As Thalia stepped into the classroom, she could already hear the chatter, laughter, and occasional bickering of her classmates from the doorway. She let out a sigh.
Currently in Grade 10, Thalia was preparing to transition into senior high school. She studied diligently—not for fame or ambition, but for her family.
She quietly made her way to her seat, brushing the back of her neck as the early morning noise buzzed around her. Thalia attended a private school, which only fueled her drive to do well. It wasn't just any school—tuition here was expensive.
She often wondered why her older brother chose to send her to this school instead of a public one. It would've been enough if she studied in a more affordable place.
Sigh. That was all she could think.
"You're already here, Thalia!" said a cheerful voice, accompanied by a friendly slap on the arm. It was Ruth.
"Good morning, Ruth," she greeted, smiling.
"Morning!" Ruth replied warmly and took the seat beside her.
"I heard we're going on a camping trip," Ruth said excitedly.
"Where?" Thalia asked, already wary.
"Near the site where those two siblings were found dead a few months ago. You remember? The ones who were murdered?" Ruth whispered.
Thalia gave her a sideways glance. "Isn't that far from here?"
"Not too far," Ruth leaned in again. "They say the spirits of the siblings still haunt that place."
Thalia arched an eyebrow, trying to determine whether Ruth was just pulling her leg or being serious.
Before she could respond, their adviser entered the room with a stack of papers. The class immediately fell silent. Thalia and Ruth stopped talking, too.
Their adviser—Mr. Jake—was young and good-looking, which explained the muffled giggles from some girls in the room. Thalia nudged Ruth, who had a well-known crush on him.
"Good morning, class," he greeted.
"Good morning, Teacher Jake," the students chorused.
"Take your seats," he said. "Here are the permission slips for your parents to sign regarding next week's camping trip. Make sure your parent or legal guardian signs it and provides a phone number."
Thalia silently prayed that her brother wouldn't allow her to go. Aside from the ominous feeling she had about the trip, the cost would be a burden on their already tight budget.
"Just a reminder—this camping trip is compulsory," Mr. Jake emphasized, stressing the word.
Thalia sighed again and quietly tucked the slip into her bag. Something in her gut warned her this camping trip wouldn't be ordinary. She wasn't scared of ghosts—but she always trusted her instincts.
******
By the time Thalia reached their home, the sun had begun to set. Their life was simple. Orphaned at a young age, she and her siblings had been raised solely by their eldest brother, Felix, who worked multiple jobs to ensure they ate and stayed in school.
"Oh, you're home already, Tata," Felix greeted, busy preparing dinner.
"Yes, I am," she replied, forcing a smile.
"You okay?" he asked, immediately noticing her worried expression.
"It's nothing," she replied, trying to shake off the concern.
"That sigh tells me otherwise. Something wrong at school?" Felix asked, concerned.
Thalia pulled the permission slip from her bag. "We have a camping trip next week," she admitted.
"And?" he asked, taking the paper from her.
"It's just... expensive," she murmured.
Felix frowned slightly. "If it's for your studies, I'll allow it. No matter the cost."
"Brother, it's not just me you're supporting. Jenny probably has more bills to pay—her midterms are coming up," she reasoned.
Felix laughed softly. "I've already paid your sister's tuition. Next, you'll be asking me to start saving for our youngest sibling too, huh? Don't worry—I've saved up for that, too."
"Brother, you should keep some for yourself. You always prioritize us," Thalia said, scratching her head in concern.
He smiled and handed back the signed form. "All I can give you is education. Even though I never finished school myself, I want all of you to graduate."
"Now go get dressed. Once your sister gets here, we'll eat together."
Thalia didn't argue further. She often wondered how her brother managed everything. Despite his lack of a formal degree, he was clever, resourceful, and generous. He was already in his late twenties. If their parents had lived, his life might've been very different.
"Oh, by the way, where's the camping trip going to be?" he asked.
"Far. Near where those two girls were murdered," she said quietly.
Felix simply nodded, deep in thought.
"I'll call you when Jenny arrives," he said.
Thalia gave a faint nod, still secretly hoping she'd somehow be excluded from the trip.