LOGINTHE FIFTH MEMBER Mrs. Chris stepped forward, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention. “Alright, everyone. Before we begin the activities, we need to get to the campsite.” A few students looked around. “Campsite?” Steve asked. “Yes,” Mr. Derek replied. “We'll be hiking to higher ground, a little farther away from the waterfall. That's where we'll set up camp.” A collective groan went through the students. “You said this was an excursion, not a workout!” Gary one of Tyler's friends complained. Mrs. Chris laughed. “Consider it part of the experience.” Mr. Mark raised his tiny bell. “Stay with your assigned groups. Nobody wanders off, and nobody gets ahead of the teachers.” The students reluctantly began gathering their bags. Asher adjusted his backpack and looked up at the trail ahead. It stretched through thick greenery, winding between trees and large rocks. Brian appeared beside him. “You ready?” Asher looked at the trail. “Do I have a choice?” “No.” “Then
A TASTE OF FREEDOM The alarm went off earlier than usual. Asher's eyes opened immediately. For a few seconds, he stared at the ceiling, still half-asleep. Then he remembered. The school trip. He sat up so quickly that his blanket fell to the floor. Today was the day. A grin spread across his face. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this excited about anything involving school. For years, school trips had meant watching his friends leave while he stayed behind because his parents considered them unnecessary and unsafe. But this time was different. He was actually going. Asher jumped out of bed and hurried toward his wardrobe. By the time he came downstairs, his backpack was already packed, his hair was neatly combed, and he was wearing the clothes he'd carefully picked out the night before. His mother looked up from the dining table. She stared at him. Then at the clock. "It's barely six in the morning." Asher smiled. "I know." "You woke up this early vo
THE SCHOOL TRIP Two weeks passed quickly.The school trip was finally approaching.By Thursday afternoon, the entire school seemed to be talking about nothing else.Students discussed what they were packing, who they would share tents with, and all the activities they were planning to do once they arrived at the campsite.Asher, however, had something else on his mind. Apart from the Flora and Tyler issue. He was still skeptical about his parents response to the School Trip to a waterfall and it was only for a day.His phone rang while he was packing his clothes.“Hello?”“Ashy.”He immediately recognized Jane's voice.“What's up?”“Don't tell me you've forgotten.”Asher paused.“Forgotten what?”“Our plan.”He frowned.Then it clicked.“The school trip and Eleanors phone.”“Exactly.”Jane sounded relieved.“I thought you were getting distracted.”“I haven't forgotten.”“Good. Because once you get that phone, we might finally know whether Eleanor has anything to do with those emails.
A LITTLE LIGHTER Asher sat up upon hearing his parents. This has always been a sensitive topic for Him. You can't let anyone know about this side of me, Not even my parents." Asher said, his stance was more relaxed than before. " Why?" Brian asked studying him for a moment. " It'll hurt them, especially my Dad" Asher said and paused, " I don't even want to imagine their reaction to such news" “Yeah especially your Dad Brian gritted his teeth. the few time he had visited, he saw Asher's father display his strictness and confirmed that he was a radical Christian. Asher's fingers tightened together. “ I know my parents, they're not supportive in that aspect... My mum might even die of a heart attack.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “They have this idea of who I'm supposed to be. They've spent my entire life believing I'm going to be the perfect son.” Brian leaned back in his chair. “And you think they'll hate you?” “I don't know.” Asher looked down. “Th
Coming CleanThe alarm clock went off, reminding Asher that today was the day he was finally coming clean to his friends. “Relax. Just be calm and tell them everything!” Jane said over the phone as he paced back and forth in his room. It was 10 a.m., and Asher was already dressed to go to Brian’s place as planned. “Everything?” he stuttered. “Yes, everything. They deserve to know. Besides, Brian pretty much heard everything that day,” Jane explained. Asher sighed deeply. He didn't want to do this. “What if the outcome is negative?” he asked, biting his lip. “Remember, Ashy, you can't force them to continue being your friends. If, after everything you tell them, they don't want to be friends with you, just let them be and move on,” Jane said matter-of-factly. “Besides, true friends stick by you. If they aren't willing to do that, then maybe you should all move on.” Asher tried to convince himself that he wasn't making a mistake. After getting permission from his parents, he bo
THE GHOST Weeks passed after the essay competition. When the results were finally announced, Oakdale High placed fourth statewide. It wasn't the victory they had hoped for, but it wasn't a complete failure either. And surprisingly, Flora had the highest individual score in the entire competition—second only to a girl from the school that came first. Mr. Marcus couldn't stop praising her. Flora pretended not to care. But somewhere deep down, she was proud of herself. Asher, however, barely noticed the congratulations. His attention was somewhere else. Tyler. These days, Tyler was like a ghost. He would appear in school and disappear almost immediately afterward. He barely spoke to anyone. Even Steve, Gavin, and the rest of the guys had noticed the change. The Tyler who used to tease them, argue with them, and dominate every conversation was gone. He rarely smiled. Rarely joked. Sometimes, he didn't even seem to notice when his friends were talking to hi
WHO?After the Weird Dinner with the Trevors, Mum, Dad and Tyler’s parents Proceeded to discuss about Donating to our church and politics.“Cariño why don’t you Show Tyler around We have a lot to discuss with Senator Trevor and his wife “ Mom announced.“You could show him your Impressive collectio
HOVERING SINSI paced around my room, still holding on to my phone with sweaty palms. The photo on the screen felt unreal… It was a picture of me and my ex sitting on the couch shirtless, with his hands inside my shorts.I recognised the scene. It was at the Sterling’s house party back when we were
UNDER THE VEILSunday came very fast, and as the choir sang, I sat at my organ playing alongside them. Afterwards, Dad, in his white tuxedo, mounted the altar and began talking about the importance of holiness, how we were all expected to be Christ-like. I envied Dad a little… he was a bold, outspo
THE SPOTLIGHTThe next morning, I got up feeling a mix of joy and anxiousness. Today wasn’t going to be like my normal quiet school mornings.As I guessed, when I arrived at school, the principal rang the bells, signaling all the students to gather in the school hall.“Most of us might be wondering







