"Hey, where do you guys wanna go clubbing tomorrow? We've got some girls coming from Quezon, we've got to impress them."
Miguel Reyes, one of the people labeled as scums of Bosque University. He often preys on those who entered the university, especially those without connections. Those who went to Bosque University for senior high school are well-aware of the cruel bullying he and his crew of equally lowly scums do to their classmates for fun. Ranging from bullying, exploitation, and blackmailing. All of these are possible due to Miguel's connections and money.
"Hey, look."
Miguel a grin forms on his face, stretching from ear-to-ear as he points behind his buddies from the alley they were hanging out from.
"Oh, it's that fella from today's class."
"Huh? Who?"
"The 'be careful next time' guy, haha."
His buddies snicker mischievously as they spot Juno quietly walking among the pack of students heading home after their classes. Juno remains oblivious to the approaching threat as he continues to take his time walking with his earbuds on, scrolling through familiar playlists.
"Hey."
Juno stops in his tracks when an arm drapes around the back of his neck. As he turns his head to the side—he sees the very same guy who kicked his chair earlier—Miguel—with his long arm around Juno's shoulders while his lackeys grin sharply behind him, looking at their new prey.
"What do you want?" Juno asks with venom in his tone.
"Come with me, let's have a little chat."
Juno notices the fake, condescending smile Miguel puts on his face, and the malignant intent behind his eyes—including his friends in the alley—waving at Juno as if giving him a warm welcome to the bullied club.
"What if I don't?"
"Come on now, you're new here. I'm sure you want to build connections. Isn't that what mommy and daddy say before going to school? Make lots of friends, hm?"
"Yeah. They sure as hell told me to avoid scums of society too."
As it turns out, Juno noticed the badly treated boy kneeling on the moist concrete ground behind their group.
"Hey. Just come if you don't want to make a name for yourself at school."
Left with no other option—Juno hesitantly follows Miguel into the alley.
Once he got there however—Miguel only led him further deeper into the alleyway—away for other students to see what was about to happen. Juno now finds himself surrounded by a bunch of his classmates—definitely not the friendly kind.
"That shit you pulled off earlier at class... know your place, newbie!" Miguel's hands latched onto Juno's shirt—lifting him up to make him stand on his tip toes. "You talk like you know how things run here..."
How things run here?
Juno has no idea what Miguel was talking about—not even the slightest hint of it. All he knew was about the school's long history and reputation for being one of the top universities—if not the top university in the Philippines.
"What things?" He asked
The bullies and Miguel seem like they were about to have some fun just by talking about the school's culture—hidden beneath their prestigious awards and magnificent rankings.
"So you really don't know a single thing about this place?"
"Well, would I be asking if I did?" Juno's eyebrows, furrow slightly in anger as he asks Miguel with sarcasm. "Big guy with a small brain, no?"
It was true. Bosque University's high population also makes it the breeding grounds for corruption and wickedness, from small scales to city—or even national level politics. Many of the elites in the school are children of political dynasties—who happen to develop the earliest signs of corruption. Children born from nepotism, and child actors who also show signs of creating controversies in the future—and the rabbit hole only goes deeper than that.
"Now you see why, huh?" Miguel lightly slaps Juno's face repeatedly as he threatens him. "Stay under my foot if you don't want to be in a hotspot."
How come I've never heard of this? I'm pretty sure I spent hours researching about schools, and past controversies. I guess there's something behind the school's system.
"Okay." Juno scoffed in annoyance, and yet remains unfazed by Miguel's threats. "Now let go of me."
"Before that—you gotta hand me over some sort of payment for letting you off the hook without beating you up. After all, it's your first day, am I right?"
"I don't even have enough money for that."
"Then, make sure to pay with your body if you can't afford my kindness."
"I'm not into guys."
OOF!
Juno writhes in pain on the moist concrete ground while pressing his hands against his stomach, after Miguel sent a hard punch straight to his upper abdomen—taking away his breath for a moment.
"You think you're funny, huh? Pay up a five hundred pesos tomorrow. If you can't—I'll kill you."
Juno sits there in pain, clutching his stomach as he watches Miguel and his group of bullies strut their way out of the alley—full of resentment as they laughed without guilt.
"Hey... you get bullied a lot too?"
The other student didn't seem like a local. More like a foreign student studying in the Philippines—if not a son of a Chinese-Filipino family. His bright skin complexity and calm almond-shaped eyes stood out from other students.
"Kind of... Before." Juno looks up to the boy as he accepts his hand.
"Wow... Me too." The foreign student firmly, but gently helps Juno stand up from the moist ground.
"I'm Wu Jian, a first year."
"... I'm Juno De la Vega, first year too."