an expert now?"

 "Yeah, but I think they can make up eventually." Aria replied, her tone exasperated. 

 "Their relationship clearly is a rough one." Megan stated thoughtfully, "With everything academics and now art on her plate, Suzie is bound to be exhausted."

 "At least she's in a relationship." Aria muttered shyly, her face turning pink at the thought of her and Melvin together. "I want to be loved as well."

 Aria turned flustered, realizing she had said that openly. She could only hope that Megan had not connected the dots of Aria's feelings towards her brother- Melvin.

 "A-Anyways!!" She stuttered as she changed the topic. "I-I have great news for you, Megan!"

 "You've been chosen as our class president."

 Megan's eyes lit up, letting out a short gasp which turned heads towards her.

 "Wait, what?" Megan questioned, keeping her voice down. She was confused. "Class hasn't even started yet..."

 Aria giggled. "Indeed, my brother was just so impressed by your work he saw at the ceremony. He had to make this decision beforehand!"

 "Your brother is our advisor?!" 

 "Yup! And since our classes are tomorrow, he wants you to prepare a painting in class to showcase a good example." Aria continued, her voice brightening with excitement. "So just bring one new painting that you've been working on."

 I... have to paint already?

 Megan's expression shifted, her eyes drooping as her lips dropped into a slight frown. She didn't want to work already, especially not after this long day. 

 Her silence concerned Aria, who called out to her. "Megan?" 

 "Oh!" Megan jumped, resuming the conversation, "I was about to say... we should head out tonight and celebrate-"

 Aria squealed in awe, "Megan... look at you! There's no point celebrating anymore, winning as a champion has become a norm for you at this point! Besides my brother would really love it, this is your chance to impress one of the famous painters in this country!"

 Megan would just want to hang out with her friends and celebrate her worries away, yet— the thought of impressing someone she had always looked up to? She knew couldn't miss that. She wanted to hear his dear, gentle voice filled with praises and compliments. It would all make her too happy... to see a good-looking man like him admire her as much as she admired him. 

 "O-Okay, I'll start working tonight." Megan blushed.

 She ended the call nervously, still thinking of ways to impress Aria's brother. The car halted at a red stoplight, and a jeepney pulled up next to them. 

13.3

  "Crap... I hope I don't lose them!"

 I said as I looked from within the jeepney, my eyes locked onto that Black S-class beside me. The stoplight turned green, and the car accelerated, its normal speed outpacing the speed of this jeepney. But, I couldn't waver, not like this. I kept my eyes locked on that car, determined to follow it as it sped further away.

 The traffic increasingly thickened, with groups of cars and vehicles sliding between us. The distance between their car and this jeepney was increasing, and it was getting harder to keep up. Soon, the car veered off in a different direction, away from the route this jeepney was going.

 "Para po!" I yelled, scrambling my way out of that jeepney. The jeep came to a halt, as the passengers were slow and disoriented to make way for my sudden exit.

 Due to that, I found myself in big trouble— Standing in a large, car-centred intersection, lacking of any crosswalks or safety for a pedestrian like me. At that point, I realized it was too late to head back— Rush hour was on. It was go big or go home.

 My eyes caught the black S-class blending into the traffic, its number plate ensuring I wasn't looking at the wrong car. I sprinted towards it, pushing my legs to their limits as I navigated this maze of moving vehicles. 

 "AHHHH!!" I shouted repeatedly, my loudness buried within the bustle of the road.

 My eyes widened as I looked at the approaching cars and trucks, their looming, metallic bulk threatening to crush me any second now. With all my might, I yelled as I pushed myself further, just avoiding them narrowingly.

 The drivers didn't seem to like that I was in the way— I was startled by their cars' loud, ear-piercing horns blaring all around me, they shattered my hearing with their ringing sounds! Their bright, blinding headlights assaulted my eyes, disintegrating my surroundings with flashes. The air thickened with the smell of hot fumes, the waving heat wearing me down into sweat. 

 The chaos of this traffic was overwhelming, my energy dwindled as each step felt heavier.

 Despite everything, I still focused on the targeted car. It stood so close- only a few more steps away, yet it could easily weave so far any moment now. I couldn't rely on sheer strength to catch Brielle, there had to be a way— 

 Beeeep!

 I leapt into a passing jeepney, tumbling onto its floors. Kneeling up immediately, I looked past the weird glances from other passengers and peered through the window— The car was still visible, in my sight, thank god!

 "What are you doing?! This jeep is very full!" The driver raged.

 "S-Sorry po!" I called back.

 I knew that I had been terrible... risky... I just pushed things way too far now! I risked my own safety and possibly endangered the lives of others, all for some school drama!

 But... I can't just give up...? Not yet...

 Guilt washed over me as I realized just how reckless I'd been. I panted, catching my breath and trying to steady myself. I remain huddled on the floor of the crowded jeepney, rummaging through my wallet to pay for the fare. I tried my best to not disturb anyone, yet I still received puzzled looks from the passengers.

 "She's crazy..." "Kids these days..."

 "This country always lacks manners..."

 Their condescending whispers hummed around me, their silent judgement putting me in a shameful position— Their dark presence loomed over my head, whelming my surroundings with shadows that looked down on me. My heart sank as I could still feel their glares, their eyes piercing through me with bewilderment and disgust. It made me feel as though I was beneath them.

 But... I couldn't blame them. I'd thrown myself into this mess. My reckless decisions led me here, and I was just lucky enough to not be caught by some enforcer. Though... being in this developed city of the rich, I wouldn't be surprised if I was being tracked down... or if they would show up on my doorstep soon.

 My stomach twisted, thinking of the consequences that would catch up to me. But.. I couldn't just dwell on them- No point worrying about that right now. I needed to continue searching for Brielle, except not in a reckless way.

 As I handed my fare to the driver, I kept my gaze fixed on their car outside. The jeepney, slow and steady, was able to keep up with their car's pace. It weaved through the traffic, gliding between countless cars, until I saw their car veering into a secluded road. There, I made my exit, opting to follow the car on foot.

 And eventually...

 It led me to a gated community— a neighbourhood where only the city's wealthiest call home. Its entrance stood as the barrier separating someone like me from the country's unimaginable luxury. I stood there in shock, fathoming all I ever knew...

 Born into a lower-middle-class family, I grew up in a neighbourhood where life was rough around the edges, just a step above the slums. Unlike those slum houses that were patched up with whatever people could find. We managed to stay in a house that was actually, somewhat professionally built with durability in mind.

 It wasn't the best, it was still small and cramped, barely enough for my family of 4. Being comfortable in such a house was a challenge, but it was all we could get used to. We were at least grateful that it remained intact, holding itself firm through the harshest weather conditions. 

 Meanwhile the outside... was a rough mess. Streets were unpaved, littered with dust, debris and stray trash. In most neighbourhoods, you would get around using tricycles— the ones that carried you by motor. However, the ones I knew? These were the tricycles that were the rusty, pedal-powered types. They got you around using a bicycle and you would sit in an old, worn-out chair with fabrics of religious images facing right at you. 

 Along the streets, you'd see rows of small, cramped, connected houses. Most of the buildings in the area were tightly packed, with little to no space separating one from the next. Children will be playing along these dense sidewalks and alleyways, their laughter mixing with radios blasting OPM tunes coming from vendors- There'll be shops, small businesses, and tindahans, selling everything from snacks, household necessities, and apparel. 

 Life was hard but familiar— everyone knew the struggle. Overall, we learned to find joy in the small things, making the most of what very little we had. Alarm Clocks? Our people used roosters for that, they'd crow every morning to wake people up. Warm water? If you had no heater at home, you'd get used to cold bucket showers right from the tap. Power outages? We called them 'brownouts', common in a neighbourhood such as ours.

 Standing before this place, I realized— everything I've experienced, every struggle and every way we made do with what we had—could easily be a completely foreign concept. The people who live here wouldn't even have the slightest clue on what our lives are like. 

 I used to think that attending a prestigious junior high would be enough to find common ground with them. But as the years went on, I realized that no matter how hard I tried to fit in or how impressive my talents were, their reality was light-years away from mine. There was no way I could share a common ground with people whose struggles revolved around things I could barely relate to. 

 After all, their worries are filled with things like; Which expensive outfit to wear to an exclusive party, or which country they would fly to for the holidays. With 90% of conversations related to having wealth and opportunities, why would someone like me ever fit in? 

 I might have been allowed glimpses into their world... but I was never really part of it. 

 I found myself frozen in place, my thoughts spiralling as I questioned if I even wanted to enter anymore. Brielle was now far too gone from my reality. An acceptance to the prestigious Guevarra Academy... and now being driven to Megan's residence? In a mere day, she already has access to a good education, connections and overall a promising future. 

 Does someone like me...

 even have the right to be her friend anymore?