Jon Yang liked the university. He liked the simple routines of classes three days a week and the crunch time before finals. He liked the challenges the professors sent his way and his internship under the head of the Business department. It was his oasis away from his demanding parents and troublesome sister.
It was his duty from the tender age of eight to watch over his sister. It didn't use to be a chore until she entered 6th grade. From then on she was nothing but a nightmare. She made outrageous demands despite never showing any effort. There was the constant complaining of any who had something which she didn't. It wasn't even material things. She never lacked for those with her constant fits. She got into a one-sided rivalry with Veronica Shi because the other was smarter and more popular than her.
Jon didn't know what happened to the once earnest child he called sister, but she turned into a vapid girl. He was even more glad to be tied up at university when he learned of the ruckus she caused at her Homecoming. Inciting a fight because she blamed Veronica for stealing her boyfriend and such a fight that both were detained by police. It was an embarrassment to his family's name and to their local business partners.
Yes, he was glad to be tied up at university. He had a Master's program to complete and zero family drama.
"Is she really debating with him?" A strand of conversation caught his attention. There weren't any debates scheduled for the weekend.
"She walked up and claimed his statement was complete bullshit. He asked her why it was bullshit and she went off on him. Now they're in the midst of a debate," another answered with a snicker in their voice. "I don't know who she is, but she has guts to waste time with Atwood. He can be so defensive."
Jon wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose. That was just great. Hayden Atwood. One of the sharpest minds in his department, even a bit of an academic rival of his, but he had one major flaw. He couldn't see the forest through the trees. Short-sighted ventures with big profits were his claim to fame. Now some newbie on campus was engaging him in a debate.
"Today was not the day, Atwood," he grumbled and headed in the direction of the quad. He wasn't going to have his perfectly planned day derailed by his friend. Not when they were supposed to be working on a project in an hour.
…
"Elli!" Angie pulled her friend over as she spotted a small crowd forming. It seemed odd to find something like that on a Saturday especially at the university her brother attended. It was prestigious and catered to the overly smart or the ultra-rich. A gathering like that would be conceivable on a weekday, but on a weekend, there had to be something extra special.
Elyse blinked at her friend and shook her head. "We're on a deadline," she reminded, something in her comforted by the impulse of Angie's to check something out. It would appear she was still confused about her friend's sudden changes.
Angie sniffed at her and firmly took hold of her hand. "Anything strange and unusual is worth investigating," she responded with a serious voice.
The two girls approached the crowd and found it consisted of mostly girls, all of whom had their sights glued to the owner of a pristine and charismatic voice.
"And that is how I'm going to finally make millions," the voice boasted as he gestured towards a notice board. "So, ladies. Does that make me more impressive than some kid born with a silver spoon?"
"Atwood! What do you mean by that?" Someone questioned. "Isn't that some group proposal?"
This caused the crowd to erupt into a chorus of whispers.
The look on Atwood's face twisted into a fierce scowl as he stared down whoever questioned him. "It may be a group project, but it's reasonable for those who truly need help to get it. The grant will be given to whoever impresses the investors, it's not about the project as a whole."
Angie and Elli stood at the edge as they observed the interaction. It appeared like a bunch of seniors were competing for something. Angie wasn't surprised to find something like that. She would guess Atwood attended the university on his own merit in comparison to some students who were "born with a silver spoon" as he put it. She couldn't fault him for his attitude, but to be boasting to his classmates before any results were produced left a sour taste in her mouth. She turned to observe her friend and saw her regarding the scene with a mocking smile.
Elli's father, Andrew Ryu, managed to bring his smalltown construction company to Chicago by securing government contracts. He took those large sums of money from the contracts and reinvested them in select areas of Chicago. Andrew Ryu's name became associated with every niche shopping district hidden away in Chicago. He either owned a 5% share of one business or they rented out space from one of his buildings. A steady heart and mind allowed him to achieve such success.
Andrew Ryu detested nothing more than people the likes of Atwood. The types who were too busy looking for what they wanted to realize where they were standing. That attitude was extended to his daughter as well. Except, unlike her father, Elli was bolder.
"Like hell, it wouldn't be about the project!" Elli pushed her way forward. "What kind of self-righteous prick are you?" She huffed.
Angie remained silent as Atwood's face bloomed into a shade of red which appeared splotchy on his baby face. She resisted the urge to snicker at the image in front of her. There was Elli, young and elegant, standing before Atwood, who was partially disheveled from being abruptly knocked off his pedestal.
"I don't recognize you," he retorted after recovering a modicum of calm. "So, what would you know about this project?"
"It's common sense and general morality. Something which you don't seem to possess," she replied with a raised brow. "Whoever your professor is, has enough faith in you to give you a chance. You and others, if it's a group project. Instead, you stand here surrounded by a bunch of," she paused to regard the women around them, "groupies to shit all over your professor."
It wasn't only Atwood who seemed momentarily shamed, several of the women blinked dumbly before departing. "I won't have you accuse me when you barely know me or the situation," he responded, the corner of his eyes twitching.
"Sometimes," Elli responded, more confident in herself, "it takes someone who doesn't know you to state the truth."
Atwood clenched his jaw and carefully unfurled his fisted hands. "Professor Bendix," he started in a tight voice. "Gave me this chance. A chance for me and me alone to excel over the likes of Jon Yang!" In the end, Atwood was shouting and once more marred by splotches of red across his once charming face.
The mention of her brother's name rang in Angie's ears. This stranger wanted to stand over her brother. He wanted to make use of a provided opportunity to surpass him. A brother that dedicated over a decade of his life to finding a troublesome sister. Nobody. She would allow for nobody to insult his abilities like that. "Repeat that, you incompetent bum," she seethed in a calm voice.
Atwood turned and glared in Angie's direction. "What did you just call me?"
"She called you an incompetent bum," Elli had the grace to repeat it. "I must say that I agree with her."
Something in Atwood seemed to snap as he began to rush Elli. He had a fist pulled back in what would be a powerful punch. Elli was too shocked by the sudden change to react, she could only brace herself for the impact.
Angie hadn't intended for her remarks to escalate the situation from argument to violence. She didn't spend much time thinking as she pushed her friend to the side. She spent nearly a decade training in self-defense and it was easy for her to flip the relatively lightweight man on his back. He acted more with the fire in his belly than his head when he charged towards her friend. Something which any opponent would quickly take advantage of.
Elli had collided with someone else and was helped upright by the rest of the crowd. They all stood staring at the confused Atwood on the ground and the sheepish Angie standing over him. The common feeling at that moment was, "What the hell just happened?"
Any tension in the air was broken by the shouts of another male student. A voice that was coming from the direction of the campus' business department. "Hayden! We are a meeting with Professor Bendix in...Angelica! What in the world are you doing here?!"
And like magic, the crowd scattered. Leaving the three perpetrators caught red-handed amid stupidity.