Chapter 3: Unscathed

“Bryce, what happened yesterday?” Bungad na tanong ni Scar nang pumasok si Bryce sa loob ng studio. Masamang tingin lamang ang isinagot nito kaya maging si Meth na gusto sanang maki-usisa ay nanahimik na lamang din.

“Oh? Nagtake kayo ng computer course?” nagtatakang tanong ni Stephen nang i-check nito ang mga schedule nila.

“Yeah, kailangan ko daw matuto tungkol sa computer at yung concept ng pagrarun ng mga programs sabi ni Dad,” paliwanag ni Scar habang abala ito sa agtingin sa bagong manicure nitong kuko.

“Anong connect nun sa fashion industry?” natatawang tanong ni Meth. “I was ordered to take this course so I obliged. Wala namang masama kung pagbibigyan ko sila Chairman paminsan-minsan.”

“So cold. You still call your grandfather chairman?” pang-aasar ni Bryce kay Meth. “I enrolled there to understand this.” Ipinakita nito ang isang libro tungkol sa hacking.

“You’re interested in hacking?” Amazed na tanong ni Stephen.

“A little,” Bryce smirked.

Napatingin silang lahat ng pumasok si Stanley at natigil ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. His overwhelming presence filled the room and unconsciously, everyone’s attention was turned towards him.

“What? Just continue talking.” Malamig nitong saad bago dumiretso sa study room nila.

It was a natural occurrence and everyone had been used to it every time Stanley arrives. He just holds the aura of a king or a leader that everyone would just unconditionally follow him even if he didn’t say a word.

“Geez, that guy is really intimidating.” Scar heaved a sigh and lazily sat back down to the couch. She sneaked a peek of Stanley who was engrossed in his book as if he was in his own world as usual.

Katulad sa klase nila sa marketing ay sabay sabay din silang pumasok sa computer course na pinili nila. Dahil magkakasama ay nakaagaw na naman sila ng atensyon ngunit ngayon ay mas nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga tao sa new kid na naglalakad sa likod nila.

Aisha was an innocent girl who just transferred to their school. They knew that she didn’t know anything about the school hierarchy or Royal’s reputation. However, they believe that being ignorant was never an excuse. If she chose not to do her research before she acts, it wouldn’t be their fault if she ended up being in trouble.

Meth glared at Aisha when she looked at her and saw that she was lazily walking while listening to the music in her earphones. She was humming as she walked which gave her airhead vibes though she knew that she wasn’t.

“How can she walk shamelessly like that?” narinig ni Meth ang mga bulungan na mas lalong nagpainis sa kanya. Kahapon pa talaga kumukulo ang dugo ni Meth kay Aisha dahil ito pa lang ang kauna-unahang estudyante na nag-lakas loob na i-approach sila ng walang takot. She felt as if the girl was underestimating them and it felt a bad taste in her mouth.

Nang makapasok ay agad silang nagsi-upo sa kanilang pwesto sa pinakalikod na row. Stephen and Bryce’s eyes were locked on the door as if they were waiting for someone.

“You’re also in this class?” tanong ni Stephen nang makapasok si Aisha sa Computer Lab.

Tuloy-tuloy lamang sa paglalakad si Aisha na tila di narinig si Stephen kaya naman ang lahat ng mata ng kanilang mga kaklase ay nakatuon sa kanila. Napasinghap pa ang iba dahil tumabi si Stephen kay Aisha. Stephen is known for being a computer genius kaya naman kataka-taka na nagpapakita ng interes si Stephen sa ibang estudyante. Madalas kasi ay idinadaan niya sa mga social networking sites at panghahack ang mga kalokohan niya.

“Yah! How long will you ignore me?” inis na kinalabit ni Stephen si Aisha.

Tinanggal ng huli ang earphone na nakasaksak sa tainga at nagtanong, “What?” Her face was filled with confusion and innocence. He knew that it wasn’t intended but it just pissed him off even more.

“You didn’t hear me?” Stephen said in awe.

“Sorry.” Paghingi ng paumanhin ni Aisha, “Bakit?”

“Nevermind.” Stephen shook his head as he gritted his teeth. The thing that he hated the most was making him feel like a fool and it was exactly what he was feeling at the moment.

Pumasok na ang professor nila at nagsimulang magturo. Dahil sa nangyari ay hindi nakapagfocus ang mga estudyante. Iniisip nila ang napahiyang si Stephen at naaawa sila kay Aisha na batid nilang magiging target ng Genius Prince ng CU.

Just imagine being the target of the man who could control the information flow of CU and even the media. If she became a target, her image would be destroyed not just at school but even in the industry that she was in. There was also a possibility that her family would be involved just because of a small mistake.

“What’s your plan, Tep?” tanong ni Bryce nang matapos ang kanilang klase. Sabay-sabay silang lima na naglalakad pabalik ng kanyang studio.

“I’ll play with her later,” sagot ni Stephen na hindi man lang nilingon si Bryce dahil abala ito sa pagpindot sa cellphone nito. He said later but he was already taking notes of the things that she wanted to use against her. “Just wait, Aisha Mori. I’ll make sure that you wouldn’t be able to lift your face anymore,” he said in his head as he smirked.

“Teach me how to hack.” Pangungulit ni Bryce na hindi na lamang pinansin ni Stephen.

“Ano ba yan, sabi ko ako ang next na makikipaglaro sa babaeng `yon e.” Pagmamaktol ni Meth ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng dalawa. She knew that it would be too much if all the royals started ganging up on her so she decided to wait for her turn. However, it seemed like her turn wouldn’t be anytime soon because Stephen also took an interest in her.

Agad na pumasok si Stephen sa computer room ng studio. Naroon ang kanilang database at si Stephen ang madalas na gumagamit no’n dahil siya ang mahilig sa programming. He was in-charge of all the information if ever one of them would need one. He was also an expert in digging dirt from people especially the high-ranking ones.

“Do you have a plan on how to beat that girl up?” tanong ni Scar.

“I don’t need some kind of plan to beat someone up. I just make sure that they’ll end up with a few broken bones at the very least,” mayabang na saad ni Meth na nagpa-irap kay Scar.

“Whatever, do what you want. I’ll be the last to take care of her then.” Sabi na lamang ni Scar at nangalkal ng mga fashion magazine na nasa center table.

Scar always thought that Meth’s methods are so unladylike but that’s who Meth is. Though she didn’t like her methods, it wouldn’t change the fact that Meth plays on her strength. She knew how to use her strength to reach the top and she wouldn’t let anyone be better than her when it comes to it. That’s why she acknowledge Meth as someone who could stand on equal grounds with her. Despite having different methods, they have the same mindset and same perspective.

Maya-maya pa ay nagulat sila kung sino ang padabog na pumasok sa kanilang studio, “Sorry for barging in!” wika nito at yumuko, “Where is Stephen Styx Harrison?”

Nagtinginan sina Scar, Meth at Bryce nang ituro ni Stanley ang Computer Room. It was a rare situation wherein Stanley would associate himself with strangers. Usually, he would just ignore everyone except them and let the Royals take care of everything-- that’s Stanley’s way of doing things.

Kaya naman hindi sila makapaniwala na nakipag-interact ito sa babaeng tinuturing na kaaway ng Royals. Was he interested in the girl or did he know that Stanley was doing something and he wanted to torment her even more? She wanted to believe the latter because it was impossible for Stanley to take someone’s side no matter how harsh they were to their targets.

Hindi nila alam ang pwedeng mangyari once na magharap ang dalawa lalo pa’t mukhang nalaman na ni Aisha na biktima siya ng hacking ni Stephen pero hinayaan lang nila ito na pumasok sa computer room nila.

“Is she that shameless? Who did she think she was to barge in our studio like that?” Iritadong reklamo ni Scar.

“Maybe she’s really upset with what Stephen did to her,” Meth suggested before smirking.

“I’d be so happy to know that Stephen succeeded in teaching her a lesson,” Bryce said lazily.

“Bakit Bryce? Ano bang nangyari sa playroom mo kahapon?” curious na tanong ni Scar. Hindi araw-araw ay nakakakita sila ng target ni Bryce na lumalabas ng hindi umiiyak. They knew how terrible it was to be Bryce’s target that’s why they were so curious about what happened to the girl.

“Tsk. Don’t ask me, naiinis pa rin ako sa tuwing naaalala ko.” Iritadong tumayo si Bryce at nagtungo sa kanilang kusina.

“Sabi na e. Bryce failed to teach her a lesson yesterday. Kaya naman pala ang lakas ng loob ng babaeng `yon,” Meth said while watching the annoyed Bryce take out some foods from the fridge.

“Sorry for barging in again!” Hindi makapaniwala ang dalawang babae nang makitang mabilis na lumabas si Aisha sa kanilang studio. Just like yesterday, the girl seemed to go out of the computer room unscathed.

“Aish! Aisha Mori, I’ll make you pay for those!” Frustrated na sigaw ni Stephen dahil hindi na niya nahabol pa si Aisha na ngayon ay malayo na ang naitakbo. “Aish! She ruined my programs!”

Ibinato ni Stephen ang hawak na mouse sa sahig at napasabunot sa sariling buhok. His precious programs were all ruined by one girl and he will never forgive her. He will make her pay, no matter what!

Napailing na lamang ang dalawa dahil mukhang maging si Stephen ay hindi kayang i-handle si Aisha. That girl is indeed tough to be able to run away from the evil princes of Crown University.