2 Chapter 1

The principal stated the rules and regulations of the university. The rules and regulations are the same as any other school or university. We are allowed to wear casual clothes on Friday. Our uniforms will be distributed tomorrow morning before our class starts. Everything about the rules is normal except for the fact we can not go and wander to some establishments, only school personnel. What is so strange about that?

Well, I have been looking around the places where adults maybe, like the Mall, pool, theater, and other places we can visit, but there is no single adult.

The stores are empty, and there is this new technology, which does all the work in the grocery store. We were told to download this shopping app is linked to our Point Account.

"Every month, each student is given 20,000 points. 1 point is equivalent to 1 Peso, so everyone has 20,000 Pesos transferred in their Point Account every month. You can use these points to buy your daily needs, and everyone is allowed to spend as many points as they want!"

The principal is like 'bravo' over that widescreen on the stage. Students wanted to ask questions, but the principal's brief explanation and speech were recorded.

"The pool is only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Rental swimsuits are available, or you can either buy some to appease those curves and well-built body."

In my little detour to my dorm, I found no adult on the island. Calling it a quick detour is an understatement because it took me quite some time to see all the establishments and places on the island. Okay, so I have memorized the layout of The Killing Isle.

In the southeast part of the island, in the outskirt is the dock and a helipad. It seems that there are more helipads around the island, on top of the Mall and other places. The university is in the middle, two buildings were erected for students' rooms, and each has 20 rooms and is both four floored. A gymnasium is where we were earlier, where basketball court and volleyball court reside. A pool for swimming classes. It's only open when students have swimming classes.

Everything is in the middle, a track and field course, tennis court, a shed filled with PE types of equipment, and another single-story building. That building is where students are prohibited except for the nurse room where first aid kits and medications are located. Well, you can picture every establishment in the middle of the island. And the university is surrounded by trees, and there is a free spot land for planting seeds growing flowers for the Floriculture course.

Trees are planted to prevent floods, and the government bought a device from the United States that prevents big waves from causing floods on the island.

And before the principal ended her speech, she said something, a warning for everyone.

"Do not go outside your dorms at night. There is a curfew at 9 PM. Look at your phones. There is an application there that will ring when the clock hits 9 o'clock in the evening. The app will tell us where you are located at the time the tone rings. If you are not in your dorms at that time, 1,000 points will be automatically deducted to your points."

1,000 points is a lot if you're gonna ask me. I have never had that much money in my whole life, and now I have 20,000 points in my Point Account. Leaving your phone in your room or having someone stop the ringing for you is impossible since you have to confirm it with your fingerprint on the side of the phone.

It may sound absurd, but after you enroll, there is a notice that one is unallowed to bring a phone with them or any device. The school will provide us with a phone and other things we want. All we bring were some clothes and personal belongings.

Surprisingly, no one is against all that I have explained. Every student was silent, just listening to the principal as if they exactly knew the rules and regulations already, while I, on the other hand, was clueless

and needed some information to catch up.

***

Class starts at 9 AM, and my first subject is FLA 102 Ornamental Horticultureculture. It will be 2 hours, then my next subject is FLA 201 Commercial Floriculture, next is FLA 202 Landscape Agriculture, FLA 301 Protected Cultivation of Flower Crops, and last is FLA 302 Breeding and Seed Production of Flower Crops. All subjects will last for 2 hours, 10 hours in total, and an hour break for lunchtime. FLA 201 Commercial Floriculture starts at 11:00 AM up to 12 noon and will resume at 1:00 PM.

I got up so early in the morning and had nothing to do, so I took a walk around the island. On my little trip, I found other students jogging, exercising first thing in the morning. I am not the kind of guy who would wake up in the morning and exercise to stay fit but seeing the other students is encouraging me to do so too.

"Well, I guess a little exercise won't hurt."

I said all that and began jogging around the island, wandering aimlessly. And 20 minutes later...

"Hah! Hah!"

I was huffing so hard for air, my legs hurt, and I felt like I was gonna have a headache. Did I overexert myself? I mean, I did jog without stopping for 20 minutes, and in that short amount of time, nothing seemed wrong until I made a stop at this bench and sat down.

Buckets of sweat trickled down my face, my clothes was drenched in sweat, and I felt so thirsty. I was gonna buy a bottle of water and a towel in the nearest grocery store, but my legs really hurt, like it's been beaten to a pulp. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, though.

"I almost fell a few times in these slippers. The next time I exercise, I should wear workout clothes and shoes."

I leaned my back on the bench and stared at the sky. It was so clear. No trace of clouds could be found, and the sun shone brightly, giving life to the planted trees and flowers around the area. This island is like a city, an artificial city created in an artificial island. There ain't no pollution in the air. All I can smell is the natural air from the sea mixed with the oxygen released by all the trees surrounding the university.

"I have been living in the province ever since I was born. Distinguishing polluted air from natural air is easy."

"Who are you talking to?"

I was startled, almost fell on my own when this... cute short-haired woman suddenly talked to me.

Flustered, before I answered her, I came up with multiple sentences to not sound like a weirdo to her.

"Uh, um, I--I was just talking t-to myself."

Ugh! I messed it up! I am stuttering and sweating more than I was!

"Do you mind?"

"Uh, no, no."

I scooted a little, and she sat down with me on the bench, then suddenly, she offered me her water.

"I--I can't. That's yours!"

Since when did talking to a woman become this hard? Oh, no! I am sweating a lot, and I smell. I should better get going before things get out of hand.

Good thing I grew my hair to the point that it's getting in my line of sight, or else I would have a clear look at her beautiful figure. The woman did not insist on giving me her water, which I am quite relieved of. She's also sweating. She must have jogged too, seeing how she's wearing workout clothes.

"Um, I will excuse myself now," I said, surging from the bench. "Thank you for offering your water. I--I hope you have a great day!"

I lightly bowed my head and began on my path away from her. She did not say anything, instead just smile and waved her hand when I tried looking back at her.

***

It was 8 o'clock in the morning when I arrived back at my room. Everything on this island is advanced compared to the technology I grew up with. The door security in the dorm is connected to each student's phone. If you want to open the door, you can either scan your phone through the security scanner, or if you want to open the door for someone you can go through your phone and press the open button in the app if the person outside the door is looking for you. It's your phone that will beep.

Men and women are allowed in both dorms. However, as I explained, there is a curfew at 9 PM, and everyone needs to be in their room before 9 hits the clock. Even if you want to stay the night in your boyfriend's or girlfriend's room, you can't unless you want 1,000 points in your Point Account to be deducted.

Is the relationship between students illicit? No, but there are consequences to one's actions. For example, the couple is having a sexual relationship, and the woman ended up getting pregnant, the UNP will have to expel these couple as punishment for their actions. Buy condoms! There are tons of them in the convenience stores! I am not encouraging people, especially students, to have sex, okay? Premarital sex is a sin, right? Not that I'm trying to be religious or anything related, though. I'm just saying what I know. Love isn't all about sex. It's how you treasure those who are precious to you, and that right there is my opinion.

Anyways, I bought some new clothes to wear. I am either a minimalist or someone who likes plain clothes, so you could guess that the shirts and polo shirts I bought are all plain or with little designs or logos. I bought three t-shirts and two polo shirts. As for my pants, I bought some jeans and trousers, which fit perfectly in plain t-shirts and polo shirts. I wanted to wear shorts in class, but I remembered only pants are allowed to wear. The principal said it was too casual.

"Okay, my phone is here. I have my notebooks, pens, and other kinds of stuff. All I need to do is go to my first class."

I sound so cheerful about things, but in reality, I am anxious about meeting people I don't know. The fear of getting bullied is still there, and I doubt it will suddenly or slowly disappear out of my mind. It will remain intact in my mind to remind me how pathetic and miserable my school life has been.

"Let's just hope that there are no bullies here now that we are becoming adults. We are at the point that everything we do that could emotionally and physically hurt people to the extent that it can't be healed can be considered a crime, and we could be put in jail because of these things. Some would say it's a joke, but what's done can't be undone."

***

The school building isn't that far from the men's dorm. About 10 minutes walk, and you will be there, so there is no reason to be late for class. The class starts at 9 o'clock in the morning, and you have lots of time to prepare for school. So no one can complain about waking up late. You won't be able to reason out why you are late unless it's school-related. A student who is late will be penalized for being absent in his first subject and will be deducted 500 points from their Point Account. That is 500 Pesos right there, and it will go down the drain right off the bat.

The principal told us that our uniforms would arrive before the class started, and I had been waiting for them, but the damn clothes did not arrive, and I received a text message from the school.

"Expect your uniform tomorrow morning in your mailbox!"

Hmmm...

"Try to act normal, try to act normal, try to act normal."

I am outside the first subject's classroom, calming myself down, wishing that there is no familiar face I would see when I enter.

"I will just look down to avoid other people's gaze."

You know that kind of feeling? That feeling when someone looks at you, and you notice they are looking at you, the first thing that would come across your mind is that they are judging your whole being at that split moment they looked at you. That's how I always felt whenever someone stares at me, and I always think that I'm not equal to them, like their gaze degrades me.

"Hah! Alright!"

Just when I calmed down came crushing the embarrassing thought after the same woman I saw earlier saw me slapped my face. She seemed startled at first but chuckled after, then going in first in the classroom.

"Haa... This is the worst."

What I first noticed when I entered the classroom is the number of students. Everyone looked different from each other, having their own little group, chatting to each other while they wait for class to start. There's a podium and a monitor on the board.

I quickly took the steps up to the seats and chose to sit where I had no seatmate. That way, I would be more comfortable and does not have to worry about others thinking I am weird. The woman from earlier kept looking up in my direction.

'I don't like this! I have a bad idea about this!'

I died when she picked up her belongings and suddenly took the steps up to my location.

"Move over a bit," she said with a smile on her face. "Hello?"

I'm dazing off at her beauty, the beauty of someone who can't be mine. That's how she looks. A woman of her beauty must have dozens of suitors. I just think of her actions as something friendly because she seemed to like them. I moved a bit to the side, distancing myself from her. Actually, it is not a bit because I scooted further away to the side until I hit the wall.

"Not so friendly, eh?"

The woman put her belongings down beside her. Nice, she is not bothering me. She is just fiddling on her phone, texting someone I don't know because she's typing really fast, which I, on the other hand, can't do.

The bell rang, a sign that is already 9 o'clock in the morning and class was about to start. Everyone went to their seats, tucking themselves down, and waited for the professor to come in when the monitor abruptly turned itself on. Well, it was plugged in.

"Is it on? Oh, yeah, it is! Ahem!"

Through the screen was our professor for FLA 102 Ornamental Horticulture. The background is all white, and our professor is wearing casual clothes. He looked like he just woke up because he kept yawning on the screen, his eyes teary, and his hair was a mess.

"Sit down, everyone. I am your Professor Denise Ferrer, your teacher in FLA 102 Ornamental Horticulture."

Prof Denise is newly shaved, bags were under his eyes, and as I stated earlier, his hair was a mess, and only his upper half is being shown on the screen right now.

"Don't mind my appearance. It's just been a busy week. Anyways, all of you might be wondering why I'm inside a screen, right? Lessons will be done like this for now. Other professors will also be on screen like I am for the time being. Don't worry because we will do our best to give you what you want to learn. Alright, before we start, why don't we have a little introduction?"

There it is... The introduction, which I hate. You would stand up, eyes would be gathered towards you as you speak, and whenever that happens, I feel dizzy, and my stomach's turning upside down. It made me sick to the point that I just want to run away.

Some wounds might heal, but the scar will remain to remind you that you were once a victim of bullying, and the mental damage you suffered would forever linger deep within your mind.

As I was lost in my own thoughts, I heard the two girls below me or in front of me keep whispering to each other. I looked at the podium and saw that students introduced themselves in the middle where everyone could see you.

And I slightly heard them say: "Isn't that guy hot?"

"Heh, you're right. He's kinda cute."

Gentleman-looking has this alluring smile on his face and has this glowing vibe in him like a positive vibe going around the man stood manly in the podium and introduced himself.

"Hello, everyone! My name is Austin Rivera, 19 years old. I play basketball and am an outgoing person. I would love it if I could be friends here with

everyone!"

No, that's too much for me! I don't think I will be able to do it! Not in front of all these students! I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not realize time quickly passed by, and now it's the woman in my line's turn.

I saw everyone adored her beauty as she gently went down to the podium and noticed how other men looked at her with malice. After reading a lot of books and observing people in the past, I somehow learned what those looks in their eyes meant, not totally, though. Who would not find her hot with her tucked-in white blouse with black leggings? She played up the look with polished accessories like beret and brogues. To top it all off, she wore a heel, which perfectly fits her overall outfit. Who wouldn't be captivated by her beauty and fashion style? Even

I would admit that she's definitely pretty and seemed knowledgeable in the field of fashion styling.

But shouldn't she be in something related to fashion? Why did she choose Floriculture as her course? There are a lot of questions that will be left unanswered. Now that men have set their sights on her, it would be quite troublesome to be near with her or talk to her. I might become the center of bullying again, so I better keep my distance from people but not too far away. A distance where others could still reach out to me.

"My name is Ma. Cristina Andres. I just turned 19 this month and am currently into music. I'd love to be friends with everyone also. Oh, and I hope we have a wonderful college life with everyone!"

AHHHHHH!!!

It's my turn! How should I do this? Should I just quickly say my name, hobby, and age? Yes, yes. Let's do that and immediately go back to my seat. Damn, I should have taken the front seat!

"Okay, next, the guy with the long hair. Yikes! Why would you grow your hair like that? Can you even see?"

My heart was thumping really hard, pounding inside my chest as sweats instantly formed in my forehead as I took the steps into the podium.

Don't look! Don't look! Keep your eyes down! But no matter how hard I tried to keep my eyes down, when Ms. Cristina swiftly went past me, her vanilla-scented shampoo went under my nose, which made me lift my eyes. I looked back to catch a glimpse of her silky soft short hair. I did not realize that I stopped in the middle of my steps but quickly went down the podium after I noticed people were staring at me.

"Uh, m-my name is Esecleus Agnello Villin. I like to read! Nice to meet you all!"

I spoke so fast that even I almost could not make out of what I am saying. I know people will think I am weird, even my professor! Ugh! I messed up!

~