Trap Manga

🖤 PLANCHE 1 — Aris, orphelin Style : manga noir et blanc Ambiance : sombre, froide, indifférente Nombre de cases : 7 (rythme lent, oppression) 🟦 CASE 1 — PLAN LARGE (pleine largeur en haut) Description visuelle : Grande ville médiévale vue en plongée. Tours hautes, murs en pierre, rues étroites. Beaucoup de bâtiments, peu de ciel. La ville paraît massive, écrasante. Ambiance : Froide, impersonnelle. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 2 — PLAN MOYEN Description visuelle : Rue étroite. Des passants bien habillés marchent vite. Au bord du cadre, Aris enfant, maigre, sale, assis contre un mur. Aris enfant : Vêtements trop grands, usés. Cheveux en bataille. Regard baissé. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 3 — PLAN RAPPROCHÉ (mains) Description visuelle : Les mains d’Aris tendues. Sales, tremblantes. Une seule petite pièce dans la paume. Texte (petite bulle, très simple) : « S’il vous plaît… » 🟦 CASE 4 — PLAN MOYEN Description visuelle : Un adulte passe sans regarder Aris. Son manteau occupe la moitié de la case. Aris est presque hors champ. Ambiance : Mépris, indifférence. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 5 — CASE ÉTROITE (objet) Description visuelle : Aris fouille dans une poubelle. On voit du pain dur, à moitié moisi. Il hésite. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 6 — PLAN RAPPROCHÉ VISAGE Description visuelle : Visage d’Aris enfant. Traits tirés. Yeux fatigués, mais attentifs. Il mâche lentement. Ambiance : Faim, résignation. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 7 — CASE FINALE (silencieuse) Description visuelle : Aris recroquevillé contre un mur, la nuit. La ville continue derrière lui : silhouettes, ombres, mouvement. Lui est immobile. Ambiance : Solitude totale. Texte : Aucun. 🎯 INTENTION (IMPORTANT POUR MANGA AI) Pas d’exagération émotionnelle Pas de caricature Aris enfant ne pleure pas La ville est le “monstre” Le silence est plus fort que les mots
🖤 PLANCHE 3 — Le temps insiste Fonction narrative : transition Style : manga noir et blanc Ambiance : répétition, fatigue, hiver intérieur Nombre de cases : 6 Âge Début de planche : 7–8 ans Fin de planche : 12–13 ans 👉 Le saut se fait visuellement, sans texte explicatif. Tenue (CONSTAMMENT LA MÊME) haut type kimono simple, blanc à l’origine, très sale pantalon large déchiré pieds nus vêtements trop grands au début, un peu moins à la fin 👉 Même tenue = le temps passe, pas les moyens. 🟦 CASE 1 — PLAN MOYEN (début) Description visuelle : Même mur que la planche 2. Aris enfant (7–8 ans) est assis au sol, dos au mur. Une affiche devant lui. Il essaie encore de lire. Ambiance : Déjà-vu. Texte (petit, hésitant) : « m… a… » 🟦 CASE 2 — PLAN SERRÉ (détail) Description visuelle : Ses doigts sont sales, un peu abîmés. Ils suivent maladroitement une ligne de texte. Ambiance : L’effort est réel, le résultat nul. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 3 — PLAN MOYEN (ellipse) Description visuelle : Même mur. Même posture. Mais Aris est un peu plus grand (10–11 ans). Les affiches ont changé, se sont accumulées. Ambiance : Le monde avance. Lui, à peine. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 4 — PLAN SERRÉ (visage) Description visuelle : Aris 12–13 ans. Traits plus tirés. Regard fatigué. Il lit lentement, syllabe par syllabe. Texte (haché, lent) : « mar… ché… pa… » 🟦 CASE 5 — PLAN MOYEN Description visuelle : Aris s’arrête. Il ferme les yeux. Sa tête touche le mur. Ambiance : Épuisement, pas abandon. Texte : Aucun. 🟦 CASE 6 — CASE FINALE Description visuelle : Aris se relève et s’éloigne. Il est maintenant adolescent, plus grand, toujours maigre. Le mur est couvert d’affiches. Ambiance : Il n’a pas gagné. Mais il n’a pas arrêté. Texte : Aucun. 🎯 Ce que cette planche fait (important) montre la durée justifie la lecture plus tard prépare la planche 4 (les livres jetés) renforce le caractère obstiné d’Aris aucune victoire
Okay, so today started like any normal day, but I should’ve known something bad was about to happen. First off, I woke up late (again). My mom had to knock on my door at least 15 times before I actually opened my eyes. I think she was trying to wake up a sloth because I was moving that slowly. But the real problem wasn’t the time—it was the whole "getting out of bed" thing. My blanket was so comfy I almost became one with it. After finally stumbling out of bed, I went to the bathroom. That’s when I realized my mistake: I didn’t check the toilet paper. The roll was empty. EMPTY! I swear, the bathroom was mocking me, with the empty roll staring me down like a villain in a superhero movie. You know how there are always those three pieces of toilet paper left on the roll that no one can ever seem to use properly? Yeah, well, I thought I could manage it, but nope. It was like trying to write a letter with a pencil that’s too short to hold. Useless. So, I had to make a mad dash to the kitchen to grab a paper towel, looking like I was auditioning for the Olympics in the "running awkwardly with pants half on" category. When I finally came out of the bathroom, I was greeted by my little brother, Sam, who was eating cereal like a monster. I mean, he was literally slurping it like he was trying to suck up a swimming pool. "What’s up, Darek? You look like you just saw a ghost," he said, which is hilarious coming from a kid who still wears dinosaur pajamas at age 9. By the time I made it to the kitchen, my mom was in full “mom mode,” yelling about me being late again. "Why do I always have to remind you, Darek?" she sighed dramatically, as if I was the first teenager in history to ever run behind schedule. I tried to explain that my shoes had mysteriously disappeared, but she wasn’t buying it. I’m pretty sure my dog, Muffin, ate them. She's a good dog, but she has no respect for footwear. Anyway, after my mom finally let me off the hook, I thought I was in the clear. But then came the bus. The bus. I don’t know how, but I somehow managed to trip over the front step and faceplant in front of half the school. I swear, it was like I was in some kind of bad TV show where embarrassing things happen every five minutes. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when I got to school, I realized that I’d forgotten my lunch. Again. So now, I had to survive on cafeteria mystery meat, which I’m pretty sure is made of recycled socks and disappointment. But don’t worry, things get better. I’m pretty sure.
Comic Title: The 5-Year Ping Theme: A story of high latency, hidden processes, and a final successful connection. Part 1: The Legacy Code (School Days) Visual: A split screen. On the left, Class 11, the boy looking at her across a classroom. On the right, The Last Day of School, the boy holding a letter, standing next to her empty chair. Caption: "The script was written years ago, but the environment was never stable enough to hit 'Run'." Dialogue (Boy's thoughts): “I waited for the perfect moment... but the perfect moment was a ghost.” Part 2: The Debugging Phase (College Years) Visual: Panels showing the chaos of 1st and 2nd year. Panel A: The crowded college bus with "Talkative Friends" as blurred background noise. Panel B (The Dare): The boy on the phone, sweating, asking her for "crush advice" while his friends laugh in the background. Panel C (The Fake Photo): The boy showing her a photo of a random girl on his phone. The girl looks interested, but the boy’s heart is shown as a "broken link" icon. Caption: "Sometimes, to protect the system, you have to run a decoy." Part 3: The 3rd Year Transition (The Near Miss) Theme: The broken logic of a missed opportunity. Visual 1: The golden hour light hitting the college main gate. The crowd of students is thinning out. The boy catches up to the girl just as she’s about to exit. Dialogue: * Boy: "Are you heading home right now?" Girl (turning with a smile): "Yeah, just leaving. Are you coming along?" Visual 2: A close-up of the boy’s face—a mix of conflict and regret. In the background, he sees his teammates or the work he has to finish, realizing he can't walk with her today. Dialogue: Boy: "I... I have to finish some work before I head out. I can’t join you today. You go ahead." Girl: "Oh, okay! Don't work too hard. See you!" Visual 3: A wide shot of the boy standing completely still by the gate as her figure shrinks into the distance. The long shadow of the college gate stretches toward him. Dialogue (The Internal Monologue): Boy (whispering): "Go home safely..." Caption: "A request was sent, but the path was blocked by circumstance. Status: 404 - Opportunity Not Found." Part 4: The Execution (The Night Call) Visual: A beautiful night scene. On one side of the page, the boy is walking under a single golden streetlight, phone to his ear. On the other side, the girl is tucked in her room, surrounded by books, smiling. Dialogue (1.5 hours in): * Girl: "So... be honest. Do you even talk to that crush of yours anymore?" Boy (Shaking, close-up on his face): "Actually... I'm talking to her right this second." Part 5: The "Loading" State Visual: A full-page spread. The girl’s face is a mix of shock and a deep, rising blush. Behind her, a faint, glowing "Loading... 99%" bar appears. Dialogue: Girl: "I... I can't process this much data at once." Boy: "I waited five years for the server to respond. I can wait a few more days for you." Final Visual: The boy looking up at the moon in the mountains (foreshadowing your Himachal trip). Closing Caption: "The connection is finally established. Status: Happy." Creative Elements to Include: Color Palette: Use cool blues and greys for the "missed" years, and shift into warm oranges and pinks for the phone call scene. The Symbol: Use the flower you mentioned (the one that bloomed 3 years ago) as a recurring symbol in the corners of the pages. The "God" Motif: In the background of the college scenes, you could have a small, subtle "halo" over the boy whenever she’s looking at him, showing how she admires him.
Tassi Hangbé, la reine rossignol Sœur jumelle du roi Akaba, Tassi Hangbé, un peu oubliée par l’histoire, est la 5ème reine de la dynastie royale d’Abomey. Littéralement le nom hangbé signifie “la voix de la chanson” en langue fon d’Abomey. Depuis son enfance, celle qui n’était encore qu’une princesse du royaume avait pour passion la musique et chantait remarquablement bien. Avec ses belles chansons, elle égayait chaque soir les réunions entre son père et ses frères. L’histoire révèle même que les soirs où elle était absente, le roi et ses frères envoyaient des serviteurs l’appeler car ne pouvant se passer des douces mélodies de la princesse à qui le sobriquet ” hangbé ” fut donné. Cette appellation deviendra plus tard son nom officiel dans tout le royaume. La gouvernance de la reine Hangbé En 1708, alors que le roi Akaba meurt des suites d’une courte maladie pendant la guerre, sa sœur Tassi Hangbé présente à ses côtés décide de de garder le secret de sa mort pour ne pas démoraliser les troupes. Déguisée en son frère, elle prend le commandement de l’armée et mène les combats jusqu’à la victoire finale à Lissèzoun, où elle vainc le royaume de Wémè. À son retour à Abomey, le fils d’Akaba étant encore trop jeune pour régner, c’est Hangbé qui prend les rênes du royaume du Danxomè. Bien qu’aucune cérémonie officielle n’ait eu lieu, elle portait tous les symboles du pouvoir royal : les sandales sacrées (saloubata), le grand pagne décoré (avotita), la récade (mankpo). Reconnue et respectée comme souveraine, elle était toujours accompagnée du siège et du parasol royal. Elle recevait de tous le respect dû à son rang mais les réalités phallocratiques du royaume n’ont pas tardé à la rattraper. Le règne d’une femme dérangeait dans un contexte fortement dominé par les hommes. Au palais comme dans le reste du royaume, certains hommes manifestaient ouvertement leur indignation à l’idée de laisser une femme sur le trône de Houégbadja. Subissant complots et tensions familiales, qui lui coûtent notamment l’annulation de son mariage et la perte de deux fils, Hangbè finit par céder le pouvoir à son frère Dossou, intronisé en 1711 sous le nom d’Agadja. Malgré son règne très court, Tassi Hangbé reste une figure majeure de l’histoire du Danxomè. Proche de son peuple, attachée à la religion et aux arts, elle a surtout marqué son époque en mettant en valeur le rôle des femmes, notamment par la création du corps des Amazones, un héritage restructuré et renforcé par la suite plus tard par le roi Ghézo. Le combat féministe de la mère des amazones Selon Damien Mariano Agliti, guide à l’Office de tourisme de la région d’Abomey, « Tassi Hangbé a pris cette initiative pour donner une véritable place aux femmes au sein du royaume ». Son influence ne s’est pas arrêtée à ses quatre années de règne. Même après avoir quitté le trône, Nan Hangbé est restée une haute dignitaire respectée, intervenant activement dans les affaires du royaume — notamment lorsqu’elle s’opposa à son frère qui refusa de retourner le pouvoir au fils d’Akaba une fois celui-ci en âge de régner.Elle a aussi joué un rôle clé dans la reconnaissance des femmes dignitaires, appelées Tassi, facilement identifiables grâce à leurs pagnes souvent posés sur la tête. Aujourd’hui encore, à Abomey, une femme perpétue la tradition de la reine guerrière : elle occupe le trône de Tassi Hangbé, dirige les cultes annuels et veille sur les affaires de la collectivité Hangbé
HISTORIETA: La Reforma Liberal en México Portada Título: La Reforma Liberal: la lucha por el futuro de México Imagen sugerida: Mapa de México con personajes como Benito Juárez, liberales y conservadores. Texto: “A mediados del siglo XIX México enfrentaba crisis económicas, inestabilidad política y conflictos entre grupos que tenían diferentes ideas sobre cómo debía gobernarse el país.” 1. INTRODUCCIÓN Y REVOLUCIÓN DE AYUTLA Viñeta 1 Narrador: “A mediados del siglo XIX México no había logrado consolidarse como nación. Existían problemas económicos, políticos y sociales.” Imagen: Ciudadanos preocupados por la situación del país. Viñeta 2 Narrador: “El gobierno de Antonio López de Santa Anna era autoritario y centralista, lo que provocó gran descontento en la población.” Imagen: Santa Anna gobernando con soldados. Viñeta 3 Narrador: “En 1854 varios liberales proclamaron el Plan de Ayutla, cuyo objetivo era destituir a Santa Anna y convocar a un nuevo congreso.” Personajes: Juan Álvarez Ignacio Comonfort Florencio Villarreal Diálogo: “¡Debemos terminar con la dictadura!” Viñeta 4 Narrador: “En 1855 el movimiento triunfó y Santa Anna abandonó el país.” Imagen: Santa Anna huyendo de México. 2. LIBERALES Y CONSERVADORES Viñeta 1 Narrador: “Después de la Revolución de Ayutla continuó la lucha entre dos proyectos de nación: liberales y conservadores.” Viñeta 2 Liberales: “Queremos una república federal, democrática y con igualdad ante la ley.” Imagen: Liberales con libros y leyes. Características: República federal Libertad económica Reformas sociales Viñeta 3 Conservadores: “Defendemos un gobierno fuerte y mantener el poder tradicional de la Iglesia.” Imagen: Iglesia y ejército apoyando a conservadores. Características: Gobierno central fuerte Protección a la Iglesia Conservación del orden tradicional Viñeta 4 Narrador: “Estas diferencias provocaron conflictos políticos y militares en el país.” 3. REFORMA LIBERAL Viñeta 1 Narrador: “Tras el triunfo liberal comenzó un proceso de cambios conocido como Reforma Liberal.” Viñeta 2 Personaje: Benito Juárez Narrador: “Los liberales impulsaron leyes para limitar los privilegios de la Iglesia y del ejército.” Viñeta 3 Leyes principales: Ley Juárez (1855): eliminó los fueros militar y eclesiástico. Ley Lerdo (1856): obligó a vender propiedades de la Iglesia. Ley Iglesias (1857): prohibió cobrar servicios religiosos a los pobres. Viñeta 4 Narrador: “En 1857 se promulgó una nueva Constitución que estableció libertades y derechos para los ciudadanos.” Imagen: Congreso firmando la Constitución de 1857. 4. GUERRA DE REFORMA Viñeta 1 Narrador: “Los conservadores rechazaron la Constitución de 1857 y proclamaron el Plan de Tacubaya.” Viñeta 2 Narrador: “Esto provocó una guerra civil entre liberales y conservadores.” Imagen: Batallas entre ambos bandos. Viñeta 3 Narrador: “Durante la guerra, Benito Juárez estableció un gobierno liberal y promulgó las Leyes de Reforma en 1859.” Viñeta 4 Narrador: “En 1860 los liberales triunfaron, consolidando su proyecto político para México.” FINAL DE LA HISTORIETA Imagen: Benito Juárez y ciudadanos mexicanos. Texto final: “La Reforma Liberal transformó a México al establecer la separación entre Iglesia y Estado, igualdad ante la ley y nuevas bases para el desarrollo del país.”
Một ngày đẹp trời ở Kivotos, sensei đi dạo cùng với Hina, vừa đi vừa trog chuyện. “Sensei, em có điều này muốn nói.” “Điều gì vậy em?” “Về chuyện có liên quan đến Trung học Abydos.” “Abydos có chuyện gì à?’ “Hình như chuyện này cũng có Hoshino bị liên lụy.” “Hina...em có chắc không vậy?” “Em không chắc cho lắm nhưng chắc chắn có kẻ đang cố nhắm đến Abydos.” Sensei đứng trầm ngâm suy nghĩ một lúc lâu. Nhận thấy sensei như vậy. Hina nói: “Thầy đừng kể chuyện này với bất kỳ ai ở Abydos, đặc biệt là Hoshino vì nếu biết thì em ấy sẽ hành động cực kỳ nguy hiểm.” “Vậy à...” Tối hôm đó, sensei ở lại trường. Đêm ấy, trường học vắng lặng. Sensei ngồi một mình trong phòng giáo viên, ánh đèn vàng hắt xuống trang giấy trắng. Bên ngoài, gió sa mạc thổi qua khung cửa, mang theo hơi nóng khô khốc. Trong lòng Sensei, lời cảnh báo của Hina cứ vang vọng: Abydos đang bị nhắm đến… nhưng chưa rõ bởi ai. “Có lẽ mình phải giữ kín chuyện này. Các em… vẫn còn quá ngây thơ để gánh nặng này.” Sensei khẽ thở dài, tựa lưng vào ghế. Đêm trôi qua chậm chạp, như muốn thử thách sự kiên nhẫn. Rồi bình minh đến. Ánh nắng đầu ngày rọi xuống cổng trường, xua đi bóng tối của đêm qua. Sensei khoác áo, bước ra sân, và như thường lệ, lại đến lớp cùng các em học sinh Abydos. Sáng hôm sau, ánh nắng sa mạc rọi xuống cổng Abydos. Sensei bước vào, đôi giày để lại dấu hằn trên lớp cát nóng. “Sensei!” – Shiroko vẫy tay, nụ cười trong trẻo như xua tan cái nắng gắt. Serika thì cau có: “Thầy đến muộn rồi đó, em chờ mãi để hỏi bài tập.” Nonomi ôm chồng sách cao ngất, vừa đi vừa lẩm bẩm: “Hôm nay phải dọn thư viện nữa…” Ayane chỉnh lại kính, khẽ nói: “Sensei, hôm nay em có bản báo cáo muốn thầy xem.” Hoshino khoác tay sau đầu, ngáp dài: “Thầy đến rồi à… vậy thì hôm nay em sẽ nghỉ ngơi thêm chút nữa.” Sensei mỉm cười, nhìn từng gương mặt quen thuộc. Trong lòng, nỗi lo về lời Hina vẫn còn đó, nhưng trước mắt Sensei chỉ thấy một gia đình nhỏ đang cố gắng sống sót giữa sa mạc khắc nghiệt. Ngày nào cũng vậy, Sensei cùng các em đi tuần quanh trường, dạy thêm vài bài học, hoặc đơn giản chỉ ngồi nghe các em kể chuyện. Những khoảnh khắc ấy khiến Sensei cảm thấy Abydos không chỉ là một ngôi trường, mà là một nơi để bảo vệ bằng cả sinh mạng. Lại một đêm nữa sensei ở lại trường. Dường như sensei đã quá quen với việc ngủ lại ở trường thay vì đi về nhà cách trường đoạn khá xa và phải đứng rất lâu để chờ xe buýt. Nhưng đêm nay sensei cảm thấy khung cảnh có gì đó hơi khác thường mặc dù ngôi trường vẫn im lặng về đêm như cũ. Sensei mở cửa sổ phòng và nhìn lên bầu trời đêm và nhận ra trên trời không có lấy một ngôi sao nào. Semsei lúc này cảm thấy như có gì đó đang theo dõi mình từ xa dù cả Kivotos đã tắt đèn và không có lấy một bóng dáng ai trên những con đường. Sensei khẽ khép cửa sổ, nhưng ngay lúc ấy, một âm thanh nhỏ vang lên từ sân trường. Tiếng kim loại va chạm, hay tiếng bước chân rất khẽ? Sensei lặng người, tim đập nhanh hơn. “Có ai… ở đây sao?” Nhưng khi nhìn xuống, sân trường vẫn tối đen, không một bóng người. Sensei khẽ nhíu mày. Đêm nay, có gì đó thật sự khác thường.
Chapter 1 Ang bahay namin ay laging masigla—o sa ibang salita, laging maingay. The walls were painted a deep, passionate red, matched by the heavy crimson curtains that swayed whenever the electric fan faced their direction. It was a house that felt like a constant celebration, but today, my heart was racing for a different reason. I was sitting on the edge of the sofa, my phone clutched so tightly in my hands that my knuckles were turning white. I was waiting. Sa totoo lang, simpleng pangarap lang naman ang gusto ko: to travel, to see the world, and to wear that crisp uniform of a Tourism student. I had taken the entrance exams for the two biggest universities in the city. My dream schools. Ting. Isang notification ang lumabas sa screen. My breath hitched. With shaking fingers, I tapped the email. “We regret to inform you…” The words blurred. Hindi ako nakapasa. Ang unang school na inaasahan ko, tinanggihan ako. Parang biglang gumuho ang mundo ko sa limang salitang iyon. "O, Jaquilyn? Bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo riyan?" puna ni Tito Rey habang naglalakad bitbit ang isang tumpok ng labada. Pilit akong ngumiti, pero ramdam ko ang panginginig ng labi ko. "Tito... yung email. Hindi po ako nakuha sa unang school." Agad na lumabas si Tita Precy mula sa kusina, bitbit ang sandok na may bakas pa ng sarsa. "Hala, anak? Hayaan mo na 'yun! Baka hindi talaga 'yun ang para sa'yo." "Pero Tita, pangarap ko po 'yun," bulong ko. Lumapit sa akin si Tito Rey at tinapik ang balikat ko. "Naku, Jaquilyn, huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa. Napakaraming bituin sa langit, hindi lang isa. At saka, may isa pa tayong hinihintay, 'di ba? Fighting lang!" "Oo nga!" dagdag ni Tita Precy habang tumatawa. "Tourista ka pa rin sa paningin namin, kahit sa kanto lang tayo mamasyal mamaya. Ngumiti ka na, baka pumangit ang swerte!" I forced a laugh. Their energy was contagious, as always. Isang panibagong araw ang lumipas, pero ang bigat sa dibdib ko, tila lalong nadagdagan. Nang tumunog ang phone ko para sa pangalawang pagkakataon, mabilis ko itong binuksan, hoping for a miracle. Pero pagkakita ko sa screen, parang nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. It was identical. The same formal font, the same polite rejection. “We regret to inform you...” Hindi ako makapaniwala. Tourism was my dream, my only plan. Napasandal ako sa pader ng kwarto ko, pinipigilan ang luha. Bakit parang lahat ng pinto, isinasara sa akin? ________________________ Nang sumapit ang hapunan, pilit akong lumabas ng kwarto. The dining table was a battlefield of noise, as usual. My younger cousins were chasing each other with spoons, habang si Tito Rey ay malakas na tumatawa sa kung anong biro sa TV. "Jaquilyn, kain na! Paborito mo 'tong ulam," sigaw ni Tita Precy mula sa dulo ng lamesa. Umupo ako, tahimik lang na nilalaro ang kanin sa plato ko. Maski ang ingay nila, hindi magawang itago ang lungkot ko. Napansin siguro ni Tita ang matagal kong pagtitig sa kawalan. Bigla siyang tumigil sa pagkain at may kinuhang kung ano sa bulsa ng duster niya. "Anak, wag ka nang masyadong malungkot sa dalawang school na 'yun," sabi niya nang mahinahon. Inilapag niya ang isang itim na card sa tapat ng plato ko. It was sleek, dark, and felt strangely heavy. "Subukan mo ito. May tumawag sa akin, sabi nila, bagay ka raw dito." Binasa ko ang nakasulat. Isang numero at isang email address lang ang nandoon: luminaacademy@gmail.com. "Lumina Academy?" bulong ko. "Para sa Tourism din ba 'to, Tita?" Ngumiti si Tita Precy, isang ngiting tila may halong misteryo. "Sabi nila, doon mo raw mahahanap ang tunay mong tatahakin. At least, you can still pursue your dream career, right?" Huminga ako nang malalim. Kahit hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng school ito, nabuhayan ako ng loob. I smiled back at her, feeling a spark of hope. "Sige po, Tita. I-email ko po sila mamaya." "Mabuti 'yan. Tawagan mo rin ang Mama mo, ibalita mo sa kanya," dagdag ni Tita. Agad akong umiling, ang ngiti ko ay bahagyang kumupas. "Naku, Tita, busy po si Mama sa abroad. Alam niyo naman po 'yun, baka makaabala lang ako." Sanay na ako. I was raised in my auntie’s presence. My mom was always working far away, and my dad? I didn't know anything about him. Every time I asked, my relatives would go silent or change the topic. I guessed they hated him, so I stopped asking a long time ago. Pagkatapos ng ligpitin ang hapunan, mabilis akong pumasok sa kwarto ko. I opened my laptop and typed the email address from the black card. To: luminaacademy@gmail.com Subject: Admission Inquiry - Jaquilyn Braush I hit send and leaned back on my pillow. While waiting for the notification, my eyelids started to feel heavy. The red walls of my room seemed to glow a bit brighter in the dark, and the scent of smoke—faint, almost like a dying candle—filled the air. Hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na pala ako, bitbit ang huling pag-asa na baka sa Lumina Academy, doon magsisimula ang lahat. Nagising ako sa sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko. Sa sobrang antok ko kagabi, halos makalimutan ko na ang tungkol sa email na ipinadala ko. Dumiretso ako sa kusina para mag-almusal nang datnan ko si Tita Precy na nag-aabang na pala sa akin. "O, Jaquilyn? Kumusta 'yung card na binigay ko sa 'yo kagabi? Na-email mo ba?" tanong niya habang nag-aayos ng plato. Napatigil ako. Oo nga pala. Biglang nag-vibrate ang phone ko sa bulsa. My heart started to race. Kinuha ko ito at nakita ang isang notification mula sa Lumina Academy. Shaking, I opened it. OFFICIAL ADMISSION NOTICE Dear Ms. Jaquilyn Braush, We have been watching your spirit, and it burns with the intensity we require. You are officially accepted into Lumina Academy. To begin your journey, you must claim your belongings. Follow the attached map to the 'Red Brick Nexus' building in the Old District. This location is hidden from the mundane eye—walk three blocks past the clock tower and turn where the air feels warmest. Once inside, proceed directly to the door marked with your designated number. There, you will find your ID card, your uniforms, and the key to your assigned dormitory. "Tita! Tita, tanggap ako!" sigaw ko habang tumutulo ang luha ko sa tuwa. Halos magtatalon kami sa kusina habang binabasa ang direksyon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan ko pang pumunta sa isang lumang building para lang sa gamit, pero sa sandaling iyon, wala akong pakialam. Habang nasa biyahe ako, hindi ko mapigilang mapatawa. Seryoso ba 'to? I thought it was a scam! Ang bilis ng reply nila, hindi katulad ng ibang university na pinaghintay ako ng ilang linggo para lang tanggihan. At ang direksyon? "Turn where the air feels warmest?" Gusto kong maiyak sa tawa dahil parang laro lang ang lahat. What kind of school has these weird rules? Pero nang makarating ako sa dulo ng map, tumigil ang tawa ko. The building was exactly as described—matayog, luma, pero may kakaibang bigat ang aura. Pagpasok ko, isang grand view ang sumalubong sa akin. The lobby was massive. People in expensive-looking suits were walking everywhere, but they didn't look like office workers—they looked like they were guarding something important. Hinanap ko ang taong pwedeng pagtanungan hanggang sa makita ko ang isang babaeng naka-formal uniform na kulay yellowish-gold. Lumapit ako at ipinakita ang email ko. "Excuse me po, student po ako ng Lumina Academy..." The woman’s eyes widened the moment she saw my name on the screen. She looked shook, her breath hitching for a second. Without a word, she bowed slightly and looked at me. “Ms. Braush," she said. "Please... follow me. We have been waiting for you to arrive." Habang naglalakad kami sa mahabang hallway, ipinaliwanag niya sa akin ang tungkol sa numerong nasa message ko. “Ang numerong iyon ay hindi lang basta numero, Ms. Jaquilyn. It is the number of the door you must enter here in this building. Sa loob ng kwartong iyon, nandoon ang lahat ng pag-aari mo—ang uniform, at ang susi ng kwarto mo Academy. Ang building” Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang asul na pinto. It was unusually small, barely enough for a child to fit through, but when she opened it, there it was—isang itim na bag at isang itim na envelope. It looked mysterious, like it held secrets I wasn't ready for. I reached out and took them, feeling the heavy material against my palms. "Sundan mo ako. Dadalhin na kita sa bus mo ngayon," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Sandali lang po!" I replied, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Kailangan ko munang magpaalam sa Tita ko. I can’t just leave like this without saying anything." "Huwag kang mag-alala. Kami na ang bahala sa parteng iyon," was her only cold response. Agad kong kinuha ang phone ko at tinawagan si Tita habang naglalakad kami. "Tita! Paalis na po ako—hindi ko alam kung saan—" "Jaquilyn, anak, okay lang!" she cut me off, sounding surprisingly calm. "May mga taga-Lumina Academy na rito sa bahay. Nag-explain na sila tungkol sa scholarship at kung bakit kailangan mong umalis agad ngayong araw. Mag-iingat ka roon, ha? Ipagmalaki mo kami!" I let out a huge sigh of relief. At least legal ang pag-alis ko. When we reached the parking lot, I saw a pure white bus. There were a few people my age already inside, their faces unreadable. Sinubukan kong ngumiti sa kanila, but one guy with sharp brown eyes looked at me like he wanted to punch me right then and there. Luh, mananapak ba 'to? I quickly looked away and found a seat. A few moments later, the driver entered the bus. "Fasten your seatbelts," he muttered without looking back. Mabilis akong sumunod, pulling the strap across my chest. But I noticed the others didn't even flinch. Para silang walang narinig, acting like they were too cool for safety rules. The trip started normally for a few minutes... then the bus slowed down for a split second... and then it accelerated. Sobrang bilis. It was so fast I felt like my heart was left behind at the station. I looked out the window and gasped, my breath hitching in my throat. I couldn't see the road anymore. Clouds. Pure white clouds were everywhere, drifting past the glass. And shortly after, I saw the vast blue ocean below us and a massive school that looked like an ancient palace from a fairy tale. "What the—nakalutang tayo?! We're floating!" I panicked, my hands gripping the armrest so hard my knuckles turned white. "Tanga," one of my seatmates whispered, rolling their eyes. Instead of helping me or explaining, they just called me stupid. The bus eventually descended, landing smoothly in front of the grand, golden gates. It felt like we were back in the normal world, but my stomach definitely didn't get the memo. As soon as the doors opened, I stumbled out and started vomiting on the side of the road. Nag-suka lang ako nang nag-suka. "Grabe... what a terrible start," I groaned, wiping my mouth with a trembling hand. My dream of being a Tourism student started with me literally losing my lunch on the pavement. Ang panget naman ng simula ko.