#Chapter 24:Free Day From Collage
Jack's POV, Next morning
I sat in my desk with my hands atop the silver surface, my head resting on my arms and I fell asleep right there. I didn't get good sleep last night since I was working on an exam for my online college and I only got three hours of sleep when I was done. I was also checking students' papers, rescheduling lessons, and a ton more to do. Jumbling tasks and keeping my eyes open in the late hours gave me a headache, but I swallowed some painkillers and just kept it up. But I at least squeezed in time for breakfast so I had some energy to face the day
This was all because of Beth. Even though she wasn't caring about me right now, her presence itself was doing things to me. That thing I saw yesterday had me crushed, like I got stomped with a shoe with extra thick soles.
The platinum blond had been avoiding me for a long while now, but her face still appeared in alot of my dreams, haunting me and never letting me rest in peace.
There had to be a reason why she was avoiding me, but I didn't know what and it was a long time ago since I screwed up. She didn't trust me either
A smack at my back jolted me awake. I turned to see Tadashi with hands on his hips.
"Man, you look like shit today," he chuckled
"Thanks," I replied sarcastically.
He pulled a chair to sit next to me, examining my dreary form with fingers holding his chin. I gave him a 'what?' look, and he curved a smirk
"Got love problems don't 'cha?"
I rolled my eyes and buried my face again. "Stick your nose somewhere else. Not in the mood for this."
"Hey, just want to help you out, okay? A problem between you and Beth maybe?"
"I told you, stay out of my business."
"'Kay then, if you say so. But contact me when you want someone to talk to. You seriously look dead everyday now and you might need someone around in case you're gonna faint."
"Fine."
Our conversation ended and the senior teachers went in for us to begin our morning discussions. As we were busy talking about the upcoming prom night, the computers suddenly blinked on and fuzzed, the screen bursting with hazy colors. The LED TV connected to them was doing the same thing. The room erupted in panic, but the glitching then calmed down, the fuzz clearing out to reveal a figure of a person. The silhouette was all we could see since whoever it is wore a black hood and jacket to hide their identity.
"Morning teachers of Corona University. Pardon for any interruption, but there is no need to worry. I'm only connecting this live to the teacher's system. The rest of the campus shall remain oblivious to this conversation."
The voice was very heavy. The person must have used a voice system to fabricate what he or she truly sounded like
"Perhaps you don't know me, or recognize me, but let me give you a small warning."
That second, the door busted open and a girl appeared.
Beth
She rushed to a table and pulled out a laptop before turning it on, then unattached a plug from a nearby computer to hers. Typing quickly, she got out a pair of Bluetooth headphones. She fitted it to her head and moved a microphone before her lips
"A new era shall begin soon. Every tech industry will crumble, I'll make sure of it. Along with this university and it's campus."
"What are you planning, Sea Witch?!" Beth bellowed. Her voice caught a lot of the teachers by surprise, but it seemed that she knew the situation more than any of us so we kept silent
Did Beth know this person?
The so-called Sea Witch stared blankly for a moment, before bursting into cackles. "I didn't expect that 'The Queen' attends college right here! What a discovery. Nice to meet you anyway."
"You're not answering my question, S.W." Beth said in a dropped voice. She kept typing silently, but almost stopped as she might have found something. Her eyes were wide.
Sea Witch chuckled again. "Do you truly think I'd tell you, Queen? This is something for me to know and for you to find out on your own. You should be grateful that I left hints."
"You're wrong about that S.W. I don't need those hints or your stupid words. You're just stalling so you can steal Corona's important datas and private bank accounts so you could use the money as you please," the blond teen said. "The thing is, you won't have your chance. Our chat ends here," she pressed the Enter button, "Goodbye S.W."
Every screen in the room kept vibrating and shaking wildly, as if the images inside are trying to break free. An ear-bleeding sound screeched from the TV, and everything stopped.
Everyone in the room gawked at the now empty TV screen, dumbfounded. Beth packed up whatever she got out and slung it over one shoulder before going out the door, apologizing for interrupting anything beforehand.
It was all so much to process, and we all continued to talk about with caution and continuous glances to the television screen
The meeting ended and the teachers arranged for a small, teachers-only party in the auditorium to commemorate senior teachers who will retire soon. Some were setting up the auditorium and the rest went out to buy food and drinks
I excused myself to the bathroom as the other teachers where shooing the students from university to go home. I wasn't feeling well and I was glad Tadashi stayed true to his word and kept me company. I removed my glasses and splattered water to my face. I rubbed my face with a towel, and after I pulled the piece of fabric away my vision blurred and blackened and whitened. My headache was getting worse so I popped in a few more painkillers in my mouth
Staring down the sink, I felt something drop on my palm before running down along the line of my wrist. I turned off the faucet so I knew it wasn't water. My eyes lifted to the mirror and I cursed when I saw fresh blood dripping from one of my nostrils
Great, my nose was bleeding.
I hurriedly slipped a tissue from a box provided and wiped it over my nose before twisting an end and put it in. The blood streamed out still and even my hands were beginning to get dirty. I hissed in frustration
This was going to take a while.
Beth's POV
Wilbur were demonstrating to me the proper ways to strum a guitar. Holding our guitars and letting our fingers move, we joked and talked like how we usually would until recess was done.
This time was a bit of a challenge for me though because I was using my father's old guitar. Wilbur had stopped playing his guitar and went to a corner to poke spider webs with a stick.
I picked the strings to the song 'Clarity', when I felt something threadlike brushing against my neck. I turned to see the eight tiny black eyes of a spider as big as a palm. I squealed loudly and was responded with a laugh from Wilbur.
"Gotcha!"
"Not funny Wilbur! You know I hate spiders!" I hissed.
Wilbur didn't feel sorry at all. He kept laughing like a possessed chipmunk and rolled around the floor.
"I bet it's the first time you squealed like that!"
Listening to Wilbur's laughter had this happy virus effect. I couldn't stay mad. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
The two of us kept throwing each other bickers and banters, but halted as my phone's ringtone blasted.
I picked it up. "Hello?"
"Beth! Something's going on in the teacher's office! S.W's at it again!" Tadashi's voice whispered to my ear.
He hang up before I could even react
"Beth? C'mon, let's keep jammin'!" Wilbur called from the other end of the room. A guitar was in his hold, it's strings brushed by amateur fingers. But Wilbur wasn't so bad for a teacher.
"Sorry Wil, but we gotta pause for today. Something came up."
Wilbur stopped his fingers and gazed over my face. "I know that look. Go ahead then. Something important right?"
Nodding, I ran towards him and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back.
I broke the hug. "Have I ever told you that you're one of my best of friends?"
Wilbur smiled delightfully wide as he watched me lift my bag. "I'm one of the best, huh?"
"There's two more who has a special place in my life. Oh, and keep the guitar safe for me!" I shouted as I ran out of the classroom.
I spotted Wilbur pointing two fingers to his brow in a salute.
I ran up the stairs, my feet escalating in speed every step I take. They carried me past students, sprint through corners, and finally into the teacher's office.
The men and women there were surprised to see me bursting in, but I didn't spare time for am explanation. I went to the nearest computer, thankfully Tadashi's computer, and unplugged the main cable connecting the television screen and CPU
I insert the plug in a slot from my laptop and I activated JIRDA. I ordered her to detect the voice's sound waves and scout the source, then operate my imperfect program to scan for any virus or if there were any unwanted program running. I switched on my Bluetooth headphones to adjusted them on the crown of my head, then directed the head of a microphone to my mouth.
Right after the shadowy figure on the screen finished whatever bullshit that came out of her mouth, I spoke up.
"What are you planning, Sea Witch?!" I bellowed. My voice caught a lot of the teachers by surprise, but it seemed that they didn't understand the situation any more than I do so they kept their lips zipped
The figure roared a laugh. Although the person had pitched her voice much lower, I could never mistake the pattern of it's sickening cackle
Not that she truly knew who I was. She was still using my nickname
In the cyber world, I was known as 'The Queen.' Which is why S.W. called me that.
"You're not answering my question, S.W." My voice dropped as low as a growl, but sure enough my warnful undertone did not get through her head. She kept laughing and tipped herself in her seat till her head touched the floor.
I would have a lot more respect for her if she didn't act like some wannabe, ten man one-nighter.
"Miss, I've found something you should see," JIRDA called me. My eyes went wide as I look toward the screen.
Sea Witch chuckled again. "Do you truly think I'd tell you, Queen? This is something for me to know and for you to find out on your own. You should be grateful that I left hints."
I rolled my eyes. What nerve!
"You're wrong about that S.W. I don't need those hints or your stupid words. You're just stalling so you can steal Corona's important datas and private bank accounts so you could use the money as you please," I scoffed, and programmed JIRDA to do some blocking on the virus, connection, and attack from a different direction. "The thing is, you won't have your chance. Our chat ends here," I pressed the Enter button, "Goodbye S.W."
She let out an ear-piercing sound all the computers glitched out of control, before finally common to a stop. I pulled the cable back, put my laptop and headphones back in my backpack, and walked straight to the door. Not forgetting to bid my leave and a word of apology for any interruption.
I went straight to the park to feel a vibration from my jean pocket. I pulled my phone from there to see a message from Tadashi.
'Nice one sis! 2 thumbs for u! Srry I can't drive u home 2day cuz I got a meet with other teachers. But I put the car keys into ur backpack. Go & drive home, but come back again at 6 or 7.30pm to pick me up ok?'
-Tadashi ?-
I responded with a short message and searched for the car keys. After finding them I went to the car and drove safely home, thinking back of how pale Jack was when my eyes glanced to his direction. My mind had always told me to forget him, for his own good, but my heart would not listen. Which was new.
Since when did I ever listen to my heart over my head?
'I hope he's okay' I thought, pressing the gas pedal to a fast speed down the road
Ayee a new chapter! imma so exited about this!
better prepare everybody because the next chap is gotta blast! #Imeanit
If there's something wrong with this story or maybe the plot is a little bit confusing just tell me! but please, no harsh words ^^ because sometimes I really bad at plots etc so yeah, I want to fix my skill so please if any of you have a suggestion, error on the story, or anything else just tell me! I'm fully open for that :)
I suggest you to read from the beginning of the story if you a late update readers
sayonara!
Elaine