Cleia's POV

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The days passed in a blur of settling into our new home, buying essentials, and trying to familiarize ourselves with the places. It was strange to go from covert missions to ordinary tasks like grocery shopping and decorating. Our thoughts were always on the future—what our first day at the university would be like, and how we’d navigate this new chapter of our lives. But first, we needed a break, a moment to unwind and prepare for what was to come.

Early morning at the beach in Zambales.

The sun had barely risen when we piled into our van given by the agency, our excitement was visible. The drive to Zambales was long, but the promise of a beach day kept our spirits high. By the time we reached the coast, the sky was a brilliant blue, and the waves gently lapped at the shore.

We had chosen Zambales for its beautiful beaches. It was the perfect place to unwind before the chaos of university life began.

I stretched my arms up as I stepped out of the car “I needed this. It’s so peaceful here.”

Jaeala, grinning and running towards the water “Race you to the waves!”

Faye giggling, she follows Jaeala “You’re on!”

While Eli is setting up a beach umbrella “I’m just going to relax here and work on my tan.”

And Tarah opening a beach chair “Same here. I’m too tired to move much today.”

The beach was almost empty, save for a few locals and tourists. It was perfect. We spent the day swimming, sunbathing, and laughing without a care in the world. It was a rare moment of pure joy, untainted by the constant vigilance of our usual lives.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, we gathered around a small bonfire we had built. The warmth of the fire contrasted with the cool evening breeze, creating a perfect ambiance.

We had brought snacks and drinks, intending to make the most of our time here. The fire crackled softly, and the sound of the waves provided a soothing background.

I was staring into the fire “It’s hard to believe we’ll be starting classes soon. I’ve never been this nervous about something so normal.”

Jaeala, laughed a bit roasting a marshmallow “Same here. But it’s exciting, right? A fresh start, new faces, and no missions.”

Faye, hugging her knees “I just hope we can fit in. It’s been so long since we’ve been around people our own age.”

Eli, nodding “I know what you mean. I’m worried I’ll slip up and reveal something by accident.”

“We’ll be fine. We just need to remember our covers and stay close. We’ve handled worse.” Tarah said reassuringly

We shared our hopes and fears for the coming days, the conversation flowing easily among us. It was comforting to know we had each other’s backs, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

Monday morning arrived faster than we expected. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my uniform. The reflection staring back at me looked different – not just because of the uniform, but because of the new life we were about to embark on.

The university campus was bustling with activity as we arrived for our first day. The energy was infectious, and despite our nerves, we couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. Our uniforms fit perfectly on us, a white polo inside, dark blue coat, a neck tie, a short skirt with a pin. The school's logo.

The campus was sprawling and beautiful, with modern buildings and lush green spaces. It was a far cry from the sterile, secretive environments we were used to. I pulled out our schedule and we began looking for the second-year high school building, section 2. Yes, you heard it right. We are only in our 2nd year of high school. We're too young to enter a job like that but no one can stop us from doing that. We are enjoying our job and we like to save people and arrest those who are evil.

"This place is huge," Tarah said, her eyes wide as she looked around.

"Focus, Tarah," Faye said, though she couldn’t hide her own amazement. "We need to find our building."

After a few wrong turns and asking for directions, we finally found our classroom. As we entered, the chatter of students filled the air, and we quickly found seats together.

"This is it," I said quietly. "Our new beginning."

"Let’s make the most of it," Eli replied, squeezing my hand.

Jaeala, bouncing with excitement “I can’t wait to see what kind of projects we’ll be doing.”

“Let's go we'll be late." Tarah said.

We tried to navigate the crowded hallways and find our classroom. The atmosphere was lively, with students chatting, laughing, and hurrying to their lectures.

Our class was in a sleek, modern building. The lecture hall was filled with students, and I found four empty seats near the back, hoping to go unnoticed. The professor introduced the course, outlining the projects and expectations.

“Welcome to English class. I expect full participation and commitment from each of you.” Prof. Martin said.

Two student turned to Tarah “Are you new here? I haven’t seen you around before.”

Tarah Nodded “Yeah, just transferred. I’m Tarah.”

The girl was smiling widely and offered a hand “Nice to meet you. I’m Rina and this is Jhor.

Jhor waved, "Hi".

"If you need any help finding your way around, just let us know.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” sagot naman ni Tarah.

"You can join us for lunch if you want to", Tarah added.

"Sure", sabay nilang sabi.

We went to the main cafeteria for lunch, sharing our experiences from the morning. The cafeteria was bustling, filled with students grabbing food and chatting with friends.

The cafeteria was like a sample of a mall—a place where people from all walks of life came together. It was chaotic, but in a way that felt alive and vibrant.

Cleia, spotting an empty table, "Over there, guys. Let's grab that table near the window."

They settled down, each grabbing a tray and lining up to pick their meals.

Jaeala, examining the food, "The food doesn't look too bad today."

Tarah laughed.

Faye, grabbing a salad, "I'll stick to the safe choice. Gotta keep these abs in shape"

Elianna, smirking, "Unlike the rest of us who will indulge in mystery meat and regret it later."

"So, who's ready for Mr. Hargrove's math test next week? I think I might need a miracle." Cleia asked while smirking.

"I'm hoping my lucky pencil will do the trick. If not, I'm blaming the mystery meat for any brain fog." Jaeala stated.

Tarah, sighed, "I just want this week to be over already."

"At least we have the weekend to look forward to. Any fun plans, anyone?" Faye raising a brow.

"I might catch up on some reading. There's this new novel I've been dying to dive into." Eli said.

Our lunch was interrupted by a group of students approaching our table. They were clearly curious about the new faces on campus.

Student 1: She was smirking “Hey, you guys are new, right? Haven’t seen you around before.”

“Yeah, just transferred. We’re still finding our way.” Jae said politely.

Student 2: Mockingly “Good luck with that. This place can be a jungle if you’re not careful.”

“We’ll be fine, thanks.” Faye sarcastically answered.

The encounter was brief, but it left us feeling uneasy. We were used to dealing with dangerous criminals, but navigating university social dynamics was a whole different challenge.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and introductions. By the time our classes ended, we were exhausted but exhilarated. We met up at the entrance of the university, ready to head back to our apartment.

The day had been a whirlwind, but it was clear that this new chapter of our lives would be both challenging and rewarding. We had a lot to learn, not just academically, but about navigating this new social environment as well.

I am yawning “I’m beat. Let’s grab some dinner and head home.”

“I saw a cute cafe on the way here. Let’s try that!” Jae excitedly said.

“Sounds perfect. I could use a good meal.” walang ganang sagot ni Faye.

“Me too. Today was intense, but I think we handled it well.” Eli said in exhaustion.

"Agree. Let’s celebrate our first day. We survived, didn’t we?” Sabi ni Tarah habang nakangiti.

As we walked away from the university, the sky fading into twilight, we felt a sense of accomplishment. Our first day was over, and we had made it through. But we knew this was just the beginning. The real challenges—and adventures—were still to come.

We had come here seeking a break from our lives as secret agents, but it was clear that our new reality would be just as complex and demanding. As we settled into our new roles as students, we couldn't help but wonder what the future held. The beach, the university, the people we met—they were all part of a new adventure that was only just beginning.

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