2 Messages and Threats

Dade's POV:

" You're all dismissed! Don't forget to pass your final project next week! "

Those were our English Communication instructor's closing remarks before dismissing the class, and with that my classmates started to rush out of the classroom. I let all of them leave first so that I can get out peacefully.

Finally, my final class for today has ended and I can now go back to my usual business inside this university ..

While walking around the school grounds of ICST (Iloilo College of Science of Technology), I noticed a lot of students gathering around and entering the gymnasium. Upon walking past the gymnasium, I immediately knew the reason why. Today was recruitment day for campus club and organizations, there were posters and flyers posted outside the entrance. I'm not interested in entering any orgs or clubs anyway, I hate being in a group.

I arrived at the campus study park, where plenty of students study or simply hang out in these stone benches and study sheds scattered around. I took a deep breath making me taste the fresh air surrounding the park, there are also a lot of tall leafy trees around preventing the heat of the sun to pour down which made this place perfect for studying or to just spend time during vacancies, plus the fresh air can make any person feel relaxed. This is absolutely, my favorite place inside this university.

I scouted the area to look for the person I'm meeting with, which I saw right away sitting on a wooden bench under a tree. The nerdy and chubby guy waved at me when he noticed I was walking towards him, another client of mine.

We both greeted each other with a quick nod, then I sat down the wooden bench to accompany him. I sat on the far left while he's currently seating on the far right leaving a few spaces between us to decrease suspicions from the other students around.

" Are you gonna do it now? "

He anxiously asked with his eyes fixed at the park's entrance, I can see that he's being cautious.

" Yes, just prepare your payment. "

I said calmly while watching a group of students having fun at a stone bench not far from where we're sitting.

He is talking about the request he asked me. He's having a very important exam today but he is currently suspended in attending the class until tomorrow. I don't know what caused his instructor to give him a suspension but all I really care about is doing business.

He asked me to do something to cancel or postpone the examination. Honestly, hacking isn't really necessary to solve problems like this. You don't really need a hacker to cancel classes, you can do other things like preventing your instructor to attend the class or do something chaotic.

But I'm not actually complaining, this request gives me money so why should I care about the other details?

I took my beloved laptop out of its bag and gently placed it on my lap before turning it on. This study park is not only convenient because of its relaxing atmosphere, but also because of the free wifi for the students to use. The internet connection is currently slow due to the number of students connecting but I don't really need fast connection to execute my plan. My client silently watched the hacking process with confusion written on his face as he doesn't understand anything about hacking.

" Wait, you have access to all student data?! "

" Shhh! "

I quickly gestured to stop this idiot from getting us caught. I then nodded to answer his question.

As a student here for more than two years, I have already hacked the university's few servers a couple of times and attained access to its confidential data. Although they keep improving their server's security, I've always find a way to hack it.

Before leaving, I always leave a signature or a mark of a digital or virtual dagger as an image or as a code structure inside the system and also leaving the code name "D466ER". That's how I became the infamous 'campus hacker'. Since then, some faculties and instructors of the university have been trying to find out my true identity. Honestly, they could have easily detected me if they asked help from outside of the campus, but since this university is known for giving high quality education about computers and technology, it would surely hurt the school's pride and would be the center of ridicule.

Well, that's good for me and bad for them at least. Hehe.

After a few minutes of processing, I have finally retrieved all of the mobile numbers of all the students currently enrolled this semester from server I'm currently accessing. Why do I need all those mobile numbers? To contact them of course.

" What's with all those mobile numbers? "

My client who is still confused asked. I didn't answer since he wouldn't understand anyway.

After retrieving the mobile numbers, I loaded and opened the SMS API (Application Program Interface) I bought from a website and encoded the numbers on it. This will surely take a long time to encode since there are thousands of students enrolled here.

" Do you mind telling me what you're planning? "

The client impatiently asked as he shoved himself to sit beside me.

" I'll tell you if you go back and give me some space. "

Without an expression on my face, I replied. He nodded and shoved his behind back to where he was originally seated.

" This will send a text message to all the students currently enrolled, telling them that there's a bomb inside the campus and will explode after two hours. "

" Wait what?! "

The client was once again shocked about the plan. He is getting annoying.

" You want to cancel your exam right? Wouldn't it be better to cancel every class? "

I lazily glanced at him and the confusion on his face was replaced with a little smirk. Finally, he understands something.

" Isn't this a little too much? A bomb threat? Seriously? "

With hesitation in his voice. He tapped my shoulder, which I immediately shoved due to my personal space issues.

" Don't touch me like we're friends. "

I coldly said with a lazy glare which made him feel uncomfortable.

" So-Sorry .. "

" Anyway, this shouldn't be a problem if you could just keep your mouth shut. "

" Alright. "

The mobile numbers were finally encoded successfully after our short and useless chat, it took faster than I thought. I guess the wifi connection is great today. A notification popped up telling me the data or the mobile numbers was encoded into the API, then a medium sized text box showed after I closed the pop up. The text box is where I'll write the contents of the text message.

' Students of ICST,

There is currently a bomb inside the campus. It will detonate after two hours. Everyone please evacuate right away! I REPEAT! EVACUATE RIGHT AWAY! '

That is the message I typed inside the text box. While I was typing this, I cautiously keep glancing left and right to see if there are any students nearby. I know bomb threats are considered a crime but as long they don't know the sender, it should be okay.

" Are you ready? "

I lazily asked him with my hand gesturing to him to hand over the payment. He anxiously took a stack of thousand peso bills from his backpack and gave it to me.

After stashing his payment in my wallet, I clicked the send button which showed a loading process as the messages are being sent.

After four or five seconds, the fun begins.

My phone vibrated which made me take it out my pocket and saw the message I sent myself from the API, reading the message made me grin maliciously.

" Oh! It's here! "

The guy beside me also received the text. Of course, we're also students here after all. Our numbers were also included in the server.

" Now, we wait .. "

I glanced at the group of students who were having fun at a near stone bench and saw them look at their phones. They have also received the message.

They looked at each other with confusion and fear in their faces after reading the text messages. Other students in the study park were also starting to panic, they all stood from their respective benches and ask questions to nearby schoolmates.

" What's going on?! A bomb inside the campus?! "

I turned around after overhearing a female student just a few meters behind us.

Then, some students came out of their respective classrooms looking worried. Since the park is in the middle of two college buildings, you can see classrooms around it and on the higher floors.

The chaos is spreading quite fast than I expected.

Teachers, along with their students evacuated their classrooms using protocols they learned on fire and earthquake drills. They all look so stupid with their hands placed over their heads, how will that help you from an explosion? Pfft.

" You're both amazing and terrifying! Our class is definitely getting cancelled! Thanks! "

He gushed with excitement as he ran towards the park's entrance, which is also the exit.

Pleasure doing business with you, I guess.

" Attention all students! Do not panic! The bomb threat may or may not be real! Please avoid causing chaos inside the campus and evacuate orderly. All classes for today are cancelled until further investigation. The police authorities are on their way, I repeat the police authorities are on their way! "

The campus announcement echoed from the speakers attached above a pole in the center of the park. With a quick pace, I started walking towards the exit while looking around the mess that I created. Groups of students were heading outside the campus while others have just left the college buildings. However, there are some students and professors who are just calmly walking around while looking at their phones. It seems that they are assuming that this is just a fake bomb threat.

Even if they knew that everything is fake, they still can't do anything about it.

" Time for some coffee. "

I softly whispered to myself after getting out of the university gates. I shortly glanced at some students grouping up and chatting about the chaos inside, then I continued walking towards the nearest coffee shop from the campus.

As for the school officials who will try to find out who's behind this, good luck to them. The easiest and efficient way for them to track me down is using the number from the text messages I used from the API. Although tracking the number will lead them to the website where I bought the SMS API, the website has this privacy protection service for their customers. That means the website will never tell anyone about my information and my purchases. The website will just be a dead end for those who want to track me.

" Welcome to Coffee Toffee! "

The security greeted me with a sincere smile as he pushed open the glass door for me. I simply nodded to thank him before entering the establishment.

A cool breeze greeted me as I went inside, the smell of coffee and desserts also lingered around this paradise. I quickly walked towards the bartender after seeing there are only two available tables left. Since this coffee shop is the nearest one from the university, this place is usually packed with customers especially students. I also noticed that there are more students today than usual, I guess they all went here after 'evacuating'. Pfft.

" How may I help you? "

The cute pigtailed bartender asked as I approached her. She's about my age and she's working here part time. Alexa was written on the name tag attached in the chest pocket of her uniform.

" I'll have a plain black coffee and a slice of mocha cake please. "

" For take out? "

" No. "

After giving her my usual order, she started brewing black coffee beans into the machine. The strong aroma was released as the coffee started pouring into the porcelain cup. She then took a slice from the mocha cake being displayed from the dessert glass case and put it on the tray along with my cup of coffee. She did a great job in preparing my order, it took less than 3 minutes.

" Here you go. "

With a genuine smile, she handed me the tray. This is what I hate about this coffee shop, there are no waiters so you'll have to carry your own order to the table after ordering it. If their coffee wasn't good, I definitely won't waste my time and money here.

I carefully placed the tray on the table near the glass windows, I don't want a single drop of coffee to be wasted. After separating my coffee and mocha cake from the tray, I sat down and began stirring the caffeine drink with the spoon that came along the cup. I know Alexa already stirred it, but I want to stir it again myself to be assured.

While looking outside the glass window, I saw students crossing the street simultaneously looking like a class on a field trip.

Now that I think about it, today's request was a piece of cake, or mocha cake rather. Because I didn't even hack anything, I already hacked the student data server before so all I did was re-access it to get the mobile numbers. It was pretty easy.

As I raised the cup and was about to take a sip, a familiar face entered the place which made me lose my appetite.

" Yow! Dade! "

A guy with brown spiked hair and wearing the same uniform as me waved as he ran towards my table. His grinning face never fails to annoy me.

" You wouldn't believe what happened! "

He quickly started a conversation after sitting on the opposite side of the table, he automatically tried to pull the plate of the mocha cake but I slapped his arm using my instinct to protect my caffeine delicacies.

" Our professor was absent but we spent the whole period waiting for him! While waiting, this hot chick from my class was sitting on the top of her arm chair. So guess what? "

I just stared at him expressionlessly and didn't even bother saying a word.

" Her panties were slightly exposed for me to peek on! It was an amazing experience! "

I automatically released a sigh after hearing what he just said.

This is Lucas Pervertio. To put it simply, he's a pervert. We met two years ago when we became classmates on our first year, and to be honest, that was the first and worst year of my life as a college student.

We're in the same course but since we're now third year students, we got separated because I chose Programming as a major while he chose Web Development. I was really happy since I no longer have to see his face in all my classes.

I don't really know what happened but all I did was help him when he got lost inside the campus, then he just started following me and talking to me like we're friends. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have helped him during that day. My college life would have been so peaceful.

" I only got to stare at his white and rosy underwear for like two minutes because of the bomb threat everyone received. That was such bad timing! "

He continued spewing nonsense out of his mouth after I took my first sip from my coffee.

Bad timing? More like perfect timing to stop your wretched eyes from staring.

" I was the one who sent the text messages. "

I said directly before taking a bite from the mocha cake.

" Oh. So it was you .. "

He immediately glared at me.

Lucas may be a pervert and an annoyance to my student life, but I consider him as an ally to be trusted. He is the only one in the university who knows me as a hacker and as a person.

" My client wanted me to cancel his class so I figured, why wouldn't I just cancel all the classes? In that way, it's easier for me. "

I lazily explained to him while stirring my coffee just for amusement. He just nodded as a response.

Lucas also knows that I have been doing hacking requests for money. Sometimes, he's even the one who recommends clients for me. Although he always asked for a portion of the payment.

" Anyways, I have been interested in a girl recently. She seems to be a bit cold and boring like you, but she sure is a hottie! "

There he goes again. Literally everything that goes out of his mouth is either nonsense or perverted.

" I have been stalking her for a few days and I already learned a lot! "

The excitement on his face over something disturbing really makes me want to splash his face with hot coffee. Although I'd never waste coffee only for the likes of a human scum like him.

" Really? Like what? "

I asked pretending to care even though my expressionless face says the obvious.

" Like her class schedules, her apartment address, the food she orders at the cafeteria, and her cup size! She's a C cup by the wa- "

" Should I call the police? "

I interrupted as this nonsense have gone too far. This is a different level of stalking! He's a stalker everyone should be cautious about!

" No seriously, I even figured out that she made a new club inside the campus. I heard they're like campus detectives or something. "

Finally, something interesting came out of his putrid mouth.

" A club of student detectives? "

I asked before taking another sip from my coffee.

" Something like that. I don't know the details yet. "

He answered while scratching his face awkwardly.

" May I know the girl's name? The one you've been stalking? "

" Come on man, find your own girl. She's mine. "

He immediately protested like a mindless pervert he is. This idiot.

" I need to keep track of her and her actions in and outside the campus. "

I said making it clear for his green and dirty brain to understand.

" So you think she'll be a threat to you and your mischievous deeds huh? Is the virtual dagger finally worried that he'll get caught? "

He asked with a playful smile intended to piss me off, which it did.

" Just tell me her name already. "

I pretended to ignore his stupid questions.

" Her name is Airene Torres. "

He said before he stood up and walked towards Alexa, I guess he didn't resist the food in front of him and decided to order his own.

Airene Torres huh? I'll definitely keep an eye on her ..

A club of student detectives? What is this? A fictional novel? The idea of it is pretty ambitious and silly for a bunch of college students. However, it's not a bad thing to be cautious about them. Campus criminals like me are supposed to be threatened by them.

And besides, they wouldn't make a detective club if they don't have the qualities or resources to support it.

While staring down the black surface of my coffee, I smiled as excitement flowed through my body

like lines of code during execution.

This is going to be interesting ..