INT. ARVEN'S BEDROOM – MORNING
The alarm clock rings: 8:00 AM. Arven Solis groans and hits snooze.
Arven: Great... I'm late again.
He jumps out of bed, brushes his teeth quickly, ignoring the foam. No time for breakfast. He grabs his backpack and rushes out.
EXT. STREET – MORNING
Arven climbs onto the back of a waiting motorbike. The driver weaves through traffic. Vendors shout, motorcycles and jeepneys crowd the street. Arven grips the seat tightly.
They reach the main street. Arven pays the driver and runs toward the jeepney stop.
EXT. JEEPNEY STOP – MORNING
Arven joins a crowd of students and workers. He checks his watch anxiously.
Arven: Come on... just a few more minutes.
The jeepney arrives. He squeezes in among the passengers. After ten slow minutes, he steps off and sprints toward the campus.
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS – MORNING
The Philippine national anthem plays. Arven slows, hand on his chest, singing along. Once it ends, he picks up speed again, dodging people and stray basketballs.
INT. CLASSROOM – MORNING
Arven slides into the classroom, backpack bouncing. He spots May Valdez at the front. She lifts a notebook at him.
May: You're late. What were you doing last night?
Narration: May has been Arven's girlfriend for the past two years. They met when Arven, as the school president, assisted her with a task. May, a secretary in her church, was impressed—and eventually, they started dating.
Arven freezes for a moment.
Arven: I was studying for physics.
May lightly taps the back of his head with the notebook.
May: We don't have physics this semester. You can continue.
Arven rubs his head, grins sheepishly, and sits next to her as other students chuckle.
Narration: May often teases Arven, but they share a close bond built over two years.
INT. CLASSROOM – LATER
The teacher asks a question. Arven, lost in thought, wonders about life after death, where people go, and what really happens. He doesn't notice the teacher calling his name.
Teacher: Arven Solis, can you answer the question?
Arven snaps back to reality.
Arven: The answer is... when we observe the problem from all angles, the solution lies in understanding the underlying principles, not just memorizing the steps.
The teacher nods approvingly as the other students look impressed. Arven smirks slightly, then leans back in his seat, resuming his wandering thoughts.
EXT. CAMPUS CAFE – NOON
Arven and May sit across from each other, lunch trays in front of them.
May: I still think the Bible is clear on this point.
Arven: But if you read it this way... it could mean something else.
They debate quietly, exchanging points about belief, interpretation, and perspective. Voices rise slightly, but it's friendly tension, not anger.
Suddenly, classmates arrive, laughing and carrying trays.
John Ruver: Hey! What a nice game we had last night—we had a five-game winstreak in MLBB!
Narration: John Ruver is Arven's classmate since senior high school. As vice president, he often teams up with Arven, the president, in both school and games. They've been playing together a lot since then.
May glances at Arven, frowning.
May: So that's why you weren't sleeping early... playing games again?
Arven: Uh... maybe...
May shakes her head, half-amused, half-annoyed.
INT. SCHOOL – AFTERNOON
The group returns to school. Arven, May, and John proceed to their next class, chatting quietly as they walk.
John: So, did you really carry us through that last match, Arven? Five-game winstreak is no joke.
Arven (grinning): Well... I did my best. But we all played well.
May rolls her eyes, teasing.
May: Yeah, well, next time you're telling me before you stay up late playing.
Arven: Okay, okay, I promise.
The classroom buzzes with activity. Arven drifts in thought as the teacher begins the lesson. He glances around, distracted.
Narration: Arven's mind drifts to questions bigger than tests: Where do we go after we die? Does anything we do really matter? Even in a classroom filled with chatter and lessons, he can't stop wondering.
EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS – LATE AFTERNOON
Classes end. Arven and May exit together, still debating quietly about Bible interpretations during lunch.
May: You really twist that verse too much, you know.
Arven: Maybe. But there's more than one way to read it.
They laugh softly, the tension from the debate easing. As they walk, Arven notices someone approaching from another section.
Arven (softly): Hey — Grace.
Narration: Grace Devereux is the president of another section. She's strict—very strict—but not cold. She's also a dancer, and Arven is only a little close to her. Their interactions are brief, but cordial.
Grace: Arven?
Arven: Oh—nothing. What's up?
Grace: Nothing. I'm busy. See you.
Grace nods quickly and moves on, her posture precise like a dancer's. Arven watches her go, a small smile on his face.
EXT. JEEPNEY STOP – EVENING
Arven and May board a jeepney together, riding through the quiet streets.
May (firmly): Arven, if you're going to play late, at least tell me. Update me. Don't leave me guessing.
Arven: Sorry. I will. I promise.
They share a small, quiet smile. He walks her to her doorstep.
May: Bye. Be careful.
Arven: Bye, May. Goodnight.
They kiss briefly. May enters her home. Arven watches for a moment, then turns and walks off into the dim street.
EXT. STREETS — NIGHT
Alone under the stars, Arven walks home, the jeepney noises fading behind him. He looks up at the sky.
Narration: Are any of this worth it? Do any of these things matter? A billion stars, or a trillion... yet here I am, cramming, learning, playing... for what?
He keeps walking, the question lingering in the cool night air, feeling both small and strangely alive under the vast sky.
To be continued...