Rest in the planet Earth for a while,
until the coming of the right time.
June 8, 2020 - The first day of school had arrived, and the bustling energy was contagious. The long summer vacation had come to an end, but excitement still evident in the air as students streamed back to Bais City Academy, the largest secondary school nestled in the heart of Bais. Despite the warm weather, the gentle breeze from the nearby bay of Tañon Strait offered a refreshing contrast, lifting spirits even higher.
For over a century, Bais City Academy had built a reputation for excellence, producing professionals who went on to thrive in cities near and far. The school had grown to accommodate more than a thousand students, many of whom chose this institution over others for its rich legacy.
Among the new arrivals was Ara Teresa Salvador, a Senior High School student enrolled in the General Academic Strand (GAS). Teresa, as she was called by her friends, stood tall at 5'5", her bob-cut coffee-brown hair framing a face often hidden behind eyeglasses. To many, she looked the part of a genius - and truth be told, she was. Her demeanor was boyish, her manner reserved, yet beneath her quiet exterior was a mind constantly buzzing with thoughts.
Dressed in the school's Senior High uniform - a crisp white blouse with a green checkered necktie and a matching skirt that hovered just above her knees - Teresa felt ready. Her brown leather backpack was slung over her shoulder as she took in a deep breath, murmuring to herself with determination.
New school year, new journey, she whispered, her lips curling into a small smile.
She moved quickly through the hallway of the Senior High building, her shoes clicking against the polished floor as she searched for her classroom. Her name would be posted on one of the doors, and she was eager to find it. As she passed by each room, her eyes scanned the lists of names. At last, she spotted hers on the fourth classroom's door. Adjusting her glasses with one hand and running her finger along the list with the other, she found it.
"Grade 11 Section Gold… Salvador, Ara Teresa," she read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, followed by a familiar shout that startled her. "Teresa!"
She turned around, surprised, only to find herself face-to-face with her childhood friend, Maria Imee - or just Maria/Mary, as she preferred to be called. Maria's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her wide grin was contagious. "So, it's you!" Maria exclaimed, her voice full of delight. "I bet we're still classmates, right?"
Teresa spun around, a little startled but smiling. "Oh, Maria," she said, adjusting her glasses, "you could just show up in front of me, not sneak up like that!"
Teresa's surprise melted into a smile as she realized how much she'd missed Maria. The two had been inseparable since childhood, and the thought of them being in the same class again was a comfort.
"Looks like we are," Teresa said, her tone more casual now. "I had a feeling I'd see you here." "I knew it!" Maria laughed, throwing an arm around Teresa's shoulders. "This year is going to be amazing, I can already tell."
Teresa nodded, her earlier nerves replaced by a sense of anticipation. With Mary by her side, she knew this school year would be anything but ordinary.
Before Teresa could say more, Maria threw her arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I missed you, my friend!" Maria exclaimed, squeezing her tighter. "And look, we're classmates again! I'm so thankful, even though I'm not as smart as you."
Teresa laughed softly, trying to wriggle out of Maria's bear hug. "H-Hey, it's too tight..." she said, giggling. "You're crushing me!"
The two girls shared a history that went all the way back to Grade 2 in elementary school. Despite Teresa's quiet and reserved nature, they had grown incredibly close. Maria had always been the type to bring out the best in her, making her laugh even on her most serious days. Over the years, they had come to trust each other completely, sharing secrets only best friends could know.
Maria, now standing before her, had grown more beautiful and mature since their early school days. She had gained some weight, her bluish curls now cascading down to her hips, and her signature bangs still framed her face perfectly. While Teresa was more introverted, Maria had the opposite personality: outgoing, funny, and able to adapt to any social situation. Like water, she flowed easily around different people, fitting in wherever she went.
"You haven't changed, Mary," Teresa teased, noticing the mischievous glint in her friend's eyes.
Maria laughed, brushing her long curls back. "Neither have you! Still the quiet genius! But hey, you need me to keep life interesting, right?"
Teresa smirked. "I suppose so."
Maria had always been outspoken, especially when it came to boys. She wasn't shy about letting someone know how she felt, even if it meant facing rejection from time to time. But Maria wasn't one to give up easily; she believed that one day she'd find someone who would return her feelings.
The bell rang suddenly, breaking their playful banter. Students began hurrying into their classrooms, and Teresa and Maria found their seats, following the seating plan. As they settled in, Teresa noticed a mix of familiar faces and new ones. The room buzzed with first-day excitement, everyone waiting for their adviser to arrive.
Just then, a cheerful but firm voice echoed through the room. "Good morning, my dear students!" The class quickly stood up, greeting the teacher in unison. "Good morning, Sir!" they chorused, though Teresa hadn't yet caught his name, so do with their classmates even if the adviser's name was also reflected in the post.
Standing before them was a tall man with long hair tied neatly behind him, a striking presence that made several of the girls in the room exchange excited glances. Teresa noticed that he hadn't introduced himself yet. In fact, he is a new teacher in the academy.
"Good morning, Sir…?" Maria prompted, her eyebrows raised.
The teacher smiled warmly. "My name is Mr. Lucas Solitario," he said, pausing for a moment before adding, "but you can just call me Sir Luke." There was a collective murmur of approval from the students as they sat down again.
"Sir Luke, huh?" Maria whispered to Teresa, her eyes wide with admiration. "We're blessed with a handsome teacher this year!" Teresa shook her head with a grin. "Don't get distracted, Mary." Maria winked. "I make no promises."
The class settled in as Sir Luke began to speak, his warm and easygoing manner quickly putting the students at ease. This was going to be an interesting year, and Teresa could already feel that something new and unexpected was about to begin.
A low murmur rippled through the classroom, the students clearly in admiration of their adviser. Sir Luke's charm hadn't gone unnoticed, and Teresa could feel the buzz of excitement.
Soon after two morning sessions, the bell rang for recess. The students eagerly scattered, some heading to the cafeteria, others hanging out in groups. Teresa and Maria, however, opted for the rooftop, a quiet spot where they could gaze out over the serene view of Tañon Strait. The fresh air felt calming, a peaceful escape from the bustling campus below.
Maria broke the silence, her voice playful. "Teresa, do you think our adviser is single?" Teresa sighed, rolling her eyes at her friend's relentless curiosity. "Silly, Mary," she said, her tone amused but firm, "don't ask me. I'm not interested. Besides, he's our teacher. You need to learn to control your feelings."
Maria pouted. "Ouch, no harm in wondering if he's single, right?" she teased, nudging Teresa with her elbow. "It's not like I'm going to act on it."
Teresa shook her head, chuckling despite herself. "Can we please change the topic?" she replied, closing her eyes for a moment, letting the calmness of the sea breeze wash over her. But something in the atmosphere felt… off. She opened her eyes again, her gaze fixed on the sea. The horizon seemed to wobble slightly, as though her vision was playing tricks on her. A strange feeling settled in her stomach.
Maria was still chattering, oblivious to Teresa's growing unease. "Am I dizzy? Or is it because I'm still swooning over Sir Luke?" she joked, laughing. Teresa's heart raced, her mind sharpening as she realized something was terribly wrong. "W-wait," she stammered, her vision shaking. "Something's wrong." Then it hit her - the ground beneath them trembled. Her eyes widened in fear. "This is an EARTHQUAKE!"
The tremors started slow, just enough to make the rooftop vibrate. But within moments, the shaking intensified, growing stronger and stronger until the entire city seemed to quiver. Teresa and Maria instinctively crouched low, grabbing onto the nearest sturdy surface. From their high vantage point, they could see the students below, scattering in every direction, panic spreading like wildfire.
The bell rang sharply, a loud, jarring signal of the unfolding calamity. A booming voice erupted from the school's emergency system, cutting through the chaos:" Please don't panic, stay calm. Move to a safer area. Duck, cover, and hold. Evacuate the building immediately!"
Maria's face twisted in fear. She clung to Teresa's arm, her voice trembling. "Help! Help! Teresa, should we go down? Or… should we jump?" Her words were frantic, her thoughts scattered by terror.
Teresa's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her mind raced through the possibilities, but she knew they had to think clearly. "Not yet, Mary," she said, her voice firm but strained, though inside she was just as terrified. "We need to wait until the quake stops. If we move now, it's too dangerous. It's getting stronger."
The ground continued to shake violently, the building groaning beneath them. Teresa gripped Maria's hand tightly as the two of them huddled together, waiting for the earth to stop its furious trembling. All around them, the world seemed to crumble, but Teresa's mind was focused on one thing - surviving.
With the earthquake intensifying, the once stable rooftop began to crack ominously underfoot. Teresa felt the ground shift beneath her, her heart racing. "No!" Maria shouted, losing her balance.
"Hold my hand! What the hell is happening?" Teresa exclaimed, desperately trying to steady herself. The cracks in the rooftop widened, and panic surged through Teresa. She quickly assessed their situation. Jumping from a six-story building felt like their only option now.
"Now let's jump! We can do this rather than be buried alive!" Maria's eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. "N-no. I-I am actually afraid…" "We have no choice!" Teresa insisted, urgency in her voice.
Maria pointed shakily toward the horizon. "Look at the sea! The waves… they're not normal. Is it because of the earthquake?" "This is impossible! We do not have an open sea topography! Don't tell me that's… a TSUNAMI?"
Teresa's heart sank as they both watched the massive waves rolling towards the shore, slow but inexorable, sending a chill of dread through their bodies. Students below were running, screaming in terror, trying to escape the impending disaster. Suddenly, the rooftop began to collapse beneath them, and as the ground shook violently, Maria's grip slipped from Teresa's hand.
"Mary!!!" Teresa cried, reaching out as the ground fell away.
"Teresa!!!" Maria shouted back, her voice fading into chaos.
In the chaos, debris rained down, and Teresa was knocked off her feet, tumbling to the lower floors, her world going dark. Somewhere in that darkness, a voice called to her, soft yet commanding.
"Wake up, wake up… I need you… Be not afraid… This is not the end, but a mere beginning… You are chosen to be one of the warriors to be entrusted with this jewel." A glowing black stone appeared, shimmering with a mysterious light before vanishing, along with the voice.
With a jolt, Teresa awoke on the rooftop, staring up at the brilliant blue sky. "HHHHHeeeelllp!" she shouted, her voice raw with panic. She thought to herself, "Oh! It's over. What is really happening? After that quake, nothing seems wrong?"
As she looked around, confusion clouded her mind. She hurried to the rooftop railing, peering down, her heart racing as she searched for signs of devastation. Everything appeared normal, which only deepened her confusion. "W-wait, where is Mary?"
Feeling a wave of dread wash over her, Teresa shook her head. "Maybe this building is filled with horror and dark past. I must get out of here."
She dashed down the stairs, her footsteps echoing through the halls, disturbing the classes in session. "Recess time was over," she thought, the urgency driving her to reach the first floor.
Finally, she burst through the classroom door, panting. "Classes were over." "Goodbye class! Goodbye Sir, see you this afternoon!" "Huh Huh Huh Huh!" she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "What?! I have never been through this! What a shame…" She turned to leave, just as her classmates filed out the door.
"Oh, Teresa, there you are! Where have you been?" Maria called, her voice filled with concern. "I was looking for you! I even called you, but you weren't reachable. Where were you?" Teresa hesitated, unsure how to explain. "Uuuum…" she stammered, searching for the right words. "Never mind… I just went home for a while, forgetting something…"
Maria raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Are you sure?" Teresa forced a chuckle, her mind still reeling from the experience. "Hehehe…" she replied, hoping to deflect her friend's concerns. But inside, she was haunted by the voice and the glowing stone - what did it mean? And where had it all gone wrong?
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