After the number theory lecture, Lu Zhou went to his complex functions lecture. After all, he was still enrolled in this class, plus his roommates were there.
During the lecture, when the teacher saw him sitting there, he asked him to teach instead.
Lu Zhou started talking about the complex plane and the Riemann sphere. Even though he was not very skilled at public speaking, it gradually became smoother.
However, he obviously ignored the abilities of the listeners.
While he was lecturing on stage, the students who were listening were all muddled.
Only a few people could keep up with his stage. For example, Luo Rundong. Others, like Liu Rui, could barely keep up.
"… the transformation function between ζ-coordinates and ξ-coordinates can be obtained by compounding one of the maps with the inverse of the other and can be obtained by a transformation. The unit sphere and the Riemann sphere are different from the same embryo."
Lu Zhou was constantly writing on the blackboard.
Now, even fewer people could keep up with his pace.
Most people started to feel lost.
For example, even Luo Rundong was staring at the blackboard with a confused expression.
Liu Rui stopped writing, and he whispered instead.
"F*ck me, what is this sh*t?"
Huang Guangming looked at the blackboard as well.
He was not confused because he was not listening at all.
"Guangming, do you understand this?"
Huang Guangming shook his head and said, "Nope, Lu Zhou doesn't understand how dumb we are."
Liu Rui paused for a second.
He did not know what to say.
When Lu Zhou finished writing on the blackboard, he stood aside to let the students copy the notes.
The students in the first row took out their phones and started taking photos, but the other students did not bother to do anything.
The old professor, who stood aside, smiled and placed his vacuum flask down. He walked next to Lu Zhou and spoke.
"Remember, this is in the exam."
The students moaned.
They looked at the blackboard and felt hopeless.
They did not know what to do.
Liu Rui was going crazy and Huang Guangming said to him, "It's fine, Lu Zhou is coming back to our dorm anyway, so he can just teach us then."
Liu Rui ignored him.
He was not crazy because of how hard the content was.
It was because…
He found out the gap between him and Lu Zhou.
…
Lu Zhou could not attend any lectures, at least not mathematics ones.
After the complex functions lecture, Lu Zhou did not go to class again.
There was nothing that undergraduate classes could teach him. As usual, he went to the library instead.
His experience in the library gradually got better.
He refused a few thesis invitations, and fewer people bothered him.
After all, they had their own matters to attend to.
They could not stalk Lu Zhou all day.
This could also be due to the fact that Lu Zhou chose a low-key spot to sit at.
He devoted himself to his thesis.
Writing a thesis was actually a learning process for Lu Zhou.
In order to introduce Hilbert space into quantum mechanics and use mathematical problems to study the motion law of microscopic particles, he also studied a lot of theses and also attended several advanced graduate lectures in quantum mechanics.
University of Jin Ling's theoretical physics department was highly rated, and the lectures were inspiring to Lu Zhou.
Of course, even though quantum mechanics was fascinating, mathematics was still his cup of tea.
Therefore, he used a more mathematical approach to his thesis.
He only slightly touched on the topic of quantum mechanics.
[A viscous approximation method for equilibrium problems and finite non-extension maps in Hilbert space.]
[Abstract: A new iterative format is introduced in the real Hilbert space, which uses the method of viscous approximation to approximate the common elements of the solution set. The equilibrium problem and the fixed point set of the finite non-extension map forms a strong convergence theorem.]
The abstract was the final stage of the thesis.
"Finally finished!"
Lu Zhou looked at the completed thesis and sighed in relief. He then entered the system space to check his mission progress.
Reward mission: Documents read (13/50).
From the mission completion details, it was clear how much effort he had put in.
Fortunately, he did not have to worry about the thesis.
He only had to hand in the thesis to Professor Tang.
After that, he could start making his PowerPoint presentation for the oral defense.
As for the submission, he planned to submit it to the [Advanced Theoretical and Mathematical Physics] journal.
This journal focused on physics and mathematics. It had an impact factor of 2.3, which was not high. However, he chose it because this journal was a core journal and was quite famous.
After completing the graduation thesis, Lu Zhou went to Professor Tang's office. As a second year, he handed over his final undergraduate assignment.
Inside the office…
Professor Tang skimmed through Lu Zhou's thesis and said, "Your thesis puts forward many good points. There are many overlaps between the research on the real Hilbert space and my own research field, but I won't ask you technical questions. Just do well in the oral defense."
Lu Zhou nodded humbly and said, "Thanks, professor."
Professor Tang smiled and said, "Oh, you're afraid of my questions? Remember to work hard on your PowerPoint presentation. There's quite a lot of judges that want to ask you questions."
Lu Zhou coughed and said, "Professor, please have mercy."
"I will, I will," said Professor Tang as he waved his hand and smiled. He continued, "Dean Qin and I will give mercy, but the other two professors might not."
Lu Zhou carefully asked, "Can I ask who are they?"
Professor Tang said, "Sure, one is academician Lu Shenjian from our school. The other is Xiang Huanan, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences." 
The fuck?
Even though Lu Zhou had not heard much about Xiang Huanan, he knew that he was a deputy director of the Mathematical Society. In short, the guy was famous in the field of algebraic group and functional analysis.
As for academician Lu Shenjian…
He was a member of international cooperation groups such as BESIII and LHCb. In 2013, he discovered the four-quark state Zc (3900) in the Shanghai Electron Collider Test. This discovery was named the world's top ten physics discovery of the year.
Although it was a great honor for these two big names to take time and critique an undergraduate student's thesis, Lu Zhou only felt one thing.
I only want to get my undergraduate certificate, but not like this…
Lu Zhou felt nervous.


After suffering from a heat stroke while working under the scorching heat of summer, Lu Zhou, a hardworking but poor university student, somehow becomes the owner of an advanced technological system. With the cheat given by the system, his university life changes overnight. 
  
A Master's degree? Easy. 
  
PhD? Not a problem.   
  
From a nobody, he quickly becomes a huge celebrity in the world of science. With the missions given by the system, he is on his way to winning a Nobel Prize.   

"System, can points be exchanged for money?"
  
"No."
  
"F**k, what use are you then!?"
  
"This system will make you the ultimate scholar, the kind that lords over all of humanity. What use will money be to you?"

Promise yan ha?"

"Yup agree!"

"Agree!"

At nagtawanan kaming tatlo sakto naman tumunog yung bell at isa lang ibig sabihin nun, nagsimula na ang class.


Wala naman kaming ginawa sa buong maghapon kundi ang magsulat ng notes at requirements para sa paghahanda sa board exam which is next month na.

Nagpaalam agad yung dalawa sa akin na gigimik sila at pinapasama ako. Sabi ko next time na lang dahil aayusin ko pa yung locker ko. Si Kendrick nakausap ko bago matapos yung class at sabi niya gusto niya daw kaming magsabay umuwi kasi isang kanto lang naman pala yung layo ng bahay niya sa bahay ni Tito kaso sinabi ko rin sa kanya yung sinabi ko kina Nancy.

Nagpunta na ako sa locker ko at pagkabukas ko ng locker ay nagulat ako sa nakita ko…


Isang white envelope na may nakasulat ng pangalan ko at bulaklak na daisy!


Do you know who I am?
Do you know who I am?

My love is real
As real as the flowers you smoke to get high
My love is real
As real as our god who has spoken on how we can fly
My love is real
As real as the flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers
-New Radicals


"The f lower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all".  

"What did he mean by this?" Napatingin sa akin si Keira at napabuntung-hininga ako. Tulad niya hindi ko rin maintindihan yang message na yan, clueless ako. 

Kahapon pagkakita ko sa locker ko yung envelope na may pangalan ako at may kasamang daisy nagulat talaga ako. Napatingin ako agad sa paligid pero wala akong nakitang tao. Inaayos ko agad yung mga libro at naglakad na papauwi. Pagdating ko sa bahay ni Tito ay binuksan ko agad yung envelope.  At tulad nila hindi ko maintindihan kong ano yung nakasulat sa papel.

"Sandali parang familiar yan sa akin…" Napatingin kami ni Keira kay Nancy.

Nanlaki yung mata ni Nancy at napangiti. "Ah alam ko na! Isa yang famous line sa Mulan. Remember, when the Emperor was talking to Shang, he said, the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."

Oo nga no! Naalala ko yun dahil nung high school ako ay nag-film review kami tungkol sa Mulan. Kung ganun…

"Yung admirer ni Thiara ay either fan ng Mulan or nilagay niya yung quote na eto dahil parang bulaklak ka Thiara?"

Ha? "Teka ang gulo ata ng sinabi mo Keira…"

Oo nga ang gulo nga…


Hanggang mag-uwian ay topic pa rin namin yung tungkol sa message na yun at kung sino yung secret admirer ko. Isa lang akong naisip kong maaring ang secret admirer ko: 'Si Kendrick…'

And speaking of him papalapit na siya sa amin…

"Hi Kendrick…" Kinawayan ni Keira si Kendrick at mukhang papalakad siya papunta sa akin.

"Pauwi ka na Thiara?"

Siniko ako ni Keira at bumulong na… "May hindi ba kami alam Thiara?"

Kumunot yung noo ko. Ha?  Nginuso ni Keira si Kendrick at nginitian ako. Umiling ako agad, naiintindihan ko na yung ibig niyang sabihin. 

Tumango-tango naman siya pero halata mong hindi siya kumbinsido.

"Thiara?"

Ah oo nga pala may tinatanong si Kendrick. "Hindi pa Kendrick pero..."

"Kami pauwi na Kendrick." Mabilis namang sagot ni Keira at sobrang ngiting-ngiti siya.

"Mabuti pa Kendrick sabayan mo na lang kami ni Nancy, hindi ba good idea yung Thiara? What do you think?"

Napatingin ako kay Nancy, ngumiti lang siya, si Kendrick naman mukhang naguguluhan sa amin at si Keira.

"I think that's a good idea!" Naku Keira ikaw…

"Sige mauna na kami Thiara, bye girl kita-kits na lang tayo bukas! Bruha ka mag-ingat ka sa pag-uwi..." At nilagay ni Keira yung kamay niya sa braso ni Kendrick at halos makaladkad na si Kendrick. Sumunod na rin sa kanila si Nancy at ako dumiretso na agad sa locker.

May gusto lang akong malaman…


Pagdating ko dun sa locker area namin, nagmasid muna ako sa paligid. Coast is clear. Unti-unti kong nilagay yung susi sa locker ko at pumihit naman eto agad.

Huminga ako ng malalim at binuksan na yung locker ko.


Thank God!


Mapapangiti na sana ako ng biglang may nagsalita sa likuran ko.


"Miss may nahulog oh…"

Napatingin ako sa nagsalita, si Kuya Iko, yung matagal ng janitor sa review center tapos sa tinuro niya…


Oh my!


Isang envelope na naman na may pangalan ko but this time may kasama ng two red roses!


We're like night and day, white and black
But what we have is a perfect match
When I say this, you say that
But love come easy cause opposites attract
-A*Teens


Kanino ka ba talaga galing? Maloloka na ako sa kakakausap ko dito sa envelope at sa roses. I am sitting almost three hours thinking deeply kung kanino galing eto. This is for second time and I'm not kidding, I am feeling now…

Excited? I am ready to meet him?

Frustrated? Bakit ba kasi hindi na lang siya nagpakilala at sabihin na gusto niya ako kaysa naman sa nagpapadala siya ng messages at flowers? But come to think of it Thiara, this guy seems to be sweet and mysterious. Partly yes, partly no...

Ayoko talaga nito! Ayoko ng ganitong sitwasyon… Parang mababaliw na ako!

I stopped myself from taking this seriously. Calm down Thiara, one of these days you will know who this guy.

I look at the paper and I read it again for the thousand times before I close my eyes and ready to sleep.

I love you without knowing how, why, or even from where…

Who really are you?


I've decided that I'd better kept this letters and flowers to myself. Mas okay na hindi ko na lang sasabihin kina Nancy at Keira not that I'm not trusting them but I think I'd better keep this by myself.

Pagdating ko sa review center ay tahimik akong umupo sa upuan at lumapit naman sa akin kaagad si Keira.

"Akala ko hindi kayo papasok na dalawa."

"Ha?"

"Si Nancy kasi kanina ko pa tinetext eh hindi naman sumasagot at ikaw naman ni text ni tawag wala! Alam mo bang pag-alis pa namin dito eh tinext kita agad at hinintay kitang mag-reply bago ako matulog, wala talaga!"

Niyakap ko si Keira at napangiti. "Eto naman nagtatampo, sorry naman Keira, kanina ko lang kasi sinaksak yung charger nung cellphone ko at naiwan ko pa sa bahay ni Tito."

Kunwaring naggalit-galitan si Keira at siyempre kailangan ko ng gumawa ng paraan.

"Oh tama na! Joke lang yun, naiintindihan naman kita… Tama na Thiara…"

"Uy nagkakatuwa na naman kayong dalawa diyan, sama ako…"

"Naku Papa Kendrick later na tayong magkatuwaan ha!" Siniko ko si Keira, may pagkabaliw din talaga etong babaeng eto!

"Opps! Sorry!" At tumawa-tawa si Keira, napatingin ako kay Kendrick at napakamot siya sa ulo sabay ngiti. Buti na lang good sport etong si Kendrick at sinasakyan ang kalokohan ni Keira.

"Good morning." Opps andiyan na yung professor namin!

Umupo naman kami agad nina Keira. Magkatabi pala kami at sa kaliwa ko si Nancy naman. Wala naman arrangement ang chairs namin lalo na't 15 lang naman kami. Tatlong lang ang lalaki kong kaklase, sina Kendrick, Leonard at Butch.

Nagbigay lang si Miss Orticio ng test as usual at akala ko ididismiss niya na kami pero may pahabol siyang 'homework'.

"I'd like to start our review tomorrow by a very heart warming prayer. I want the prayer to be personal and after the prayer I want a church song together with a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation." Nagkatinginan kami ni Keira, parang ang weird kasi ngayon ni Miss Orticio. Si Miss Orticio kasi yung tipo ng tao na gusto agad lesson at review kaya bakit gusto niya ata magkaroon bukas ng heart warming prayer at take note with song at power point presentation pa?

"And I assigned two persons whom I think are very comfortable to work on for this heart warming prayer." Napatingin siya sa akin at sobrang kinabahan ako bigla. Parang ayoko ata ng susunod niyang sasabihin…

"I am assigning Mr. Kendrick Tanares and Miss Thiara Walton to do it, our one and only 'perfect match'."

Ano daw perfect match?



Dahil nga na-assign kami ni Kendrick para sa heart warming prayer bukas kailangan namin gawin yung power point together. Thank God pumayag si Tito na sa bahay na lang niya gawin namin yun.

Heal yung song na ginagawan ko ng PowerPoint. Katatapos lang ni Kendrick sa paggawa ng prayer niya dahil ako yung kakanta habang siya yung nasa harap ng laptop at lumapit siya sa akin.

"Are you done?"

Napailing ako at napatingin sa kanya. "I'll help you out." At hinawakan niya yung kamay ko tapos parang siya yung naging guide ko para matapos agad yung power point. Hindi ko nga alam kasi within 10 seconds natapos namin yung three minutes power point presentation!

"Wow! Ang galing natapos natin agad yung power point! Ang galing mo Thiara…"

"Hindi ah, ikaw nga yun magaling diyan… Kung hindi mo ko siguro tinuruan, 48 years ko pa yan bago matapos."

Tumawa si Kendrick at pinindot niya yung copy para sa usb niya  bago niya sinara yung laptop.

"You're really funny Thiara, that's why I admire you."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Kendrick at napatingin ako sa kanya. He admires me? Hindi nga kaya siya yung…

"Kendrick, about the other day…"

"What about the other day?"

"About letters… Bakit mo nga pala tinanong yun?"

He smile and I saw sparks to his eyes.


"It is because I like someone and I'm giving her letters everyday."


Who is that guy?
Walking by,
Looking so fly?
Wanna know your name
And play that game,
Of love with you.
Mine you would be
And you'll see
I can guarantee
We'd be in love
Like 2 little doves
Just you and me.
-Manda

"Ah Kendrick…"

"Thiara hi-" Sabay kami ni Kendrick napatingin sa taong nasa pintuan. 

"Tito!" Nakakagulat si Tito, bigla na lang sumusulpot!

"Sir…" Napatingin si Tito sa akin tapos kay Kendrick at bahagyang kumunot yung noo niya pero agad din nawala.

"Hindi pa ba kayo tapos?"

Napasulyap ako sa wrist watch ko at napansin na… Alas-onse na pala!  "Actually Sir tapos na po kami at papauwi na ho ako."

Tumango-tango si Tito at ako naman napatingin kay Kendrick mukha ngang desidido na siyang umuwi dahil papalakad na siya papunta sa may pintuan.

"Salamat nga po pala, Thiara..." Ngumiti siya sa akin at sumaludo sabay labas ng pintuan.

Sinundan siya ni Tito at narinig kong sinarado ni Tito yung pintuan, tinurn-off ko na yung ilaw sa office ni Tito at lumabas na. Papunta na sana ako sa kwarto ko ng tinawag niya ako.

The interviewer, looking through the application files said, "After I reviewed your applications, I had to invite you all for an interview to meet with you in person; your applications stood out to us. As you already have noticed, this area is hard to reach via public transit. So we expected an employee to have his or her own car. Do you all have a car?"
"Yes." Gun-Ho answered vigorously.  
Other female candidates answered the same. The job advertisement clearly said the company preferred someone with a car; so only the people with a car would have applied for the job. The director asked, looking at the file.
"Ms. Mi-Young Oh, you have quite a lot of work experience in the field. Do you have the level-1 computerized accounting certificate?"
"Yes, I do."
Gun-Ho looked at the lady, Mi-Young Oh, who was wearing glasses.
"Eek, I might not get this job. I only have the level-2 certificate. She has the level-1 in addition to work experience."
Gun-Ho was on pins and needles.
"Ms. Yoo-Mi Shin, you have the level-1 computerized accounting certificate, level-1 computer Word Processor, and ITQ Excel certificate. Oh, you all know how to use Excel, right?"
Everyone said yes except Gun-Ho; he hesitated. Closing his file, the director looked at Gun-Ho.
"Mr. Gun-Ho Goo? You are the only male here… You have work experience in a factory. Are you good at Excel?"
Gun-Ho added his work experience in the factories to his resume, but he didn't clearly write that the experience was from the work in a production line. The director seemed to understand Gun-Ho's work experience as an experience in an office in a factory. Gun-Ho didn't know how to do Excel; he was sweating.
"I will learn."
As Gun-Ho said so, everyone in the room looked at him strangely. The director said with a smile.
"As you all know, a bookkeeper should know well how to work with Excel. Our company uses Douzone accounting program. Sometimes, we store backup data in Excel."
Out of the four applicants, two had the level-1 certificate, and everyone except Gun-Ho knew well how to work with Excel. Gun-Ho felt embarrassed. He thought having the level-2 certificate was enough to apply for this type of job, but it wasn't.
"The bookkeeper lady in Dongil Tech where I work for right now doesn't have any certificate. I am so surprised there are so many people with the level-1 certificate."
Gun-Ho wanted to leave the interviewing site.  He didn't remember how the rest of the interview process went.
"I was a big frog in a small pond!"
After the interview, driving out of the interviewing site, Gun-Ho felt shocked.
"The ladies are younger than me, but they have the level-1 computerized accounting certificate, and good at Word Processor, Excel, and PowerPoint. My life has been a waste."
Gun-Ho wanted to cry. He felt like his current job as a factory worker in his current factory was meant for him and his true vocation. When he returned to the factory, the team leader gave him a bright smile.
"Did you go to see a doctor? What did they say?"
"I feel better after getting an injection and a pill. They said I would be okay after some rest."
"Then why did you come back to work? You should have gone home and taken a rest."
"I'm okay."
"Man, okay. Good. The truck just came in. Let's go and help them with the loading."
 
A few days later, Gun-Ho received a text message from the AH Tech where he applied for a bookkeeper position.
"We are sorry to inform you that you have not been selected for the bookkeeping position this time. We hope to have an opportunity to work with you next time. We appreciate your interest."
"They don't have to show me this type of kindness." 
Gun-Ho deleted the text message right away.
"For a bookkeeping position, Excel is a must. I applied for the position without knowing it… Of course, those people at the interviewing site laughed at me."
Gun-Ho registered for an Office Automation class at the vocational school in Uijeongbu City.  He wanted to acquire a certificate for Word Processor and Excel. He knew how to use Word Processor, so he wanted to get the certificate this time.
"Once I get more certificates, my resume will look good with two to three additional lines."
Gun-Ho received hands-on training on office computer skills after work at the vocational school, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Excel seemed interesting after Gun-Ho tried a few tables, but creating complex ones was still confusing.
"Do not doze off and pay attention here." The instructor explained pointing Excel tables on a screen. "Look. You get the total amount automatically, right? Once you put the function, you get the average as well."
The instructor looked really smart. Gun-Ho almost got the illusion that the instructor knew everything in the world. The instructor was a woman younger than Gun-Ho.
"These days, women seem smarter than men. I don't know much. I came this far because Master Park from the philosophy hall and Cheongdam Town Chairman Lee put this idea in my head, but I am still not sure if I am meant to do this."
"Okay, let's get the total average. Did you all get 76?"
All students except Gun-Ho got the right answer, 76; Gun-Ho got 48.
"You didn't put the right function. Please do as I explained."
Every time this sort of things happened, Gun-Ho felt depressed and wondered if he had to continue doing this.
"Am I doing all this for nothing?"
 
The cost of the commute to the vocational school wasn't small.
"The classes are free since they are sponsored by the government, but I have to commute a distance of over 40 kilometers. Damn. It's a lot."
To make things worse, Gun-Ho couldn't find a parking spot around the vocational school today; so he parked in a residential area and hit the fence of a house. As a result, his rear bumper was dented; it looked ugly.
"Fuck! It will cost a lot to repair that bumper."
Time cures all things. After a few months, Gun-Ho got the certificate for Word Processor and Excel.  He called Jong-Suk.
"Jong-Suk?"
"Hey, bro. What's up?"
"Did you have a chance to use your welder certificate?"
"Nah. Holding the certificate is not enough. I need work experience."
"Then just get a job in any factory to gain work experience."
"I was thinking about that too, but I have to go Bucheon to my parents."
"Why?"
"My dad is ill. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer."
"Oh, really?"
"He is in Korea Cancer Center Hospital in Ilsan District right now. My mom has to run the restaurant by herself, so she needed my help."
"Oh, I see. I am so sorry to hear that."
"So I have to go Bucheon to help my mom."
"Don't worry too much. I heard stomach cancer at an early stage can be effectively treated."
"Oh, bro. Did you find any bookkeeping job?"
"I applied for one and failed."
"Why? Because you don't have work experience?"
"Not that. Highly qualified chicks applied for the same job, so I didn't get it."
Jong-Suk giggled. "So are you currently working on your qualification?"
"I've already acquired a few computer related certificates: World Processor and Excel. Once I see another job opening for a bookkeeper, I will immediately apply for it."
"Wow. You are incredible."
"What?"
"Comparing you 6 months ago, you are fancy now. You have the certificates for Word Processor and Excel in addition to level-2 computerized accounting certificate."
"Am I?"
"The magic of Master Park from Gangnam philosophy hall and Cheongdam Town Chairman Lee seem to be working properly."
"Silly! Go wash and go to bed early. I'll let you go for the night."

This is the story of a poor young man whose poverty even shreds apart their family willing to climb his way through society and into the top. A very realistic novel that moves away from fantasy and sci-fi and focuses solely on the issues of society and life.

"Hey Chief, you alright?"
"They should be, they fell from like, only two feet."

Gemi and Mini were not startled by Libra and Cole's sudden arrival. Mini showed actual concern for the two while Gemi could care less.

It was by pure accident though that Libra had teleported Cole and themselves onto the exact floor Cole's new office instead of outside of the Spirit Door.

"I'm fine."

Cole said with his usual cold voice and stood up and sat on a nearby new and fresh, black leather couch that was brought in there a few minutes ago.

Libra was apparently too lazy to even get up and instead crossed their arms and leaned their head on them.

"How you doing, Libra?"
"Not now Gemini."
"And she still calls us Gemini."

For a reason unknown to Cole, it seemed that Libra disliked Gemi and Mini. 

'Probably has something to do with the previous master.'

Cole conuded such and noticed the new mark on his right hand.

It was the commonly known symbol for Libra and was neutral grey in color. Cole thought that it was a befiting color considering that Libra was all about balance and it fitted with his  own color palette.

He had a pretty good idea of how to activate it but didn't feel like testing it right here and then.

"Mini, since I 'contracted' Libra or whatever, care to explain things to me in detail."

Mini reacted to Cole's call and plopped down on the sofa, effectively leaving his sister to bicker with Libra by herself.

"Okay then, what do you want to know?"

Cole pondered for a bit and faced Mini.

"Just tell me about〈Spirit Marks〉, yours and Gemi's abilities as well as the backgroung of this organization and my newfound role."
"So, basically everything. Got it, Chief."

Mini swiped his hand to the right, making a few, holographic screens appear before his eyes. 

He sorted them a bit before enlarging their size and presenting them before Cole like a PowerPoint.

On the enlarged screens were images of different kinds of unique crests with varying colors and little bits of text.

"I'll just summarize〈Spirit Marks〉, they're basically your proof of having contracted with a〈Spirit〉"

After Mini said that, a new screen smoothly transitioned in and now showed beings who reminded Cole of of〈Elementals〉but with a humanoid form.

Some were mostly made out of fire, water, rocks or constant bursts of wind while others looked more like twisted Devils or heavenly Angels and a few simply looked human and had a pair of pointed ears.

"As for what a〈Spirit〉is, they're embodiments of mana that have gathered over time and formed a sentinent being. They originated from the〈Fantasia Zone〉and allow their contractor to use mana in a specific way. That way varies from spirit to spirit. They have many different forms and do your best to collect them all!"

"This isn't Pokemon. And I'm not going to get copyrighted because the 'e' isn't special."

Cole immediately sent a cold retort Mini's way while avoiding a strike.

"Okay then, another info dump. I have a〈Unique Magic〉due to my contract with Gemini called〈Phantom Arsenal〉"

Cole raised an eyebrow at the name. He thought it sounded a bit edgy but secretly thought it was really cool.

"You see, Gemini is a spirit about copying. My〈Phantom Arsenal〉allows me to copy the form of any firearm and change my current one to that form. Like this."

Mini then quickly took a Derringer that's size was about as small as his hand out of one of the many pockets from his cargo pants.

"Remimgton Derringer cal .41 rimfire."

Cole blurted out the exact model of the gun Mink took out without thinking.

Mini's eyes widened at the sudden remark by Cole but it wad quickly replaced with a smile and Mini just carried on.

If you're wondering how does a man who transmigrated from a time and place that was basically the future, it was because the previous Cole had an EXTREMELY thick-ass book that listed about every single firearm ever made in the〈Times Zone〉and their specifications.

Cole had stumbled upon it in the past two months and simply read it because he thought 'Why not?'

Trust me, it wasn't because there was barely anything to do in the〈Neutral Zone〉

Mini then made the Derringer spin in the air. As he did so, a faint dark blue light glowed in his eyes and through both of his sleeves.

The tiny Derringer then glew brightly with a blue light into a heavy machine gun to which Mini promptly caught, although stumbling a bit due to it being heavier than him.

"It's an M2 Browning this time."

Cole wondered if Mini's〈Unique Magic〉also included bullets.

"The only bad thing about this magic is that it doesn't come with bullets."

'Looks like I don't have to ask.'

"Does Gemi's magic supplement that in some way?"

Cole then pointed to Gemi who was still bickering with Libra. But it seems that the subject had changed to her height.

After all, if it didn't, it was pretty useless.

"Her unique magic is called〈Phantom Barracks〉, it allows her to copy any thing found in an Army Base and change the form of any other item. It has to be of a similar size though and she can only copy so much stuff at once and only things found in an Army Base. That doesn't Vehicles include though."

'It would be too much if it did include vehicles.'

"As for〈ESP〉... Here's mine."

Mini then disappeared all of a sudden.

Cole instantly went on guard and then he got off the couch and pushed it away while he swiftly whipped up his trusty metal strings.

They then immediately wrapped around to a figure that was faintly visible.

Mini then appeared once again within the tightly coiled strings.

"Oof..."

Was all he had to say along with a strained face.

Meet Cole Steward. A man renowned across the galaxies for his ability to make and master anything that can be used as a weapon.

At age 5, he had already turned his house into a fortress and mastered the art of the invincible frying pan.

At age 7, he mastered every single martial art known in the universe as well as every single kind of weapon in existence.

At age 10, he built an O-I heavy tank by himself with scrap metal he found in a junkyard.

At age 13, he moved on from tanks and went on to make an entire fleet of spaceships.

At age 15, he built military-grade photon lasers in his underground bunker.

At age 17, he was able to beat the No. 1 strategist of every single galaxy.

At age 20, a war started over him for his incredible talent in weapons.

At age 23, he ended that same war with his fleet of spaceships that was piloted by his fans.

And then during the awarding ceremony where he would be hailed as the galaxy's hero...

He died.

Cause of death? Him slipping on the red carpet of the room and getting his head banged on the marble stairs.

What happened after that?

He got reincarnated into a body of a Mechanica which looked exactly like him into a world which was odd, to say the least.

There was gunfire raging in the east with a Russian holding a vodka bottle while standing on top of a poor man's car.

A technologically advanced city in the north with some kind of energy field protecting it.

A fight between two martial artists wearing traditional Chinese clothing with glowing swords and colorful blasts of qi decimating the landscape in the south.

And a battle between a party of one average-looking young man and 4 other beauties which may or may not have a bushy tail or long ears against a fearsome black dragon while shouting phrases about friendship and love in the west.

He also ended up getting a 5-year-old that looked similar to him as a daughter.

Now follow Cole's adventures in a world that's too jumbled up for its own good and fighting against stupid protagonist tropes while he tries to learn how to be a normal doting father.

Updates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Irresponsible Author is irresponsible

Thursday morning, Michelle and I were inside the classroom for media ethics class. Unfortunately, neither Erin nor Taylor was present that day.

Shortly before class, Erin sent a message to inform me about Taylor's absence. She revealed that he caught a severe fever the other night and was confined to the hospital.

Just then, Kyla entered the classroom and sat in with Michelle and myself. 

"What are you doing here?" Michelle inquired her longtime teammate. "Weren't you supposed to attend class right now?"

"Great works class became a free cut," Kyla revealed to us. "That's why I'm sitting in."

"But how were you able to instantly find us?" I sought Kyla.

"I secretly followed you two from the gym to the classroom," she happily revealed. 

"Well, you're welcome to sit in but please behave in front of the professor," Michelle subtly reminded Kyla. "Are we clear, captain?"

"Crystal," Kyla responded favorably.

At 9:50 a.m., the professor promptly entered the classroom and inserted a portable USB drive onto the computer. One of the students stood up and was instructed to click and operate the PowerPoint presentation.

"Today's class discussion is on nudity in local media," the professor opened. 

As he revealed the topic, I tried tucking my face with both hands. But Michelle coaxed me into looking at the gaudy presentation.

To cut the whole story short, the professor basically summarized the aspect of nudity in media and why the conservative and Catholic-leaning Philippines is more restricted on the matter. He cited other countries' more lenient procedures for comparison.

"No wonder our soap operas are poorly conceived today," Kyla quietly commented on the lively discussion. "They wouldn't allow exposed breasts and butts to be shown on television."

As class was dismissed, Michelle, Kyla and I briefly engaged in a fierce discussion about nudity in the country.

"To state you the truth, there is nothing wrong about revealing yourself," I strongly remarked on the matter. "Unfortunately, being at a Catholic country meant certain restrictions."

"Personally, the rest of the world were more open than us," Michelle replied. "Why can't we be like them? Is it because of fear and doubt, or in that the rules dictate otherwise?"

After this short discussion, Kyla bade farewell to us and Michelle and I went outside for lunch.

Fast forward to 2:40 p.m. as television production class got underway. Having missed one class due to illness, it was clear time was not on my side.

Fortunately, Michelle showed me a few snapshots of the studio and even promised to send some notes from last week. To cut the long story short, that day's television production class became an orientation about producing a newscast.

The professor then revealed next week's project: producing your own newscast. She further disclosed the whole class must get involved in this assignment.

"This is awesome," Ella exclaimed upon hearing the announcement. "We can be news anchors for a day."

After every student had submitted their contact information to Michelle, she promptly announced that each of them would receive a text message from her. Michelle did not disclose further details other than reminding the class to wait for more information.

Then it was off to video production class. But just as we arrived, Amanda suddenly came out of nowhere to confront Ella.

"How is it going, old friend?" Amanda sarcastically greeted her. "It's been awhile since we talked in person."

"Listen," Ella bravely responded. "I don't care about your claim as the most ingenious person in this class. You are still as obnoxious and pompous as ever. And I don't want to confront you anyway. So leave me alone."

"And Ella, I can't stand your tomboyish face," Amanda angrily retaliated. "The mere sight of you inside this classroom sickens me."

"If you allegedly claim to be very smart then prove it," Ella screamed at her. "But let me remind you this."

Ella jabbed her finger close to Amanda's head and yelled at her face.

"You are not genuinely that smart," Ella defiantly declared. 

Having heard enough of Ella's taunts, Amanda forcefully pried her out of the classroom and into the comfort room. Just then, the class professor arrived.

"Hey Amanda, what the hell are you doing to Ella," he called her out. "Let her go, or I'll send you to the dean."

Amanda reluctantly released her grip on Ella's arm and the two promptly headed back to the classroom. Then she uttered one last warning to her.

"It's not over Ella," Amanda declared. "Believe that."

Once at the classroom, Michelle and I convinced Ella to sit near the door away from Amanda. At that moment, the professor summoned us out for a presentation.

Throughout the three-hour class, each group presented a 15-minute short video of our food travels. After every presentation was shown, the professor promptly announced he would give us his overall grades next week.

As video production class was dismissed, Ella and Amanda once again stared menacingly at each other. Not willing to witness another physical encounter, Michelle immediately pulled her out and we quickly walked downstairs.

Ella silently went to her condominium, not bothering to even greet us farewell. 

"What's the matter with Ella," I asked Michelle as we walked toward the parking lot. "She seems to be in a terrible mood."

"Don't worry about it, Christine," Michelle answered back. "Ella remains our loyal friend. But she must cool herself down."

But as Michelle drove her Vios through the bustling streets of Manila, we suddenly encountered some horrendous traffic. I looked closely at my smartphone and saw a tweet from the MMDA.

"An SUV just crashed at the barrier below the flyover," read the tweet. "Sorry for the inconvenience."

With the traffic still barely moving, I grew weary and fell asleep. Even Michelle felt more tired as the precious minutes passed.

It had taken us an hour before we survived this ordeal. But it was already 11:00 p.m. and our eyes were getting more weary.

At last, Michelle's Vios arrived over two hours after our previous class ended. I was clearly drained by that point, so she promptly carried me straight to the unit where Charissa awaited.

A wearisome day has officially drawn to a close. Now to get some much-needed sleep.

Christine, a 22-year-old college student, decides to open a blog and write a story about her tormented past.

As a young child, Christine was constantly abused and mocked by her classmates for her nearsightedness and portly complexion. To make matters worse, she was left to live with her aunt after her mother was assigned to work overseas and her father became too preoccupied in his work as a doctor.

This story is about a young woman's pursuit towards positivity and joy amid these turbulent times. For Christine, all she wants now is to face her fears and overcome them one by one.

Having only pure thoughts in mind, Ginny smiled and responded to Alan. "Even if we talk about treating for a meal, it should be me treating you. Not the other way around."

"Huh?" Hearing neither a yes nor no answer, he looked at her with mixed emotions. 

"Did you forget? You're the one who helped me find my ring last time. If it weren't for you, I would lose something very precious to me. As a thank you, it should be me treating you to a meal. As for the meal that Lin Que owes me, I was just fooling around when I said it." She waved her hand in a fanning gesture with a smile that showed her top row of teeth and faintly curved lips. 

Just like that, he watched her walk to a less crowded corner to not block anyone's path. When she turned around with an indifferent smile, his feet felt like he was super glued to the spot; unable to move a step forward. It was the same feeling he had the other day as well. Mesmerized...or perhaps even moved by her genuine smile. 

Watching Ginny approach him, the slowly minimizing gap between them increased the excitement in his drum beating heart; her eyes remained locked to his. "Alan? Are you alright?" She waved her hand in front of his face to drag him out of his dreamland. 

She was waiting for him at the corner, but saw him standing in a daze. Worried he might have fallen ill or was in pain, she walked back to where he stood. As she exhaled, her shoulders relaxed. "Hmm? Uhm, Yeah. I'm fine. I was just having some thoughts in my mind," Alan blinked and smiled at her.

"Let's wait for Auntie over there. There are fewer people walking around, so we won't be in anyone's way." She pointed to the corner next to a plant.

"Okay," he followed behind her this time. After some second thoughts, he decided to ask her for her number. "Since you wouldn't accept the free meal because you think you owe me a meal, then how about we exchange numbers? We could go out for two dinner meals. I'll treat you once, and you treat me once."

"Just dinner only? No breakfast or lunch?" She teased as she took out her phone and unlocked it to add his number to the contacts list.

"Any time for any meal." He pulled out his phone to add her number. 

"Sure." Just like that he successfully got her number without her noticing a deeper meaning behind his request. As they saved each other's contacts, Alan said, "Oh, I might get you mixed up with another Ginny. How about using a selfie as the contact photo so I could tell it's you?"

"Pfft, then let's take a picture together. This way, it'll be more distinguishable." She opened the beauty photo app from her phone and stood beside him as she aimed the front camera of her phone to fit both of them in the frame. Since she was shorter than him, he extended his hand to hold the phone for her.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Yep! Ready whenever you are." She replied as she smiled towards the camera. Following her bright smile in front of the camera, he also smiled along and took a few pictures. Double-checking the quality of the pictures, Ginny raised three fingers with her index finger and thumb curved to form an "O" shape. 

"Sent you the picture by text messages. Oh! Auntie is back." She said as she put away her phone and walked towards Toby. 

Toby smiled and said, "I got my phone. Let's go. See you next time, Alan." 

Ginny also waved, "Bye Alan!"

"Bye.." he watched as the two of them left to the parking lot. Looking down at his phone, his thumb slid across the picture he received by text. His curved lips reflected from his phone screen as he whispered, "Definitely see you next time."

On Monday morning, Lin Que woke up an hour early to drive to the nearest flower shop by his home, which was located twenty minutes in the opposite direction from where the hospital was located. As he entered, the shop assistant locked her eyes on the potential customer, whose appearance almost blinded her sight under the sunlight that shone on him. 

"Sir, how may I assist you today?" Drawing in a steady breath, she gathered her professionalism to greet him with an amiable smile. His pleasant smile perfectly matched with the fresh droplets on the morning delivery of roses in the store. 

"Can I get a bouquet of pink carnations?" His sight immediately attracted itself to the protective pink of the pink carnations. 

"Of course. Would you like me to wrap it up?" She asked as she presented a few ribbon choices in her hands and gift wraps for him to choose from.

"Sure. It's for visiting a special granny's grave. I'm not sure what color would be suitable for this occasion, so I'll let you be the judge of it." He smiled dazzlingly, almost as moving as the flowers in her hand; similar to miniature pearls of exquisite delicacy, the word, stunning, could not even match its description.

"Yes, right away." She quickly wrapped the bouquet and completed his purchase. 

Around eleven, he clocked out of the system and went to pick Lily up. She was already dressed by the time he knocked on her door. After getting used to seeing her in the same colored patient outfit, he almost forgot how beautiful regular outfits looked on her. 

Perhaps it was for her grandmother; she wore a long-sleeved cream-colored dress with simple flower embroider designs on the waistband. Seeing Lin Que by the door, she took her purse and phone. "I'm ready to go," she smiled.

"Hold on. It's a bit chilly today. Here, take your jacket with you." He walked into her room and took the denim jacket behind her chair. 

"Mm." She replied and followed him to the parking lot. He opened the passenger side first and waited for her to settle before getting into the driver's seat. 

Before starting the ride, he took the bouquet from the back of the seat and handed it to her. "Here, hold this, so the flowers won't be squished in the back."

"These are really beautiful. They're fresh too." Taking a close sniff on the flowers, a sense of sorrow showed in her eyes. As if catching her change of emotions, he slowly leaned over towards her side. 

Raising her head, she realized that he was getting closer to her. Subconsciously, she squeezed her eyes shut.

The first time was a coincidence.
Second time could be called good timing.
Third time is destiny.

The first time they met, they were both cosplaying at an Anime Convention. Coincidentally, she was Usagi Tsukino, and he happened to be Tuxedo Mask from the anime, Sailor Moon. 

Their first gaze caught his attention.
Her first smile swept his heart away. 
She walked towards him, and he was ready to take off the mask to talk to her. Unfortunately, it was all a misunderstanding.

This was their first time crossing paths, but he facepalmed so hard when he realized he got the wrong idea that he changed his "Hi," into an anime's title, "Hitman Reborn." At that time, he watched her approach another person who acted as Tuxedo Mask behind him. The smile she had on her face wasn't towards him. It was a mistake.

Two months later

Second time they met was at their graduation. His brother, Lucas, flew back from overseas to attend his graduation in place of his parents. After taking countless pictures with his brother and some with friends, they left campus. Inside his black Mercedes, his brother shoved several well taken photos and showed it to him.

Just when he was about to answer his regular plain response, the words swallowed back down his throat. He held his brother's phone and zoomed in to the back where he saw her again! Once again, a facepalm landed on his face as he couldn't believe that there could be such timing. He could've gotten her name!

After a few days later, he got off his shift late and realized that he didn't go grocery shopping. Since his fridge was empty, he decided to have his meal at a newly opened Szechuan Spicy Bowl restaurant. 

"It shouldn't take that long to get a seat at this time.." Or so he thought.

When he got there, the place was full and he didn't have much patience since he was alone. Right when he was about to leave, the waiter asked if he minded sharing a table. 

"Sure." 
He sat down across from the girl and ordered from the menu. When she took a few napkins to wipe her nose, he took the chance to thank her for sharing the table.
And there she was with her Beyond Human level spicy bowl...
Although they only exchanged a few words, he found her very interesting. A girl eating at this hour without caring about her weight and her surrounding. She was adorable. 

The clumsy her forgot her newly printed business cards at her seat when she left. 

"Lily Jiang," he smiled. He thought of bringing this to her when he is free, but who knew that they would meet again at the hospital?

His lips twitched when he faced his new patient, "Hello, Miss. Jiang, I am Lin Que, your doctor for this visit. Where do you feel uncomfortable?" He looked at the medical report in hand as he couldn't believe his luck with this girl.

It was painful in that instant, but the pain subsided soon after. 
Tang Yuansi's face turned a little pale. As he stared at the sleeping Shangxin, the corner of his mouth curved into a slight arc.
He was so happy.
He was so happy that he seemed so silly.
He had never once imagined that he would have a child, a child that she bore him.
He was so happy he had forgotten that he had heart disease; he just wanted to keep on staring at her and their baby…
Everything that had happened tonight was just like a dream.
Tang Yuansi maintained the same position for a very long time.
After a long while, he shifted his gaze away from Shangxin's sleeping face and turned to stare at her flat tummy.
It appeared to be very flat and he could not tell that a baby was growing inside.
Tang Yuansi thought of something. Taking out the ultrasound photo, he held it in his hands and stared at it repeatedly—it was as if he could not get enough of it no matter how long he stared at it.
He was about to go crazy from holding in the happiness in his heart.
In the end, he reached out for his cell phone, and after thinking about it for a while sent Yu Yuehan a text message.
Apart from expressing his concern and asking if he felt any better after drinking so much alcohol, he also told him that he was about to become a father.
Beep! A cell phone text message alert sounded.
Tang Yuansi switched his phone to silent mode immediately. Annoyed, he turned around and took a glance at the sleeping Shangxin on the bed. He only heaved a sigh of relief after ensuring that she had not been woken by the cell phone alert.
He thought to himself, It's so late and yet that drunk dude is still awake, I can have someone to share my joy of a soon-to-be father too.
Then, he immediately whipped out his cell phone and cast a glance at Yu Yuehan's reply. 
In the end, only one word could be seen in the text message, "Crazy!"
"…"
To be honest, if not for the fact that he was busy caring for Shangxin and the baby in her tummy right now, he might just have headed to the Yu Family villa to fight Yu Yuehan the very moment he saw that word.
After some thinking, he figured that Yu Yuehan might not know that Shangxin had already returned to the country. As such, after reading his text message, he might have thought that Tang Yuansi was indeed too hurt and that he had gone crazy and wasn't scolding him after all.
Taking into consideration that Yu Yuehan was a good friend who would accompany him for an 'alcohol versus plain water' drinking session, Tang Yuansi pursed his thin lips and sent him another message.
"Shangxin is back."
After thinking about it, he raised the ultrasound picture and took a photo of it before sending it out.
Afraid that Yu Yuehan might not be able to understand it, he added, "This is our baby, I am about to become a dad!"
Yu Yuehan replied a minute later.
This time, there were no words and only six dots could be seen on the text message. 
To be exact, it looked like this, "..."
Tang Yuansi smiled the moment he saw the six dots on his cell phone.
Yu Yuehan must have been dumbfounded since he had used punctuation, eh?
That's right, he knew that any ordinary person would be this happy the moment they knew that he was about to become a father.
He was definitely not silly.
After Tang Yuansi placed his cell phone down, he changed into his sleeping attire and walked back to the bed.
Just when he was about to climb in bed, he suddenly saw that the screen of his cell phone had lit up.
He reached out and took a glance at it—it was a text message from Yu Yuehan.
He had expressed his words through a single photo.
Xiao Liuliu was lying on the pillow; her delicate little face was rosy red, just like a jelly dessert. 
She was sleeping very soundly and she was even holding onto one of Yu Yuehan's fingers tightly with her tiny hand, refusing to let go even though she had fallen asleep.
The Xiao Liuliu in the photo appeared to be less than three years old and so this should be an old photo. Nonetheless, her squishy and tender looks still struck one's heart.


Yu Yuehan is the usual rich, perfect, aloof president—the richest man in City H; but one day, a female toddler suddenly appears in his life as his daughter! Despite being certain that he has never touched a woman before, DNA tests certify that the toddler is his! He soon becomes a good 'daddi' for the little toddler, Xiao Liuliu.

Two years later, for some inexplicable reason, Xiao Liuliu becomes very fond of a trial nurse, Nian Xiaomu, hired to take care of her. Nian Xiaomu has a strong personality and refuses to let anyone bully her. Constantly wary that anyone might cause harm to his daughter, Yu Yuehan keeps a constant watch over Nian Xiaomu. However, his black-bellied daughter has plans for her father up her sleeves… Over time, Nian Xiaomu reveals her charming side bit by bit; and for the first time in his life, Yu Yuehan is drawn in by this mysterious woman…

Keywords: Mysterious Daughter, Cute Daughter, Aloof, Nurse, Strong Woman

Cute Scene:

"Daddi, you are so handsome!" Xiao Liuliu blushes.
"Daddi, I want hugs!" Xiao Liuliu coos.
"Daddi, I want a younger sister! Quick make one with Mommi."
"Daddi…"
Yu Yuehan says in a deadpan fashion, "I have never slept with any woman! How can I have a daughter!?"
"Did Mommi sleep with you without you realizing it?"
Yu Yuehan: "…”

We have a Patreon which you can support us at: 

https://www.patreon.com/restofmylifeisforyou

We have advanced chapters to offer, as well as goals to increase our weekly release rate!

In the time it took me to outline this article I checked Twitter three times and my email twice. I responded to four emails. I checked Slack once and sent text messages to two people. I went down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos once, costing me about 30 minutes of productivity, and I probably checked my books' ranks on Amazon roughly 3,172 times.

In what should have been 20 minutes of work, I compulsively interrupted myself at least nine times. What's more, the cost of these interruptions goes way beyond the added amount of time to finish this damn thing. They likely distracted my train of thought, reducing the quality of my writing, thus causing a need for more edits and revisions. They likely created anxiety as I spent much of my distracted time anxious about the fact that I wasn't working and much of my time working anxious that I was missing out on text conversations, email threads, or news updates. They likely made the process of writing itself less enjoyable and caused it to appear more taxing in my mind.

These distractions aren't just unproductive, they're anti-productive. They create more work than they replace.

Chances are you go through this do-si-do yourself on the regular. For me, it's only gotten worse as time has gone on—which is strange, because you'd assume that my attention span and focus would be getting stronger as I get older, but that's not been the case.

I started blogging in 2007. I remember plopping down to churn out a 1,000-word draft being easy. I'd just wake up and do it and then go get breakfast. It was somewhere around 2013 where I noticed I was often interrupting myself to check Facebook or email. Then it was around 2015 where I felt it was beginning to become a problem.

I felt that I had to pay attention to my attention, that I had to focus on my focus. It was new. It wasn't something I'd had to think about since I was a kid.

By last year, these interruptions had become compulsive. I didn't know how to not distract myself anymore and had to go to great lengths to prevent it from happening. It felt like I was living in some kind of digital hellscape, where the process of doing anything significant and important seemed not only fruitless but also attentionally impossible.

Random Stuff . . . . This is not my cover! . . . . This was made for fun, not for profit.

"Hindi ka makakatakas sa amin Isabel!

sigaw ng lalaki habang kinakasa ang hawak niyang baril, kasama ang iba niyang mga kasamahan.

sa masukal na kagubatan habang nagtatakbo ang isang babae suot ang puti ngunit nadumihan na blusa

hingal at pagod ang yumayari sa kanyang katawan

ngunit di siya umaawat sa pagtakbo dahil siya ay hinahabol ng mga kalalakihan na gusto siyang patayin.





takbo dito at takbo roon!.




lumalagatak na ang pawis niya.




sumasabit na din ang kanyang balat at laman sa mga nakausling matulis na kahoy at sanga.

nakakaapak na din siya ng mga bagay na maaaring tumusok sa kanyang talampakan.

ngunit sinasasawalang bahala niya lamang yun kahit namimilipit na siya sa sakit.



patuloy pa din siya sa pagtakbo upang hindi siya mahagilap ng mga humahabol sa kanya.


"Wala ka na mapupuntahan Isabel! kaya sa oras maabutan ka namin, papatayin ka namin kaya Huwag muna pagurin ang sarili mo at sumuko kana!"

Patuloy pa din sa paghahanap ang mga lalaking humahabol sa babae.









Ilang minuto ang lumipas na habulan.









narating niya na ang labasan ng gubat 

ngunit sa kanyang paglabas 



Tumambad sa kanya ang bangin at ang nasa ibaba nito ay karagatan na.

Hindi niya alam kung tatalon ba siya o hindi.

Dahil napapangunahan na siya ng takot.

Ngunit kailangan nyang makatakas sa mga lalaking gusto siyang patayin.




Maya't maya pa ay.....

Bigla siyang napalingon..


Laking gulat niya.


























ISABEL! 
















Kkkkkrrrrrnnngggggg!! Krrrrrrnnnggggg!

Tunog ng isang alarm clock*


hudyat na kailangan na gumising ni Miss Aimee at magayos na para tumungo sa kanyang trabaho. 


"Aghhhh! Monday na naman! Panigurado stress na naman ang abot ko nito pero dapat positive lang!"

Ani ni Aimee na tila pangit ang kanyang gising.

Tumungo agad siya sa kanyang alarm clock. 

Alas siyete na ng umaga

agad naman niyang chineck ang kanyang cellphone kung may notifications o messages.


> Good Morning Ms. Aimee Dela Cruz! Dont forget our meeting that will start at 9am to discuss our new project  and don't be late together with your partner na si Marlon! 
See you there! God bless. <

Isang text mula sa Department Head ng News Affair na si Mr. Jimenez.

Agad bumangon si Aimee at tumungo sa kanyang kusina.

Naglabas siya ng kanyang lulutuin mula sa refrigerator ito ang bacon at itlog

Pinirito niya ito isa isa at nagtimpla ng kanyang paboritong cappucino sa kanyang coffee maker at nagtoast ng tinapay.

Habang nagpeprepare siya ng kanyang almusal, isang tawag ang dumating sa telepono.

Ito ang kanyang pinakamamahal na ina.

~Call convo:

Mom: Hello sweetie Good Morning!
Aimee: Good Morning din mom!
Mom: I just want to remind you na dont stress yourself sa work ha.
Aimee: of course mom, ill try my best para di ako ma stress.
Mom: That's Good! tandaan mo isasali pa kita sa Binibining Pilipinas. I talked already kay Mr. Pats na ipasok ka sa agency nila.
Aimee: mom masaya na ko sa pagiging isang journalist no need for that
Mom: you should! At isa pa don't forget next saturday is my birthday you should be here.
Aimee: of course mom, hindi pwede wala ako dyan I already filed a leave sa araw na yun at nakapagbook na ko ng flight dyan sa Cebu.
Mom: That's great! Oh sha anak magayos kana diyan I love you.
Aimee: I love you too mom.

Sabay baba ng telepono ngunit may naiwan na ngiti sa mukha ni Aimee.

Cling! 

Tunog ng kanyang toaster*



Agad niya kinuha ang kanyang prinepare na tinapay at pagkain kasabay ng kape. 


Habang kumakain si Aimee ng kanyang almusal isang text ang natanggap naman niya mula sa kanyang partner.


Si Marlon ... Si Marlon Ramirez ang partner niya. 

Simula noong college pa matalik na silang magkaibigan. 


Pareho nagkakilala sa isang unibersidad.

Ngunit bago pa sila maging magkaibigan ay naging isang mortal na kaaway ang mga ito. Lagi pang-aasar ang naaabutan ni Aimee sa mokong na si Marlon.

Ngunit nagsimula ang kanilang pagiging magkaibigan na naging magkagrupo sila sa isang project sa asignaturang English.

Habang inaalala ni Aimee mga nakaraang iyon tinatawanan niya na lamang ito.

~Pagbabalik sa mensahe na pinarating ni Marlon.

"Hi! Partner! Good Morning! Im so excited ulit na makatrabaho ka at sa ating next project!"

Napangiti at bumungisngis lang si Aimee tila nawala ang kanyang pangit na gising dahil sa mga sandali na iyon.

"Hay! Marlon hindi ka pa din nagbabago, pasaway ka pa din"
Ani ni Aimee na tila ngumingiti na

Pagkatapos niya kumain agad ito naligo at nagayos papasok sa kanyang trabaho.

Sakay ng kanyang kotse na binili pa nya noong nakaraang taon, 

Agad ito tumungo sa kanyang pinagtatrabauhan.







NBC NETWORK!

Isa sa pinakasikat na TV network sa Pilipinas!

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa din siya makapaniwala na dito siya nagtatrabaho.

Dahil bata pa lamang siya, pangarap niya na magtrabaho sa industriyang iyon.

At ngayon sa kanyang sipag at tiyaga natupad ito.

Hindi nga lang bilang isang artista na pinapangarap niya simula noong bata pa, ngunit maging isa sa mga tinitingalang journalist sa buong bansa.






~Pagbabalik....



Habang naglalakad na siya papasok ng gusali hanggang sa leevator biglang sumulpot si Marlon.


"Uyy partner!, Kamusta kana!?" Pabigla ni Marlon.


"My gosh! Marlon? Nagulat ako dun! Hmmm okay naman ako." 

Nagulat na sabi ni Aimee.

"Mabuti naman so ....are you ready na sa ating next project?" 

Tanong ni Marlon habang nakangiti ito

"Hmmmm kinda little bit, pero medyo kinakabahan."

Sagot ni Aimee na may pag-alinlanagan.

"Hmmm!  Aimee wag kang Kabahan, kase sabi daw ng mga boss natin we will going to Palawan!

Sambit ni Marlon tila may excitement na nadarama.

" Ewan ko sa yo Marlon! Parang first time mo lang pumunta dun... without knowing ilang beses na kayo pumunta ng ex mo na si Kaye sa El nido at Coron!"

Pangangasar ni Aimee na may paglaki ng kanyang mga mata.





Pagkatungo nila sa meeting room

Sumalubong sa kanila ang kanilang Department Head ng News Affair na si Mr. Ricardo Jimenez, Director na si Mr. Carlo Bagatsing, Executive Proucers at CEO na si Ms. Linda Tan.

"Great! you here na guys! And its already 9am! So we can start our meeting!" 

Ani ni Mr. Jimenez na may sayang nadarama. Habang hawak ang kanyang laptop.

At ang lahat ay nagsi-upo at inumpisahan na ang meeting

Biglang tumayo ulit si Mr. Jimenez upang umpisahan ang kanilang tatalakayin.

At binuksan ang projector at powerpoint kung saan nandun ang kanilang mga dapat talakayin.


"Okay Good Morning everyone! I think our next project will be a blast! Because this is not just an ordinary documentary story. This story will leave a shock to our viewers once we finish and televise this project."

Pagpapaliwanag ni Mr. Jimenez.

"So, What is it Mr. Jimenez hihigitan ba ito ng mystery place sa Samar which is the Biringan City at ang kwento ng Manila Film Theater?"

Pagtatanong ni Ms.Tan

"Yes!"
Pag sang-ayon ni Mr. Jimenez.

"Together with Director Carlo Bagatsing. We did some research regarding this and we found out na pwede itong idocument at ipalabas. Actually it can also help to our viewers dahil may lesson at knowledge sila na makukuha."

Dagdag pa niya.

"For those research we did, we already put a title and the flow of the document that our journalsit need to do, pero syempre as a journalist you need to do a research as well to give you more information regarding this documentary"





"So ang title ng ating Documentary  Ang Mahiwagang Lihim ng Isla Domingo! Sound catchy ba?"

Pasambit at patanong ni Mr. Jimenez



"Pwede na din!""




.
"Sounds interesting!"

.

"Sounds Great!"


Pag sasang ayon ng lahat.

Bigla naman nagsalita si Aimee.

"Am I correct yan ba yung may public hospital na tinayo noong panahon ng hapon at naging mental hospital noong late 70s?"

Patanong sabi ni Aimee.


"Exactly! ....You know why we chose this? 
Cause once you go there and you do the documentary you will have this extreme feeling to the stories behind of this place."
Sagot ni Mr. Jimenez.

At bigla naman sumingit si Direk Carlo


"At isa pa grabe lang ang pagkamysterious ng lugar na ito, kaya once nakapunta talaga kayo doon mamamangha kayo."

Padagdag ni direk Carlo.

"Aimee together with your partner na si Marlon, I know you can do it. Malaki ang tiwala namin sa inyo. Thats why we give this project sa inyo because we believe na you have the guts."

Ani ni Mr. Jimenez.


"So, Aimee once we give the details like the date. Always remember be ready same with you Marlon. Gosh this will be fun!"

Pasingit ni Ms. Tan. Habang lumulundag sa kanyang kinauupuan.

.
.
Ngumiti lamang si Aimee at nagpasalamat sa tiwala na binigay sa kanila ni Marlon. 

Ngunit nakaramdam siya ng kakaiba sa panibagong proyekto na kanilang pagtatrabauhan lalo na sa lugar na kanilang pupuntahan.









After two hours meeting. Agad dumiretso ang dalawa sa resto upang maglunch.

"Grabe! Sana kayanin natin yun, di ko aakalain ganon kalaki pala ang project na gagawin natin. Pero lalo ako na excite kase it gives me curiosity  sa lugar na yun dahil feeling ko ang lalim ng pagkamystery niya, At isa pa isang linggo pa tayo dun!"

Pasambit ni Marlon habang papasok sila sa loob bg resto.

"Pero alam mo Marlon ewan ko ba bakit ganito ang feeling ko after we discussed the project parang may kaba at takot na ewan."

Sabi ni Aimee na may pag alinlangan.

"Wag mo sabihin Aimee gusto mo umatras? No! ...Aimee di mo pwede gawin yun! Di mo alam kung gaano kalaking pera ang inoffer sa atin dun."

Sabi ni Marlon na tila parang nadidismaya.




"Hindi sa ganon!"

Sabay tapik sa likod ni Marlon.

"Parang nacucurious din ako. Arghh basta di ako aatras noh! Alam ko naman kung gaano ka importante sa atin itong project na ito at isa pa kelangan mo ng pera."

Sambit muli ni Aimee.

Nagulat naman si Marlon sa huling sinabi ni Aimee

At sabay nagtawanan ang dalawa at tumungo sa kanilang table at nag take ng order.








Gabi na nakauwi si Aimee galing sa trabaho



Nakatatak pa din sa kanyang utak ang proyektong binigay sa kanila tila ba nakakaramdam siya na takot kaba at pagaalinlangan.


Ngunit pinipilit niyang isawalang bahala ang mga iyon.


Pagkapark ng kanyang sasakyan sa basement agad ito tumungo sa kanyang condo unit.

Chineck niya ang kanyang telepad if merong voice message galing sa kanyang ina.




Ngunit wala. 

Agad niya binuksan ang telebisyon at nagbihis ng pambahay at kumuha ng isang can ng beer upang matanggal ang kanyang stress at pagiisip ng kung ano ano.


Agad naman niya kinuha ang kanyang laptop at nagsearch ukol dun.

Kunting impormasyon lang ang nakuha niya 

At hindi na siya nakakita pa ng kung ano pang bagay ukol sa islang pupuntahan nila


kaya shinut-down niya na lang ang laptop.

At magresearch na lang sa susunod na araw.



Mag aalas nwebe na ng gabi agad siya naghalf bath at tumungo sa kanyang higaan.



Nagfacebook,twitter at nagcheck ng messages muna ito.


Hanggang sa kanyang paghiga bakas pa din ang kanyang nararamdaman na di niya maipaliwanag




"Paano kapag tinuloy ko to? Hmmm.. feeling ko kase may mangyayari na di maganda.....Eh kapag naman tinanggi ko tong project hmmmmm...baka madisappoint naman sila sa akin. Arggghh! Aimee stop overthinking! Kaya mo to! Brave ka! Thats why you can do it"

Tugon ni Aimee sa kanyang sarili habang pinupokpok ang kanyang noo sa inis.










Malalim na ang gabi hindi pa din nakakatulog si Aimee, iniisip nya pa din yung tungkol sa kanilang proyekto.

Habang nakahiga ito at malalim ang iniisip



Nakarinig siya ng bulong ng isang babae



Bulong na nanggagaling sa likod ng mga pader.


Biglang nagulat at kinutuban ng bahagya 








Hinanap niya iyon ngunit hindi mahagilap.











"Sino yan?"

Stunned, shock and an overall feeling of suspense washed over him. Damian watched, closely. Skimming through the appearance of a classmate on front of him. He doesn't need to know the name of the stranger nor the importance of his presence either. 

However, it took him a bit of restraint to march in on the conversation. To look at the person in the eye and say something, anything to hold a bit of an interruption. His heart clenches. His throat tightens, eyes stings from tears forming and it took a lot to exhale properly with the turmoil raging within him.

All he needs to focus is Lily. Her hair in a loose bun, wearing the typical P.E. uniform the school offers to the students; a dark blue jogging pants and a white shirt with the school logo. 

He doesn't have to see her face to know she was smiling at the man who reciprocate the talk; from topic to another. It felt like hours to be on the other side of the situation when it was only a couple of minutes for him. 

It hurts to realize Damian doesn't exactly have the right on her decision. Whatever that was to be honest. He was simply a nobody in her life, a classmate she only mingles when necessary. 

He looks down on the ground and wonder if the P.E. teacher was being more of an ass today since the only command he delivered through text was to linger around the courtyard for unknown reason. The teacher still hasn't appeared and he was indecisive if whether it was luck or a curse. 

The heat from the sun burns his face and forearms and he dreads to continue on with the self inflicted torture.

"Fuck," he muttered, disliking the guilt he felt as it affected the person close to him.  A stink eye was he had received and he inched away from the crowd to the empty corner of the courtyard. He goes back to his mind and ponder. 

He doesn't much power to withstand whatever development she has with a classmate of theirs and he was happy for her to be happy. It still hurts to be in this unrequited love, much more when his attraction is on a popular girl with multiple options than one. 

"You know, you could always tell her," a familiar voice invaded his thoughts and he glanced at the person from the corner of his eye. 

Ken, his friend, stand next to him. Ken's hair tied in a low ponytail and was wearing a typical male school uniform without the blazer. Ken should have also worn his  P.E. uniform but it seems his friend had different ideas on the matter. 

"Ken," he called out to his friend who greeted him with a nod. 

Both their backs leaning against the wall and eyes directed to the crowd. 

"It's not the right thing to do," he responded, continued on the topic his friend just dropped. 

"That's a subjective answer," Ken replied back. "How do you even if it's the right course of action when you haven't thought this through besides the inevitable rejection." 

"I think you answered your action." Ken sighed. 

"How do you even know if she will say no?" 

He was too tired to discuss the topic even further. His mouth was too dry and he could only stutter his words if he continued on. If only he can explain through his mind, bringing out his mental PowerPoint and slap the explanation on Ken's face then he's good to go. 

Their conversation disperse from the lack of progress and the minutes passed by without any signs of a teacher. His eyes lingers at her once more and blushed to see she was facing at his direction but her attention was on somewhere else. 

Turmoil gone when he was flustered. Giddy at the sloppy second eye to eye contact between them. The corner of his mouth quirked and he clenched at the bottom of his shirt.

"Someone's happy," Ken remarked.

He gave his friend a glare before looking down on the ground. Then he looks up, a crooked smile on his face to hide his real emotion but fails. He couldn't stop the skipping of his heartbeat and all of the sign of his sadness disappeared.

She was smiling. Lively by running around the courtyard, chasing, laughing and talking to a lot of people at once. Whatever game she was playing, it eases him. Soothes his pain. 

Dramatic, exaggerated and the in between. He knows this crush of his shouldn't dictate too much of his teenage life. Unfortunately, he can't help it. 

- - - - - 

Class was dismissed. The majority of his classmates filed down on both doors of the classroom. There were chatters from every direction, a few of his classmates still lingered within the room and continued on what they were doing. So was he. 

"You know, I could stay with you," Ken offered. His smile seems less genuine and more of a tease from the way it changes to a smirk. His friend's eyes narrowed at his form.

"And interrupt your 'me-time'?" Damian questions, a brow raised at the confidence slipping from Ken's previous expression. 

Me-time, he exactly sure what it was now was simply anime, guitar practice and video games rolled into one kind of activity in one room and Ken sometimes put his existentialist crisis he is in at the moment. 

Late puberty was what Damian blames on his friend's ramblings. However, even before the sudden surge of hormones ruining and molding their bodies into becoming men. Ken have always been a talkative little boy blabbering about literally everything and anything. 

Nevertheless, it didn't stop their friendship beyond the tiny playground in their neighborhood. 

"Fine, then!" his friend exclaimed. "I must seek the secret of happiness in the four corners of my estate."

Ken grinned, hopping out of the room, humming a tune Damian wasn't familiar. He sighed in relieved, clutching his hands together and fiddled with his fingers. 

He stayed in his seat, ignoring the sunset hitting his face. All he can do at the moment was silently complaining about it in his head while staring at her, again. 

She was wiping the writings in the blackboard while talking to the same classmate from P.E. She occasionally stopped, from time to time, distracted. Her responsibility still present in her mind when she goes back to her task. Classroom responsibility; she's an officer of their classroom; the mayor he points out. 

Soon, they were only three.

Hushed whispers that he hears. Guilty from eavesdropping, he looked away from the duo. Flustered, embarrassed to the point of humiliation. His stomach twists and turns and mushes when he sees they were looking at his direction. 

The sounds of footsteps brought more suspense into his being. Sweaty palms and forehead were the norm of his panicky reaction, but the slight quench of thirst was a new development. Maybe, he was clueless on what he will say to her? Scared? Regret? A tint of jealousy in the sundae of hormones  running into his system?

He doesn't have any conclusion before someone cleared their throat. He hears it - or her, he concluded. Her tune, voice and Lily. 

Lily. 

"Yes?" 

He wanted to slap himself. The squeak of his voice made the situation worse from his perspective.

Damian looked at her face before going down to the plain sight of his arm table. He didn't miss the sight of the slight pink tint on her lips nor can he forget the infamous red beaded earrings she wears everyday. The bun she bundles her hair with matures her feature, a woman he describers her as. 

"I'm sorry but class has already ended," she tells him and he nodded. "You need to leave."

There wasn't any harshness of her tone, it was simply there as a reminder and he took it no matter the intention. Eyes facing down and so was his chest, he ignored the gaze from a classmate he still hasn't remember their name. A smirk he glimpses before it was wiped away and on his classmate went in distracting Lily.

Leaving him, alone. Afraid, panicky, and jealous.

He sees her as his inspiration. A person who helps him stand tall, face forward and never looking back at the past. Now, with everything he learned from afar. He wanted to walk towards her direction and confess his feelings. 

But it takes more than flowery words to get her to look at his direction. Not when, she, herself, is on the verge of a breakdown.

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