Team Prime - Volume 1

Episode 1: Chapter 1 - Names That Shouldn't Belong

It's 5 o'clock in the morning. If you look outside, the skies are still dark, giving you the impression that it was still night. If it was not for the alarm blaring from the phone beside your bed you would have continued sleeping. In fact, if today was any other day, you would have stayed asleep. Except that today is not "any other day."

You force yourself to get up, somewhat successful but mostly groggy. Like a drunken sailor on a rocky boat, you wobble towards the kitchen but as you get closer to your destination, you remember that if you want a hot bath you have to activate the water heater. So you turn around and go to the bathroom.

Skip to 6:45 , breakfast has been consumed, a hot bath has been taken, an "okay" outfit worn, and all necessary items packed, you walk to the door. On the way, you grab the packed lunch in the kitchen that your mother has prepared for you before she left.

Before you head out, you pull out your phone and earphones so that you can listen to music as you walk. Music in ears, shoes on feet, and a jacket around your shoulders, you open the door and leave with the usual, "I'm heading out!"

It's a chilly morning. In the middle of the winter season, the nights are usually longer, so it's no mystery that they sky is still a bit grey, but as you climb the slope towards your destination, you notice the sun rising in the horizon.

You also notice another thing. A whole bunch of people are following the same commute route. Many of them are walking in groups, some are walking in pairs and couples, while you walk with you, yourself, and you accompanied by the loud music in your ears. Occasionally, you encounter a familiar face as they wave a sign of greeting, so you respond the same but you do not join them.

It is 7 o'clock and since you live closer to your destination, you arrive earlier than most people following your route. On your arrival, you stand in front of the gates and stare blankly at the establishment in front of you.

You sigh...

I sighed.

On any other day, I would still be sleeping right now. Except today isn't "any other day." I have consumed my breakfast – which are just leftovers from dinner. I have taken a hot bath - more like I stayed in the tub for an hour. I have packed all the necessary items – pencils, pens, notebooks, and a face mask for no reason.

I wore a black shirt with the print "ROCK THE WORLD" and my worn out grey jacket with "DESTINY" printed on the arms. I wore a pair of worn-out ripped jeans. This is an "okay" look for me. I don't really care since it's just clothes.

I left with music blaring in my eardrums. I commute carelessly towards the establishment in front of me and I arrive earlier than most because of how close I live to it. And as I stand in front of the gates, I sighed.

The sign in front of the gate read, "MORALES HIGH SCHOOL DIVISIONS." On the building, a banner hung that read, "WELCOME STUDENTS NEW AND OLD. LET US HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR TOGETHER!"

On any other day, I would be lying in bed, deep asleep. However, today the new semester starts. This school year, I will find out whether or not my goals can be realized. The moment I step into campus, the process of reaching my goals are set into motion.

But, I have a feeling that things won't be as smooth as I thought they would be. It is but a feeling.

I take my seven-hundred and twenty-first step into campus. I hiked the silent halls while listening to music. I checked my watch: 7:15. Usually, during this time students would have already been walking down the halls, but I see no signs of such.

I remove the earphone on my right. I hear signs of chatter and footsteps very far behind me. It seems I may have been too early. It is the start of the semester after all. I returned my earphone and kept walking.