“Thirty-six and just now starting his first year? Seriously?? If I get that old guy as my code-bro, I’d rather hold my breath till I die. He stinks of old age, damn it!”

Pasin, a 36-year-old man who had worked as a house steward (butler) for many years, had scrimped and saved all that time to pay for enrollment in the Faculty of Civil Engineering, his lifelong dream. He hoped that one day a degree would carry him to a better job, so he wouldn’t have to be a house steward forever.

But who would have guessed that studying alongside classmates so much younger would make him the target of heavy bullying throughout orientation week, especially from Ith, the son of his former employer.

“Heh, so the heaven-sent hero has come down to save us. He’s just some old uncle. I thought a janitor had come to apply. Do you really have to defend him that much, Nine?”

“Old or not, he can still study, right? Why are you guys complaining? He hasn’t done anything bad.”

“Not bad? Just having to call that old man ‘junior’ makes me want to bite my tongue off!”

If it were him, at that age, he wouldn’t be sitting around studying so hard. He’d be at home raising kids and grandkids by now.

“What nest of hornets did you eat today? So much complaining. I hope you get the old man as your code-junior, Ith. Amen!”

“Damn it, Nine! Don’t curse me! If I get that old man as my code-junior, I’d rather hold my breath till I die. He stinks of old age, damn it!”

 #CE69