Seri's House-
(Seri's POV)
The bell rings.
I make myself and open the door, I see Zeal's manager with…with my orphanage sub-head.
"Hello", I say trying to speak but my voice was still bleak because I had repressed it too much to not cry loudly earlier. I was a mess. I felt embarrassed.
"Hi", the manager says. They sit on the couch and I serve them water.
"We were thinking about you. You are amazing, like your abilities at this age and you should get a fair chance to develop it further."The manager starts.
"Remember Rhea? She is going to the US to study this year. We were thinking of setting you too in US." The sub head says.
"Till we find an institute, you can go back to back to the orphanage."My orphanage sub-head continues speaking,"You have always been fascinated about other countries, this way you can achieve the dream."
He is always bringing up the idea about returning back to the orphanage. I think.
"But sir what about my present school? And for the orphanage, then I'll have to move to the countryside."
"Don't take tension we will arrange it. We will be going now." They stand and start moving towards the gate. I wanted to say against it but no words came out. So I just watched them leave.
I didn't know but I think I was able to see behind this. I felt like they were ripping me of my securities, and sending me back to where I started from. And what if they never really set me in the US? I worked so hard to get admission in this school. Maybe I am wrong, they are just doing it for my good. But I can go the US after I finish school, after all I spent everything I had on it, I have already paid the fee for 3 years in advance. I dial the manager's phone number.
"Hi, actually I was thinking if I could go to the States after school. You know-", I say.
"You don't need to go to the US then, it's fine we will send somebody else." And he cuts the phone abruptly.
I could fell the anger and roughness of his voice. He wasn't happy because I hadn't done as he had. What am I gonna do now?
Maybe time will heal everything. I don't have an option, do I ? I can just study hard.
Maybe this music and all was not meant for. I should be happy for what I've got. It's already 18:32.. I have to get ready for my part-time job. I also have to study hard and complete today's work. I have to also prepare for the test in advance.
I tried every civil way. The anxiety was kicking in again and the voice inside me spoke. No matter I tried to ignore, it always came back. Always.
See yourself ? Again, you are crying. Why does your anger always fall as tears.You know, because of this, people consider you weak. Weak because you cry when you are sad or you are angry. Why can't you control these tears?
See the space beside you. Yes, the stain on the pillow. Remember when Zeal and you were playing cards and he, like the clumsy boy he is, spilled his cola all over the pillow. Maybe you weren't meant to be given these happy moments. Because all I see now is sadness.Nothing else.
"Shut up." I say, to me without realizing.
Like why do they appear even if I try so hard so that they don't appear. Why? I did everything I could. I tried so hard to pass the 4 entrance exams of this school. I studied hard. Then I studied harder for my part time jobs why can't I have a simple life like other children do? Have parents to look after? Have friends?I hate myself. I hate this all.
Outside Saltus International School
A black car stops in front of the gates. After a few minutes the students start dispersing out from the school. Reo sits in the back seat of the car.
"Good Afternoon Sir, How was your day?" his secretary asks.
"It was nice. Let's go straight to the temporary company headquarters." He replies.
"Ok, sir." The secretary says.
Reo takes out his laptop from his bag."When will the building for the main headquarters get ready?", he asks.
"The staff can move into it the next week. I visited it myself today, I have checked everything." The secretary says. Reo hummed in response. He started typing something on his laptop.
"Stop the car." Reo says suddenly.
The secretary gets panicked inside but stops the car along the foot path.
"Come out, I want to talk to you for a minute, leave your phone in the car." He says stepping out. The secretary takes his phone out of his pocket and keeps on the aisle. He proceeds to open the car gate when Reo points to the wristwatch on the secretary's hand.
"That watch too." He says.
The secretary removes his watch and keeps it back in the car.
"I know that my every single step is reported to father. I know about all the cameras, from the ones in the car to the ones in the villa to the ones in my company chamber," he says while looking towards the rear view mirror,"I know my phone, laptops are frequently tapped. I know my watches are used to monitor my location." Reo pauses for a moment and says, "Work with me."
The secretary gives no response.
"I know about the manipulations made with all the companies. And you know it. I have my ways of knowing things even if everyone hides it. Be my partner, I will save you from the Hamyang Black Fund Case." He says.
Reo sees the shock register on the secretary's face before he could hide it. In a bleak voice he replies, "I will work for you."
Reo smirks internally on seeing this. Reo takes out his laptop from the car, types some more and says,"I have disconnected the cameras and everything for a while. Be ready with a response for father in advance." He says.
"Ok". The secretary says.
Reo could feel the tensed voice and why wouldn't he?
"Don't get tensed, you can talk, I'll do nothing to you. You can talk. We are allies now. We have a long way to go." He says.
"Yes sir." The secretary says giving a frieked- smile.
"You know what, I'll just leave here. Postpone the meeting with the Hamyang Bank."
He leaves the laptop on the seat, screen opened and leaves the car with his bag. He starts walking on the the footpath in the direction opposite to the car.
The first page of a 20-page document titled, "Hamyang Bank transactions" was open on the laptop screen. The secretary feels his blood run cold as he reads the page. As soon he presses the 'next slide' icon, the screen starts glitching and ends up being black.
Reo smirks as he thinks about what just happened. He crosses the footpath and walks towards the other side of the road.