Book #2 of the Campus Sleuths' Series.
Enter the student life in the prestigious academe of Castillo High - where favoritism is a religion, the campus is a board game, and the system is bullshit. Every single student is a pawn.
But not for long.
Thr...
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TATLONG BESES lang nagiging maingay ang airconditioned na gymnasium sa loob ng Castillo High.
The first would be intramurals season, where every class would cheer for their section at the top of their lungs. Kahit na paos ay palakasan pa rin ng sigawan saka pag-palo sa mga drums ang mga estudyante tuwing nakaka-score ang mga players ng klase nila — kahit ano pang sports man 'yan.
Second would be the year-end activities, such as the announcement of the Writers' Schism winners, recognition rites, and graduation ceremonies. There's also the special mention of other academic activities too, like the launching for Buwan ng Wika, English Week, Nutrition Month and so on.
But the third event that really rocks up the place is during student elections season, especially on the day of the meeting de avance.
"CASTILLIANS! ARE. YOU. READYYYYY?!" Geoff Peralta, a cheeky-looking member of the student-based Committee on Elections (COMELEC), howled into his microphone. Agad na naghiyawan ang mga estudyante, some chanting their bets.
Para tuloy boxing match ang gaganapin at hindi meeting de avance.
"Ayan kitang-kita naman Web na super ready na silang makilala ang four different parties who want to serve the student body!" Umika Bayani, Geoff's co-host and fellow member of the COMELEC, joined in with an equal amount of energy.
Habang nagpatuloy ang introduction at starting program ng meeting de avance, ay nakapatong na ang laptop ni Elysia sa kaniyang mga tuhod, at mabilis na nagta-type dito para i-ready ang pag-sulat ng mga importanteng detalye na gaganapin.
Her hair was up in her signature bun, and her eyebrows were creased in concentration.
There was a kick of relentless drive that coursed throughout her spine down to her fingers as she typed away, noting the program floe and the name of the hosts. Ito kasi ang unang onsite coverage ng dalaga sa political beat. The new environment from the usual academics beat gave her a serotonin boost that made her both excited and pressured.
She wasn't to going to let herself mess it up.
Sa harapan ng stage makikita ng dalaga ang kaniyang kaibigan na si Ashley, taking quick snaps here and there all while fiddling with her camera. Madalas ay hindi ito nagtatagal sa isang spot at umiikot-ikot para makahanap ng banner photo-worthy na angle.
Elysia couldn't help but smile. The campus journalists were back to work, alright.
"Bago tayo pumunta sa pinakahinihintay na debate, stances, at syempre, ang question and answer from our students and esteemed panelists, hayaan muna nating i-present ng bawat party ang kanilang mga candidates at platforms, one last time!" Geoff grinned into the microphone, holding his script cards in one hand.
