If you’ve ever seen an athlete at Pinewood Upper Campus discreetly pop a red, square-shaped gummy into their mouth before a game, then you’ve already witnessed “the Red Market.”
The energy gummy, dubbed in school hallways as “The Square,” has recently skyrocketed in popularity among students. What originally began as a way to get in electrolytes before games and practices has quietly evolved into an extensive underground network.
At first, it seemed harmless. Curious students eager to try the infamous delicacy, so the athletics department handed out samples like Costco on a Sunday afternoon. But soon, people came back for seconds, then thirds. They wouldn’t stop, and they couldn’t.
As an athlete, freshman Brooklynn Scott is familiar with these energy gummies and frequently eats them before games.
“I’m such a fiend for them,” Scott said. “But highkey prices are getting outta hand; folks be flippin’ math homework for gummies.”
Motivation, optimism, and substantial intelligence are all symptoms that have been reported by students who have eaten The Square. Many even claim that The Square has gotten them through the last period on a Friday, a feat once thought unattainable.
On a positive note, history teacher Sophie Williams has noted that the gummies have unexpectedly improved classroom behavior.
“Usually my class argues like it’s the Cold War,” Williams said. “But after the gummies, they started raising their hands. It’s a dream that I never thought would come true.”
However, as more and more kids tried to get their hands on the precious gummy, the supply mysteriously vanished.
And there’s only one culprit to blame. Tucked away in the corner of the gym, behind two inconspicuous dark doors lies the mastermind behind the chaos: Athletic Trainer Javier Margarito. Accused of gatekeeping the powerful candies and possibly even operating this whole scheme, and his elusiveness only makes it worse.
Ask anyone, and you’ll find that tracking him down is virtually impossible. He’s either out on a six mile run or sprinting up Mount Koko Head; no one really ever knows. Many speculate that his perfectly timed disappearances are no coincidence, but rather meticulously coordinated acts that allow him to monitor the stash or keep it locked away in a hidden cabinet.
In spite of the rumors, Margarito denied every accustion he faced.
“Right, because I have nothing better to do than hoard candy in an office where food is banned,” Margarito said.
Moments later, he immediately kicked the press out of his office in a manner similar to the way in which he ousts athletes from his “sacred space.”
With the scarcity of these gummies rising by the minute, a new problem has emerged: counterfeit gummies bearing the familiar Gatorade logo. However, upon closer inspection, these knockoffs read “Fakeorade.” Unfortunately, amidst all the heavy demand, no one seems to notice, as the difference is nonexistent to the naked eye.
After months of grueling investigation, the administration has still not uncovered a single trace of the gummy. Their fruitless efforts have only allowed the Red Market to thrive in the shadows, secluded from everyone.
Whether it’s a catalyst for an academic boost, an athletic amplification, or just the placebo effect, we may never truly know what’s inside those bite-sized fluorescent bricks.
