Chapter 3: Plan
|| Carlo
I open my eyes, with my heart burning in flames. It's unusual for me to wake up at 7 in the morning whenever there are no classes.
But today, things seem different. Everything is light as if there is a reason for me to wake up. Don't tell me last night was a dream, for it was one of the best dreams I had.
I took my phone from the side table and searched for every famous East Asian or specifically, Korean instagram models residing in BGC. I searched with every Korean girl name I could think of.
Jihyo? Nope...
Hyerin? No, not her name...
Hyuna, Chaeyoung, Sooyoung, Yujin...
Still can't find her...
Eunmi, Seoyeon, Junghwa... nope, not those either.
An hour later, I really can't find her. The ones I found were from Korea themselves. I searched for every Instagram model that resides here in the whole Philippines, but it is harder than I thought.
I sighed deeply. Moments later, I felt a vibration coming from my phone and it started ringing.
"Hello, Axis?" I responded in a weak tone.
"Aren't you busy? Am I disturbing you?"
"No, I'm totally free today. Bakit?"
"I told you, I'm going to discuss it with 3 other members today. I just arrived in the HQ."
He met up with me last week, I was the first one to be updated with his plans. He wanted to confirm if that was alright with me.
"Oh yes, it's the perfect time to discuss it." I agreed and asked him again, for I think it slipped off my mind. "Where will the meeting be held, again?"
"Alright, noted. The meeting will be held at Salvatierra Tower Conference Hall, 10th floor."
"Salvatierra Tower, Conference Hall, 10th floor. Got it bro. I'll be there in a rush." I dropped the call and quickly got into a shower. After some cleaning, I changed to my black long sleeves and pants. I also tamed my locks a bit and wore a black face mask. I sprayed myself with some Coach Eau de Toilette to complete the look.
I went downstairs and saw my brother binging on some shows on Netflix while having his sandwich.
"Where are you going, kuya? It's not everyday that you wear an all black business attire." he asked.
"Salvatierra Tower at Makati, and there's a meeting that I need to attend." I answered. "In case mom looks for me, kindly tell them."
I quickly got out of my house, and drove my 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby from our street, to North Avenue, and to C5. I just prevented the heavy traffic in EDSA, and took advantage of BGC being connected to Ayala in some sort.
-----
|| Reign
I'm driving along BGC, now with my Bayersche Motoren Worke X6 for me to fetch Maryl. Just why the heck did Axis called for an immediate business meeting at their headquarters? Well, if that is a legit business meeting. I wore my lucky charm business attire; red long-sleeve blouse, black pencil skirt at black stockings. I also wore gold belt and black pumps to compliment my loom. I also did my makeup light for heavy make-up makes me look two years older than my age. I also had my hair low ponytailed.
I dropped by the building where Maryl resides. For now, she is staying at the dormitory compound of Alexandra University so that she won't be late for her classes. But to be frankly honest, it doesn't look like an ordinary dorm at all. It looks more like those majestic and astonishing Baroque architecture buildings of McKinley Hill.
Maryl got out of the building from the main entrance, in which where I was waiting. She wore a white loose long-sleeve blouse, navy blue skirt, nude stockings, navy blue pumps with a strap around the ankle at navy blue na shoulderbag. Her make-up is at around natural to peachy range and had her brownish-black voluminous straight hair untied.
But as she comes closer, I noticed an unusual make-up sa by her neck, and the redness is way too obvious since she's fair as heck.
Praise the heavens! This girl started flirting again after 4 years of being single!
After she got in and closed the car door, I asked her immediately whilst starting the engine.
"Did you take those out?"
Maryl gave me a look, that as if she either does know or doesn't know what I am talking about.
"Of course I did."
"Sure? Juul, vape, one packet of cigarettes, weeds, cocaine; all of those fake yet easy-to-carry vices and aren't really addictive for you faked all of those in the lab?"
"Of course. My research is done and I'm all set to burn those. Maybe except for the vape and juul one, you'll never know when I would be needing those, those are great "escape tools" for certain situations. Also, you know that juul is a type of vape."
"Are you sure that no one will get high if you burn those?" I asked quizically while I'm starting to stir the wheel. It could be a dangerous substance when it got close to flames, right?
"Of course none. Nothing happened to me. Still alive, well, and normal though I used them every other night, and I can't imagine myself getting addicted to the real ones as well."
"Point taken, even beer has no effect on you."
Maryl can never get addicted, nor force her into doing drugs. She can't even get wasted, all thanks to her high alcohol tolerance, but in my social circle, she is the least likely to drink alcohol.
But wait, I do have a question to ask her.
"Oh I have a question to ask. You flirted with someone last night, and you didn't tell me?"
When she was about to speak, I added some possible responses from her.
"Don't tell me you got tripped, or your phone slipped from your hand and fell to your neck. While it's possible for you to get bruised from those, it wouldn't be that severe."
She got flushed, so she covered her mouth and looked away.
"I-i just don't want to talk about it."
"Who was it?"
"A random stranger?" she weakly answered.
"It doesn't seem like it, I have a hunch that you know him personally." I teasingly replied.
"What 'I know him personally'?" her defense with her mouth covered.
Quick Reign, think of a guy who possibly flirted with Maryl...
I stopped asking questions for a while to think who flirted with her. I whispered the possible answers to myself:
Carlo... Jinyoung... Axis...
Wait, it's impossible for Axis to flirt with her.
Carlo... Jinyoung... the one she matched on Tinder... Carlo...
Okay, I'm having a strong hunch that he did, so here we go.
"So who? Was it Carlo?" I asked.
"Fuck." Maryl whispered to herself, though it was still audible to my ears.
"I knew it."
-----
When we entered the conference hall, Maryl's aura changed. I can feel the mixed emotions when she first saw Carlo, that I couldn't understand why was he sporting all-black business attire and a black face mask; as if Axis' conference room smells like a funeral. But his man bun looks new to my eyes, for his black hair grew so long.
Oh, I certainly know that look.
Weak gazes, emotionless, her eyes are looking tired from seeing his existence, and she is refraining to do so. Maryl's eyes are pretty easy for me to read. I don't know about the others, but the reason why it's easy for me is because we're best of friends since primary school.
Meanwhile, Carlo seemed that he was possessed by some ghost. I can see the happiness in his eyes
Aside Carlo, there's another unexpected guy present...
"Hey Axis, are we going to start?" asked by a familiar husky voice that sounds like from a disc jockey of a millennial radio stations of this country, while typing something in his laptop. I checked his get-up today - a complete business attire; black coat and pants, blue necktie. His dark brown hair was slightly swept to the left and light blue eyes are focused. His current vibe can be compared to a cold-hearted CEO.
And his name is Adriano, Ian for short.
Maryl sat beside Ian from his left, and I sat in front of her, so I was sitting beside Carlo.
Ian and Maryl smiled and greeted each other, in which I find cute.
I opened my phone's recorder for me to just play it in case I got sleepy, for I know I'd be either sleepy or bored whenever Axis discusses something in front.
"Okay since everyone's already here, we can formally start." Axis gave a heads up and he cleared his throat. "As you all know, I am Austin Xil Salvatierra, your presentor for today."
"Hold up Axis, only 5 of us are here. Do you even need to be formal?" I teased
"Lawreign, in front of you is a future lawyer! I have to practice!" he reasoned.
And the three laughed.
Axis cleared his throat again, which gave me another sign to tease him. "You keep on clearing your throat, but you weren't even coughing."
"So that we can get into seriousness." Axis reasoned again.
"With all of that throat clearing, you may now impersonate a news anchor." I teased him again, in which made the three laugh again.
"Lawreign, stop or it will be hard for us to start!" Axis annoyingly commanded.
"Reign is actually a great comical relief for this morning. She can make us awake." Ian explained.
"Ian is not only handsome, but also understanding. Unlike you, none of those two." I mocked Axis again.
He gave me a deadly glare and because of it, I felt a little remorse and changed my mind. "Thank the stars for I suddenly felt bad for you, okay proceed." I responded.
He cleared his throat for the third time, and I still wanted to tease him. But then again, I could already feel some remorse for him.
"Okay if you guys don't know each other personally yet, though our familes know each other, I would introduce you one by one; starting from Mr. Giovanni Montecarlo Lynch-Fulgenzio..." Axis introduced him with an aid of a clipboard to read on, and Carlo stood up.
This time, I want to tease Maryl for she had this disgusting look towards Carlo, also somewhat weak and all. Kind of a mix of mixed reaction and being out-of-mind.
But something crossed my mind...
"But Lynch? Lychee? Sorry, I'm hungry." I interrupted.
"Ms. Lawreign Ellison this is your last warning!" Axis yelled at me and it made me burst in laughter.
"With all seriousness Austin Xil, Lynch as in lychee? Or Lynch from Town of Salem?" I asked.
"Lawreign you motherfucker, if you weren't good, I would never include you here!" Axis annoyingly replied.
Carlo chuckled.
"You can never escape from me, Mr. Austin Xil Salvatierra." I answered in my signature Cockney English accent, which is my actual accent when I speak English, then I ordered him jokingly. "Alright, proceed!"
He cleared his throat and continued reading stuff from his clipboard. "...next is Donte Adriano Marco Scarzella-Martinenghi..." Ian stood up and gave a genuine smile and wave. I've seen him on the internet and television numerous times and I didn't expect to meet him personally. His family is so wealthy, and he is also smart as heck.
But of course, I don't have a crush on him. I'm not sure about Maryl since she's into smart men.
"...then our only girls, Lawreign Ellison Ashley-Midford."
I just raised my hand when he called my name. "Yep, it mi." I told them cutely.
"Why don't you stand up?" he asked
"I'm feeling lazy." I replied.
Axis gave me a glare then proceeded on reading. "... and Maryl Juneaux Xinyue Pān-Liu."
Maryl was called last but she managed to stand up and bow, although I know Carlo's presence makes her feel weird.
And Carlo's emotions are also different, seems shocked and confused, but happy although feeling awkward.
I wanted to tease Maryl but I noticed something
"Axis, what the heck?" I shook my head with my right hand on my forehead in dismay. "You positioned Maryl's name wrongly! Do it again!"
"What's wrong? I believe I did it right?" he wondered.
"For your information, Mister Salvatierra, it's Maryl Juneaux LIU XINYUE." I emphasized Maryl's Chinese name. "You can exclude her Chinese name if you want a fully westernized version; Maryl Juneaux Pān-Liu" I reasoned with him, followed with five 'tsk's in the end.
Maryl chuckled because it's true.
"As if I know?" Axis argued back. "Maryl's name is way too complicated!"
"You have a clipboard on hand but you still got it wrong!" I reasoned again. "You could have asked Google how to write it correctly. You have a wifi connection installed in your home."
"Actually Ax, Reign was right." Carlo interrupted. "It's either Maryl Juneaux Liu Xinyue, Maryl Juneaux Pān-Liu, or Liu Xinyue. Chinese names are placed in the last, traditionally."
Maryl gazed at Carlo in shock. She covered her mouth and stopped gazing at him swiftly.
I'd like to tease Maryl but Axis could give me another round of sermons.
But plus points for Carlo. I lost the will to punch him for now.
But I can't help to wonder, why does he seem awkward yet want to scream and jump in joy with Maryl's presence? I can also see him giving her gazes every now and then.
"Oh well, yep. That's it." I answered. "Now you know? Proceed!"
Axis started to talk as soon as Maryl went back to her seat. "We will call this Operation:SEIRA, or Systematically Engineered Intellect for Revealing Activities."
"What the heck Ax, that name sounds disgusting!" I mockingly complained. "Who are those appointed secretaries or brainstorming team that helped you in coming up with such a name?!"
"Fuck Lawreign, appreciate my efforts at least! I was the one who came up with the name!" Axis demandingly answered.
"Oh, so you were just lazy?" I asked.
"So I guess that's F for effort, at least." Ian mocked whilst typing something on his laptop.
With that, Carlo, Maryl, and I burst out laughing.
"Lawreign, for the love of God, please shut the fuck up. I couldn't discuss this well." Axis angrily rebuked me.
"Suuure." and I instantly went silent.
He cleared his throat once again before restarting "So this will be our distribution of power: We have three engineers who are responsible for the machinery, gadgets, and equipment that we will use. Adriano, Maryl, Carlo; take charge and gather your team if you must. But for now, you should make a piece of spying equipment."
Okay, so if we have three engineers in charge of the machinery, they all have their own line-up.
Ian is the best in the physics department. He'd been a champion in numerous robotics competitions since primary school. He could be the chief engineer, for he's taking a double degree in physics and mechanical engineering. I can say that his intelligence is attractive, most especially on sapiosexuals like Maryl, but not to the point that I wouldn't be able to fight someone like him whenever needed.
And it's because 'Alexandra forevah' is the unofficial motto of our university, his skills may be superior and for a doctoral degree in other universities, it was only a masteral level here.
Maryl is more used to medical-related engineering and biochemistry. Although she's also great in physics, she prefers the medical field. She's also currently taking a double degree in biomedical engineering and medical technology. Gladly her looks and vibe is classy and is mindful of her actions, or I would have abandoned her during our junior or senior high school days. She's goal-oriented, and would rather choose school and career than flirting or bar-hopping. Although she could without risking her health; if not because of research purposes, she wouldn't do it. This is one of the reasons why she can make a bottle of fake vape juice.
But it's still a wonder where are the hickeys came from. I need to hear the backstory of her and Carlo last night, that I'll know anyway because I'm the best friend!
And Gio or Carlo, although I wanted to punch him today, I have no choice since Axis chose him. He's good at tracking any problems in software, internet at electrical motors. I could actually do it as well, but maybe only at internet parts and only 75% of what he could. You can't blame me, he's an electronics and computer engineering major.
And not only that, all of them are knowledgable or at least knowledgeable in military engineering and artillery.
If this doesn't smell like chaos, it will be a great team, Axis. He has a brain yes, but I think he only used a half of it.
But let's see.
"Is there any place that we can use as a laboratory and headquarters?" Maryl asked.
"I already teamed up with Alexandra University Centre of Science and Research to work on your laboratories." sagot ni Axis. "Probably they'd give us those spare rooms at 10th floor, but I also asked if we could install a biometric lock."
He managed to persuade the school even it is owned by the Lius?
Axis looked at his wonderous clipboard and asked "Any questions, suggestions and/or violent reactions, Lawreign?" he looked at me as he mentioned my name.
Of course, I didn't bother to speak.
"Hey Lawreign Ellison, answer." Axis forced.
I gave him a questioning glare. "What did you say again earlier? Not to be noisy, right?"
"It was earlier, not now." he reasoned.
"I was being silent, and now you're forcing me to speak?" I reasoned back.
"I am giving you a chance to speak, and now you're not taking advantage of it." he replied.
I sighed and forced to ask. "Fine. What was my role?"
"A cook and a food provider." Axis straightforwardly answered.
"Luh shameless."
"You're cooking skills are great Lawreign, so I decided to hire you as the squad chef."
"I will never cook for you for you can finish a five person platter in one sitting." I sharply responded that made the three chuckle.
"That's harsh, that was a jest." Axis weakly uttered. "In all seriousness, my strategist and assistant."
"Me, your assistant? Good luck!" I sarcastically greeted
Axis sighed and answered weakly again. "I already know that Laweign. I am ready for those stuff that you plan to throw at me."
"Good job! It's good to have yourself prepared." I replied.
"Oof. You've set your life in a living hell. Good luck dude." Adriano segued.
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 3: Plan • © mxylms
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
mxylms
mxylms Main Characters:
Carlo Fulgenzio
Maryl Liu
Axis Salvatierra
Reign Midford
Adriano Martinenghi
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone