September 21 (Saturday)
1:02 PM
The afternoon mass exodus was officially complete.
As soon as the administrative clearance was given for their supposedly haunted PE block, the Group Delta took the sweep routine before the vast majority of the BEEd 1-A cohort practically sprinted out of the campus gates. But Jiro Sanata's circle wasn't in a rush. Instead of braving the midday traffic, they decided to establish a temporary lounge right inside the KSU Taytay grounds.
The squad temporarily split to execute their respective post-class routines.
The primary stronghold was, as usual, the girls' restroom located on the ground floor of the extreme right wing. Inside, Mira Palida, Niewi Voeliè, and Ivyn Giron had commandeered the mirror sinks. Powders, lip tints, and brushes were deployed as they initiated a thorough makeup restoration session.
While blending their blush, the acoustic space of the tiled restroom amplified their exciting chatter. The main agenda for the afternoon wasn't academic—it was the highly anticipated celebration of Mona Patori's 21st birthday tomorrow, which featured a major logistical shift: a swimming activity.
"Huy, beh. Are you all coming to Mona's birthday tomorrow?" Ivyn asked, looking at the two girls through the reflection of the mirror.
Mira paused her touch-up, her expression shifting into a mask of uncertainty. She hadn't secured the necessary travel clearance from her household yet.
"Uh, for me, wait. Where is that pool again? Maybe my father wouldn't allow me if it's quite far eh," Mira told Ivyn, her voice laced with genuine concern.
"Beh, Mona said in the Pasig Rainforest Park. She will tell us later how to get there," Ivyn explained, quickly clarifying the coordinates before pivoting her attention to the rogue editor of the group. "And how about you, Niewi?"
Niewi didn't even blink. She was completely focused on applying a light, precise layer of tint to her lips.
"Ay, I will not go tomorrow, I have to do something eh," Niewi smoothly denied the invitation, her schedule apparently already locked.
"Luh, why? Just come please!" Ivyn insisted, attempting to break Niewi's defenses and drag her into the celebration roster.
"Nah, beh. I don't have money," Niewi countered effortlessly, deploying the ultimate, undeniable college student reasoning.
Mira listened to the exchange, still heavily undecided. She genuinely wished she could join the celebration tomorrow, but her deployment required two specific resources: parental permission and pocket money. Without both, her attendance was physically impossible.
Meanwhile, a completely different, much more peaceful dynamic was unfolding just outside the concrete walls.
Right beside the campus gymnasium, sheltered under the thick, leafy canopy of a lone mango tree, Cicille Masha and the soon-to-be birthday girl, Mona Patori, were sitting together on a small concrete bench. They were facing the campus backyard—a quiet, empty stretch of grassland bordered by tall, swaying acacia trees. Small white butterflies fluttered aimlessly over the damp grass beneath the overcast sky.
It was a cinematic slice-of-life aesthetic. Cicille was passionately telling a story, her words flowing in a rapid-fire Bisaya sequence punctuated by frequent, loud laughter. Mona simply sat beside her, smiling warmly, actively listening, and occasionally offering soft, grounded advice to help her friend navigate her challenges.
Back in the extreme right wing, the waiting protocol was reaching its peak duration.
Jiro Sanata was awkwardly leaning against the cold concrete fence in the hallway, stationed just a few feet away from the open doorway of the girls' restroom. He was staring blankly at the gray, overcast sky, looking completely drained. The morning marathon had stripped his energy reserves, and standing guard as the designated hallway sentry wasn't helping his recovery.
Finally, the touch-up session concluded. The three girls exited the restroom, stepping out into the open corridor.
Mira immediately spotted Jiro's exhausted, slumped figure against the fence. She walked up to him, deciding to extend the birthday invitation to the lone male member of their circle.
"Beh, come to Mona's birthday tomorrow ah. And there is a swimming pool!" Mira announced cheerfully, trying to inject some excitement into his exhausted posture.
Jiro barely reacted. His internal strategist instantly threw up massive red flags.
Swimming? In a public pool? With them?
His Apex Strategist mind scrambled. He possessed zero desire to engage in aquatic activities, especially not in a crowded public venue. The vulnerability of swimming, the physical exhaustion of the travel, and the inevitable chaotic energy of a pool party sounded like a complete systemic nightmare. More importantly, he needed a solid, unassailable excuse. He couldn't just tell them he was afraid of being judged or playfully mocked for refusing to swim.
He needed a tactical evasion. He borrowed Niewi's flawless defense mechanism.
"Uh… maybe I will not come eh," Jiro muttered, looking away to avoid direct eye contact. "Because… uh… I don't have money."
Mira wasn't buying the sudden financial crisis.
"Luh. That is just near eh. That's right in Pasig," Mira reasoned quickly, breaking down his geographic excuse. The travel cost was minimal, leaving his defense wide open.
Ivyn immediately backed Mira up, stepping closer to add emotional pressure to the negotiation.
"Please, Jiro, come!" Ivyn pleaded, aggressively forcing the invitation to break his stoic resistance.
But Jiro kept rejecting their invitations as a dark, suppressed memory suddenly breached his mental defenses. It happened barely three months ago, right at the tail end of his high school era. The Unnamed Dream trauma.
It was June 27, a Thursday. During their section's farewell party at a private night resort, around 1:24 AM, the atmosphere was completely split. Some were eating under the outdoor tent, others were chilling in the shallow end. Out of nowhere, a classmate aggressively dragged him into the deepest part of the pool, unreasonably blaming him for a lost friendship bracelet. And then, she just left him there. Stranded in the middle of the deep end.
Jiro's feet couldn't touch the tiles. Panic instantly overrode his system. He couldn't swim. The water pulled him under, filling his ears with that terrifying, muffled aquatic silence as he fought for air. He was actively drowning. He blacked out, only surviving because another classmate managed to pull him to the surface and drag him to the edge to breathe.
The memory snapped him back to the present. The phantom sensation of water filling his lungs briefly paralyzed him. He let out a quiet, heavy sigh. He needed to deploy a much stronger defense mechanism, but he still opted for a sanitized version of the truth.
"Uh, you know. My parents hate me joining any bondings involving swimming pools," Jiro reasoned, his tone dropping cold despite the forced, awkward laugh he used to mask the trauma. "'Cause... uh... I can't even swim eh. Hehehe."
The logic finally clicked for Mira and Ivyn. It was a flawless, undeniable excuse. But Mira's supportive nature completely missed the severity of the psychological damage.
"Ah, but I can even teach you how to swim! Please come tomorrow!" Mira pleaded, stepping closer, genuinely offering to become his aquatic mentor.
But Jiro's fear of deep water was absolute. He raised his hands defensively, shaking his head.
"Nah, nah... No no no. I'm fine!" Jiro playfully disagreed, firmly rejecting the training arc.
Realizing his defenses were impenetrable, Ivyn and Mira finally let it go. Ivyn then shifted her focus.
"Uy, did you guys see Mona and Cicille?" Ivyn asked, looking around the empty hallway.
Neither Niewi nor Mira had a clue. Ivyn turned her interrogation back to Jiro.
"I saw them walking down the hallway earlier," Jiro noted casually, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "They went to the gymnasium."
Not taking any chances, Ivyn quickly pulled out her phone and dropped a message into their newly-created group chat, Peepeeps, to demand their exact coordinates.
But they didn't wait for a reply. The trio followed Jiro's intel, marching down the ground floor hallway toward the campus gymnasium.
They finally spotted their missing squad members. Cicille and Mona were just right outside the open-air gymnasium, hanging out on a small bench in the campus backyard.
While crossing the massive gymnasium floor, Ivyn's energy levels suddenly spiked. She broke into a full sprint.
"Mona!!! Cicille!!!" Ivyn screamed energetically, her voice echoing across the court until she reached the opposite side.
She crashed into them, catching her breath while aggressively patting their shoulders. "Oh, I was looking for you two eh! You were all just here."
Cicille just stared at her with a flawless deadpan expression, her eyes wide in pure shock and confusion at the sudden physical assault.
A few moments later, the rest of the squad—Mira, Niewi, and Jiro—finally arrived at the coordinates.
While the five girls immediately consolidated into a tight circle to discuss their birthday logistics, Jiro slowly drifted away from the chatter. He wandered toward the edge of the campus yard, experiencing a sudden, massive system overload of nature.
The backyard felt like an absolute escape from the suffocating concrete architecture. Damp grass stretched out everywhere, bordered by tall, perfectly lined acacia trees. Small white butterflies fluttered aimlessly through the air. Further back, massive, mature narra trees stood like silent guardians, towering over a nearby mini-garden filled with dragon fruit and moringa plants. It was a massive wave of fresh air.
Mira and Niewi noticed his sudden isolation and walked over.
"Uy, what's wrong?" Mira asked, tracking his gaze.
Jiro just shrugged it off, his eyes locking onto a specific environmental detail. Right in the middle of the grass stood a single, tall, weathered rock.
"Oh, let's take a pic there while sitting... on that rock," Jiro suggested, pointing at the natural prop.
Mira's content creator instincts instantly ignited. "Oh, nice idea!"
She immediately hyped up the group, calling Ivyn over to initiate a photoshoot on top of the lone rock.
Ivyn didn't hesitate. She climbed the rock first, striking a confident pose while Mira backed up, holding her phone to capture the wide shot. The birthday girl, Mona, went next, followed shortly by Cicille. But Ivyn definitely hogged the camera the most, flexing her long hair and striking dramatic poses standing right beside the stone.
But the photoshoot was abruptly interrupted by the shifting weather. The overcast sky finally gave way, dropping a sudden, light drizzle over the yard.
The squad hastily retreated, running back to the thick shade of the mango tree. Mira quickly organized the group, raising her phone high to capture one final, complete group selfie under the leaves.
2:14 PM
With the campus exploration officially concluded, they marched out of the KSU Taytay gates and hailed a tricycle. The squad split at the Taytay Tiangge drop-off. Jiro officially disconnected, heading straight to his respective home to rest as per his strict Energy Conservation.
But the remaining five weren't done yet. They ventured deep into the Taytay Tiangge, exploring the dense stalls, buying swimwears and bikinis, entering commercial establishments, taking endless pictures, and maximizing their bonding time just a day before Mona's actual birthday. They were continuously talking about their hopeful wishes for her, finalizing the logistics, and planning exactly what food to bring to the pool party tomorrow.
And then, around 4:10 PM, the weather completely crashed. It rained heavily, trapping the five girls inside the Tiangge building, forcing them to wait out the storm before they could finally commute safely home.
As the short rain burst finally dissipated, the squad split their routes. Ivyn, Cicille, and Mona decided to head straight home to rest, while Mira and Niewi initiated a quick detour to another shop. Their objective was simple: secure a large gold number '2' and a '1' foil balloon. It was Niewi's specific gift for Mona, a celebratory token since her schedule completely locked her out of attending the actual party tomorrow. To keep the vibes light, Niewi dropped a message in their group chat, jokingly demanding that they secure some takeout food for her in exchange.
5:42 PM
On their exclusive group chat, Peepeeps, the logistics were being fiercely debated. Mona sent a direct message to Cicille, reminding her of the commitment she had made earlier that afternoon. Cicille was still wavering, her attendance dangling on the edge of uncertainty.
But Mira and Ivyn immediately launched a coordinated digital offensive. They tag-teamed the chat, aggressively convincing Mona that Cicille was absolutely locked in for tomorrow. To solidify their claim, they dropped the ultimate evidence: Cicille had literally purchased a brand new pair of bikinis earlier that day just for the event. The undeniable proof finally lessened Mona's worries.
With the attendance roster seemingly secured, Mona shifted the discussion to the menu. She humbly announced her planned culinary lineup for the birthday feast: pancit, fruit salad, the classic chicken Lumpiang Shanghai (spring rolls), and a massive batch of Gulaman because it was her absolute favorite.
"Just please don't judge my cooking ah," Mona typed, adding a nervous laughing emoji. "I can't really cook that well, just modest eh."
As the night grew deeper, pushing past 6:40 PM, the final phase of the operation was initiated. The girls began mapping out the most optimal tricycle routes to the Pasig Rainforest Park, asking Mona for the exact coordinates so they wouldn't get lost or aggressively overcharged by the local drivers.
September 22 (Sunday)
2:14 AM
The timeline officially crossed into Mona's 21st birthday. Even though the sun was still hours away from rising, the excitement could not be contained. Cicille, operating on pure adrenaline, sent the very first strike into the group chat.
Cicille Masha: "@Mona happy birthday po!!!!!!!! 🎂🎉"
By 5:15 AM, the rest of the squad began to wake up. Niewi dropped her own greetings, and Mona immediately replied, thanking both of them for the early morning wishes. Mira followed shortly after.
Then came Ivyn. Her greeting was utterly unique. It was an incredibly long, detailed message... that was entirely composed of pure keyboard-smashing gibberish. (jhsisnwbw makahsvs w lskzvs wkwka mmwiegbk malaogsyde kalaozyzgvw). It was the ultimate chaotic sweet message.
At 6:30 AM, the physical preparations began. The girls were eating breakfast, taking showers, and executing their outfit preparations. Meanwhile, the birthday celebrant was already actively deployed. Mona, accompanied by her older sister, brothers, and her niece, was currently navigating the morning traffic toward the Pasig Rainforest Park. They were carrying the heavy cargo—the dishes, the drinks, and the birthday cake—racing against the clock to secure a prime open-air cottage before the weekend crowds swarmed the venue.
As the morning fully broke, the rest of the squad scrambled to their designated rendezvous point. Ivyn, Cicille, and Mira successfully consolidated their forces, hailing a ride together to make their grand entrance at the park.
9:03 AM
They finally arrived at the main gate.
The Pasig Rainforest Park completely exceeded their expectations. It wasn't just a simple concrete resort but the entire environment was a lush, sprawling expanse of varied tropical trees and vibrant plants. The air felt incredibly fresh and breathable, radiating a distinct safari aesthetic, just without the wild animals roaming around.
The moment they stepped through the entrance, Ivyn's content creator radar pinged. She immediately spotted a winding staircase leading up to an open-air pavilion.
"Uy, Mira! Take a picture of me here ah!" Ivyn insisted.
She marched up the steps, grabbing the metal handrail and striking a dramatic pose, flawlessly flexing her bright yellow dress and her long, flowing hair for the camera.
With the entrance photoshoot cleared, they descended and began navigating the paved pathways of the rainforest to locate the main resort area. It was a short, scenic walk. They quickly spotted their target.
Mona was standing near their reserved cottage. The trio immediately locked onto her, screaming their birthday greetings so loudly that the surrounding crowd probably heard it. Mona couldn't stop laughing, her hands flying up to cover her mouth in pure, overwhelmed shyness as she repeatedly thanked them.
Ivyn closed the distance first, pulling Mona into a massive, tight hug. Cicille followed, and finally Mira. They collapsed into a chaotic group hug, with Ivyn's energy completely off the charts. She was literally jumping up and down, her loud, echoing laughter filling the open air.
They moved into the open-air cottage to settle their belongings. Mona's family members and her little niece were already there, resting. The cottage table was a glorious sight—fully loaded with large bottles of soft drinks, stacks of plastic cups, and the impressive spread of modest dishes Mona had prepared. The entire surrounding area was lively, packed with other families and children occupying adjacent cottages and splashing around in the massive, shared public pool.
But before anyone could even think about hitting the water, the mandatory documentation phase had to be executed. The four girls dragged Mona's older sister out to act as their official photographer. They posed all around the park, leaning against the wooden rails of the bridge passing over the pool, securing the ultimate aesthetic group shots.
Meanwhile, back in the digital realm, a completely different kind of party was unfolding in the KSU TAYTAY BEED 1-A main section group chat.
At 10:03 AM, the 29-year-old Lore Master, Reo Bairo, dropped a heavy YouTube video link into the chat. It was the official reference for the dance steps they needed to memorize for their production number—a mandatory Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas performance for their upcoming Culminating Activity.
The Class Treasurer, Lindsey Soliko, immediately analyzed the situation and proposed a financial shortcut.
Lindsey Soliko: "Can we hire a choreo?"
But Reo, possessing the wisdom of actual life experience, instantly threw up massive financial red flags. Hiring a professional choreographer would completely drain their resources.
Reo Bairo: "Yeah we can, but those are just additional expenses huhuhu. Our funds would be much larger for that thing eh. We should've just taken that final exam instead hahahaha."
She then proceeded to list the staggering, impending logistical nightmares required to pull off the massive program event.
Reo Bairo: "Because we are also going to spend on props, hiring or making costumes, the refreshments and food for our program, our dance practice. Waaaaaaaah."
The Talim Island commuter, Aprille Bolente, read the breakdown in pure shock.
Aprille Bolente: "I thought it was just a dance performance… It is just rather a program huhu."
Reo kept hammering the harsh reality into the chat, detailing the geographical struggles they were about to face.
Reo Bairo: "Then we also need to find a larger place to practice, eh, we are also far away from each other."
Lindsey quickly backed up the Lore Master's concerns, reminding the class that not everyone had the luxury of shelling out large amounts of money for a single event.
But right in the middle of the rising financial panic, the quietest member of the class, Aira Berdez, suddenly appeared just to drop a masterclass joke.
Aira Berdez: "@Gracie Masado is our choreo po, she said."
Aira immediately replied to her own message with a laughing emoji. Gracie, never one to back down from a challenge, instantly played along with the hustle.
Gracie Masado: "Go ahead. 500 per head."
The tense group chat immediately dissolved into a comedy bar. Aprille jumped onto the pricing negotiation.
Aprille Bolente: "Just me, 5 pesos per head everyday HAHAHA."
Eventually, the banter faded, and Reo redirected the focus back to their primary objective: locating a viable practice venue. She noted that if all external options failed, they would be forced to conduct their rehearsals right inside the suffocating concrete walls of the KSU campus.
11:38 AM
The group chat shifted its focus back to celebrations. Reo Bairo took the lead in the main group chat.
Reo Bairo: "Happy Birthday @Rechele Eve @Mona Patori 🫰"
The timeline alignment was incredibly rare. It turned out that it was also Rechele's 18th birthday. With Rechele officially crossing the threshold into adulthood, it meant she was the very last girl in BEEd 1-A to turn 18.
That left exactly one anomaly remaining in the entire cohort. Jiro Sanata. He was still 17, completely solidifying his status as the absolute youngest student in the class.
Rechele quickly thanked Reo, and the rest of the cohort flooded the chat with greetings for the two celebrants.
11:49 AM
Back in the real world, the Apex Strategist finally woke up.
Jiro immediately checked his phone, navigating to the Peepeeps group chat to deliver his required social protocol.
Jiro Sanata: "Ay wow, they are enjoying outside HAHAHAHA. Happy Birthday @Mona Patori ! 🎂🎂"
Niewi, the absent squadmate who had skipped the pool event, quickly replied to his message, engaging in a little digital solidarity from their respective homes.
Niewi Voeliè: "Go upload a note too. HWBWHHAHAHAHA."
While Jiro and Niewi were chilling in their rooms, the energy at the Pasig Rainforest Park was reaching its peak.
Inside the open-air cottage, they initiated the main event. The candles were lit. Cicille held her phone up, actively recording the entire sequence. Mira and Ivyn stood on either side, each carrying smaller, individual cakes decorated with lit candles, while Mona's brother carefully carried the massive main birthday cake.
They sang the birthday song cheerfully, their voices blending with the ambient noise of the resort. As the song ended, they waited for Mona to make her wish and blow out the candles. She leaned in, preparing to blow out the smaller cakes first.
But Mira, acting on pure chaotic instinct, suddenly leaned forward and forcefully blew out the candle on her small cake before Mona could even exhale.
The entire group erupted into massive, echoing laughter at the sudden betrayal. They recovered quickly, allowing Mona to finish the ritual, before finally sitting down to attack the prepared lunch feast.
12:47 PM
With their hunger satiated, the four girls grabbed their bags and headed straight for the public restrooms to execute their wardrobe change.
When they emerged, they had successfully transitioned into their aquatic attire. Cicille and Mona opted for a more appropriate, comfortable setup—short sleeveless shirts paired with shorts. Mira and Ivyn, however, fully embraced the summer aesthetic, confidently walking out in denim shorts and a pair of swimming bras.
They headed back to the cottage, carefully sealing their dry clothes inside paper bags to protect them from the inevitable splashes.
Finally, they hit the water.
They plunged into the shared public pool, sticking safely to the shallower sections. The afternoon was spent entirely on having fun, splashing around, and—most importantly—conducting endless modeling sessions in the water to secure premium content for their social media feeds.
Back at the cottage, Mira briefly activated her merchant instincts. She grabbed a clean plastic container and meticulously packed a generous serving of the birthday feast, securing the promised takeout loot for Niewi.
4:51 PM
The aquatic adventure was officially concluded. Exhausted but happy, the group dried off and prepared to head back to Taytay. But the day wasn't completely over, they had plotted a final, wholesome agenda: attending the evening mass at the local church.
Ivyn quickly messaged Jiro, asking if he could temporarily break his isolation protocol to join them at the church by 6:00 PM.
Jiro politely declined. He wasn't just resting, he was actively grinding. He explained that he was currently in the middle of executing his weekly NSTP LTS tutorial session with his niece, so a sudden deployment was impossible. Niewi, however, confirmed she would rendezvous with them later, as she was currently wrapping up a different family obligation at her grandfather's birthday party.
By 5:20 PM, the original four arrived in Taytay proper. They executed a final wardrobe change before heading to the church. In a completely unplanned, flawless aesthetic synchronization, Mona, Cicille, Ivyn, and Mira all emerged wearing different shades of pink shirts and dresses.
When they finally met up with Niewi, Mira tried to enforce the accidental dress code, desperately convincing Niewi to quickly change into a pink skirt or shirt. But the rogue editor entirely rejected the pink agenda. Niewi stood her ground, comfortably wearing a crisp white shirt and dark pants. Defeated, Mira simply handed over the eco-bag containing the packed food containers, successfully completing the takeout delivery.
8:49 PM
The long, exhausting, incredibly fun day of celebrating Mona's 21st birthday had finally come to an end. The squad returned to their respective homes, completely drained of energy. Jiro, having spent the entire day inside his house, was already comfortably scrolling on his phone.
But as the five girls settled into their beds, the peaceful aftermath was violently shattered.
A sudden, terrifying realization struck the group chat. The hopeful wish of a relaxing Sunday night was entirely broken.
Tomorrow was Monday.
And Monday meant the absolute, unyielding deadline for their weekly NSTP LTS documentation and journals.
The group chat instantly went into a state of absolute, frantic panic. The five girls scrambled in their respective homes, not just to write, but to execute the hardest part of the requirement.
At almost nine in the evening, they had to desperately hunt down their younger siblings, nieces, or cousins—most of whom were already asleep or throwing tantrums—just to force them into a five-minute mock tutorial session for the mandatory photo and video documentation.
They spent the next hour aggressively typing out their journal entries on their smartphones, fighting against lagging Google Docs and Canva apps, and blurry camera rolls, desperately trying to compile their files before the morning sun could rise.
And then there was Niewi. The rogue editor had actually secured her handwritten LTS learning materials... until her neatly written bond papers slipped. They fluttered down onto the floor, landing exactly in a fresh puddle of her dog's pee.
She was, quite literally, pissed off.
Meanwhile, Jiro Sanata just laid on his mattress, a dry, satisfied smirk on his face. His files were already compiled, formatted, and fully uploaded to the Google Drive. The Apex Strategist had cleared the deadline hours ago.
He had achieved true peace.
Until the MMW/NSTP 1 - BEED 1A group chat buzzed.
It was exactly 9:55 PM. The red-haired idol professor, Dr. Ricky Manazaki, had just dropped a sudden administrative ambush.
Dr. Ricky Manazaki: "Gud evening children.. Our flag ceremony tomorrow will start at 7:15 am.. attendance is a must. God bless you all. [Doc Rick]"
It was a brutal, unblockable attack. The sudden announcement instantly threw the entire class into a state of total confusion. They had zero morning classes scheduled for Monday. Were they really being forced to commute at dawn just to stand in a flag ceremony?
Back in the exclusive Peepeeps group chat, Niewi—still recovering from the destruction of her journal—realized the fatal consequence of this sudden deployment.
Niewi Voeliè: "Doc, plsss wait, my uniform hasn't washed yet 😭"
END OF THE HOPEFUL WISH