BE LIKE PRINCIPAL KEEN MADRIGAL, the Head Teacher III of the Xyrale High School. An unmarried man in his mid-thirties on his fourth year in his position, he was determined to be the image of what he wanted. A sustainable-measurable-attainable-reliable kind of individual. Be like him.

It was 5:03 P. M. when he decided to pack his things up. The remaining work would be just resumed to his house. He closed everything he had opened earlier, from the nearest laptop on his table, going to the farthest curtain concealing the glass view of the next office room of his secretary.

He opened his black backpack then inserted the laptop. Some unreviewed papers and files also made it inside. He organized the cables of his chargers then inserted it also there. Zippered back. He pulled the deepest breath he had for today and released it.

Checking for the time on his Rolex, first, the glass glimmered, but as it made contact to his eyes he read the position of the hour and minute hand, it's 5:10.

The 'Early Bird Left Late', that was Principal Keen. Early bird in the fact that earlier this morning his check-in time was 7:07 A.M., fifty-three minutes prior to the first period classes of the students to start, and would leave late in the fact that he was the only school official left in here. Be like him.

He shouldered his backpack and approached the air conditioning system who displayed the current atmospheric temperature it maintained at twenty-six degrees Celsius. He switched it off. The temperature started to rise. Turning his back to it, he already identified his next stop: the light's switch.

Seeing his blurred reflection on a well polished brown mahogany colored vinyl tiles, he approached the door. It was closed for an aircon was inside. Leaving the door open could lead to high electricity charges.

Even though the school could afford to pay its bills, Principal Keen was not that kind of how a person thought. So be like him: he's not fond of loathing the school's fund.

Three paces he made it in there to the light's switch. Upon he did, he applied an ample amount of force to it. As a foreseen result, all at once, his office became a room like one of those on silent midnight. No sound, only that the sun's ray from the outside as it sank, reflected the glass window pane of his office. Just like in the night once in a while every month, the moon shone at its brightest.

He snapped the doorknob then twisted it. Then he pulled it toward him. But due to the newly bought unlubricated door hinge, the action he did make a creaking sound. Moreover nonetheless, he crossed the threshold. Principal Keen Madrigal closed back the door.

Fumbling something in his left pocket, as soon as he felt it, he withdrew the keychain. He chose what-he-knew the correct key and inserted it inside the keyhole. It seemed fit, he moved it ninety degrees clockwise and then withdrew it. Attesting the doorknob if it was locked. It was. He dropped back the key in his left pocket as he depressed his business classed shoes on the green colored welcome rag. He started to walk the corridor.

The Xyrale High School was already a part of him. He loved being in here. All the time. Here, he didn't feel alone. The ambiance of Acacia filled perimeter made him occupied by the thoughts related to his job, whereas, in his house he was alone. All the time. Be like him: he loved his job.

However, being an unmarried man made him regret some things. Now he was alone. His age couldn't be seen anymore in the calendar. It ranged from one up to the highest thirty-one; he was already thirty-five. He continued to access the corridor.

Today was Friday, no class for the next two days. Blessing for everyone minus him. He would miss this place for that meantime. He hated weekends: be like him.

This was the moment, he'd be leaving this place. "Goodbye for now!" he said to himself as he continued walking.

Taking his moment as he explored the corridor for the last time for two days, he oriented himself to be the early bird again on Monday. This was so him, he enjoyed being him. Though as soon as he turned in a corner where the corridor and the entrance intersected, he halted his pace. Not that he changed his mind to not to take a weekend anymore. Believe him or not, that thought didn't enter his thinking.

"Who is she?"

A girl paces ahead of him was what welcomed him for his departure. If things would be as it seemed to be, then he would be the second one to leave late.

"What is she doing in this late hour of the day?."

By the very presence of the girl not wearing the prescribed school uniform, with her back facing to him, he shook that thought.

"No, That's not it!"

Principal Keen stared the girl with suspicion, the girl turned to face him.

She appeared to be smiling at him.

Replying back the smile, the principal started to ask the name of the girl.

"Who is she?" the presence of the wind made him feel the chill.

"Who is me?" the girl clarified.

"Yes?" he started to feel intimidated toward the girl.

"Don't worry..." the girl started to walk approaching the principal.

"You stay there!" alarmed, Mister Keen Madrigal told her.

"Why?"

He didn't know how this girl made it inside. She's not an enrolled student in here. He knew every name of this school's bona fide residents. Sad to say, this girl was not one of them. He said to her to pause on her pace, the girl watched her with confusion.

Two people stood and were observing at each other in an abandoned school, that's how their scenario could be simply put into words. Maybe she was the daughter of the Guard.

Free of thinking threats, he said to himself, "Maybe it is."

Concurrent with his resolve, he started to step forward. Though at the same time as he did the action; at the same time the leaves of the Acacia constantly fell; at the same time the sun sank in the horizon, unnoticed he blinked.

Shock of him when he was finished moving his eyelids, the girl was no longer there."Where is she?"

He smelled something was about to happen, but he didn't know what. Perhaps he knew what he didn't know. He said once more: "Where is she?"

The time now was 5:25 P.M, five more minutes and the current Guard's shift would end. Maybe his father called her; that explained why she waved to him.

Free of thinking threats, he said to himself, "Maybe."

He settled his thoughts once and for all and calmly approached the parking lot at a regular pace with a normal heartbeat.

He took a pause unconsciously. His eyes narrowed.

"What is happening? Why I can't walk?!"

Realization was what struck him afterward he understood what was happening to him: somebody was strongly restraining him from the back. The reason why he paused on his pace unconsciously.

For the event was triggering his human instincts, his heartbeat and other chemical reactions started to undertake at a drastic rate. Able to feel the sharp object that was pointed on his back, hesitantly he turned.

The girl smiled at him upon they established eye contact.

"You are her, right?! The one from the distant?!" although sounded alarmed, he managed to ask a question.

There he saw a girl clearer than earlier. He was right, she's not a student in here, but perhaps when another school year started she would already be. His body started to react in terror. Judging by her aura, she was more determined than him. Being nailed at his place, he didn't turn anywhere. He remained in there-- with the absent of blink-- watched the girl with terror.

The girl smiled at him as she pulled him closer. With mouth to ear communication, she started to speak, "I'm not into exposing my identity to anyone. But because you voluntarily turned back even if I haven't ordered you to do so, now you know me. Sorry if I killed you with that act of yours, just don't blame her."

After she spoke those confidently, Principal Keen felt a penetrating sensation as the kitchen knife stabbed his left shoulder blade.

The sudden unanticipated action of the girl made the principal to do a holding back no more. Concurrent with it, he flinched. Even though the knife was not that of a butchering one, it was sharp. It managed to touch the cardiovascular organ known to us was the heart. He wailed mutely as a reaction for a hand was what had been placed against his mouth. The infiltration was proven to be deep. Needless to say, it served its purpose: his heart was stabbed.

Upon the handle of the knife met with his left shoulder blade, she withdrew it. As for Principal Keen whose circulatory system had started to collapse, already saw his end.

His sight became blur, perhaps because of the growing need of oxygen that his body couldn't sustain. Blood started to flow outside his body: on his mouth; and on his stabbed wound. Everything was red, he was running out of blood.

Helpless, immediately he fell to the ground. This was it, his end. Should he be grateful he would die to a place he called home or would be regretful for he would die alone?

As to the girl who cleaned the kitchen knife's blade that was recently full of blood, she wasn't so transparent to show any emotion. All she expressed was blank.

Principal Keen Madrigal the Head Teacher III of Xyrale High School, perhaps his name had decided his destiny. All it said-- just referred to the dictionary-- Noun, Verb, and Adjective. Be like him. He was keen.