Second Chapter - The Offer

SECOND: The Offer

“...alas tres ng hapon

natagpuan ang lahat ng droga. Kasalukuyan pang iniimbistigahan ang naturang lugar at ang mga nakatakas ay patuloy paring pinag

hahahanap. Samantala, ang taong nasa likod ng pag kabulgar sa naturang

krimen ay nananatiling

walang pag kakakilanlan. Base sa isiniwalat ng prosekyutor at imbestigador, nananatiling 'anonymous' ang nasa likod ng naturang

dokyumento na pinag mulan ng lahat ng ibendensiya...”

I pulled out my laptop as the news ended. I searched the actual website where all the document were being posted every after the crime has been caught.

It's been a couple of months since the dirty secrets of some senates and government officials were being expose and as of those happening, I noticed that all the evidence and documents were being posted at the website that I've just visited. Well, this website is public but not a lot knows about its content. I started searching about its blog but it will suddenly disappear after a couple of hours being posted and that is seriously interesting.

I've hacked the prosecutor and investigator's accounts—those who are always handling all the crimes that are being expose now—a three weeks ago because of my curiosity. Hindi ako nahirapan gayong marami ako alam s mga ganitong bagay.

And guess what? That website is their most visited. I also knew that it was where they were getting all the documents, evidents and hints of some crimes. The person who made the website, the person who's been exposing the documents was seriously anonymous. The programmer of the website and owner cannot be identified base from the investigator when I tried listening to their phone conversations. With that, I started being interested with that website and also the cases it's been exposing.

I started viewing the only document showing in the screen. I was impressed to know that the prosecutor and the investigator are not letting it slid uo to anyone else because the media has absolutely no idea about this and if ever the media knows, they will surely going to expose and broadcast it in the national TV.

It's a big hit for them if ever in fact that these issues were now being the nation's issue, if this will going to be expose in the mass, their career will going to boom. The usual medias.

I stand up as I felt an urge to pee.

I'm really interested in the person at the back of that website, like how did he know all of that? Where did he knew?

I closed my laptop after making a copy of the document and put it in the flash drive because I know it will disappear soon.

I stayed up after doing all my things, pakiramdam ko ay hindi pa rin ako dinadapuan ng antok. I opened the glass window and welcomed the cold air from outside. I sat over the table to look up to the moon but I weren't able to catch the view.

Tumayo ako mula sa pag kakaupo ko sa lamesa saka isinarado ang bintana. I pulls my jacket from my dresser and wears it before leaving my apartment to go to the rooftop. Maybe I could relax if I was there, malamig roon at tahimik and it will surely make me feel relaxed. Nang makarating ako sa taas ay malamig na hangin kaagad ang sumalubong saakin. The view of high building beside me were really perfect, I hugged myself and walk towards the edge to look down the roads.

Napangiti ako. Matagal na mula nang makaakyat ako mula sa ganitong kataas. I love high elevated places, pakiramdam ko ay nakakalipad ako tuwing ganoon. Bumuntong hininga ako saka inilahad ang magkabilang braso ko, welcoming the cold air with a smiled in my face and then I look up the moon. It's so beautiful.

When I felt the content on staring at the beautiful and bright moon, I turned my body to lean at the edge, I look on the other side of the rooftop when I sudden hear some foot steps.

“Xheidan?” I whispered to myself.

I saw Xheidan standing at the other edge of the rooftop, hands were really naturally kept inside his pockets all the time. His eyes were now occupied at the beautiful bright moon on the dark sky.

I stand straightly and cleared my throat. I looked around and see that there is no other one around but us.

So we're staying at the same building huh? This is really a nice coincident.

I was in urge to went near him. I want to be friend with him and approach him 'cause I've been interested with him since the first day, but I don't think I was that gramp to do that. I stared at him from afar and just watched.

Nakita ko ang marahan niyang pagbuntong hininga at pag-krus ng braso. He glanced at the moon once again before leaving. Mabilis naman akong nagtago kahit pa wala akong maisip na dahilan para gawin iyon. I pursed my lips and tried to recall his action. I looked at the moon with a knitted brows before letting out a sigh.

I had a same schedule the next day. During my last class, which is my Math class, the same atmosphere with yesterday roam the whole room as our professor entered. Everyone are quiet but we gain in confusion as he start discussing cheerfully as if nothing happened yesterday. The professor even tried to use Xheidan as an example on his sentence while Xheidan just ignored anything of that, keep on rolling his eyes.

Tignan mo itong taong uto, nadetention na at lahat lahat, ganoon pa rin ang ugali.

I pressed my lips together, decided not to mind those and just focus on the professor's discussion. I have a records and I'm just a scholar so I need to study hard. I don't want the person that is sustaining my education and needs feel that I am not deserving at all.

The class was dismissed, I immediately fixed my things and glanced at Xheidan's back. Others already left their seats and I, but Xheidan remaining seated catched my attention. I looked around and knitted my brows. He used to leave quickly,. Ge always does that as if he have something important to do after class so I am surprised to see him still being inside.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad at dumaan sa harapan niya, ang mga braso niya ay naka krus habang nakayuko ang ulo. Is he sleeping?

I suddenly stopped infront of him oars panoorin siya ng mabuti. Hindi siya gumagalaw, I grimaced and looked around again. It's only the two of us left inside.

“Ay, peste!”

I almost jump from my spot as I saw Xheidan looking at me as I took aback my eyes to him. His usual bored eyes were fixed at mine, thick eyebrows came as a one line and his lips were pressed together. The brown eyes that are looking at me went sharp before he slowly raised his one brow.

WHY THE HELL IS HE LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?!

“Tss..”

I looked at him with full of confusion in my eyes as he grasp and left the classroom. I looked at his back and made an ugly features to him. I even let out my tongue and angled a punch to him because of annoyance. For the last, I just rolled my eyes and left the room, heading the cafeteria for a break.

I bought a snacks and decided to review all the discussion on my table. I just took my phone nang marinig na may tumatawag.

“Hello, ma?”

“Oh anak, kumusta?” She consults.

“Ayos lang po, nasa school pa po ako.” I replied while highlighting something on my notes.

“Ahh, ganon ba? Saka nga pala, tumawag ka raw kay Senator at wala daw siyang numero mo,”

“Po? Sige po mamayang pag kauwi ko,” I replied before our call ended.

I continued doing my things, I also made a document on my laptop so that I could print it to pass my records. After awhile, I heared a called from my back as I'm already packing my things. I saw an unfamiliar girl walking towards to me while waving her hand.

“Hi. Asthreitlle, right?” She stops infront of me. I looked at the ID she's wearing, it's big and introduced her as the Editor in Chief with her name on it. She's wearing a denim jacket and her both hands were inside it's pocket. Hair was tied.

“Hello?” I replied, I gestured her the chair next to mine but she just wave her hands for refuse.

“Can we talk? Privately?” A small smile curved in her lips.

My brows arched in sudden, licking my bottom lips before looking back to her. I nodded as a replied before we leave the cafeteria, didn't mind refusing her the fact that she's the Editor in Chief. Baka mamaya ay gawan pa ako ng hindi magandang article nito.

We reached her office, she offer me to seat over a single sofa while she sit at the swivel chair, resting her both elbow on the table and fingers interlocked.

“I have an offer for you,” She leaned her back, eyes were fixed at me.

“What offer?” saglit kong tanong habang dahan-dahang nauupo.

“You're a senate scholar, am I right?”

“Yes?” I replied with a hint of confusion. How did she knew that I'm a senate scholar?

“Being a senate scholar, you need to be in high position here or even in a dean's list. I can make those easy for you,  if you do me a favor.” She slip a piece of paper over the table towards me. Nakita ko ang litrato ni Xheidan nang mabuksan ko iyon.

“That's Xheidan. I want you to do a secret investigation on him. In behalf, your life in this university will be easiest as you can't imagine,” She said that makes my lips parted for a moment. I awkwardly laugh before looking away.

“Excuse me?” I asked amusedly. “Sorry, but I can't understand the point here,”

“Investigate Xheidan. Be friend with him,  look for his informations, then report it to me and in behalf, I'll make your life here easy as exchange,”

“Sorry?” muli kong ani, nananatili ang pagkagulo sa isipan. “Sorry, miss Editor in Chief, but I think I can't accept your favor. First of all, why would I investigate Xheidan? I don't want to meddle in anyone's life and I'm obviously not an investigator. Next, I don't need an easy life here and your help for me to be in dean's list 'cause I obviously can do that by myself without accepting your offer.” .

My butt was bit insulted by her words. Don't she think that I can't be in a dean list?! Do I look dumb?!

She smiled. “Is that so? Too bad then,” She crossed her arms.

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm. Aren't you wondering why Xheidan is too private here in this university? If we'll look in his informations, all we could see there is his name which is only Xheidan and his gender, nothing more. His surname ain't even shown there, even his birth year, where he studied last year, his address, the name of his parents and other infos except his name and gender. Just that.”

“So? Everyone has their own privacy and it's up to them if they'll tell others or not.”

“Yes of course, but we're in a university, it's for his education. Aren't he even going to submit any informations here? Think of it, do you think the school officials would accept a person who wasn't even submitting any requirements and informations? It's required. Even in his ID, if he was a normal student here, the school officials won't agree to put only first name over the ID because it's students identity. Meaning, Xheidan is hiding something.”

I kept my eyes on her, she's serious and her eyes were all and all occupied on me. I can't deny that she has a point cause I won't even going to deny that all she said is true including Xheidan's identifyng information.

I sighed before responding.

“Still—” I tried to protest but she immediately cut me off.

What a... beach.

“Haven't you notice it awhile ago? Our professor in math seems like he have just forgotten anything happens yesterday. He's literally mad and then he's all cool now? That professir is known as a terror but why is humdrum he acting so fine with Xheidan after what happened yesterday? Because you know, if Xheidan is a normal student around, our professor won't let him enter his class anymore. It's strange, isn't it?” Her lips went line.

Bahagya kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko and tried to sink all those words she've said. Kahit paulit ulitin niya pa iyong punto niya ay hindi ko parin makumbinsi ang sarili kong tanggapin ang offer na ito.

“Yeah... Let me say that you have a point, but so what? Why do we need to dig on him? Are we going to die if he stay mysterious around? Look, I seriously don't want to accept your offer whatever you would say. I made up with my mind, Miss Editor in Chief.”

She look at me intently and clenched her jaw. She look away before looking at me with a bit plea in her eyes. Is she really going to pursue it? Damn.

“Look, do you think I would offer this to you if I have no benefit through it?”

I look at her eyes intently and try to think what she's trying to say. She's the Editor in Chief, the head of editorial staff and as far as I could know, some journalist and writers of this university is her pawn. Is she planning to...

“Are you planning to make Xheidan a controversial topic by exposing his personal informations?!” I said and almost growl to her. My brows were knitted and eyes were sharp. Is this how they play their games? Digging into others life just for a shitty position?

Lalong tumalim ang mga mata ko sakaniya nang mahina siyang tumawa na parang nag bato ako ng isang biro.

“Of course not. I'm not that low class to stoop down in that kind preform. Hindi naman ako hapit sa kontrobersyal, I just really have my reason.” She said.

“Do you like him?” I asked that makes her grimace on me.

“No, he's not my type, and as far as I know... it's you who like him.” She smiled and cross her arms.

“You're crazy..” I whisper in disbelief and looked away. I sigh and look aback to her. “Look, I'm really sorry but I already made up with my mind. I won't accept it.”

She sigh deeply.

“If you really want to pursue it, just hire an investigator or any others except me. Offer that to them if you want, huwag lang saakin.” I stand up.

“Okay.”

I look at her eyes, she smiled and rest her hands cupped to each other on the table while looking at me cooly.

“If you don't really want to accept it, then maybe I'll just offer this to Hail. I know she likes Xheidan that much so I could be so sure that she'll accept it easily.” She said with her tone full of serious. Her eyes were fixed at me when she said those words, no emotion and just serious roam her whole face.

“O-Okay,” I look away.

“Okay, thank you for your time then,” She stretch her arms widely.

I turned my back against her and was just about to head the way out from this huge office but I just find myself facing her again because of querrell. I look at her intently, staring in her eyes for a mean time. I don't know, I don't want to accept it, but I don't want Hail to accept it either. I don't know.

“Fine. I'll give it a try.” I let out a big amount of air.

Kasabay ng pag sagot ko ay ang pagkurba ng isang malaking ngiti sa labi niya. That makes me think if my decision is right or not. Well, it's just a try, wala naman sigurong mawawala.

“You chose the right decision.” She slip a new piece of paper to me which I immediately take. “That's where Xheidan usually spend his night time, I want you to go there and be friend with him.” She said.

The piece of paper contained the address of the same building where I was staying. I wonder if she knows that Xheidan and I are in the same building. I protruded my lips and looked at her eyes intently, licking my lips before answering.

“Can you... can clear anything to me right now? Do I have to tresspass over his house? Do I have to meddle over his papers? What if he knew that I'm doing this to him and he tell polices, are you going to take it all the blame?” I said firmly and full of conscious to her.

THIS IS DEFINITELY INSANE. WHY IN HELL DO I EVEN ACCEPT IT!!!

“Yes, pero mas mabuti if you won't get caught. That's way better than your idea.”

“Fine.”

“I want you to visit this website too,”

She hand me another piece of paper. I looked into her eyes with full of confusion while my brows were seriously went a line. I pressed my lips together because of confusion before slowly read the content of it and my brow quickly arched up ahead as I read what is. I look at her with my sharp eyes.

“What is this?”

The paper contains the website that I've just visit last night. I was shocked and surprised to know that she knows that website too.

“Last week, one department secretary being corrupt was exposed and the mass are hating him to death. Last night, one senate that is a protector of a drug syndicate was exposed. That two are caught because of the help of that website. It shows all the evidents, footage, documents that lead those crimes.” She stated.

Wow, why did she just stated it like she just have memorized a speech?

My jaw dropped. I look away and think of it. “Oh, wow... that was... unexpected,” I pretend not knowing anything.

The Editor in Chief leaned on the backrest and stare at me.

“I want you to hack that website and find out who's the person behind it,”

“Excuse me? Do I look like a hacker?” I exclaimed and act insulted. “Our agreement is all about me, investigating Xheidan and not this.” I look at her eyes intently. I put down the piece of paper in the table.

She sighed deeply before answering me.

“Come on, Asthreitlle. I know you know how to do that thing,” She bite her lower lip. “Hacking your previous shcool's website is seriously insane.”

“How did you know that?!”

“Hmm,” She shrugged.

“Okay, so? It's just a school website. That's definitely easy!” I exclaimed.

“Hacking a real estate company's account is horrible. I wonder if you got caught or not,” She pressed her lips together.

“HOW THE FREAK DID YOU KNOW THAT?!” My eyes are widened. Come on! Where in hell did she knew that shit?!

“You're not a hacker but you're a computer genius. You can program and develop some software easier than others so what's the matter?”

“Oh, wow...” I swallowed, pakiramdam ko ay natapakan ako. “First of all, I've already accepted your offer about investigating Xheidon and this is definitely not part of my agreement with you, well give a try. In the other side. Hacking a website is too risky, what if I get caught?! It's not easy like what you think, except if you'll pay me.” I curve my lips into a teasingly smirk.

“Name it, then,” She raised her brow.

“What?!”

“How much? Drop it,”

WHAT THE FUCK, IS SHE SERIOUS?!

“Half million, kaya mo?!” I raised my brows to her and rest my both hands on the table to look at her intently. Well, I'm just seriously kidding about the price.

This girl is definitely serious with all she's saying, I never saw her change her emotion from the beginning till now.

“Okay, half million. Let me give you the half now then the other half is when you already find out who's the person behind it. Just a down payment. Want it to be cash, check or in card? You choose.” She pull her bag from the table and get something inside it that makes me widen my eyes more bigger.

“WHAT THE... ARE YOU SERIOUSLY FUCKING SERIOUS?!!” I shouted that makes her squinted her eyes from me.

“You're so loud!” I growl,glaring at me.

“You're... you're crazy...“ I shook my head because of disbelief.

I don't know what in hell is she up too but I seriously smell something fishy. Hacking is really easy for me. I just don't want to do what she wanted because—first of all, I'm already doing that and there's nothing that happened. I suddenly felt confuse about what she is planning to do, why did she want to know who's the person behind that. No crazy dumb person would pay a half million for a hacker. That's insane!

“Here's the check,” She lend me a one pice of hard paper. Pinagmasdan ko siya habang salubong ang dalawa kong kilay.

“Are you serious?!”

“Ilang beses mo nang naitanong iyan?” She ask, a bit pissy on me, probably losing her long temper.

“Are you crazy, then?”

“Fuck! Would you accept it or not?!” She hissed.

“Hindi ako sigurado!” I rolled my eyes on her. Well, that check is a bit captivating but still, I'm on my right senses to accept that! I'm poor but I'm not a dumb shit.

“WHAT THE FUCK?! You lend it that long but you're still not sure?! GHOSH!” Wala sa sarili nitong usik saakin.

SHE TELL ME NOT TO BE LOUD YET SHE'S FUCKING SHOUTING?! IS SHE SICK?!

“Look, gaano ba kaimportante 'yan? Why don't you just ask other for it? Tinanggap ko na nga ang pag iimbistiga na hindi ko naman gusto at ngayon ay pinipilit mo pa ito saakin. Tell me, is this really that important to you? What makes it, then?” Lumapit ako sakaniya at tinitigan ang mga mata niya. Matutunugan sa tinig ko ang malimit na paghamon..

The Editor in Chief clench her jaw and protruded her lips, look aways as she can't bare my long stare. I GOTCHA! SHE'S FREAKING HIDING SOMETHING!

“Say it, maybe I change my decision if I knew the reason.” I stand straightly and crossed my arms.

She look at me. Ang mga mata niya ay tila napako saakin. The way she menace her eyes trough my figure defined her authority.

Crizeliah Cruzzeto, the first ever woman who become the Editor in Chief of this university, pleading infront of me to do her a favor. I could see in her eyes the stance and plea, I could say that this project is really important to her. Or let me say that there probably something she'll lose if she ain't able to get what she want.

I heared sayings before. If you're good at doing it, don't do it for free.

“Fine,” She let out a big amount of air.