1. A Rotten Apple in a High-Quality Fruits

Mal

Sentro Siyudad Academy was a well-known school that consistently produced excellent students. A school that produces competitive and genius students, but they also produce monsters.

“I heard SSA won the science fair again.” A student from another school said.

“Well, it is expected though, they always come out on in every competition.” The other student answered.

“They already receive a lot of budget from the ministry, and they’re still sweeping this kind of competition.”

I sat still and focus myself on my homework. I chose to be alone in this shop to avoid any noise. However, hearing those two students blabber dampens my mood. I just want a quiet place to work on my assignment.

But what they said is true. As a student from Sentro Siyudad, I know it well.  SSA is a popular academy that holds every title. Their students are all outstanding, and SSA ranks first in all schools from primary to secondary education. They provide the best quality education.

Because of that, the ministry of education provides them with a sizable budget. Yet, they’re still not satisfied with that. A school that wins every competition that provides educational support, a school that seizes every opportunity, and refuses to give others a chance.

A competitive school with a competitive student. I smirked by that thought. Competitive huh. They are just greedy. It was their greed for money. They are a school that uses their student’s achievement for their own greed.

I continue to write while sipping my milk tea. I was almost done with my homework when my phone vibrates. I got an email notification from a certain someone. This guy rarely emails me, and he never called me once.

I immediately opened it and read its content. I started grinning as soon as I saw it. So, he's still at it, isn't he? I thought he forgot about my request.  I know the preparation is not yet done, but he’s taking it for too long. I put down my phone and take a notebook from my bag. I took it out and read the notes I had written.

Six months, its been half a year since he left. Yet, the information he gave me is still not complete. I'm not complaining, but we can't keep putting this off any longer. I’m running out of time, and I don’t want to rush things when I’m working.

I let out a sigh. Should I investigate on my own? I understand my brother is on a hard spot right now. He is busy on other things, but he is the one who left me here. He should prioritize the things that he left on me. Besides, this was his plan. I just got involved because there’s a lot of things I could get by doing this. Also, I think it was fun.

I grunt by thinking how slow my brother is. When I heard about this plan, I was so excited, so I agreed to him. But he suddenly left me alone; it's not like I can't manage on my own. It's just that I need his information in order to begin this plan.

 This is annoying. I should do it before I left that damn school, that is the best opportunity to do that plan. I flip my notes and looked on what I have written. On the other hand, I think I’m making a progress. I smirked while looking at it.

Ha, SSA is really scary. Who'd have guessed they'd have these treasures in here? I believe they are unaware, but I am aware of their existence, and I will do my best to make them mine. I shouldn’t waste this opportunity and I must take them on my side. SSA don’t value them, but I know their worth.

I bit my lips out of excitement. This will be fun.  This is a plan we’ve been polishing for almost 5 years, and I can’t wait to get a hold of them. The time we spent in this plan is all worth it, and now I will make the first move.

“Mal.” A familiar voice called out. I smiled as I looked at him. A man with tan skin and black hair and with a piercing on his right ear was standing in front of me. I was so absorbed in this plan, that I didn't notice that he’s already here.

He helped me to clean my things and I stood up. We both went out from the shop and walk towards the bus station. While walking we passed by a familiar school.  I stopped for a moment just to take a look at the school on the other side of the road. It was big and beautiful from the outside, but they don’t know how rotten it is in the inside. The monster school that conquered all, a high-quality academy admired by all.

This makes me want to destroy the quality they are so proud of. But I'm well aware that it's all a ploy. I just need is to set it, and all I have to do is place that rotten apple next to these fresh fruits. Any high-quality fruits will rot if a bad fruit was placed among them. For many years, SSA separate the bad fruits away from its good fruits, but I’m a bad fruit anyway, I am that bad apple and all I need to do is to place myself to rot what is already tainted.

I looked at Ron and speak. “You’ll study in SSA right?” I asked him.

He smiled at me. “It’s about time I guess?” He answered.

“It is, but before that. We need to create our team.”

Gathering them is difficult; gaining their trust takes time, which is one of the reasons I take steps little by little because I need to earn their trust.

“I heard entrance exam for senior high school in SSA is not easy. You know I’m not good in studying right?” Ron said. He chuckled when he saw me glaring at him.

“You know I prepared it already, right? You just need to do it as what we planned, and if you failed entering that school, I will pull out your hair, and please at least pass the quota score.” I seriously said while pinching his side. But he just laughed while avoiding my hand.

“I’m going to meet our new friends, right?”

Friends. Is it really necessary to refer to this as a friendship? When the reason why I approached them is because I need to use them.

“Mal, you've been with them for four years. I know you've made friends with them.” He said as if he knows what’s on my mind.

I smiled. “Well, I will introduce you to them, Ron.”

“Sure! But I’m still your bestfriend, right?”  

I didn’t answer just to tease him. I walked again towards the bus station and I heard him calling me.

“Hey Mal!” He shouted and run towards me. We arrived at the bus station and Ron stood in front of me.

“I talked to your brother.” I looked at him. So, they’re in touch? While my big bro can’t give me a single call.

“What did my dear Kuya say?”

Note: Kuya is a term that Filipino used as a polite title or form of address for an older man or their older brother.

“About that guy, that we must be careful.”

Ron’s sudden change of mood means he is serious. Maybe Kuya told him about that guy too. I am aware that guy is hard to handle, but I've devised a different plan.  I'm also aware that my brother will object, so there's no need to tell him, or even Ron.

“I know Ron. I know.” I said and smiled.

He looked at me for a while and sighed. “I trust you Mal.” I also know that, Ron is my first friend. We’ve known each other for that long, and he also knows a lot about me. Ron is the person I trust the most too, and I know he will understand me.

And for that guy, he is someone useful, but it is a risk to use him. He is not someone who would listen to me. But still, I’m doing this because of one reason.

That justification is a bit childish, and now is not the time to be childish. But I must admit, I’m still a kid who craves for a thrill, so I want to take this risk. I know this could ruin the plan, but taking the risk is part of the plan. I can take the fall if everything fails.

In a few months, I will take my move, and the moment I made my first move there’s no turning back. I looked up to the sky and smiled. You can call me twisted and crazy, but I will do everything for this plan.

I can't contain my excitement; The whole plan might need another year to complete this. But as I got closer, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen, and what would be the outcome of our hardwork. But I'm confident that this will work, and I'll go to any length to ensure that this plan succeeds.