Introducing the four domineering cast,
a friend …or a foe…?
The setting shifted to an unexplainably creepy and dimly lit place where the four creatures stood before their master, who remained obscured, revealing only his back. Frustration radiated from him as he listened to their report of failure.
"Stupid! There were four of you, yet you were just beaten by two ordinary girls carrying only small stones! Perhaps you still don't know how to master your jewels," he scolded, his voice booming in the darkness.
Each creature presented its jewel, which glowed faintly in the dimness.
"All of you need to be in a hurry! This is somewhat like a cat-and-mouse game! Hahahahaha! What the hell! You need to bring back the four jewels to complete the set you have before they can get the ones you already possess. Come on! We must rule Celestia and become powerful Celestians! Hahahahah!"
With that, the four creatures vanished into the shadows.
At the Campus Lounge
Meanwhile, Teresa approached Maria, who was absorbed in listening to her favorite theme song.
"Oh baby, baby, baby…" Maria sang softly, her eyes closed as she swayed to the music.
"Hey, Mary, Mary!" Teresa called, trying to get her attention.
"My baby, baby, baby…" Maria continued, seemingly lost in her musical reverie.
"Hey! Please help me finish our project…" Teresa urged, trying to pull her friend back to reality.
Maria opened her eyes and giggled. "Oh, Heheh. Sorry! I really love this song. It makes me feel in love. FYI, this is the theme song of the F4! Ahhhhhh! They are sooooo handsome! But I like Dao Min Zi. He's my bet!"
"Eh!" Teresa replied, rolling her eyes playfully.
"Okay, okay, I'll help now!" Maria said, finally setting aside her daydreams to focus on their project.
Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the girls on campus, creating a wave of commotion as they gathered near the entrance.
"What's the noise all about?" Teresa asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yeah! Hmmm, I smell something good and nice! Let's go to them. We can finish this later," Maria replied, her excitement growing.
"Oh-oh. W-wait!" Teresa called as Maria rushed toward the throng.
The girls had formed a crowd near the entrance of the campus, and Maria, determined to see what was happening, forced her way in. Meanwhile, Teresa, being tall enough, craned her neck to catch a glimpse from the back. A sleek limousine had just parked outside the gate, and the excitement among the girls was palpable.
"One, two, three, four!" one girl shouted, her voice filled with delight.
"Oh my! So cute and handsome!!!" another chimed in, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" a chorus of voices erupted, echoing with excitement.
"We have F4 here!!!" they squealed, barely able to contain their enthusiasm.
Emerging from the limousine one by one were four undeniably stunning lads, each dressed in a Senior High School uniform. They were new Grade 12 students, all hailing from the affluent Montenegro family, each being the son of Don Apollo Montenegro but from different mothers: Dominic, Gabriel, Tristan, and Rainier.
The eldest and tallest among the four, Dominic, with his curly blonde hair, looked left and right, taken aback by the raucous cheers from the girls. Beside him, the serene Gabriel, sporting light blue hair and a reserved demeanor, offered a polite smile to the crowd, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. The nonchalant Tristan, with his auburn hair, maintained his focus straight ahead, seemingly indifferent to the attention surrounding them. Lastly, the youngest of the group, the charming Rainier, with his striking greenish hair, kept bowing his head in acknowledgment of the enthusiastic ladies, his demeanor shy yet endearing.
The atmosphere buzzed with energy as the girls clamored for a closer look, captivated by the presence of the new heartthrobs.
Maria sighed dreamily, her eyes still following the handsome newcomers. "Oh my! I wish I could have one!" "Hey, hey, hey. It's over. Let's get back to our work," Teresa urged, trying to pull Maria away from the spectacle.
Curiosity sparkled in Maria's eyes as she turned to Teresa. "Who is your bet?" "Me? I don't have such. What about you?" Teresa replied, crossing her arms with a playful smirk. "I like the charming one! He's so cute! Do you know them by the way?" Maria exclaimed, clearly enamored.
"According to what I've heard from our classmates talking a while ago, they are Grade 12 students. They come from a prestigious school in Manila. I just don't know why they transferred here. They're sons of Don Apollo Montenegro from different mothers," Teresa explained, her tone shifting to a more serious note.
Maria was impressed, her eyes widening. "What a research! Wow!" But Teresa's expression turned contemplative. "But you know, I feel something strange," she said, furrowing her brows slightly.
"Oooh, maybe you are now in love!!!" Maria teased, nudging her friend playfully. "Ehhh. Is that what you mean? Never mind," Teresa replied, a hint of color rising to her cheeks as she tried to brush off the comment.
The two girls exchanged amused glances, the allure of the new students sparking a mix of excitement and curiosity. With a reluctant sigh, they turned back to their unfinished project, but the thrill of the unexpected encounter lingered in the air, weaving dreams of adventures yet to come.
After class in the afternoon, as the rest of the students filed out of the school, Teresa lingered on the rooftop, perched on the railing. She was lost in thought, reflecting on the events of the previous day and contemplating the path that lay ahead of her as she accepted her fate. Her quiet contemplation was broken when someone jumped onto the ledge beside her. It was Tristan Montenegro, the aloof yet strangely friendly new student.
"Oh… It's almost 5 PM. I'd better go," Teresa said, shifting her balance slightly.
"Are you okay?" Tristan asked, concern etched on his face.
"Uummm," she hesitated, feeling a twinge of pain. "I-I'm okay. No worries." She looked at him, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh! It's you, Montenegro."
"I am Tristan, and you?" he replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Teresa. Teresa Salvador, from Grade 11-Gold," she introduced herself. "I'm just wandering around this school. It's quite cool to be here," he remarked, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"It's nice to be here, right? I hope you enjoy your studies here," she encouraged. Suddenly, Tristan's expression changed; pain flashed across his face. He clutched his chest, his breath quickening. Teresa's concern deepened as she noticed his unease.
"Arrgggghhh…" he groaned, struggling to breathe.
"Are you okay, Tristan? What's wrong?" Teresa asked, alarmed.
"Arrggghhhh… leave me… It's nothing," he stammered, turning and sprinting away despite the evident pain.
Worried, Teresa chased after him, her heart racing as they moved away from the school and into the surrounding woods. As the sun began to set around 6 o'clock, casting long shadows in the dimming light, Tristan tried to hide from her, desperate to escape the pain that was overwhelming him. Teresa called out his name, her voice echoing in the growing darkness as she searched for him, fear gripping her heart.
"Tristan… Where are you? Can you hear me? What happened to you?" Teresa called out, panic rising in her chest as she desperately searched for Tristan. Fearing the worst, she was determined to find him before heading home. Meanwhile, Tristan was hiding behind a massive Balete tree, gasping for breath, having run far and fast to escape the pain that plagued him. Understanding that he was in danger and facing some mysterious affliction, Teresa pushed herself to run faster, her mind racing to track his location. Finally, she reached the Balete tree, where she sensed his presence. But before she could draw closer, a blinding light erupted in front of her, forcing her to stagger back, shielding her eyes with her right elbow. She stumbled and fell to the grassy ground, feeling a chill of dread.
It was already past 7 o'clock, and Teresa found herself alone in the darkening forest. As the light began to fade, a gigantic creature emerged, the same one she had encountered in the cave. It stomped loudly, shaking the earth beneath her feet. Teresa stared in disbelief, shaking her head as she tried to process the sight before her. The creature, illuminated by a glowing stone it bore, was a centaur - a terrifying hybrid of human and horse. Clad in shining armor and wielding a bow and arrow, its appearance was both awe-inspiring and petrifying. The centaur stepped closer, its unusual voice roaring throughout the woods. Overwhelmed by fear and disbelief, Teresa felt her strength drain away, and in an instant, she fainted, collapsing into unconsciousness.
As Teresa slowly opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by the soft, inviting furnishings of a cozy bedroom. Confused, she murmured, "Where am I?"
A servant appeared by her bedside, concern etched on her face. "Oh, lady, how are you feeling?" she asked gently. Teresa blinked, her mind racing. "Who - who are you? Why am I here? What happened to me?" Before the servant could respond, the door swung open, and Tristan entered, striding toward her. "We found you in the forest," he said, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "You were completely unconscious. You're safe now." Teresa's brow furrowed. "What? But… what about you? You felt something - "
"Thanks, but I'm fine. No worries," he reassured her. "If you wish to go home, I'll have my servant drive you. But how about joining me for dinner first?" Teresa hesitated, the words caught in her throat. "Oh, ah…" But just then, her stomach betrayed her with a loud grumble. Tristan chuckled softly. "You need to have dinner; you're hungry." Reluctantly, she agreed, sitting at the table with him, though she felt uncomfortable, only managing a few bites as her thoughts swirled around the events of the night.
After dinner, true to his word, the Montenegro servant quickly drove Teresa home. Arriving around 10 PM, she found her mother waiting anxiously. "I've been calling you four times in a row, my dear!" her mother exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. "Oh, Ma, I'm sorry. Nothing for you to worry about. I just continued my assignment at school. I'm done with dinner too," Teresa replied, exhaustion creeping into her tone. Feeling tired and stressed, she made her way upstairs to her bedroom. Collapsing onto her bed, she couldn't shake the thoughts of the night's strange events from her mind.
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