Chapter 1-B

*** CONTINUATION ***

@Academy of Elites

"This is the most well-known and prestigious school here in Manila, Miss Agape. Some of the students here are actors and actresses. And some are sons and daughters of a well-known (or) wealthy families. The securities here are tough and tight so it's safe. On a scale of one to ten, I'll give a ten." Manong Tinyong introduced. Agape was busy looking at the surroundings.

She was a late enrollee. She could notice the student's stares at her. Some are raising their eyebrows towards her as they scan her, buzzes of whispers and criticism. She felt ashamed but she shoved it aside and followed the directions that Manong Tinyong says.

The facilities are well built and neat. The whole school was so spacious and clean too. She's wearing her smile as she roams her eyes around. There's a stampede of ladies near to her location. Maybe that was the celebrity Manong Tinyong's mentioned. She didn't bother to waste more time with them and pass them by. They went straight to the Principal's Office who's likely waiting for them to arrive.

"Have a seat, Miss Agape Clive." They gestured them to a seat, "I'm Principal Leonora Manalili." She introduced.

"Agape Clive. Nice meeting you, Principal." And they shakes each other's hands.

"Actually, you're already enrolled in here. Your mother is the one who fixed your papers. I just summoned you here to give you a mini tour around the school and be familiarized with it. We also have Do's and Do not's in here. And about your school uniform, you can approach our designer---Miss Katerina Gibson about that later. Shall we go?" All she did is to nod, understanding everything the Principal has said. After the brief more talks, they went out to have a tour.

"Those are the buildings of the high schoolers. And that one is for the seniors. We also have a building of different 5-star restaurants in here aside from the cafeteria. That one is the school's supplies store if ever you run out of something. There are restrooms on each floor. The girls' and boys' restrooms are separated for safety. We have a very wide field too. And that one over there is our big gymnasium. That separated building is for sports only. Like basketball, volleyball, etc. Then the club buildings. The faculties. The garden became the student's relaxation spot. Also, we have an enormous library. Some of the books are imported from foreign countries."

She was listening to her and agapeing all the pieces of information in her head. They were in the middle of talking when they heard a stentorian voice that startled them. Their heads turn to the person where it came from.

"Katerina! What!? How's your itinerancy in New York!? You didn't even bother to invite nor take me with you! I hate you!" 

"S-She's so loud... " Agape whispered in shock while wincing. Her nose crinkled. They are meters away from the woman, yet it feels like they're near her. Her voice is too loud for Pete's sake! It's enough to wake an entire village! She doesn't even seem to be embarrassed or ashamed by her loudness. Eardrum-piercing!

"Katerina? Isn't she the designer here, Principal? Should I talk to her already?"

"Oh, sure. You can. She's your classmate too. You are in Section 1. Most of the students there are actors and actresses. And sons and daughters of politicians and wealthy peoples. I also have something to do too. I just waited for you so we can have a mini tour. Goodbye, Miss Agape!" And the Principal left the scene. She didn't think twice and followed the two women. Good thing there's an elevator. She won't tire herself from climbing.

"This is Section 1, Miss Agape." Manong Tinyong remarked as he stood in front of her soon-to-be-classroom. In the ground floor was Section 7 and 8. The second is for Section 6 and 5. The third is for Sections 4 and 3. The fourth floor is for Sections 2 and 1. And the fifth floor was the rooftop.

"Okay. Let me excuse Katerina." She beamed a smile and peek inside. She knocked to gain her attention. Even though the attentions all hers already. She smiled at them cheerfully and waved her hand gracefully.

"Hi. Good afternoon. I'm a transferee here but I'll start tomorrow. Can I talk to Miss Katerina to get my uniforms?" It was a moment of silence. Not until it was broken by the loud woman's voice again.

"Woah! You mean---The transferee!? I thought it's a Fafa! Girlala!" She said with a tone of a feeling of having a loss. A question mark popped in Agape's head. Fafa? Girlalu?

(Fafa - a gay term for gorgeous men. Girlalu is also a gay term for females.)

"Uhhh, yeah." She answered, hesitant.

"Miss Katerina, you're excused." Ordered the subject teacher. A beautiful woman stood up and faced her.

"Hi. I'm Agape Clive. The Principal told me to get the uniforms at you." Agape. The woman looks so bored and tired. It's visible in her poker face. The woman is beautiful. She thinks she's a celebrity. The shape of her body was good and she's tall. A model, perhaps?

She raised a brow at her, "But I didn't have it. Go to my boutique. Tell the clerks about the school's uniform. The name's Catwalk." The woman bluntly answered. Agape smiled at her and nodded. Not being intimated by her coldness.

"Okay. Thank you! Sorry for the interruption. Let's go, Manong Tinyong?"

"Sure, Miss Agape." They bid their goodbye to the teacher. They parted ways. When they entered the elevator, that is the time she blew all of the air she's been holding while talking to Katerina. She's really intimidating!

They didn't stay at school for long and head straight to the boutique Katerina mentioned. It was so fancy. The whole boutique was so fancy and fab. There were rich-assed girls scanning around. The clothes are unique. It's so trendy. The bags, stilettos, gowns---it's an all-in-one. She can't help but be in awe. She's so impressed!

"Waaaah~! Look at these classy clothes, Manong!" She exclaimed while checking each dress. Manong Tinyong asked a clerk for AoE's uniform. Agape was even more fascinated. She couldn't find a perfect word that could fit to describe all the products here in Catwalk. All of them are exquisite. Even this uniform.

It has a black blazer with AoE's logo on its right chest. The white polo shirt was tucked-in in a grey high waisted skirt that is 3 inches above the knee with black under flounce. It also has a black ribbon. The uniform...  It is really mesmerizing. She can't hide her excitement to wear it tomorrow!

"Here's the three-set of uniform, Ma'am. We also added your PE uniform to them. If ever no one informed you, Ma'am, every Wednesday is the Civilian Day. You can wear anything decent you want. Do you need shoes and bags, Ma'am? We have plenty of choices that can match your taste." Clerk.

"Fovero!" She exclaimed as her eyes twinkle in all the unique shoes.

[Translation: Amazing!]

"Which do you prefer---flat shoes, boots, or heels, Ma'am?"

"BOOTS!" She answered in excitement. The clerk smiled at her and guided her to the boots section.

She has chosen a white brown laced and high-heeled boots. A clerk suggested a cute, white, leathered backpack to her. And it seems long-lasting. It's kind of heavy maybe because it was leather. It can fit many notebooks there and has pockets for miscellaneous things. She can even put a laptop there. The clerk said that a laptop is often used there. Especially for researching and making reports.

After they pay for the things, they head straight to National Bookstore to buy things for school. They also shopped for a printer and laptop to less the hassle. After that, they stopped at a fast-food chain for dinner. Attentions draws all over her. But she didn't mind entertaining them at all.

They decided to go home since Agape's feeling tired already. She let Manong Tinyong fix the printer in her room. And after that, she fixed all of the things they've shopped. She put the excess supplies in a drawer. She sits on her bed and stared at nothingness. She admits to herself; she was scared. No guards lingering around unlike what she used to see before. The night is so quiet that it deafens her. She sighed. This is not the time for thinking. What she needs to do is clean herself and rest.

After cleaning and drying herself, she rested and immediately drifted to somber.

She hopes for a better life here.