Book #2 of the Campus Sleuths' Series.
Enter the student life in the prestigious academe of Castillo High - where favoritism is a religion, the campus is a board game, and the system is bullshit. Every single student is a pawn.
But not for long.
Thr...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"WOW, THEY'VE outdone the first day of school decorations this year," Ashley remarked as she and Elysia stepped into the lobby of the main building, a stream of fancy banners and silk sashes lining the upper walls that gave a festive ambience to Castillo High's hallways.
"What did you expect in a school made specifically for the rich?" Elysia scoffed as both of them walked towards the familiar door of the Castillian Gazette's office.
"There goes our tuition, I guess," Natatawang sambit ni Ashley. Pagkaharap nila sa pintuan ng newsroom ay itinapat ni Elysia ang kaniyang media ID sa isang sensor — isang card na exclusive lamang para sa mga staffers ng Gazette. The sensor was there to track the staffers that entered and exited the office, while non-staffers had to write their names on the logbook that was sitting on top of a stand next to the sensor.
Pagkatapos mag-log in ng dalawa ay inikot na ni Elysia ang doorknob at saka pumasok sa loob.
If one was to enter the headquarters of the student publication, the first thing they would see was the many pictures at the far-end wall of the newsroom's sitting room. These pictures were framed, and consisted of all past staff members of the Gazette.
There were solo pictures on the upper part of the wall, which showcased all the past Castillians who had taken the post of the editor-in-chief (EIC). Sa ilalim ng mga litratong ito ay may mahabang lamesa na naglalaman ng lahat ng mga awards at trophies na natanggap ng Castillian Gazette sa larangan ng campus journalism.
There were a few potted plants, couches, and bookshelves around, at tanging kung papasok ka lamang sa entrance na matatagpuan sa kanan, ay saka pa lamang makikita ang maraming cubicles ng mga staffers ng Gazette.
"El, Ash!" Carolyn Salvira, the associate editor for this academic year, greeted both girls who had entered the room. She was a twelfth grader with strawberry blonde hair that went past her shoulders. "You guys are just in time! Nandun na sila sa meet, pasok na rin kayo," the older girl said cheerfully, nodding to her left where a large room with frosted glass windows could be seen.
"Good morning Ate Carol!" bati ng magkaibigan na naglalakad papunta sa kanilang stations. Carolyn was one of their favorite seniors, always known for her punctuality, efficiency, and kind-heartedness.
"Papasok na rin kami sa meet ate, lalapag lang po namin gamit namin," Elysia said quickly as she and Ashley settled their things in their respective cubicles situated on the far right of the room.
"Okay, sunod kayo ah?" Carol reminded the two who gave her a thumbs up, before answering the Gazette's main telephone that had been ringing for the third consecutive time.
Sunod na nag-greet sa dalawa ay si Stephen Padilla, ang feature editor ng Gazette, at ang boss ni Elysia.
"El, Ash, kayo na pala 'yan. Kamusta ang bakasyon?" masayang bati ng senior sabay yakap sa dalawa. He wore black rectangular glasses and sported a caesar 90s cut that made him look like the typical nerdy writer. He was also shorter than the average height for boys: but what he lacked in appearance, translated tenfold into his writing.
