Flashback. 2025.

All of the students are inside the EMC classroom, some chairs and tables are blank, some students are far away from each other but they are having a conversation. The students are gossiping about their classmates.

“Do ya think that Vondre will do something to her?” Ellias whispered.

Daisy is talking to her classmates while eating chips with Maya and Alejandro.

“I’m not sure, eh, umm… I don’t know. Jandro, Vondre’s your close friend, ey?” Daisy questioned.

“Yes, but sometimes I stay away from him. There are times that something flew above him.” Alejandro bragged.

Three students looked at Alejandro with their surprised expressions and did not believe what Alejandro mentioned. Their faces are filled with doubts; their eyes can even talk about it.

“Ay, wow. Coming from you.” 

“You guys have no differences, but Vondre leveled up.”

Alejandro’s brows went downwards and leaned near on the group’s table, then shouted.

“I swear to God. He’s quiet but he’s way WORSE-”

His classmate cut the chat, whispered something to them.

“It seems he’s having problems with his family that’s why it affects his attitude.”

Pilar opens the door, then sits at the front with a table for two students. She placed her bag beside the blank chair. The students continue to gossip. Maya and her group saw Pilar staring at the ceiling, to eye level; nothing at all.

“Pilar’s alone again. I only talked to her sometimes.” Maya murmured.

“C’mon, let’s ask her if she knows something about-” one of Maya’s classmates suggested but it goes wrong…

As Buenavondre opened the door, looking for a seat, he approached Pilar to sit next to her.

“Is the seat taken?” Buenavondre questioned.

Pilar nods signaling “NO” and Buenavondre sits beside her. The students at the back are whispering, looking at them.

“Oh, Heavens.” the one who told Maya to approach Pilar reacted.

All of the students at the back of the classroom continue to chat. Alejandro is looking at them, specifically focusing on Buenavondre if he silently observes the whole class.

“Stupid jerk, what if he hears you?” he hit its head and yelled quietly to his classmate.

Buenavondre is all ears to his classmates. The students are still gossiping at the back. He didn’t mind at all; simply letting it go by talking to Pilar about school activities.

“Do you have a partner?” he questioned.

Pilar nods again with disagreement.

“I don’t have a partner yet. Ellias must’ve already teamed up with Jandro.” Buenavondre added.

“I thought Jandro is your best friend?” Pilar replied.

“Whatever.” 

He ended their conversation about partnering, they are still talking- All eyes on them.

The school bell rang and students went outside to buy some food. Some stayed inside the school vicinity to chat, gazing at the scenery, walking- doing their own thing. The outside canteen at the back of the school: there are several students

eating, having a chit-chat, some are smoking. The class gathered with two tables. They are looking at Buenavondre and Pilar, chatting at a separate table, almost far from them. The same group of students who were chatting inside the classroom a while ago are still gazing upon them. They still cannot reach Pilar.

“What was that guy plotting again? Does he know something about Pilar?” a student questioned.

“What is it?” Ellias bats in with a question.

“Much better if ya better know nothing. All we need is to take her away from Vondre.” Alejandro warned Ellias.

Ellias looked at Alejandro and his classmate with such confusion and silenced himself. Afterwards, the batch continues to do their own thing.

On the side of Buenavondre and Pilar, they are casually talking to each other.

“How are you, Pilar? I noticed that you’re hushed.”

“Still my usual self. I’m not into talking.”

“Donchu have any problems at home?”

“Eh? I-I’m fine. No need to think about it.”

“You’re downcast as usual.”

The students from the other side are still observing them while eating, looking at their phones, smoking, and just sitting. 

“How many times did Vondre buy something from the black market?” another student roared.

One of the students gasped and covered the mouth of their classmate and warned them.

“You stupid, your voice is on max volume.”

Luckily, Buenavondre didn’t hear a single word or two. Or maybe he is not minding what other people say… It seems that they’re just a wind. Buenavondre and Pilar are looking at the surroundings, still at their table. Pilar is drinking a soft drink, Buenavondre smokes.

“Can you still catch up with the activities? You always do those individually.” Buenavondre questions her all over and over again.

“Yeah.” Pilar replied quietly.

“Don’t you feel a bit jealous when our classmates will go on a walk and you’re not included?”

“I told you I’m not tagging along. I have errands to take care of, especially-”

“About what? From who?”

Pilar shuts her mouth and with her weary eyes. Buenavondre breathes and continues to smoke.

“I’m sorry.” Buenavondre said to her softly.

Pilar didn’t care about his response. She continues to gaze at the sky, and Buenavondre is only looking at her… Maybe his third eye is looking at his classmates.

Their classmates are still observing them, faces are frowning, confused, and gossiping and guessing out what happened.

The staff are busy doing paperworks, some students are in to ask assistance and such concerns. Pilar is in the faculty with Prof. Mario, the one who also stands as her guardian, talking.

“How’ve you been? Still keeping your works up to date?” Prof. Mario is worried about Pilar.

“Opo, sir.” Pilar replied while her head was low, looking at her hands.

Prof. Mario pauses for a bit and turns the monitor in sleep mode, then crosses his arms. Pilar suddenly sits straight. The sound of the aircon can be clearly heard, both of them are still having a conversation .

“Listen, about your father…” 

“Never say a word or two. I ain’t digesting it.”

“Watch your mouth, ‘nak.”

“Please, stop reminding me about him. We don’t want to end up in body bags.”

“You don’t want to file a case against him?”

“His wealth is infinite, he even stole my savings.”

The surroundings inside the faculty gets even more quiet. Some students and staff exit the room, while others finish their work inside. The voice of Pilar echoes from the entrance.

“Sir, I can handle things on my own. I’ll go to my class now, thank you, sir.”

Then, Pilar exits the faculty, carrying her heavy bag, with such regrets on her face.

The outside seems more calming than the school setting, people everywhere, and the chapel is still open. There are some who stay inside the chapel. Pilar is sitting in the middle row. Both of her hands are enclosed, gazing at the cross at the front, silently praying. There are a lot of people inside the chapel; Pilar bowed her head, still sitting. Then, Buenavondre entered the chapel and sat next to her. Buenavondre crosses his arms and gazes at the cross in front of them. Pilar actually doesn't mind who sits next to her.

“Not going home?” Buenavondre questioned.

“O Lord, have Mercy on me and shall banish all evil that surrounds me.” Pilar prayed.

Buenavondre chuckled after hearing her response.

“I’m turning my life around. I’m nonchalant.” he said.

“O Lord! Heed my prayer! Bless me with Your guidance to forgive those who trespassed me.” she cried.

At the corner side of the chapel, here’s Ellias who prays along with the people in

the chapel. He noticed Pilar and Buenavondre together in a row.

“Lord, please forgive my fellow classmates for their wrongdoings inside Your humble abode.” Ellias prayed silently.

The day is about to end, at Pilar’s home, she is preparing her food, instant noodles. She gets a plate and chopsticks. She puts it on the table then sits. Seconds later, she does nothing but stare at her food. The hot instant noodles in a medium sized plate, yellowish, smells fresh, full. No sign of being eaten as Pilar continues to stare at it.