Clea Luizon elegantly pressed the last key for the piece, ending her piano performance with a sound so beautiful and harmonious with the previous notes. A smile blossomed from her perfectly shaped cherry lips, her eyes twinkling with intelligence and charm turned to the crowd on her left side.
It was a good start to a peaceful Monday.
Inside the music room of the eleventh-grade building, students madly clapped to Clea's piano performance. The girl was really befitting of her goddess title. As she sat in front of the piano with her hands still resting on top of the keys, she looked so beautiful and ethereal. Even Wendy, who was leaning on the wall opposite the piano with her arms folded, gave a smile and a nod as to convey her awe to her friend.
"Clea is really good in piano. When she performs, be it casually like this, she exudes so much charm that I bet everyone listening is falling in love."
Clea turned her head to the nerdy who spoke before she cheekily grinned. "I heard that! Thanks! But does it mean you're falling for me now, Sofony?"
Wendy laughed at her blushing best friend and chimed in, "Dear Clea, please don't tease this thin-faced lady of ours. And close your mouth again so that her beautiful impression of you will restore."
Under every excited bystander's watch, the three girls started their chats as they killed time. The first subject period was still at least fifteen minutes away.
"Are you saying I'm not beautiful with my mouth open?" Clea suddenly pouted and directed a pitiful gaze to the crowd. A few of her fans started consoling and assuring her that she looked perfect no matter what she does. Sofony giggled, 'Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder.'
The wavy-haired beauty annoyingly admitted Clea's fans' claim in her head but rolled her eyes outwardly. "So early in the morning and you're acting like this."
"What do you want me to do otherwise? It's Sofony who pestered me to play a piece. It's Chopin's Spring Waltz, aka Marriage D'Amour. How is it?"
"If you're asking me who Chopin is, I can still probably recite some stuff about his life and works. But since you're asking me about the music itself, all I can say is you played it beautifully and well. You're great. In-depth analysis, sorry I can't say much. You must know that my brain has little to do with music. Just like how your brain is much more receptive to gossips and nonsense."
"You're saying I'm only good at gossiping? Are you sure you are in the position to advise me to close my mouth when yours is so stinky as well?"
"I'm afraid no honest mouth is stinky."
"Wow, now you're implying I only know how to spread nonsense and lies. Wendy Gomez, I hate you!!!!!!!!"
Sofony whose hair was rarely tied up today laughed at the childish exchanges and interjected, "Wendy also said you're great in music, Clea. You must know this Miss Number One of ours rarely complimented people."
"Because she mostly criticizes people. But yeah, I remember her saying I played beautifully." Clea made face at them and then went back to playing her piano. Wendy inwardly laughed at the woman. Obviously, Clea's feeling happy, but was shy to admit it.
As the piano goddess of the campus played, Sofony raised a voice in admiration, "It's so fast! Her fingers are practically flying on the keyboard. What is the title of this piece?"
The girl next to her helplessly shrugged. Wendy's never into classical music so it was not a surprise that she didn't know. Sofony was also a classical music idiot so she was no better, if not worse.
Fortunately, a kind person from the Music Club kindly answered her question. "It's Islamey: Oriental Fantasy. The original composer is Milij Balakirev."
"Ah, okay." Seeing how Sofony nodded and smiled at him, the kind music club student blushed and lowered his head.
"The sound is playful but still nice to the ears." Wendy, who had little knowledge about music, smilingly and unprofessionally commented. The girl beside her started clapping her hands as the pianist closed her eyes but still perfectly nailed the keys to produce a piece of beautiful music.
Minutes passed that they were all engrossed with the sounds filling the music room. It strangely complemented the clear skies that could be seen outside the glass windows. As the happy music continued reverberating, a few birds cheerfully chirped as they danced around the trees and branches, the gentle wind swayed the thin twigs, leaves, and flowers outside. At that moment, everyone felt how beautiful and peaceful the world is. Even Sofony couldn't help but smile.
'Hehe.' Sofony giggled and this was the first time that she did. Mostly, it was the other way around. The system was always laughing at her as it made her do stupid tasks.
'You getting senile? Where else can I spend my Points?'
'Yup. Increasing Luck has been the most painful though. And I'm down to 783 Points after I upgraded Hypnotism so fervently. Anyways, you're strangely complimenting me huh. What have you eaten?to suddenly become like that?'
'...You're the stupid one. When I asked what you have eaten to become like that, I'm pertaining to what has gotten into you to make you suddenly praise my distribution of points.'
Sofony let out a 'hehe' in her head, making sure the system heard the gloating and sarcasm on it. After that, she summoned her user interface.
**********
Name: Sofony Mendez
Official Name: Host 137 (Immoral System)
Level: 1
Age: 18
Pleasure Points: 783
=ATTRIBUTES (Basic Human - 10)=
Strength: 20
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 18 (20) -> 22
Dexterity: 20
Charm: 21
Luck: 20
=SKILLS=
* Studying - A
* Lovemaking - D
* Singing - E
* Dancing - F-
* Acting - D
* Cooking - B
* House Management - C+
* Hypnotizing - B+
* Makeup Application - D
********
'I'm aware. I don't regret it. And actually, I still feel iffy about having Hypnotism as my second highest graded skill. After using it to her, I felt like it's not much needed anymore. It's not like I can parade in school hypnotizing teachers to give me a very high grade, or in a supermarket to trick the salesladies that I already paid for a thousand worth of goods. It's immoral but stupid. Records can't be falsified.'
'I prefer to be as law-abiding as possible.'
Sofony felt angry and refuted, 'It's hypnosis! It's different! She consented and is not against it! Brainwashing is different because it's done against somebody's will!'
When she heard this, her eyes roamed around and like what the system said, a few were looking at her oddly. It seemed like she had been too transparent about her feelings. Really not good. Fortunately, Wendy was engrossed with the piano sounds so she didn't notice.
With a sigh, she raised her Acting to D- as that was the only upgrade she could afford with her current points. Then she made sure to compose her expression.
She looked regretfully to her 383 Points. What could she even buy with this? Probably she should leave this as is as she feared there would be some unforeseen circumstances in the future.
'System, I realize a few things. It's making me hate you for not informing me about this. But I notice that you can really do everything. Be it selling information or anonymously spreading videos on the internet.'
Sofony shook her head inwardly. 'No, I don't deny I've been slow to everything. Anyways, how's my request to anonymously give Floyd's whereabouts to the police? And what about that record which I requested to be cut out? Is it already sent?'
She was referring to the audio captured around the time that bastard committed the crime against the dead teacher. A day after settling Felicity's issue, she reviewed the recordings her devices captured and heard some clues from it cementing the fact that Floyd Cruz killed Agatha Geere. Even though the latter part consisting of Floyd's conversation with his system got censored by the main system, at least the part featuring his voice and infuriating words were there. Actually, before Sofony let the system sent that clip, she long hesitated. The reason was not how so many female teachers, like Ms. Wayne and even the vice principal, were mentioned as his sexmates in school. When she heard that enumeration part in the audio, she only got stunned for a while but recovered a minute after. The real reason she hesitated was Agatha's last moments in her life. Sofony thought... that if the husband heard that, he would be very heartbroken.
Sofony secretly let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she had one less thing to worry about.
Hopefully, the police could arrest that scum immediately. She still remembered how gloomy the scene last Friday at the funeral of the deceased teacher was. Thinking of what Mrs. Geere suffered from the hands of that Floyd, she really wanted him to pay for his crimes as soon as possible. She was even hoping for him to get a death penalty.
Once this thought crossed over, she momentarily stilled then smiled wryly. The hypocrite her. Floyd and she were essentially the same.
When she realized this, she wondered how her punishments would be like in the future. Surely it would also be quite bad. Karma is a very frightening thing after all. She wouldn't be surprised if she also ends up jailed or dead in the streets. It was quite frightening. But for now, she would not think of it. The music she's hearing now is beautiful. She likened it to life and thought that since it doesn't last long, there should be no problem enjoying it to the fullest.
She closed her eyes and began to reflect. A gentle smile appeared from her lips. The others who saw were probably enchanted by that small gesture, but nobody realized the self-mockery from it. Only Sofony knew. With the system hastening her descent to the black area, she reckoned that in the near future, she would not be able to appreciate life this way anymore. With the case being like this, she learned to appreciate every beautiful thing she could encounter while she's still sane and grey.
"Sofie, correct me if I'm wrong. But last time you told me you now have a sister, right? And that today is her first day in fourth-year junior high?"
Sofony opened her eyes gently and blinked at Wendy's question. It only came upon her today. She was correct. Her sister Steffy, who she presented to people as a cousin and a mountain landslide survivor from a village in the Cotton Province, was now enrolled in their school. Since both of them no longer have any remaining relatives, they would be tending and caring for each other from now on. She enrolled this new sister of her to her school so that it would be easier for her to monitor her and help out when necessary.
She remembered when she was turning in all the documents needed for Steffy's transferring to the admin, the system laughingly taunted her for being so courageous. Sofony was aware of the reason, but she told herself it would be okay because she has faith in her newly gained abilities.
Recalling what took place a while ago, she exhaled then replied. "I already toured Steffy around before escorting her to her new class adviser. It's surprisingly Mrs. Santiago." Her eyes went to Wendy. "Do you remember her? She's our Language teacher last year."
"Yup, I do. Anyway, I'm hoping your sister won't find it hard to adapt."
"Her adviser will surely take good care of her. I believe in her. I mean, Mrs. Santiago. She's a nice teacher. She's second only to Mrs. Geere in my list of favorite teachers," Sofony said in laughter.
"Mrs. Santiago, huh? Actually, my greatest impression of her is that she's very good in fashion, and her looks are younger than her age. I admire her, and I hope that when I grow up and reach my thirties, I'll be like her, still looking ten years younger."
Sofony gladly followed up."Mrs. Santiago's husband is probably very proud to have a beautiful wife like her."
"I bet. If I were a man, I'll shout to the world that I'm the luckiest."
"That's exaggerated." Sofony giggled. "But really, the first time I saw her, I thought she's a celebrity."
Wendy suddenly commented out of the blue. "Their nights should be very hot, right. Mrs. and Mr. Santiago, I mean."
"Wendy!"
"Oh? Haha, you get it? Oh my! I'm so happy for you! You're not slow today."
"Y-you're speaking nonsense! Your mouth!"
Wendy stuck out her tongue as she laughed, "My mouth is still a mouth. What?"
The two bickering friends were close to the piano. Clea, who finally could not stand being distracted by the two, hissed in annoyance and heavily pressed on the keys using her two hands. She did it so heavily that the notes produced sounded so violent and chilling. The gossip queen slash piano goddess suddenly turned her music murderous while glaring at Wendy and Sofony. Everyone could only watch in awe as the two shut up. They first looked confused, even quizzically staring at Clea, but once they got pinned by a murderous glare from the latter, they epically turned into scared mice afraid of a furious cat. Wendy looked away. Sofony hid behind the other.
Nobody had ever imagined that music could make this kind of scene. It was actually possible. Look, Miss Number One also wasn't able to say a word again.
Even though the other students had their jaws dropped to the ground, they still all felt amazed, their respects for Clea got elevated to a new height.
Remember to not distract the piano beauty when playing her music!
Everyone near or in the music room etched this to their hearts.
......