Episode 5

THE day of Maxine’s camp finally arrived. Since the College of Management (COM) is composed of four courses, a bus for each course was used to transport them to the location, one of the most prestigious mountains in Sta. Monica where the camp would be held.

 

 

“Wow!” Maxine exclaimed in awe as she gazed at the scenery from inside the bus. They were driving along the road at the foot of the mountain towards the location area.

 

 

“Do you see that, Maxine?” Meghan asked in amazement, pointing to the palatial building perched on top of the hill. The two were sitting next to each other. “It looks like a palace.”

 

 

“We’re getting close to the location area. Get ready. I think we’re only ten minutes away,” announced Miss Gillany.

 

 

“Excuse me, Ma’am!” Meghan interjected, raising her hand.

 

 

“Yes, Miss Bodegas?”

 

 

“What is that building over there…? It looks like a palace.”

 

 

All the students turned to look in the direction Meghan pointed.

 

 

“That belongs to the Harrison family, the richest clan here in Sta. Monica.”

 

 

The students nodded, awestruck by what they saw.

 

 

“It seems scary to live there,” Maxine muttered to herself.

 

 

“You rarely see them. Actually, no one has ever seen them in person. They rarely come down,” added the instructor.

 

 

“Maybe they’re ugly because they’re afraid to socialize,” Meghan countered. Everyone laughed at her remark.

 

 

“I saw them once in a magazine, and you wouldn’t believe that such beautiful and handsome creatures are hidden in our town,” the instructor countered.

 

 

“Maybe they’re just photogenic,” Meghan insisted. Laughter echoed again inside the vehicle.

 

 

“Silence please,” the instructor said, looking at her watch. “I think we’re here.”

 

 

A moment later, their bus stopped, as did the other buses following them, along with the private vehicles carrying some instructors.

 

 

FROM the mountain, Maxine gazed at the scenery in wonder. Thankfully, they would be staying in that place for three days. It was also quite far from town, taking almost an hour to reach.

 

 

Again, the young woman’s attention was drawn to the hill where the building stood, which she couldn’t tell if it was a house or a palace. It was surrounded by high walls. It had a lifeless aura, as if filled with sadness.

 

 

“Oh my God!” she suddenly screamed as a hand landed on her shoulder.

 

 

“Easy,” came a familiar voice. “It’s me. Hevo.”

 

 

She was relieved when she saw the young man. “You scared me.”

 

 

“You were lost in thought. What were you looking at?” He looked in the direction she had been looking. “Ah, that. I noticed it too while we were on the bus.”

 

 

“Do you think you could live there?”

 

 

Hevo laughed at her question.

 

 

“No way! Only an abnormal person could endure that. Look at it, it’s like a haunted palace.”

 

 

“Participants, find your partner, by course!” Miss Calupe, one of the COM instructors, suddenly announced.

 

 

“Oops! Sorry, she’s my partner!” someone pulled her.

 

 

It was Meghan.

 

 

A guy, who she thought was Hevo’s classmate, also pulled Hevo.

 

“Does everyone have a partner?”

 

 

“Yes, Ma’am!” everyone responded in unison.

 

 

“Before anything else, welcome to the management camp 2016-2017.”

 

 

A moment of silence passed before the instructor spoke again.

 

 

“To start with, let’s begin the program with a very, very easy challenge. A warm-up, so to speak.” The instructor smiled, and based on her smile, the young woman felt nervous. “Okay participants, within ten minutes, you have to build your own tent!”

 

 

“What?!” Meghan exclaimed irritably, though the instructors in front couldn’t hear her, as the participants were far apart. “Is she f*cking serious?! My God, I don’t even know how to put these things together!”

 

 

“Those who fail to complain within the given time will be punished,” Miss Calupe added. “You may start now!”

 

 

Everyone started building their tents in a panic.

 

 

“Ugh, I hate this!”

 

 

“Calm down, how can we do this if you’re irritated?” Maxine said, arms akimbo, seeing Meghan’s irritation.

 

 

“Shut your mouth and do it!”

 

 

“I’m used to hardship, so I’m not afraid of any punishment. I don’t know about you.”

 

 

Meghan seemed to be taken aback by her words.

 

 

“Fine!”

 

 

And after a while…

 

 

“In five… four… three… two… one. Everyone, hands up!”

 

 

Many had finished, but many hadn’t.

 

 

And unfortunately, they were among those who hadn’t finished.

 

 

“All those who didn’t finish, come to the front,” Miss Calupe announced again.

 

 

Maxine and Meghan followed silently, as did the others. She saw that Beatriz was also among those to be punished. She scoffed. They were all equal now. No rich, no poor.

 

 

“The activity you did was to test how cooperative you are with each other since you’re partners,” Miss Calupe began. “But since you guys failed, Miss Gillany will give you the punishment.”

 

 

Miss Gillany stood up. The instructor was kind, so she thought the punishment would be easy.

 

 

“Uhm, since I’m kind, I won’t make things difficult for you,” Miss Gillany said with a smile. “Since you didn’t pass the initial test, you won’t be able to join us for lunch today.”

 

 

Her words drew various reactions; some complained, some were annoyed, and some even cried.

 

 

“It’s not over yet. Since I’m kind, I’ll give you one hour to look for your own food.”

 

 

Maxine seemed to have made a mistake with her words.

 

 

“Excuse me?!” It was Beatriz’s voice. “And where the hell are we supposed to look for that?”

 

 

Maxine shook her head at her employer’s statement. She was pretty sure Beatriz failed GMRC in Grade School.

 

 

Miss Gillany smiled and spoke again. “That would be the challenge. Let’s see how resourceful each one of you is.”

 

 

No one spoke. It was evident on everyone’s faces that they wanted to protest, but what was the point? This was a camp, and it was part of the school’s activities.

 

 

“As I told you guys, we’re not just here to have fun. If you don’t do your punishment, you won’t have lunch. It’s your choice anyway. The time starts now.”

 

 

“DON’T let go of me, Maxine, okay,” Meghan said fearfully, holding onto Maxine’s arm.

 

 

“We’re not close, are we? As far as I remembe.. you’re maf with me,” Maxine replied, pouting. She wanted to tease her. It was like she was a scared lamb now.

 

 

“Tsk, I wasn’t serious about that. I’m just like that,” Meghan reasoned.

 

 

Maxine scoffed. “You’re just afraid of not having lunch, huh…”

 

 

Meghan suddenly grinned, which annoyed Maxine. “You’ll give me some, right?”

 

 

“Find your own.”

 

 

“Maxine, come on!”

 

 

Maxine shook her head and took the lead. She was just joking.

 

 

“It’s so itchy,” she heard Meghan complain. “Aren’t you itchy?”

 

 

“No.”

 

 

“Of course you are, your skin is immune. Look at your skin, you probably don’t even use lotion. It’s so dry.”

 

 

Maxine didn’t say anything. She just filled her chest with air to calm herself. She didn’t want to engage with her for now.

 

 

They continued walking for a while. They went everywhere just to find something to eat, but they were unsuccessful. Until they reached a stream.

 

 

Maxine was amazed by its beauty. In all the time she had spent in Sta. Monica, she didn’t know that there was a small paradise hidden in its remote mountains. But that amazement was replaced by a frown when she caught sight of a familiar figure, the arrogant man from the supermarket. But what was he doing in this place?!

 

 

She didn’t know why, but her eyes were fixed on him. She couldn’t help but look at him; from his incredibly handsome face to—d*mn! She cursed under her breath. Her face suddenly heated up when he took off his shirt. She felt her throat dry.

 

 

“Meghan, do you see what I see?” she asked, still looking at the arrogant man.

 

 

She got no response.

 

 

“Meghan. Meghan---?”

 

 

She couldn’t see Meghan.

 

 

“Meghan?!”

 

 

She was about to go back the way she and Meghan had come when she heard a splash in the water, so she turned back towards the stream. The arrogant man was gone. He must have jumped into the water.

 

 

But a few moments passed, and he still hadn’t surfaced. She nervously approached the mouth of the stream where he had jumped.

 

 

“W-wait! Are you okay?! H-hey, don’t joke like that! Are you still there?!”

 

 

She felt a pang of worry when he still didn’t appear. He must have drowned. She thought to herself. It would be on her conscience if he died. She didn’t hesitate to jump. Anyone in this situation would have done the same.

 

 

She dove underwater to find him, but she failed. Where did he go? He didn’t surface.

 

 

She decided to swim up when she still couldn’t find him. She gasped for breath and struggled to catch her breath.

 

 

“Looking for me?”

 

 

She almost screamed in surprise and turned to the owner of the voice. It was the arrogant man, sitting on a large rock, looking at her seriously.

 

 

“W-wait, how did you…,” she couldn’t finish her sentence. How did he get to the big rock when she didn’t see him surface? “You know that joke isn’t funny?!” she said angrily.

 

 

The arrogant man just grinned and got back into the water.

 

 

“Who said you had to jump?” he asked teasingly, approaching her. “You’re a woman, yet you’re peeping.”

 

 

“E-excuse me?!” she said, recovering from her shock. She couldn’t believe what he said.

 

 

“Don’t deny it. I have a keen sense of feeling and a strong sense of smell. So even if you’re hiding, I know you’ve been lusting after me for a while now.”

 

 

She felt her jaw drop into the water. She had no words for this man’s arrogance.

 

 

“Hey, I just happened to pass by. And how was I supposed to know you were going to swim in the middle of the mountains. Why, do you own this place?!” she almost shouted at him. Her pride was hurt. “And what lusting after you? Your abs are crooked.”

 

 

He laughed at her words, his slanty eyes narrowing.

 

 

“By saying that, you’re admitting I’m right. You’re right. Everything you step on and everything you see is mine.”

 

 

She backed away slightly, as he was only a few inches away from her.

 

 

“You have a beautiful collarbone,” he commented, looking at her neck.

 

 

She swallowed hard.

 

 

“What are you planning?” she asked firmly, despite the slight fear that welled up in her chest.

 

 

“Your scent is making me thirsty.”

 

 

She swallowed again. This guy must be crazy. Oh my God! She muttered to herself. This was what she got for being nosy.

 

 

As she backed away, she didn’t realize how deep the part she was stepping on was. Suddenly, someone pulled her, causing her to sink underwater.