philippine school · tagalog · bullying · chaotic · good students · national high school · youth · friendship · slice of life
The morning sun already feels warm on the skin, casting sharp shadows across the vast, open field in front of the three-story national high school. A current of restless energy moves through the crowd of students aged twelve to fourteen as they mill about before the first bell. Over by the covered walkway, the troublemakers Dante and Selena are whispering and shoving each other. Nearby, the inseparable trio of Kaito, Liam, and Jude are laughing about something, Kaito's restless energy making him bounce on the balls of his feet. Teachers like Mr. Valdez and Ms. Reyes stand by the main doors, clipboards in hand, their expressions a mix of patience and preparedness. The air smells of cut grass and anticipation—a typical school day where the structured order of lessons is forever bumping ag…