Rizal National High School. Lunchtime.
Students in various grades are currently wandering all around the campus doing what they wanted. From students going to the cafeteria to take their lunch, to students hanging out on the student gazebos, or students who are rushing to their library to quickly finish a report or assignment that is due on the afternoon classes.
Section Agila: First Year.
Inside the classroom of Section Agila, there are only a handful of students left behind. Some are silently eating their lunch, some are chatting or playing games on their phones, while some are chatting with their friends.
Among the students inside, a group of both girls and boys are gathered together, talking and planning on what they will be doing after school.
"Hey, how about we visit Mrs. Sanchez and see what she is currently doing? It might help us with our grades and we might be able to cater some extra points with her!" one of the female students suggested.
"True. Considering that she is just on temporary leave, we can take advantage of this and perhaps we can get extra points from her if we show some concern for her!" one of the girls nodded.
"Are you girls going? I will join as well since I have low grades from Mrs. Sanchez, perhaps she will change her mind if I also show some concern," one of the guys added.
He then turned to look at the sleeping guy in their group.
"Hey, are you going to tag along? Heard you have some beef with her before she went on Maternity leave."
The sleeping guy slowly raises his head and yawns, revealing that the sleeping student is none other than Sancho.
"What is this about, Razzy?" Sancho asked while also stretching a bit.
The guy named Razzy, Sancho's friend who is a bit of a troublemaker grinned, "The girls suggested we visit Mrs. Sancho and see how she is doing as a way to earn extra points before she goes back to her duties as a teacher."
"So farming by using false sympathy then...sounds nice on paper but I doubt she will do that once she returns. Heard she doesn't have any favoritism of some sort."
"Just try it out, and there is no harm in going anyway. Even if we don't get to receive extra points in the future, this is our chance to score with our pretty classmates!" Razzy grinned.
"Ugh...sounds like a pain and I don't need extra points in the first place."
"Ugh, come on, man! Join us won't you? Besides, you don't have anyone who will nag at you for being late at going home anyway. Just don't leave me alone with the girls alright? It's embarrassing all on my own!"
Although Sancho didn't want to join and deal with their shenanigans, he remembered the rumors about the roaming "Aswang." And considering their teacher is pregnant, there is a chance indeed.
"Fine. But don't drag me in your mess if you mess up, yes? I will ask Sir Sanchez if it is fine to visit her. That way, we know she is still at home and we don't waste time going to their house only to find out she isn't there to begin with."
"As expected of you, bro! You looked lazy but you are dependable when needed!"
"I don't like the way you are giving me compliments. Anyways, let the girls as well. I will come back later."
Sancho stood up from his seat and started stretching for a bit before he headed to the Faculty Room where the teachers are eating their lunch or reviewing their lesson plan.
While walking towards the Faculty Room, he saw a little guy currently walking towards the restroom of the girls. He didn't get too close on the bathroom and waited for a bit. In a few seconds, the girls who are using the toilet started screaming and running out of the toilet.
Once the girls are out, the little guy who entered earlier chuckled as he exit the restroom.
Sancho approached the little guy and lightly bash thr head of the little guy.
"Ouch! You again! Can you stop it? That was painful!"
Sancho sighed. "You should be grateful I didn't exorcised and sent you away from your home due to your shenanigans. Sooner or later, I might have a good reason to do all of that."
"Hahaha, no no. Sorry about that. Don't be too much of killjoy alright? And besides, I am just doing a prank as I am bored on my home. Its hard to be a righteous spirit and not be seen by humans that you sre protecting."
The little guy was actually a spirit of the nature called the Duwende. Unlike the usual duwende that lives on an ant mound, he lives on a nearby tree of Acacia. Although he is a regular duwende, he is not a dangerous spirit. He is harmless but he likes to do some pranks from time to time. And Sancho is the one who controls his tendency to do that as the little Duwende might do something irreversible.
"I suggest you stop doing that. If you keep haunting the bathroom of the girls, the Acacia tree might be cut down and you will be forced to move to another place."
"Haha, you don't need to worry about that. And besides, I also think it is time for me to move out of the tree. It is getting big and old. One strong storm and that tree might get blown away. I won't be staying there for long."
"Is that so? Well, at least you know. But be sure to behave alright? Unlike other people like me who can see you, you might not receive the same treatment as the others."
"Sure, sure."
For Sancho, dealing with the supernatural is a natural thing for him. Ever since he was a kid, he already have the talent of seeing what regular cannot be seen. Considering that he came from the lineage of Babaylan and Albularyos, he naturally receive training to use his ability to see the supernatural entities to good use.
And for someone who can see these entities, it is also his duty to ensure they don't become problems that would disturb the normal lives of people who can't see them.
Once he made sure the local Duwende has no more shenanigans planned out, Sancho headed towards his original destination. Aside from the Duwende, there are also other entities he is currently seeing around the school.
From spirits of the deceased to random entities he couldn't make out and a few weird creatures that are said to be the manifestation of nature. He is seeing them all. But not everything is needed his intervention. And these spirits are better off not being disturbed unless they disrupt the normal life.
Arriving the faculty office, he peek inside the room and scanned the office. A few teachers looked at him but he disregarded them and continue to look for the person he was looking for. Soon, his eyes find the person he is looking for.
Currently, he is eating his lunch but he is also using his phone, calling someone which Sancho presumes to be his wife on the other line. Once he is done talking, Sancho approach Mr. Sanchez.
"Sir, good noon, can I ask something?"
"Mm, Mr. Lopez, something the matter?"
"A few of my classmates wanted to visit Mrs. Sanchez and wanted to ask for her current condition. I am just here to ask for confirmation and whether she is currently at home or not."
"Oh? They missed my wife? Well, I think that is a good idea. Maybe seeing her students and seeing them visit might perhaps help alleviate her stress for a bit."
"Stress? Shouldn't pregnant women should avoid stress as they can affect pregnancy?" Sancho frowned.
"You are correct about that, but lately, my wife has been complaining on some weird things. Like the whole room was so hot for some reason to the point she couldn't sleep even though the whole room is already close to freezing temperature after lowering the air conditioner. She even said that there are weird things happening at night and this is causing her to have trouble sleeping at night."
Sancho frowned from hearing this. "Did she mention about something moving around the roof during night time?"
"Yeah. She did a few times. I also did notice it a few times but there are times when she shake me awake, I couldn't hear it even though she said there were something walking over there."
"I see. Well, if she is free, we will visit this afternoon."
Mr. Sanchez smiled. "Thank you. I will tell my wife her students wanted to visit. She would be delighted to hear about this."
Once Sancho is done talking with Mr. Sanchez, Sancho headed straight to the Acacia Tree. To the others the Acacia tree is a place that should be avoided if they are alone, for Sancho, this is the perfect place to hide where he uses his abilities.
He whistles using his fingers while standing under the acacia tree. It didn't take too long before a small bird landed on his shoulder.
"Gather a few of my things that are used to confirm the existence of an Aswang. We have a case."
The bird seemingly understood Sancho's command and left his shoulders after his command.
Sancho on the other hand, has a serious look on his face. "Those symptoms... I hope I am wrong, but it seems that Mrs. Sanchez has been marked by an Aswang."