5:00 AM

Alarm Sounds

Crystal’s eyes suddenly flew open as she woke from a dream.

She placed a hand on her head and said…

“What kind of dream was that? Why does it feel so real?…” — Crystal

A moment later, someone knocked on Crystal’s door.

“Ate! Ate!!! Wake up!!! shouting while knocking on Crystal’s bedroom door” — Mika

“Alright, I’m awake. shouting back” — Crystal

She sat up from her bed.

[PROFILE] #01

Name: Crystal Balagtas

Birth Date: July 10

Age: 15/18 – 21

Height: 168 cm / 5’6

Weight: 48 kg

Motto: “I am the architect of my own destiny.”

“It’s your first day at Hayga High. Will you be okay? asked with concern” — Miko

“Ate will be fine, right Uncle Dew?” — Jiha

“Hahaha! You’re right there, Jiha. You know what your Ate wants to achieve or become in life, so don’t worry.” — Uncle Dew

“Uncle!! You’re teasing me again!” — Crystal

“Teasing? Your dream is the coolest one of all. Besides, once you finish secondary education, you’ll be one step closer to it!” — Jiha

“I know… but some say it’s not that easy or safe. That’s why I’m still wondering if I should go through with it or not.” — Crystal

“Ate, being in the police force is a tough and dangerous job in my opinion. I totally agree with them, but that doesn’t mean I’m trying to stop you from reaching your dream. Maybe you’ll just be assigned to office work anyway.” — Miko

“Alright then, let’s just eat. Let’s stop this serious talk, or your Ate Crystal might be late for school because of our conversation.” — Uncle Dew

“Sorry, Uncle…” — Miko

“Yeah, apologies, Uncle. We shouldn’t have talked about such things during breakfast.” — Jiha

“Oh come on, Jiha and Miko. When will you two ever get used to Uncle?” — Mika

“Hahaha, let’s just eat first and talk about this later. It’s not good to let food get cold.” — Uncle Dew

[PROFILE] #02

Name: Mika (Miko’s Twin Sister)

Birth Date: August 4

Age: 14/17 – 20

Height: 146 cm / 4’9.5

Weight: 41 kg

Motto: “Understanding is the answer to everything.”

Name: Miko (Mika’s Twin Brother)

Birth Date: August 4

Age: 14/17 – 20

Height: 165 cm / 5’5

Weight: 55 kg

Motto: “Remember to save yourself first before you save others.”

Name: Jiha

Birth Date: October 16

Age: 15/18 – 20

Height: 166 cm / 5’5.5

Weight: 57 kg

Motto: “Killing a bird means taking its freedom.”

Name: Uncle Dew (Foster Parent of Miko, Mika, and Jiha)

Birth Date: January 2

Age: 44

Height: 173 cm / 5’8

Weight: 75 kg

Motto: “Giving food to the homeless is like giving them hope.”

Crystal’s POV

I walked toward the gate of Hayga High, still feeling unfamiliar with everything, since I had never attended a school for the wealthy or such a prestigious institution before.

Almost all the students my age walking into Hayga looked so mature and carried themselves with such elegance, as if they were nothing like an ordinary kid like me.

Every student also stepped out of fancy cars, accompanied by their butlers or bodyguards.

“Excuse me? Can you step aside? You’re blocking my way.” — Claire

She frowned when Crystal did not hear her.

Annoyed, Claire grabbed Crystal’s shoulder and pulled her to face her.

“!!!” — Crystal

“What is it? Did you not hear me?! I said, excuse me and step aside because you’re in my way!!” — Claire

“H-huh??” — Crystal

“The heck? Don’t tell me you can’t understand what I’m saying.” — Claire

“Ms. Madrigal, watch your language!” — Mattia

“Watch my language? Shut up, Tia. I’m talking to her, not you — so don’t interfere!” — Claire

“Miss!…” — Mattia

“Here, so you can understand what I’m saying — I’ll say it in Tagalog then. I said move aside, because you’re blocking my path!!” — Claire

She gave Crystal a hard shove.

“Arghhh! This is so annoying!!” — Claire

She stormed off, her footsteps heavy and angry.

“Hello, miss?” — Mattia

“Crystal, sir; Crystal Balagtas.” — Crystal

He reached out and shook Crystal’s hand.

“I’m Mattia — nice to meet you.” — Mattia

...TO BE CONTINUED...

...4N...

📍NOTE📍

"Ate" is a tagalog word that means "Older sister".

Crystal's POV

I lay on my bed staring up at my bedroom ceiling. Thinking about what Claire’s butler said.

•FLASHBACK•

“N-nice to meet you too, Mr. Mattia.” — Crystal

“Oh? You understand English, and you even call me formally. However, I’ve never heard of any prominent family with the surname “Balagtas.” — Mattia

“Uhh… well, I’m just an ordinary student, and I don’t come from a wealthy family.” — Crystal

“Oh…” — Mattia

“Attention please, all freshmen and Hayganians, please proceed inside the school court for the ceremony. The ceremony will start in 5 minutes, thank you.” — Speaker

“Oh! I’ll go ahead then, thank you for your time!” — Crystal

“W-wait! I still have to… sigh*.” — Mattia

He spoke, before Crystal simply walked straight inside Hayga without even glancing back at Mattia.

•END OF FLASHBACK•

“Never mind, I’ll just ask him when we meet again.” — Crystal

9:30 pm

°Tomorrow morning°

Alarm sounds

5:30 am

Crystal woke up exactly on time, still yawning. She immediately got up and got ready so she could also have breakfast.

“Woahhh! That looks so cool, Uncle!” — Mika

“I wonder how the boys’ uniform looks like.” — Miko

“Uncle, I want to wear that kind of uniform too!” — Mika

“In your dreams, Mika…” — Jiha

“Huh? Why in my dreams? Uncle can transfer me there if he wants, right Uncle?” — Mika

“Mika, only one student per family is allowed to enter Hayga.” — Uncle Dew

“Ehhh? Why though, Uncle?” — Mika

“Stop asking, Mika, you’re prying way too much.” — Jiha

And on the other side of the kitchen wall stood Crystal, listening.

Crystal's Mind

Something's off. Jiha keeps diverting Mika’s questions. Jiha and Uncle Dew are hiding something. They wouldn’t keep or hide things for no reason. I don’t feel comfortable about it. I’m starting to suspect something.

“Crystal, hurry up, we’re about to eat!” — Uncle Dew

“Ah! Yes Uncle, I’m coming.” — Crystal

“Eat a bit faster, or you might be late if you take too long.” — Uncle Dew

“Yes, Uncle.” — Crystal

-HAYGA HIGH 6:00 am-

“Can you pay more attention to her please?” — Mattia

“Oh! Of course Mr. Mattia, I will pay more attention to Ms. Madrigal.” — Class Adviser

“Thank you so much. If you don’t mind may I go now? I have other things to do.” — Mattia

“Sure Mr. Mattia, thank you for your time.” — Class Adviser

“Hmm.” — Mattia

While Mattia was speaking with Claire’s class adviser, Crystal spotted him and immediately walked closer.

“M-Mr. Mattia?” — Crystal

“Oh? Ms. Balagtas, it’s so nice to see you again.” — Mattia

“Ah… uhm… Mr. Mattia, may I speak with you for just a moment?” — Crystal

“Yeah, sure.” — Mattia

“What did you mean to tell me yesterday?” — Crystal

“Oh? You heard me? I thought you didn’t, well… oh right! Sorry about yesterday, I already told Claire’s parents to discipline her so next time she will pay more attention to her behaviors.” — Mattia

“Uhh… okay… But, are you sure there isn’t anything else you wanted to say?” — Crystal

“Hahahahaha! How surprising, to be honest I suck at changing topics, well, what I wanted to say was kinda nonsense. I guess? But all I want to say is, you kinda look familiar, but, you know, I’ll tell you a secret. Only those families with backgrounds that this school wants could only get in.” — Mattia

“Mr. Mattia, we have to go now or we will be late.” — Jade

“I have to leave now, bye Ms. Balagtas, see you around. *and he smiled” — Mattia

Mattia left, leaving Crystal standing still, stunned by his words — for her, everything he said had opened up a puzzle in her mind.

Crystal's Mind

I knew it. Uncle Dew is hiding something from me.

Crystal's POV

“Only those families? With backgrounds?” Seriously? What he said wasn’t nonsense to me. Uncle Dew is the one who got me into Hayga, so definitely he knows something! He’s hiding something!!!

Because of everything Crystal discovered while living in Uncle Dew’s household, she resolved to dig even deeper.

•FAST FORWARD•

After months of investigating, she found out that Uncle Dew was a runaway heir of a family known by the surname “Hurteis.”

Upon learning Dew’s true identity, she immediately confronted him and spoke to him directly.

“Why didn’t you tell me at all, Uncle??? You could’ve trusted me! And what about Hayga? What was the reason you applied for me to study there? And Jiha?? She’s your niece, not your daughter! Uncle seriously!!! You should’ve told me everything because I could understand!” — Crystal

Dew pulled Crystal into a tight hug while she cried.

That tight embrace was his only reply to all of Crystal’s questions.

Until evening came, and it was time for dinner.

Crystal went downstairs as if none of their argument ever happened.

Instead, they simply smiled at one another and began eating their dinner.

-A LONG TIME AGO-

“Getting you into Hayga is the answer to make you a fully trained assassin not as a police officer or anything else. Remember, Hayga is the place where you’ll find your true self. (while gently stroking Crystal’s head as she slept.) Being an assassin will save your life someday and help you discover who you truly are and I hope you’ll come to understand that.” — Uncle Dew

2 YEARS LATER

...TO BE CONTINUED...

...4N...