As I stirred from my slumber, my head collided with something hard, eliciting a reflexive grasp due to the pain. Seriously, couldn't they be more careful?

"Hey!" I exclaimed as the girl shouted again. Couldn't she just tap me on the shoulder instead of yelling?

"What now?" I grumbled to Anto, sensing his anger radiating towards me as he shouted once more. It seemed like he had some unresolved issues with me, judging by his fervent outbursts.

"We're here, alright?" he yelled, adding to my already foul mood.

I was in a bad mood, and his antics weren't helping. Should I just shove his face into whatever he's stepping on right now?

"Then let's go!" I retorted sharply, standing up abruptly, but my world suddenly spun around me. Thank goodness I managed to grab onto something, or else I would have toppled over.

"The girl's outside, waiting for us," Kris suddenly appeared in front of me, startling me slightly.

"Let's go!" Anto chimed in eagerly, pulling the two of us towards the exit.

Are we close? Like, really close? And why do they seem so happy? Unlike me, I'm still feeling down because everything is happening so fast.

Yes, I'm still thinking about my aunt. I never imagined she would force me to leave her, and yet I managed to do just that. I don't know what got into her, and I just hope this is all just a dream.

"Oh, there you are! Just follow me," I snapped back to reality when I heard Ms. Allysa's voice.

I didn't say anything and just followed her, with my two companions trailing behind me.

We walked along a dense path, swarmed by mosquitoes feasting on my good-looking skin. I was getting irritated because my whole body was itching from the mosquito bites, not to mention the tall grass scratching against me.

If I were to estimate the time, we must have been walking for at least two hours, and yet we still hadn't reached our destination.

What is this? A never-ending fun walk? I decided to keep quiet and just follow their lead.

I felt the rush of wind as it swept through my hair, carrying with it a fresh scent, unlike the smog-filled air of our town.

"Hey, lady? When are we going to stop? It feels like this endless walk is never going to end! I'm exhausted!" I complained as we walked, and suddenly my companion next to me shouted. What a complainer, couldn't he just walk silently? He's disturbing me.

The woman turned to us and flashed a wide smile. Weird. "We're almost there!" she cheerfully announced and continued walking. My companion didn't complain anymore, so we peacefully followed her.

After a few more minutes, I caught sight of a towering tree ahead of us. Miss Allysa was waving from behind the tree, signaling for us to come over, so that's what we did. "We're here!"

I almost raised an eyebrow at her words. What do you mean, 'we're here'? This is a dead end, isn't it? There are branches everywhere, and if you look on the other side, it seems like there's a cliff.

"Are you crazy?" Kris muttered. It was barely audible, but we all heard it in the silence of the forest. It's dark now, and we've been walking for four hours, so why does this seem like a scam?

I glared at Miss Allysa. Because of what she did, my aunt and I drifted apart, and hurtful words were exchanged between us, yet here she is, just to scam us?!

I was about to speak, along with my two companions, to hurl some harsh words at the woman in front of us, but she spoke first.

"Relax! I am not a scammer!" she muttered, waving her hands and making some weird gestures.

I glanced at Kris and Anto, who seemed to be panicking now that they knew the truth.

"It is physically impossible to relax! What if you're planning to harm us? Are you Sir Park's pawn? Is that why he kicked us out of his school, to have us killed?" Anto shouted in succession, accompanied by gestures, clearly nervous about what was happening.

Well, he has a point. What if Sir Park planned this because he has a crush on a teacher who seemed to have been mistreated by us, and then she got depressed and he wanted revenge? Oh, my goodness!

I wish I had been kinder so I wouldn't end up dead here! No wonder those three monkeys have been following us, they're here to take our lives!

"Stop overthinking, guys. Just follow my lead," Miss Allysa said. We followed her lead and she pushed aside the branches in front of us.

See? A cliff! A very deep one! What— My mouth fell open in shock as Miss Allysa entered it and didn't fall! She just passed through it as if she crossed to the other side and we never saw her again.

The three of us exchanged looks, testing if what we saw was real.

It's true! My hand went through it!

"Oh my God... Is this a portal to the other world?!" My heart almost stopped in surprise as Kris slapped me hard. She said we're not close!

I rubbed my shoulder and cautiously followed them. My lips parted in awe as I saw a massive gate in front of me. It seemed ten times the size of a ten-story building in length and width, and you couldn't even see what was inside due to its immense size. There was a large plate in the middle with the words "Hidden Academy" engraved on it.

Many people were gathered in front of it, and I didn't even notice that Anto and Kris were no longer by my side.

"Form ten lines and wait for your entry!" someone announced. With my bag in tow, I queued up in the second line.

I was still dazed, trying to absorb everything that had happened. If this is true, and if what I saw was indeed a portal, does it mean this isn't an ordinary school?

Is this real? Those things I only saw on TV and read about in books about strange worlds actually have meaning? I didn't believe it when I watched Wansapanataym and Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, and now that it's right in front of me, I still can't believe it.

Several minutes passed, and the people in front of me started moving, so I started walking too. A strong gust of wind blew as the massive gate opened.

We were let in one by one. The light inside was blinding. According to the conversations in front of me, only a few people can enter this school, and only those deemed worthy.

Wow? What is this? The chosen one?

As soon as I stepped inside, dazzling designs greeted me. What I was stepping on was a platform where a statue of someone stood. There were small fountains on either side, and if you looked around, you could see towering buildings in the background. There were also trees and flowers around, adding beauty with their various colors and shapes.

A guide led us as we walked. We passed by a massive statue. It had "Queen Asralyn, Ruler of Gardenia—Charis" engraved on it. There really is no ruler of Gardenia, it's just for show. The figure wore a crown and had crown braids in her hair.

After passing it, a steep and long staircase greeted us. We climbed it and entered inside. There were cubicles resembling a registrar's office inside, but only a few people were entering them. We stopped at the second one and started queuing again.

There were a lot of people inside. Some seemed impatient, while others were ecstatic. Some seemed indifferent, and most seemed to have their own world.

The person in front of me moved forward, so I followed suit. We entered inside, and if it looked small from the outside, well, it's different inside. It's spacious and grand.

We all stopped in front of a hologram. I closed my eyes as it suddenly flashed in front of me. Seriously, couldn't they put a timer on it? What if I blinked at that moment? Would I look stupid?

I grimaced as my suspicion was confirmed. Our laminated IDs with customized lace came out, and it was handed to us. I smiled when I saw my face.

"In fairness, I still look beautiful," I praised myself while looking at my face on the ID. But who invented these? I just want to meet them and ask for an autograph so I have a memento.

"Is that beautiful to you?" My heart almost leaped out of my chest in surprise when someone spoke behind me.

"Yes. Why, do you have a problem with it?" I retorted irritably to the guy who was prying into my ID. He's too nosy. I hate gossipers and busybodies. Psh. I just rolled my eyes inwardly.

"Well, it looks good in the picture..." He scrutinized me from head to toe, as if judging. "...but not so much in person," he added before leaving.

Should I punch him? Who does he think he is? A gossip and a mocker. Despite my beauty, he finds me unattractive? Well, that jerk must be blind!

"Students! Please remain in your lines and wait for the portals to show!" I raised an eyebrow when someone suddenly spoke from somewhere.

"Prepare yourselves!" As soon as I heard that, an arcane circle appeared at my feet. It spun around as if choosing a symbol. It stopped at a symbol that resembled a person and another that didn't. I didn't know what that symbol was, but it seemed to pass through a hole.

The students in the room screamed, and I couldn't help but scream loudly too as I fell into the hole.

Yes, we fell into the arcane circle, and I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling right now because I feel like throwing up.

"Fudge!" I yelled and held my head. My eyes felt like they were going to pop out because I wanted to close them but couldn't due to the strong wind pulling me down.

A loud thud echoed through the room as I landed from above. I groaned from the impact of my fall. What I didn't know was why it felt like someone was on top of me when I fell.

"Ouch!" I immediately looked at who screamed. It turned out to be the same guy who mocked me earlier.

"Serves you right," I muttered as I stood up and dusted myself off.

"I didn't expect that from someone as skinny as you, you're such a pig!" He glared at me before getting up.

"What did you just say?" He already called me ugly, and now he's calling me a pig? Wow, seriously, does he even see himself? People and animals are different! Maybe he's the pig here?

I smirked as a thought crossed my mind. "That's why you seem insecure about my beauty because you're a jealous gay monkey," I teased, but it seemed ineffective.

"What a childish act. Did you think I will get pissed if you say that?"

My eyes narrowed. "Get out of my sight if you want to live." I saw his lips curve upward when I said that, so I got annoyed again. Can't he leave me alone for a while?

The jerk was about to speak when we heard applause in front of us, so I turned to look. Sh*t.

"Love birds! I love love birds!" blabbered a woman who I think is in her mid-30s. She has long wavy brown hair and is wearing casual attire. She still looks pretty even though you can tell she's getting older.

I saw four students in front of us. Well, based on their uniforms, they're students. Their uniforms are so nice, they don't even look like uniforms because they're so beautiful and I think they're too hot.

The guys are wearing fit and above the ankle trousers, a white long-sleeved shirt covered by a half-buttoned and striped sleeveless blazer, and a necktie in the middle. The girls are the same, but they're wearing skirts that are 3 inches above the knees and no necktie, just a ribbon. They all have a school logo on the right side of their chest and a gold lace buttoned in front with different designs or symbols on the buttons. Most importantly, their uniforms are not the same color.

I got lost in observing their uniforms, so I didn't realize that the teacher had already pulled us. Her eyes gleamed as she dragged us to the front.

"Transferees, right?" she asked happily, and we both nodded. "Then introduce yourselves!" she continued with a smile.

I stood up straight as she faced us to our future classmates.

"I’m Beatrice, nice uhm... meeting you all?" I awkwardly introduced myself, causing my companion to show a mischievous smile. What? What's his problem?

"Tristan Jouesh! Pleased to meet you!" he introduced himself as well. What? Jo... Esh-esh? What kind of name is that?

Our future adviser pointed to the empty chairs and said we could choose our seats. I had nothing to do but to follow.

"So, are you wondering why I called you here? Well, to guide those transferees, since you are the old students, you must guide the new ones, I guess?" she started talking in front of us while she took something like our record list.

"By the way, guys, I am Anika. Just call me Miss An," she said, placing the thick book on the teacher's table.

"Miss An, why do we need to be here? Are you going to orient them?" I looked at the one who asked. She has yellow hair and grayish eyes, and she looks kind.

"Because I will also inform you all about the changes to the class schedule," she answered while smiling, so the one who asked smiled too.

"So, let’s begin! First of all, let me welcome you all! It's a miracle that someone has entered this section again!" It seems like I'm nervous about what she's saying. What if the students here are brutal?

"This is the section in which the students are seen to be special, so be thankful to be a part of this section because you’re one of those who are special!" she added. I heaved a sigh of relief. Phew! I thought otherwise. But what's special about me?

I still need to confirm something. I want to know if what I saw and experienced earlier was real or if I'm just seeing things, so I raised my hand. "Is there magic happening here? I mean, like whoosh, phew! Like that?" I asked with a puzzled expression. Some laughed, which made me scowl. What's so funny about my question?

"Yes, of course! You came from the world of mortals, didn't you?" she smiled as she answered, then gave the ones who laughed a look, so they quieted down. Much better. "So, I won't prolong it because I know you're tired from your journey. This school is called the Hidden Academy because they take beings with hidden abilities, whether here in this world or in the other world."

I furrowed my brow at what Ms. An said. Is that it? Isn't there a broader explanation of why I ended up here? And what's the purpose of this for me? Hidden abilities? As far as I can remember, I don't have any of that. So, I feel like I don't belong here. Can I back out and just go home to Auntie's?

Ms. An also explained the various rules here at school, but I didn't hear it because my mind was preoccupied. What if they kick out those without powers? What will happen to me? Will I be fed to a mythical creature? God! I don't want that!

"Then, that’s all! You can rest now! Bye!" And in an instant, she disappeared from our sight. Wait... what?

"Let’s go," said a girl in their group. She has black hair and bangs, and hazelnut-colored eyes.

I stopped walking when someone pulled me. "What?" When did we become close for him to pull me like that?

"Do you know your dormitory? Because I don't!" she blurted out while wiping her sweat.

Oh, right, huh? Where are we going to sleep— I mean, where am I going to sleep?

"Join us; we're in the same dormitory!" said a lively guy. "Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves to you yet!" he added, scratching his head.

His companions stopped talking and all looked at us.

"I'm Jeffer Euhonn!" the one with yellow hair introduced himself. He smiled while scratching his head. Do they have lice that's why they keep scratching their heads?

"Carper James. Nice meeting you, Beatrice," said a guy with grayish hair.

—

My jaw dropped when I saw the spacious place they were living in. It looks small from the outside but it's huge inside. Are they this high tech or is this just made with their supposed magic?

I walked inside. The first thing you'll see is their living room. It has four couches, a round table in the middle, and a big TV in front. There's also a large chandelier. As for the kitchen, it's on the other side; I don't know what's inside because I haven't gone in yet.

"Welcome to our dorm!" Euhonn cheerfully exclaimed and spread his arms.

"The girls' rooms are upstairs, while ours is downstairs, Jouesh!" Sky pointed to the four doors divided by stairs. I glanced upstairs.

"Room two is yours." My attention shifted to Eunice who spoke beside me.

"Can I go there now?" I asked, and she nodded. Carrying my backpack, I hurriedly went up there. I didn't say goodbye because I'm not really close to them.

"I'll be your tour guide tomorrow after class!" Sky shouted from downstairs, so I just nodded in response.

When I entered the second room, I immediately placed my backpack on the side of the bed and dived into it.

"I'm worn out," I mumbled.

I closed my eyes. Can I sleep now with everything that happened to me?

To think that I came here because there's something special about me… It makes me want to explore more about my mysterious identity. I'm an orphan adopted by Auntie, and I don't have parents. Is it possible that my parents are from here?

I looked out the window of the room. It's dark outside, and only the moon serves as its light.

I looked at my reflection in the window mirror. "What am I really?" I asked out of nowhere. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, causing the window of the room to open.

No. The right question I should be asking is… who am I really?