EPISODE #02

Crystal's POV

I lay on my bed staring up at my bedroom ceiling. Thinking about what Claire’s butler said.

•FLASHBACK•

“N-nice to meet you too, Mr. Mattia.” — Crystal

“Oh? You understand English, and you even call me formally. However, I’ve never heard of any prominent family with the surname “Balagtas.” — Mattia

“Uhh… well, I’m just an ordinary student, and I don’t come from a wealthy family.” — Crystal

“Oh…” — Mattia

“Attention please, all freshmen and Hayganians, please proceed inside the school court for the ceremony. The ceremony will start in 5 minutes, thank you.” — Speaker

“Oh! I’ll go ahead then, thank you for your time!” — Crystal

“W-wait! I still have to… sigh*.” — Mattia

He spoke, before Crystal simply walked straight inside Hayga without even glancing back at Mattia.

•END OF FLASHBACK•

“Never mind, I’ll just ask him when we meet again.” — Crystal

9:30 pm

°Tomorrow morning°

Alarm sounds

5:30 am

Crystal woke up exactly on time, still yawning. She immediately got up and got ready so she could also have breakfast.

“Woahhh! That looks so cool, Uncle!” — Mika

“I wonder how the boys’ uniform looks like.” — Miko

“Uncle, I want to wear that kind of uniform too!” — Mika

“In your dreams, Mika…” — Jiha

“Huh? Why in my dreams? Uncle can transfer me there if he wants, right Uncle?” — Mika

“Mika, only one student per family is allowed to enter Hayga.” — Uncle Dew

“Ehhh? Why though, Uncle?” — Mika

“Stop asking, Mika, you’re prying way too much.” — Jiha

And on the other side of the kitchen wall stood Crystal, listening.

Crystal's Mind

Something's off. Jiha keeps diverting Mika’s questions. Jiha and Uncle Dew are hiding something. They wouldn’t keep or hide things for no reason. I don’t feel comfortable about it. I’m starting to suspect something.

“Crystal, hurry up, we’re about to eat!” — Uncle Dew

“Ah! Yes Uncle, I’m coming.” — Crystal

“Eat a bit faster, or you might be late if you take too long.” — Uncle Dew

“Yes, Uncle.” — Crystal

-HAYGA HIGH 6:00 am-

“Can you pay more attention to her please?” — Mattia

“Oh! Of course Mr. Mattia, I will pay more attention to Ms. Madrigal.” — Class Adviser

“Thank you so much. If you don’t mind may I go now? I have other things to do.” — Mattia

“Sure Mr. Mattia, thank you for your time.” — Class Adviser

“Hmm.” — Mattia

While Mattia was speaking with Claire’s class adviser, Crystal spotted him and immediately walked closer.

“M-Mr. Mattia?” — Crystal

“Oh? Ms. Balagtas, it’s so nice to see you again.” — Mattia

“Ah… uhm… Mr. Mattia, may I speak with you for just a moment?” — Crystal

“Yeah, sure.” — Mattia

“What did you mean to tell me yesterday?” — Crystal

“Oh? You heard me? I thought you didn’t, well… oh right! Sorry about yesterday, I already told Claire’s parents to discipline her so next time she will pay more attention to her behaviors.” — Mattia

“Uhh… okay… But, are you sure there isn’t anything else you wanted to say?” — Crystal

“Hahahahaha! How surprising, to be honest I suck at changing topics, well, what I wanted to say was kinda nonsense. I guess? But all I want to say is, you kinda look familiar, but, you know, I’ll tell you a secret. Only those families with backgrounds that this school wants could only get in.” — Mattia

“Mr. Mattia, we have to go now or we will be late.” — Jade

“I have to leave now, bye Ms. Balagtas, see you around. *and he smiled” — Mattia

Mattia left, leaving Crystal standing still, stunned by his words — for her, everything he said had opened up a puzzle in her mind.

Crystal's Mind

I knew it. Uncle Dew is hiding something from me.

Crystal's POV

“Only those families? With backgrounds?” Seriously? What he said wasn’t nonsense to me. Uncle Dew is the one who got me into Hayga, so definitely he knows something! He’s hiding something!!!

Because of everything Crystal discovered while living in Uncle Dew’s household, she resolved to dig even deeper.

•FAST FORWARD•

After months of investigating, she found out that Uncle Dew was a runaway heir of a family known by the surname “Hurteis.”

Upon learning Dew’s true identity, she immediately confronted him and spoke to him directly.

“Why didn’t you tell me at all, Uncle??? You could’ve trusted me! And what about Hayga? What was the reason you applied for me to study there? And Jiha?? She’s your niece, not your daughter! Uncle seriously!!! You should’ve told me everything because I could understand!” — Crystal

Dew pulled Crystal into a tight hug while she cried.

That tight embrace was his only reply to all of Crystal’s questions.

Until evening came, and it was time for dinner.

Crystal went downstairs as if none of their argument ever happened.

Instead, they simply smiled at one another and began eating their dinner.

-A LONG TIME AGO-

“Getting you into Hayga is the answer to make you a fully trained assassin not as a police officer or anything else. Remember, Hayga is the place where you’ll find your true self. (while gently stroking Crystal’s head as she slept.) Being an assassin will save your life someday and help you discover who you truly are and I hope you’ll come to understand that.” — Uncle Dew

2 YEARS LATER

...TO BE CONTINUED...

...4N...

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