Episode 1: The End?
The bell rings to mark the end of the day, and a lot of students were hurrying off to the school’s steel gate. It was another hard day of school since it was one of those days that made them stayed in school for a long period of time. It was also the end of their days in school for the year. Summer vacation has just began and everyone where excited for three months with no schooling and can’t wait to head off and have endless fun. Well, at least for most people that is.

A group of friends were walking towards the school’s gates. They were all seniors and it was their last time spending a day in that school. They would be graduates by tomorrow and frankly, they were uncertain of how they are feeling.

“Summertime again!” one of them said with a sigh. He was wearing glasses that match his pure black eyes and his short black hair. “I should be excited, but I can’t find the feeling.” He added as he turns around to take peek of the huge building.

“What’s the matter? Is it about tomorrow?” a girl asks worriedly. She was the same height as him, with short, bluish black hair tied on a ponytail and sparkling blue eyes. “You know Austell, graduation isn’t that bad… We’re all going at the same college anyway so what gives?”

“I guess so… I can’t tell, something tells me this would be different. What do you think Erika?”

“Of course, it is different. We’re not in high school anymore. We’ll be facing up new challenges from now on. We shall soon discover our true selves.”

“Still…”

“It’s not something to be afraid of you know.” A boy with a messy blonde hair remarked. He had already changed from their uniform into casual clothes. He ran up in front of them and declared. “Anyway, I have to go on ahead guys. I still have to fetch my sister from her piano lessons. Don’t forget about tomorrow! Party at my house right after graduation! See ‘ya!” he smirked and rushes off.

“Miguel sure loves his sister much.” Erika smiled while everyone sighed. “Speaking of the party, I still haven’t thought of a presentation yet.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Austell quipped.

“Have you guys thought of yours already?” Erika asked.

“I’m sure all of us have an idea by now.” A browned haired boy who was with them commented who has good eyesight but still prefers to wear glasses. “You’ll think of something, so don’t worry.”

“Thanks, Rico!”
They talked for sometime until they reached Rico’s house. It was quite huge; enough to hold up to five elephants to run amok. His mother, who was waiting for him greeted them and offered tea to his friends. The two declined the offer and bid farewell to the mother and to Rico. Silence, then fills the atmosphere while the two was walking along the side walk. Feeling awkward, Erika came up to the boy and asks something.

“Hey, why don’t we go shopping for presents, before we go home?” Erika said smiling

“You should have suggested that earlier,” Austell complained

“But I was thinking for a presentation to present tomorrow at the party…” she reasoned out

“So have you thought of anything?”

“Yep! So will you come with me? Please”

“Do I have choice?”

“Your mean” she pouted

“Sorry” he smiled. “Got any ideas on what to buy?”

“I know a store that has lot of neat stuffs, let’s check it out!” grabbing Austell’s hand and rushes off

“O-okay. He-hey slow down, will yah?” Austell said while trying to get off Erika’s grip and trying to keep up on her pace.

It was a small antique shop at the corner of the street. It had poor decorations on making it less inviting. On top of it was a banner that promotes its main attraction, which is fortune telling. Erika excitedly opened up the door and went inside dragging Austell along. Despite the small appearances from the outside, it was quite roomy inside and has lots of things that were frankly old. The two hop from one place to another checking each product that the store was selling. There were a few people inside also who lined up at the counter.

“Uhmm…Excuse me. What’s this line for?” Erika asked a lady who was waiting in line.

“Just to know our future. The store’s owner is a fortune teller, so you might also want to go and ask her also.” The lady replied.

“Interesting it may seems, but still looks like a waist of time in my point.” Austell sighed.

“Aww, come on. Just one try won’t hurt that bad, right?”

“Still…”

“I guess you friend here seems to be afraid to know the future.” The lady teased.

He only fixed his glasses and shrugged upon hearing the comment. Shortly, it was Erika’s turn. Both gaze in awe as they saw the storeowner wearing a light blue cloak that covered her body. Facing only at her crystal ball, she asked of what her client wants to know. Erika livened up and whispered something to the storeowner then blushed for a bit. Austell just tilted his head wondering what it was then sighed. The storeowner only replied with the word ‘soon’ making Erika sighed in discontent. The boy shook his head and step up to the counter.

“Thou doesn’t seem to believe in magic. What is thou want?” asked the lady who was staring deeply to his eyes.

“Ah..eh..eto…ano…” he replied in puzzlement then shook his head again. “Oh well, might on just get on with it. Besides college, will there be any event that would seem interesting enough?’ he asked with a serious face.

The lady froze a bit and widened her eyes as she stares to her crystal ball. Her face were at shock as if she saw something bad then she smiled and said the word ‘soon’ again.

“Eh? Thanks I guess” Austell smirked and mumbled along, turning his back away from her when he was stop by the words she added.

“Wait! Do be careful on your decisions, or you’ll lose something dearly” the lady warned him.

Austell only shrugged and picked up a strange looking book and went over to the other side.

“I’ll do take care of my friends before it’s too late,” the lady said to the wind as if she was talking to someone else.

Alarmed, Erika went over to her friend and joined him in finding things that are suitable to give as presents. The boy merely shrugged at the girl and pointed on a vase that looks interesting. After buying the stuffs to give off as presents, Erika invited Austell over to dinner. The boy just shook his head and bid farewell to her as he walks along the path while night follows behind.

Morning came and Austell had overslept. His mom was trying her best to wake up him up but all efforts seems to be left in vain. Worried of being late for the graduation, his mom grabbed a bucket of water and poured it on top of him. He then jumped off of his bed as if lightning struck upon him. He was sent to the shower, which he hurriedly obeyed.

The school’s gym was filled with people, as it was the place were the commencement exercises for the seniors to be held. It was highly decorated from outside to inside to make the day, a very special day for all of the students as well as for their parents. Both the teachers and the students were already preparing for the ceremony to start. As the students lined up to prepare to march inside to start the event, a group of students were worriedly waiting for someone at the back of the line.

“He obviously had overslept again,” Rico sighed as he faces the line of students.

“Don’t worry, he’ll show up no matter what. If I were him, I wouldn’t make my sister late for this kind of event!” Miguel complained as he crosses his arms and nodded.

“What’s his sister got to do with this?” Erika asks in puzzlement. “Besides, his sister is inside the hospital right now. You should be ashamed,” she remarked

“Oh yeah, we still have to visit her before we go to your party guys. Sorta like, a present for both her and Austell,” Rico said as he points a finger at Miguel.

“Wha-eh?” Miguel points at himself in question. “Darn it, I completely forgot that!” He said so as he sighed. The two just laughed and gives him pat at the back.

“That’s not helping you know,” The blonde boy sighed

“HEY AUSTELL! YOUR LATE AGAIN!!!!” Erika screamed as she saw a boy wearing a white toga running like the wind to the gym. “When will he ever learn?” she sighed.

“You know, on special occasions, he’s the one who’s supposedly to arrive here earlier than everyone else,” Rico remarked as he peered up at front to see that’s the program was already starting.

“He-hey guys,” Austell said as he gasps in for air. “So what’s up?”

“Besides that your just in time for the show to get started, we’re just about minutes…” Rico said then paused for a while to check upon the number of students then looks up to his watch. “Wait, no, just hours away ‘till we can finally say that we are graduates of the high school level!” he exclaimed.

Austell just shrugged and kept on gasping air. The others gave a chuckle and sighed for the long duration of the program.

“Okay guys, let’s go let’s go! Remember to hold your hat on your right hand firmly at the chest,” A woman, who was wearing a baro’t saya and has brown curly wavy hair that dangles at her shoulder, told them putting her right hand on her chest. She was new a teacher of the school and yet, she handles most of the activities of the seniors.

“Take it easy Ms. Pri,” Miguel greeted her with a smile “Don’t worry, we’ve practice this a dozen times already,” he added as he marches off to his seat.

“Basics are always the key holders you know,” she quipped.

“Hi ma’am, hope to see you at the party,” Rico and Erika said in unison as they too marched to their seat. The teacher just nodded and smiled back.

“Ms. Priya… Thanks again I guess,” Austell said as he looks down on the floor.

“Aww come on, stop making this more painful, okay? Now go and have fun,” she replied as she gestured for him to march on as well.

“Good luck to us then, we’ll see you at the party,” he smiled and headed on to his friends. Again, she just smiled back in return.

The ceremony went on for hours as the school’s principal congratulate them one by one, together with their special awards. Miguel got an award for best in Math and Physics as Rico got an award for best in English and Economy. Erika got the best in Arts and Music as well as for Social Science while Austell got an award in best in Computer. Everyone except Miguel also got a loyalty award for staying in that school for nearly all of their lives.s