The air in Class C, Section 3 felt heavier than ever. Waskuruni sat by the window, his gaze unfocused as he watched the world outside, lost in thought. The weight of his mistakes lingered like a shadow, following him wherever he went. Sayuri's words still echoed in his mind—You can't throw trust away for strategy. Her voice, filled with hurt, made it impossible to shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at him.
Today, he had another challenge to face.
The Assignment—a task given by Miss Ai Matsuba—was designed to test his ability to work with others. He glanced across the classroom, where he could feel the eyes of his classmates on him. The atmosphere was thick with judgment, and the whispers seemed to reverberate through the walls. But Waskuruni wasn't one to crumble under pressure.
I'll show them, he thought, clenching his fists under the desk. I'll prove them wrong. I will turn this around.
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The Unseen Game:
The following day, Waskuruni found himself in the library again, seated across from Maria. The air was thick with tension, but he wasn't here to let that define him. He was here to win—this time, not just through manipulation but through calculated collaboration.
Maria eyed him suspiciously as she flicked through the pages of the assignment. She still didn't trust him, and he knew it. But he also knew that people's actions were far more revealing than their words.
"Let's get one thing straight," Maria said, her eyes cold and unyielding. "I don't trust you. I'm here for the assignment. That's it."
Waskuruni gave a faint smile, the corners of his mouth barely twitching. "I didn't ask for your trust, Maria," he said, his voice steady. "But I do expect your cooperation."
Maria raised an eyebrow. "Cooperation? From someone who uses people like pawns? I'm not interested in your games."
Pawns? Waskuruni thought, but he kept his calm exterior. "Games are for the weak. But strategy? That's how people like us succeed."
The words were like a challenge, and he knew Maria would bite. After all, what was a person like her if not someone who thrived on a challenge?
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The Power of Strategy:
As they began working through the assignment, Waskuruni could feel the tension between them, but he also saw something else: Maria's sharp mind was beginning to engage. She didn't trust him, but she respected his intellect. And respect, Waskuruni knew, could be twisted into something much more powerful.
Maria was methodical, her mind calculating every possible move. She reminded him of himself—cold, precise, and ruthless. But there was an underlying hesitation in her actions, something he could exploit.
I need her to think she's in control, Waskuruni decided. She doesn't trust me, but if I give her the illusion of power, she'll let her guard down.
He made a subtle suggestion, guiding her toward a decision that placed the responsibility in her hands. "I think this approach would work best if you take the lead on it," he said. "You're more suited for this task."
Maria looked at him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "Are you saying I'm the better one for the job?"
Waskuruni's smile remained unchanged. "Not better. Just more efficient. And efficiency is all that matters."
Maria seemed to weigh his words carefully before nodding. "Fine. Let's do it your way. But remember, I'm calling the shots here."
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The Breakthrough:
Hours passed, and they worked in near silence, save for the occasional murmur of agreement or suggestion. Waskuruni's plan was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. Maria, focused on the task and under the illusion of control, was cooperating more than she realized.
But as the day wore on, something changed. Waskuruni noticed the subtle shifts in her demeanor—her posture loosening, her initial coldness beginning to melt away. She wasn't smiling, but the walls between them were starting to come down.
As they neared the end of the assignment, Waskuruni leaned back in his chair, allowing Maria to take the lead on finalizing their work. She glanced over at him, her earlier suspicion replaced with a flicker of respect.
"I'll admit," she said, her voice less harsh than before, "you're not as bad as I thought."
Waskuruni didn't answer immediately. Instead, he allowed the silence to stretch, watching her closely. This was the moment when his strategy would bear fruit—Maria would no longer see him as the manipulator, but as an equal. In time, that respect would grow into trust.
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A Glimpse of Redemption:
Later that evening, as Waskuruni sat alone in his room, he reflected on the day's events. The strategy had worked—Maria had let her guard down, and he had managed to restore some semblance of cooperation. But there was still a long way to go before he could truly repair the damage done with Sayuri.
He pulled out his phone and stared at the message from Sayuri—We need to talk.
I'll fix this, he thought, gripping the phone tightly. I'll prove to her that I can be trusted. I won't repeat the same mistakes.
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The True Test of Strength:
As the days passed, Waskuruni's interactions with Maria became more comfortable, though the distrust still lingered beneath the surface. He knew that to truly rebuild the trust he had shattered, he would need more than just intellect. He needed to show vulnerability—a rare and dangerous move for someone like him.
But not yet, he thought. Not until I have everything in place.
Tomorrow, he would face Sayuri. And this time, he wouldn't hide behind manipulation or strategy. This time, he would face her with the truth.
For the first time in a long while, Waskuruni allowed himself to feel something other than the cold, calculating focus that had driven him so far. Strength isn't just about outsmarting people, he realized. It's about understanding them. And that's a lesson I'm just beginning to learn.
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End of Chapter 8