“I heard of the fight yesterday. It's unfortunate about the two students hospitalized. I'm worried deeply about them.” Mr. Otters said, showing a pitiful figure. However, a flash of coldness flickered in his eyes as he secretly scanned the two youth's faces.
Traces of anger crept on Wayne's face as he shot Bryan a dangerous look. Bryan on the other hand was completely indifferent with a blank look. However, only he knew how shocked he was internally, looking at the seemingly aggrieved man cautiously.
He sounded distraught to illicit a response from our expressions, determining our state of mind to best bend us to his will. The coldness in his eyes for a split second settled it. What a scary guy! I knew he was a slippery snake, but I didn't think to this extent. I don't even blame the hot-headed gorilla falling for his act. This sort of approach is from someone experienced. If I play my cards right, I'll have a potential contact.
He thought in a few breaths, keeping his blank face. He then responded briefly with an unwavering resolution.
I'm sorry Mr. Otters, I was only defending myself for standing up for myself. If I didn't, they would have taken advantage of a poor student.” Bryan similarly put on an act, taking the moral high ground.
On the surface, this conversation was very straightforward. Though deep down, it was like a game of chess. Probing the other person, devising strategies, and counter attacking. One wrong move and it was checkmate. This principal and student were playing a game of chess with their words, seeing who would slip up first.
Silence momentarily enveloped the room. Just as Wayne was about to retort, Mr. Otters raised his hand to stop him. He stared at Bryan's face, trying to decipher anything noticeable. After a while, he sighed deeply and said in a deep voice.
“I understand, I will suspend those students until further notice. Wayne, don't pick on him from now on or there will be consequences. It might damage your father's reputation if he caught wind of this. You too, Bryan, don't go too far in the name of 'self-defense'. You both may go to the auditorium for the weekly assembly.” Mr. Otters made a swatting gesture as if getting rid of a couple of flies. Under Wayne's stunned expression, Bryan swiftly got up and left the room instantly. Wayne stared at Mr. Otters for half a minute before reluctantly exiting his office.
***
After both left, Mr. Otters stared at the door of his office with a faint smile.
He saw through me and didn't even flinch. What an amusing kid…
The elder sat there with his hands interlocked, his chin resting on them as he stared at his door in silence.
***
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The auditorium was a full house. The rows of seats surrounded the stage in a semi-circle. Whispers could be heard from the seats, begrudgingly waiting and passing the time. Some people were already snoring away, deep in their fantasies. What they all didn't know was this assembly ending a little differently…
Bryan sat in the middle of the audience. He turned his head slightly right, finding the person he was looking for in a second. Emily was sitting in the front row. She was happily chatting with a couple of girls around her, oblivious to what's around her. She didn't notice the gazes of longing and fervor from the surrounding men. Bryan looked on apathetically before turning away, waiting for the assembly to start.
Bryan wasn't averse to the idea of romance. However, he hated shallow love, which could crumble away in the next second. Although he had never fallen in love, he had a clear idea on how it worked. With his twisted personality and lack of empathy, he had a small chance of attracting someone. His relationships would amount to just casual sex friends at most to gain some something he needed before severing ties, which he knew very well. Whether his lifestyle would change, was an unfathomable mystery.
A figure walked towards the stage, quieting down the students. Seeing this, Bryan threw his concerns aside, to which he focused his full attention towards the front. His face had a creepy smile from ear to ear, like a pumpkin for Halloween. He eagerly anticipated what was coming. The surrounding students didn't notice this oddity.
“Hello everyone and welcome to this week's assembly. Let's start off by…”
On the stage was Mr. Rogers with a confident, laid-back smile. His dignified air attracted the blushes of a couple of girls in the audience, while the men looked on with contempt. He was narrating the events going to happen the following week at a leisurely pace. His mellowed voice reverberated throughout the auditorium. Roughly after an hour, Mr. Rogers concluded the last event with newfound enthusiasm which perked everyone up, making them raptly listen with attention.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“This Friday, I'm hosting a field trip to the heart of the city to take a tour. Where, you might ask? At the most famous information data tower in the world, Zenith!” He exclaimed with his arms wide open embracing the audience, basking in the spotlight shining down on him.
Everyone showed excited expressions, even the guys' contempt changed to an excited look as well. Hearing these words, Bryan sank into contemplation, internally recalling all the information he got from his memories about the Zenith.
Zenith is the largest database, holding almost ninety percent of networks, information, and data of the country. It's certified to be the safest, highly protected place in the world! It's not an exaggeration to say Zenith basically is the heart of the Zain itself. If I hack into there, I'll basically have information on every single person in Zain. I'll have access to every network and security system. I can even get classified intel.
Zain was the country he was in, which he learned from his memories.
Owning the Zenith, was like owning the country! From there, he could devise plans to take on other countries, eventually ruling the world!
Bryan's ambition ignited, burning away any worries he had. The only thing on his mind was thinking of the endless possibilities if he owned such a place. However, he considered how many people have attempted what he was dreaming about, only to be imprisoned or even executed once they failed. Bryan knew this, but he still couldn't suppress the want for such a place, no matter how difficult it would be. Bryan never had a proper goal in his previous life, aimlessly wandering around until dying a pointless death. However, his ambition had been ignited as of this moment. He had something to work towards now, despite it being impossible at the moment.
Still focused on Mr. Rogers, Bryan pulled out a miniature television remote. He inconspicuously pointed it at the screen displaying information about the field trip. He smiled coldly as he thought internally.
The Zenith is still a long ways ahead of me, I'll take my first step as a hacker. I don't care if I'm labeled a cyberterrorist or whatever. I will control my fate, not someone else. It all starts here!
Bryan exclaimed in his mind as he pressed the button in the middle of the remote.
What was on the screen changed abruptly…
The screen flickered before cutting to black. Mr. Rogers, who was on stage, turned back to the screen in confusion. The rest did the same. Conversations started to fill the auditorium while Mr. Rogers attempted to quiet them down. Bryan, who was amidst the chattering crowd, smirked slightly at the panicking Mr. Rogers.
The show begins now!
Bryan narrowed his eyes to the front, seemingly waiting for something. The screen turned on once again. Everyone looked back at the screen, glimpsing at an unforgettable sight…
It was a video. Two silhouettes could be seen in the frame. It was dark, only a single streetlamp flickered nonstop, illuminating parts of the scene on the bench. It was Mr. Rogers and Amy making out while touching each other incessantly. Both their faces could be seen; Mr. Rogers had a lecherous grin, while Amy had a deep red blush on her cheeks, smiling shyly. They grew more intimate as they stripped their clothes one by one. The video continued until they finished the deed.
The screen changed once again as emails, messages, and pictures started to appear. The sideshow of private messages depicted their special relationship. What seemed to be a minute, felt like an eternity as everyone kept their eyes glued to the screen in shock. Not blinking once.
…
It was silent, almost peaceful if it weren't for the tense ambience. The students and faculty gazed at the two ghastly pale people with dumbfounded looks. Amy sat in the far-left, trembling. Her head hung low with shame as she closed her eyes, wishing she could disappear. Mr. Rogers was on his knees staring at the black screen absent-mindedly. His hands curled up subconsciously into fists, digging his nails into his palms, a trickle of blood made its way down his hand. The silence ensued for a while before someone shouted from the audience.
“Someone get rid of these two scums!”
Of course, it was Bryan. His shout roused everyone from their trance. Some pinched themselves. Nevertheless, when they looked at the pair of student and teacher, they realized it was not a dream. Everyone started to clamor about, the rest of the faculty shouted at the disorganized crowd, trying to regain control. It took a while before the chaos calmed, everyone returned to their classrooms except Amy and Mr. Rogers.
A solemn air enveloped the entire school, awaiting the announcement on what would happen next. People whispered to each other endlessly about what happened.
“Was it real?”
“I'm not sure, but I think so?”
“Amy is in the video?”
“Mr. Rogers is such a creep!”
“To think I looked up to him. Tsk.”
“Gross.”
As rumors started to fly around the school, the person responsible had his arms crossed with an amused expression. Bryan was laid-back watching everything, like seeing a movie. After a while, the speaker turned on and a gloomy voice resounded.
“After the events following today's assembly, The principal had decided to fire the teacher involved in this incident. The police will be arriving shortly. As for the student involved, she's suspended until further notice. We are looking into this thoroughly and who was behind it. For today and tomorrow, you may go home.”
After the announcement, the students started to file out as they whispered to each other more than before. The announcement gave birth to more rumors, as the mysterious person who broadcasted everything remained unknown. Affected by the atmosphere, no one talked too loudly. However, the mysterious person in question was not affected by it whatsoever, calling out to a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair.