Chapter 11- Fuss

Lanie's POV:

I immediately fix my things after hearing that familiar sound of a buzzer, an indication that my last subject for this day is about to end.

I don't know how did I manage to act and behave normally in front of Yshmael even if the truth is, I am not feeling comfortable with his presence right now. Since that very moment he used our so-called-relationship as an example and when he held my hand just this morning, my heartbeat was no longer normal. It seems like, as if he had delved in strange feeling inside me.

I left the room in a rapid pace and get along with the course of students in the hallway. I didn't give myself a chance to take a glimpse of those wondering looks of other students, not even in a surreptitious way.

While carrying my bag in front using my arms, hugging it, I quickly headed myself to the ladies comfort room.

I locked the cubicle as soon as I entered and anxiously took my laptop out of my bag, the reason why I am having sleep deprivation.

My hands are sweating while trying to turn on the laptop. It seems like 'years' have been passed when it's started to load, that small circle flashed in my device's screen and keeps running in circular motion.

I opened my account in deep diving right away and checked the conversation I had with Page.

I click the link and didn't expect what happened next.

Set of numbers and letters appeared in the screen of my device all of the sudden.

"Shit!" I logged out my account immediately but it didn't work. The cursor is not even responding.

I anxiously click whatever it is in the keyboard but still, nothing happen.

It also took one minute and the screen flashes so many things I don't understand before it turned black on it's own, indicating that it has been shutted down.

I am catching my breath as I laid my back on the wall. I am pretty sure that it is Page who did it. I don't need to be a hacker to guess and be so sure to know that it was him and what he did.

He planted a virus in my computer. That's obvious. So it won't t give me benefits at all.

It's too late. I already left behind him and I am sure that he already have the access of my account.

"I am sure that the information he sent me is not just only sensitive." I slightly massage my forehead. I won't be on silent not until I found out whatever the information is.

I put my laptop inside of my bag and decided to go out.

I creased my forehead when I saw those intent looks of students who are also inside of the comfort. I didn't mind them and follow the course of students on the way to the cafeteria.

But the situation is still the same until I finally reached the cafeteria and got myself something to eat.

They're all eyeing me and I don't know why.

"Lanie!"

It's Jasslene when I turned around. She's together with our two more roommates in a table.

"What's up?" I asked them in a subdued tone, nearly whispering and took my seat while observing people that surrounds us.

If only stares can kill, maybe I am already lying on the ground, breathless. They are all giving me sharp looks especially girls.

"Don't mind them." Rona replied like she does not care at all and gave one of the students near us a big-wide eyes.

I just shrug my shoulders and started to eat. The three did the same.

"Look here." All together, we looked up at one person who possesses that voice.

I furrowed my forehead when I saw three tall ladies who are also students of Saint Augustine, they are all standing in front of us.

Just like the others, they are also giving me deadly looks. Apparently, they seem sees no one except me in this table and those looks are literally focused on me.

"Yes?" I asked calmly. I am familiar and aware of this kind of situation already.

Tall, slender and beautiful Barbie dolls. No brains, just their looks, thanks for their makeups. Students who thinks they owns everything.

"Look what you've done." The barbie doll in the center said.

The other barbie doll at the left side places a tablet on the table.

"What's this?" I asked while having this furrowed forehead. The only thing I can see is the cold face of Yshmael.

"Because of you, the popularity rate of Yshmael in the whole Saint Augustine ranked down. He ranked number two, a freaking number two! And this is the first time!" She said in frustration.

"I don't understand you." I also give her a sullen looks. What the heck? What popularity is she talking about?

"Give it a rest Ingrid," Lovely tried to stopped her but they didn't bother to look at Lovely.

"Apologize," said the girl at the right side.

When I look at her nameplate, Therese Salazar was written. It's her name.

Salazar. The name rings a bell. That's the surname of the lost heiress of the Salazar family.

"Are you listening?"

I blinked my eyes and looked at Ingrid. She's really mad. I don't even know why she's mad at me. If what she said is her reason, that's nonsense.

"Don't accuse her that, Ingrid. She's not at fault. It's not her fault if Yshmael wants to be in relationship even just for the sake of reporting." Lovely defended me.

Jasleene claps her hand, "This is Jesse Walker's Enemy outside!"

"Shut up, you two!" Ingrid exclaimed then faced me, "Apologize".

I tilted my head as I raised my eyebrow. "Why would I? What did I do wrong?"

"You are the reason why Yshmael's popularity dropped down! Are you going to take responsibility for that?" She said while trying to suppress her anger. Her eyes are blazing with fire. Her lips is trembling.

"I told you already, Ingrid. Maelanie's didn't do anything wrong", Rona told them, trying to be calm.

"Stop taking her side, Rona! Stop spoiling her. She's your friend that's why you're defending her!" She shouted, pointing fingers at my roommates, not minding the attention of students looking at us.

Rona stood and held Ingrid's finger. Rona twisted Ingrid's finger who's now shouting with pain. Even her sidekick barbie girls are shouting in exaggeration.

"Lanie's my friend and it's my responsibility to trust her. It's not I'm spoiling her but because she's a friend of mine. That reason is enough to take her side." Rona grunted then let go of Ingrid's finger.

Lovely stood up too, "If she's really at fault, we're going to let her apologize. But if she's not, we won't stay still!"

Ingrid's eyes became teary as she's trying to calm herself. She glanced at me again before she took her leave. Her two barbie dolls rolled their eyes as they follow Ingrid and walked out dramatically.

"Put that on your empty heads, bitches! It's just a simple common sense!" Lovely shouted in addition.

I shook my head as I leaned on the back of my chair. "What are they talking about? What is that popularity thing?"

"Oh, there's a monthly poll about the famous students here. Yshmael is always a candidate and he's always on the top. Yshmael and his popularity, you know. And that three bitches belong to his fanclub, Ingrid as their President," Jasleene explained.

"Oh," I think I understand that. It seems that I won't have a peaceful and quiet stay here.

We just forget what had happened and continued what we're doing. Jasleene and Lovely became busy with something on the latter's tablet. They're grinning as they're chatting happily.

"By the way," Rona turned to me. "Where did you go earlier? I tried finding you but I can't see you anywhere." She asked as she resumed eating.

I didn't answer. I showed her my old laptop inside my bag.

She moved her chair closer to me. "Did you find anything? Did you see what Page sent to you?" She whispered.

I shook my head, "I am too late. Page already deleted the articles. He even put a virus to my computer."

Her shoulder dropped as she drank her water. "That guy. We'll have a hard time recovering those. We don't even know if we can do that either. We know what's he's capable of."

"Yeah..." I agreed. I don't have an idea what kind of hacker Page is. But I know he's good, half of his life is being with computer and codes.

"Maybe I'll just throw this away," I turned to her when I remember something. "By the way, how do you find the key?"

Rona scoffed, "I really don't know how that key got to my bag three years ago. I always spent my free time to the garden near the secret passage. That day, I forgot to borrow some books from the library so I left my bag there and went to the library. When I came back, I saw the key on my bag with the sketch of how to get into the secret passage. Then the rest is history" She explained.

"Did you use that secret passage?"

She smiled, "Maybe five times. I'm curious that's why I tried finding why the owner's key left that to me. That's when I realized that, that passage is really secret. No one in the Acedemy knows that. It's like a hidden passage."

"Did you see anyone using that passage? Or someone who you think knows about that?" I curiously asked.

She shook her head, "I never see anyone. When I saw that I can still open that gate with just one key, though it has three locks, I thought there are two reasons: First, there are three people holding each key that can open each locks. Second, maybe, those are just designs. But the latter is impossible because everytime I will use that passage, there are signs that I am not the only one who's using that. That's why I'm sure that whoever those two, they still have the access to that passage." She explained whispering.

I nodded. Thoughts keeps coming to me.

Three years ago, Rona got the key. The same year when Wilemna disappeared.

I have a strong feeling that the secret tunnel has somewhat connection with the disappearance of the Salazar's heiress.

But what I'm curious is, why Yshmael possessed one of the keys? Is he connected with what had happened years ago?

And who's the last one who has the last key? And why I have a feeling that something bad will happen in the near future?

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