Chương 42: Falling Curtain (2)

The next day, September 4, Wednesday.

Two great news shocked the Holy Child Academy.

The first bombed them early in the morning and didn't truly give them its intended result until it was paired up with the second one and later caused the management to be put in a difficult and complicated situation.

"This is really unbelievable. I don't know anymore what's happening to our academy."

"Yeah, even I was very shocked. I mean, just this Thursday, everyone is still full of energy and expectation about the upcoming School Fest. My class is even planning to hold a small party to celebrate after the fest is over. Unfortunately the next day, Teacher Agatha died and the culprit is still not apprehended. It is just very sad."

"I totally agree, girl. The rich Cruz family refused to give everyone an explanation. It's obvious that their heir, that damn Floyd, is the killer. I think they are secretly hiding that bastard because they don't want him to get jailed. Serves them right that their businesses and companies are taking hits after hits. I hope they totally become bankrupt."

"Everyone is cursing them to end up like that. And that's for Teacher Agatha. This Monday, those videos got spread into the community so people have been busily criticizing Felicity Dimatrionez for being such a .... how to say the word... I honestly don't like her but when I heard what happened to her, I can't help feeling a bit of pity."

"Speaking of Felicity, her case made me feel the shivers. Ugh, our school is really accursed now. Yesterday her pictures were posted on the bulletins and many people saw her sexily making out with five people in different videos. Of course, everyone is disgusted. But when I thought of how this morning she is expelled, how it was announced in great fanfare of the school, I felt that she still should not have ended up like that."

"You only feel that way because you heard what occurred to her this afternoon."

"Fine. I admit. Tch. Tch. I don't what exactly took place. But now, many people are planning to visit her memorial. And girl, this is crazy. How would we know that yesterday we were still pointing fingers at her, but today, we would have to pay her our condolences."

"Maybe Miss Wendy is correct. Perhaps there's really a reason behind what happened to her. Or maybe she's just been too depressed."

"People stop. I don't think it's a good thing to talk about a dead person. Her parents already said that she committed suicide and that her body is already cremated. Let's just give her our blessings and pray for her peace."

"It's very sudden, but, right."

"Right, I agree."

Inside the publication room, a bespectacled girl was sitting soullessly on a chair in front of a computer. It was the Editor in Chief Gilla Broe. Her recent sex-mate Miggs sat next to her, hugging her from behind.

"I'm sorry, Chief. It's my fault."

Gilla started shaking her head. But her eyes still had no luster in them, like a worn out metal that could not even reflect the tiniest light. Both she and Miggs were being consumed by guilt. Two days ago, they did something inconceivable to the facts that got circulated online, blowing the things out of proportion. Despite knowing that everybody already knows before they published it, the thought that they could have been the reason for Felicity's suicide and death ate away at their mind, soul and conscience.

"I'm sorry, Felicity. I didn't know things would become like this. I'm really sorry. Please forgive me..."

"Blame me, I shouldn't have rushed here to share the news with you. If not for my stupidity you won't become like this, Chief."

"...No. You tried to stop me. So you're blameless. It's me who kept on clinging to my jealousy and love for posting bad articles to every bulletin. I even had threatened a good boy like you. I'm sorry. Felicity, rest in peace please..."

Eleventh grade's Section B was the most gloomy and saddest of all. Floyd's gang who had been very brazen in their actions before were now quietly planning to transfer schools to escape from the disapproving eyes and to help themselves extricate from the guilt. Chris, on the other hand, looked like someone who just had someone dear to him died. In a sense, it was the truth. No matter what occurred to them yesterday, he was still in love with Felicity and could still not forget the years they shared together, so he was the most affected, probably more than Felicity's parents.

How did the news come to them again?

He seemed to remember that it was Sofony Mendez, the school's well known fifth goddess, who announced the matter to the people concerned. Like Felicity's friends, her classmates, school adviser, and administrations. Many students immediately came to know of it due to the fact that it was Sofony Mendez who shared the grim news. She said, as the last person Felicity got to speak with, her parents found Felicity's suicide note addressed to her, asking her to deliver her message to the corresponding people.

When Sofony Mendez appeared in the doorway of their class, she did say how her friend Felicity hanged herself to death and cried to them how Felicity was sorry for the inconveniences she had brought to everybody. That time, everybody got swayed by the gentle nerdy goddess' cries and eventually recalled that Felicity had been a very good classmate to them all this while. However, the appearance of the videos twisted their impression about Felicity Dimatrionez.

Nobody pointed out their doubts at Sofony's words. How did she become much closer to Felicity than her other friends or parents to have Felicity address her last will to her? It was weird. However, nobody questioned it. Even the administrations also didn't stop her from her acts despite her publicly broadcasting a sensitive topic of a schoolmate's death.

Chris, inside his classroom, bawled his eyes out in self-remorse as he digested how his beloved childhood friend died. He was the only one doing that aside from Felicity's girl friends. A few of his classmates gave him a weird and pitying glance as they finally remembered that he was a very close childhood friend of Felicity. Their eyes said 'Maybe he's secretly in love with her. Poor him.'

He didn't mind though, his heart bled so much from self-remorse and loathing as he realized that Felicity might have taken that route due to his merciless declaration yesterday.

Thinking about this, with red eyes and unsteady footsteps, he did his best to catch up with Sofony Mendez who had just walked of their room. His male classmates shook their heads at his deed but did not stop him. They knew, he was very much hurting. Practically everybody who learned of his history with Felicity had guessed his true feelings for the girl.

"Miss Sofony! Please wait!"

As Chris ran, he didn't forget to call out to the girl. Sofony gently turned her head to him and gave him a puzzled look. Some students stopped their side discussions in their classrooms or corridor to watch the spectacle.

"Yes, Mr. Meyer?" Her voice was very soft and enchanting but it had no effect on Chris whose mind was wholeheartedly devoted to Felicity.

"I, I am Felicity's friend since elementary. I don't believe that she didn't leave me any message!" His tone revealed his agitation. As of now, his good looks downgraded into a crying little boy robbed of a very important thing in his life.

The nerdy beauty's beautiful eyes blinked a couple of times. Every normal bystander also blinked at her beautiful subtle movement as they also marveled at her charm and beauty. Then, Sofony widened those eyes, it was as if she just remembered something substantial.

"I see, it seems you are the person."

Chris nervously waited for her next words.

"Felicity didn't really leave a note or letter for you. But when I met up with her yesterday...around 2:45 in the afternoon," she paused and that was just the exact time that Chris' lips parted and eyes widened in disbelief. She even saw more tears slipping out of his red eyes. "She told me, she hoped for her best friend to forget about her and live a very good life. She said, that childhood friend of hers is very good-looking in and out. He deserves a better girl. She's hoping to see him being happier and even getting himself a girlfriend that loves him more than he loves her. I know, she didn't say it, but I know that she also wanted to add that she will watch over him from the heavens."

No sorry or any sort of apologies. Felicity only hoped for him to move and become happy and content in life. She said, be happy...

When Sofony finally walked back to her own classroom, Chris was left there stupidly standing by himself alone. People surrounded him. Some were giving him insults for liking a dead slut, some consoling him. He just stood there, crying and hurting. No one truly understood how he was currently feeling.

'Felicity, I just want to die... Why did you do this? I love you. But why can't we be together? If you can't change, then I can be the one adapting. Felicity, why is our fate this hateful...'

When the afternoon classes ended, Chris encountered Sofony who was with her best friend Wendy. Their paths crossed a few meters away from the crowded gate. Sofony was speaking with somebody over the phone back when he passed her. She was saying, "No, no, Steffy, be comfortable at home. But don't forget to cook dinner and not only eat instant, okay?... I will visit you on weekends. See you, take care, Sis."

He seemed to hear Wendy asking when did Sofony had a sister, and Sofony said the person was a distant relative that she had taken as her new family member. Those were the only details he learned as he Chris didn't listen much. Nothing could interest him in the world anymore. Not at this moment.

He walked home looking like a living corpse, and even his cat Fel was scared. The cat he named after her name hurried out of the house to avoid him, but he didn't even notice. His state perfectly described what a broken-hearted guy is, someone who's heart broke because he had loved and was loved.

.....

Saturday, 10 am.

<System: I firmly believe that your initial Intelligence is the highest you've ever had and that every increase actually downgraded it bit by bit toward the negatives... I'm so pissed off.>

"So you want to say that you sold me trash attribute candies? In short, you've been tricking me all this time of my real interface?"

The soft voice she let out was very playful, probably a result of completing the mission and releasing herself from the Felicity Lover's issue.

Sofony Mendez looked up, she stood so carefreely on the sidewalk while wearing a pure white dress and red high heeled sandals. A fashionable summer hat adorning her flowing hair. In front of her was her apartment, and nothing changed to it compared to the last time she appeared here, maybe aside from a few layers of paint turning older in time.

Sofony had just been dropped here by the cab whose driver goodnaturedly didn't make her pay. When her head was raised up after coming out of the cab, the green painted iron railing of the balcony greeted her eyes. On the spot she knew was opposite to her apartment's door, a girl with beautiful long hair and fair complexion was standing and waving at Sofony. Her eyes twinkled in joy and her lips flashed a wide smile.

'System, I think I'm not as stupid as before. At least I know now that even though the future missions will make me do immoral acts, I can still dictate how I shall complete it. Like what just happened. I had to snatch Felicity's true love. But it didn't say how to, there's just a time limit. Normally, I could have done what you suggested to me. To seduce that boy in bed, and allowed my body to be soiled more. However, there's also another way, and I chose that very stupid way.'

<System: That's precisely why I doubt how the Intelligence candies increased your Intelligence. If it only didn't come from my shop, I would have left a bad review already.>

'No matter what, at least I completed it. I have less guilt in my heart. After all, guilt and for some cases, regret, are what truly decide whether we just did something immoral. Right now, I don't feel so guilty, not that much, because at least, I've given someone a new life.'

A part of her whispered silently, that she could not allow herself to do the expected way of completing the first mission. She really could not imagine herself being embraced by another man. No matter what, she could only allow one man to have her. Let it be her last form of self-respect, in case she would lose herself in her future journeys.

<System: What? Rejoicing that you slowed down your degradation? Hehe, feel happy now, but you won't be able to keep that up. I know, because in the end, you still killed someone, personally! And there are still quite a few people suffering from all that you have done! Haha, you are still being corrupted!>

Sofony took a breath and realized that she really had a long to go before she could be immune from the System's taunting. She knew it was her fate, though. But it's okay.

Let the future dictates her retribution. It was not or will never be bright enough but the morrow was not that bleak. At least it was not that dark when looking at the girl still smilingly waving her hand at her from above, her hair being played by the playful wind.

"Sis," the girl wearing a simple white blouse and blue long skirt sweetly called out. "Finally you visited me."

"Steffy, careful! Don't lean that much on the balcony. Our apartment's railing is now old!"

The girl named Steffany Mendez playfully stuck out her tongue, then made face to Sofony. "Sis, you're so worrywart. You should drink less coffee."

Sofony shook her head in helplessness at this new sister of hers and gradually climbed the stairs on the left to reach the second floor where her apartment was located. When she appeared on the corridor, Steffy happily jumped at her and gave her a warm smile. Sofony was caught off guard and had even dropped the plastic bags containing a box of donuts to the floor.

"Hey, girl!"

"I miss you, Soffy, is it bad?"

Facing the pouting girl, Sofony blinked but then laughed. "You're being naughty again, Steffy. You be glad that I'm a very kind sister."

Sofony picked up the plastic bag and then walked towards her apartment door. She pushed it open and then entered, Steffy faithfully following.

<System: Tch. Tch. This is a nice scene but seeing her acting like this, I want to vomit. Sadly, immoral system AI's like me can't. But this, so pure, so innocent, and childish, and the face is different due to the 100 Points Face Changer. Still, she's as misleading as ever. She clings to you so much and now I am wondering if she's been into lesbianism.>

Sofony was speechless. Her steps faltered for a second.

'As expected of an Immoral System, your imagination is as amazing as ever.'

<System: You should be thankful for my benevolence today, Host. Piss me off and I'll make you really do a girl. Conveniently, there's one close.>

'... Then probably this will be my chance to lose a limb.'

"Sis, are you going to tour me in the city? You know it's my first time being in a bustling and lively place like this so I was afraid to roam around by myself."

She took two small plates and two forks from the kitchen before she opened the box of doughnuts. "Don't worry, that's my plan today. But let's eat first okay. When we finish sampling some of the flavors, we can stock the rest in the refrigerator. That way you'll have more food to snack on at night."

Steffany Mendez didn't pay much attention to the latter as she was very much ecstatic at being able to tour the city. She immediately hopped over to Sofony's side and started hugging her again.

"Sis is the best! I'm glad I still have you. It would have been perfect if you are living with me here. But too bad, your possessive boyfriend won't let you."

'Girl, he's my man in bed but not my boyfriend.'

To this, Sofony could only laugh awkwardly but in her eyes, hints of relief and satisfaction could be seen, and these did not escape Steffy's eyes as she started to tease her sister about love and heart matters. The system added itself on the fire as it also began to whisper damnable sexy teasings inside her brain.

Even so, for the next hour, the place was filled with waves of laughter and happy discussions between these two sisters.

They were sisters who registered themselves as such just recently, with no real blood relations or whatsoever linking them together.

However, they were sisters because their hearts acknowledge each other. It doesn't matter if it's only been a few couple of days. The system taunted Sofony for forcefully creating this relationship and that she should be guilty of obtaining so many points through Steffy, but Sofony didn't reply to it.

She planned to make it up to Steffy all her life. Since that fateful evening, she made up her mind that she was, and would forever be Steffy's sister.

****************************************************************************************************

Author's note:

Above is exactly 2999 words hehe.

This is already the epilogue of the first act.

Thank you so much for persisting up to this point. It's been a long ride for me. In my head, the story is far from over, and I'm not sure how this will actually end.

I wrote what comes to mind, and not all ideas are great, I know. So I'm so grateful for all the love and support given to me and IS. Thanks for reading my updates even though some are just plain nonsense. XD

Anyways, feel free to comment on how you feel about the whole first arc. Report the plot holes, rant about the stupid system and characters I created. It's okay.

I'll gladly appreciate and respect every opinion. Ciao.

bình luận bình luận của 85

Bình chọn

GỬI QUÀ TẶNG

next chapter

Load failed, please RETRY