The Lies

I tried in Facebook but nothing came, in Twitter but again in vain, I tried everything until I just Googled him but nothing came. Who the hell is this guy? He doesn't have any social accounts and his only friend was that Daniel Astero student who seated in front of him.

Jaden's POV

"Who are you Jaden?" I was taken aback when Daniel asked that. I must have shown too much to him. I looked back at the goons I had beaten up. They can't even land a punch on me. They're just a bunch of nothing. I almost let him witness how monstrous I am. I clenched my fist and gave him a stern face.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him back like I didn't know what he's talking and he was still staring at me with curiosity. I helped him stand up and took a last glance to Lucas who was looking at me with utter horror. "I have secured a picture of you beating him up. I won't show it to the teachers if you promised to never do this again," I threatened him by emphasizing every word I say. He mindlessly nodded and I helped Daniel stand.

"Let's just pretend this never happened." I said and looked at Lucas's reaction and he nodded again. I helped Daniel walk out of that room. I saw a bench and helped him sit in there while I wait for his driver to fetch him up.

"How could you easily beat them up?" He asked after a couple minutes of silence. I know he'll ask about that. Thankfully I was not using too much force on them or it could have been worse. I just couldn't control it sometimes that's why I distance myself with troubled students in here just like Lucas.

"I just calculated the trajectory of their punches. I dodge it before it could punch me and since they're much bigger their movements are slower compared to mine." I tried to explain using the application of Physics and made up lies but he just stared at me like I have grown another head.

"Seriously? Calculate the trajectory at that moment? What the heck!" He groaned in pain when he shouted at me and held on to his stomach. I just shrugged my shoulders and sat beside him. It's true though. They have slow movements and if one of the punches landed on me, it might have hurt me and I need a lot of made up excuses for my uncle if he sees me with a bruise.

"It's pretty easy. Their punches and slower compared to mine so I just dodge it before it hits me—"

"That's impossible! You couldn't be that fast without training your body. That movement is like an impulse and reacting to that moment is impossible unless of course you're training," he said it in a matter of fact way. The only thing I'm having a hard time in this school is the fact that most of them is as intelligent as I am. In my previous school, it was not that hard making up excuses because of my calculated lie and their expected reaction to my lie but here, it's different but more challenging. Besides, I can't help it if my body reacts that fast because I was trained—I don't want to remember that torture part of my life.

"My uncle taught me some." He just looked at me again debating whether to believe me or not but he just shrugged his shoulders like giving up with whatever's bothering him.

"Anyway, thanks for that." I just nodded and he smiled at me. I looked at him confused. What is he thinking now?

"You saved me bro, so that means you consider me as a friend?" He gave me a hopeful eyes and I just sighed.

"You're really that bored huh?" I asked with too much spite and looked ahead. I heard him laughed and patted my shoulders.

"You're cool. You beat them up easily and your ability to be unbothered by everything is just impeccable." He laughed again and held his hand out to me which I just looked.

"Do you agree to be my friend from now on?" I looked at him and he was beaming like a Cheshire cat. "Come on bro, you know your antisocial tactics and being distant with others just don't work with me." He's really annoying but somehow, he could tolerate my rudeness and he's tough for asking me to be his friend.

"Fine." I shook hands with him and he smiled again.

"Now, we're officially friends from now on!" The way he said it was like we sealed an important business deal and became business partners. "Don't worry I also got your back." I scoffed and stood up when I saw someone approaching us. It might be his driver. Finally, I can go home.

"Got my back?" I mockingly asked him and smirked. "I just saved you from getting beaten up." He gasped and acted like he's hurt but after a while, we both laughed. He might be fun to hang around. Maybe the idea of having a friend is not that bad. I just won't let my guard down.

"Sir, I tried calling you but I can't reach your phone. Where were you?" A man in his forties asked as he walked towards us. He looked at Daniel and then at me. He bowed at both of us showing his respect.

"Don't worry Alfred, I was just hanging out with a friend." Daniel patted my back and laughed again. I playfully punched his shoulders and held my backpack close.

"I need to go now. My uncle might kill me if I go home a little late." Kill me with sermons. I could make it in time if I run now.

"Then I'll just give you a ride home." These rich people always have an easy life.

"No need, my house is just a walking distance." He nodded and I bid goodbye to him and to his driver. I walked until I reach outside the school when I noticed someone following me. I didn't immediately walk towards the direction of my house and walked pass a few houses and turned into a corner and hide.

I could hear footsteps closing in and I grabbed the collar of that man. He was stunned when I held his neck tight and tried to grasp for air. I looked at the man and when he seemed to grab his hand gun and I grabbed it faster then pointed it to him. He held his hands in the air to surrender and looked at me. He wore a black suit with a an earphone on his right ear. I memorized his physical features in case he might be a threat to me and he looks like he's in his mid-thirties

"Who sent you?" I asked in a threatening tone. He didn't answer and put his hands down.

"You can't shoot me in here. We're in a subdivision and the gun shot will be heard in few houses. Running away is least in your option when there's a CCTV camera in the corner, on that post." He pointed the post he's referring to but I just stayed looking at him with the gun still pointed at him.

"I will not ask again." He sighed and attempted to walk closer but I just clicked the gun, ready to be fired at him.

"I pretty much know how to shoot," I directed the gun in his head. "Should I shoot it in your head? It will kill you immediately. I'm not merciful." I grinned and clicked my tongue in impatience. "Besides, I can just tell the police that it's self-defense. You're outfit makes them more suspicious of you than me. I'm just a student and you're what?" He didn't even show a slight fear and just stared at me. As expected.

"You know who sent me," he said in a matter fact way that I shouldn't have asked it in the first place. I knew pretty well who and I just needed a confirmation because it might be Lucas's bodyguards who's after me. After punching him and degrading his pride, he might be after my head.

"He can't and will not be able to touch me in that school." He just stayed emotionless and looked at me like I'm just saying ridiculous things and expected this to happen.

"He'll always have his ways. Why else am I here then?" I threw the gun away from him and into a trash can. I know he won't kill me and just brought a gun to threaten me. I walked away from him but heard him speak again.

"I'm just a warning young—"

"Don't ever address me that again," He stood straight and slightly bowed to me. "Tell him I'll have any other ways to have my freedom." He bowed again and let me walk away from him and when I turned into a corner, I ran as fast as I can until I arrived home. I was panting when I stood outside the door of me and my uncle's house. I looked at the garage to see his car and he was already home. Damn, I'm late by an hour of coming home. He will be furious. If it weren't for that Lucas guy and that damn bodyguard, I might have come home on time and save myself from a long sermon!

I opened the door and immediately went inside. The sound of someone cooking in the kitchen indicates that it's almost 6 pm and I was late by an hour of coming home. I tiptoed going into my room but of course he heard me and before I could get a hold of my door knob, I heard a firm Ehem.

I looked at my uncle wearing an apron and holding a spatula on his right hand. I sighed trying to control my laugh and look serious in front of him. I just can't get used to look at him wearing an apron and cooking (he's not really good cook). He doesn't know how to cook and he was just forced to since he had to cook food for me. Unfortunately like him, I was a worse cook than him.

"I did an assignment with someone," I immediately said when I found a reasonable excuse and didn't wait for his anger to strike me. He raised his eyebrows and suspiciously looked at me. I just can't tell him everything. He will immediately change residence and worse transfer me with another school or even change cities. When it comes to him, lying is impossible. He's like a walking lie detector test and watches me like a hawk.

"I swear if you're lying—"

"I made a friend, uncle. We hang out after class." When I said that, he looked happy and nodded in agreement. He knew how I don't easily make friends and he was happy I have one now. I guess I have to drag Daniel here so that uncle may believe me and will not think that it's just an imaginary friend. At least I said something truthful to him. Daniel is a friend now and if he's something not, better make him close and keep an eye on him.

"It's good to have friends but when I say be home at 5, be home at 5," he strictly reminded me again and went back to the kitchen to finish whatever he's cooking. I wish we could do take outs sometimes to at least have a decent meal. I went straight to my bedroom and laid there for a moment. I'm just too tired of what happened today. I can't hide this from uncle for too long. I know he'll know about it sooner and I just need to have a plan.

"I can't let him have me again. Not anymore," I said to myself before I felt the exhaustion of today's happenings. I slowly closed my eyes and let myself drift to sleep.

Emerald's POV

"The nerve of that guy!" I shouted as I arrived home and stomped my feet on the carpeted floor. I just want my anger to subside by stomping and shouting how annoyed I am. I've never been this annoyed with someone and that Jaden guy pretty much stirred up the bad side in me!

"What happened now?" I was easily out of my thoughts when I heard my brother's voice. I looked for him and found him sitting on the sofa with a laptop on his thighs. Whenever I see him, he's always busy doing paper works and he's not even the CEO of our company yet. What will happen if he becomes one? I can't imagine him without his laptop and phone in front of him.

"Do you always have to work?" I asked and sat grumpily on the opposite sofa, facing him.

"I'm writing my thesis," he said and looked back to his laptop and started typing again. "I might finish it sooner than I expected." I just rolled my eyes.

"You didn't answer my question, Emerald. What happened today? How's school?" Believe it not, he asked that while typing to his laptop and not even sparing me a glance again. He's so workaholic.

"That jerk ruined my 2nd day of school," he stopped typing and finally looked at me with confused eyes. "That Jaden guy." I continued and he looked more confused than before.

"I'm sorry, that jerk who?"

"I found out that the person who took my place as the top 1 is none other than Jaden Samaniego." He nodded and seemed interested now. He leaned on the sofa waited for me to start my story.

"He pissed me off in the library, embarrassed me in front of class and talked to me like I'm just a nobody!" I fumed in anger as I remember him embarrassing me in our Physics class. My brother on the other hand looked like he's stopping himself from laughing in front of me.

"Stop it! It's not funny!" He tried to calm himself but failed when he laughed so hard that he held his stomach and his cheeks turned red from laughing. His laugh echoed in our living room and I crossed my arms waiting for him to sober up from laughing. I glared at him when he wiped his eyes from tears and tried to calm himself again. There was still a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Is my embarrassment an entertainment to you?" I raised my eyebrows at him and he just leaned on the coffee table to get his drink.

"He talked to you like you're just a nobody?" He asked amused and still can't believe someone treated me like that. I nodded and gave him an irritated expression.

"Now I find him interesting."

"What's there to be interesting about that jerk? He likes to make fun of me." I gave him another glare. "I am your sister—"

"Come on my little sister. You've been entering that school like you've own it—"

"Dad has like 25% shares on that school, so basically I half own it," I said it in a matter of fact way and he just shakes his head and looked at me again.

"At least you'll have some fun in school now," he then continued to his work. "He can just easily do things that he pleases huh? What does his family owns?" I gave him an unbelievable look. Is he thinking of knowing more of that Jaden so he can negotiate some business with that jerk's family?

"I can't believe you'll side with him after what he did to me!"

"I'm not siding with him," he defended and looked at me for a while and then looked back to his work. "I believe with the saying of 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer', it's good to know about who are you dealing with."

"I don't know anything about him okay? All I knew for now is that he's annoying and the top 1 for this year's entrance exam." I rolled my eyes and took a piece of my brother's snack.

"A Samaniego you say? I haven't heard of that family name in business."

"Maybe he's family is in politics?" I asked back while munching the sandwich. He can't just enter that school without someone rich in the family. If he's a scholar, the school must know something about him for entrusting him with funds and free schooling.

"I doubt it. Maybe he's you know, new money?" My brother asked and shrugged his shoulders. New money is the term used for people who's new in business and can afford enough to send their sons and daughters to that school.

"Are you trying to manipulate me in knowing more about him?" I asked in annoyance because I really knew my brother so well and when he asks questions like this, it's definitely a short term for GO FIND ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.

"You knew me so well little sister," he smiled and laughed. "Of course I want you to do that. It would also benefit you in return by knowing more about your enemy, right?" Groaning, I stood up and he smiled in victory.

*..*

Like my brother ordered me to do, I tried to research about Jaden after eating dinner together with my family. Thankfully, they didn't bother to ask me so much about school because it will just clearly piss me off whenever I remember how he just embarrassed me in two consecutive days! Two consecutive days!

I tried in Facebook but nothing came, in Twitter but again in vain, I tried everything until I just Googled him but nothing came. Who the hell is this guy? He doesn't have any social accounts and his only friend was that Daniel Astero student who seated in front of him. I knew Daniel and his family. His family's name was always brought up on occasions saying they're successful and all. His family and mine are good friends but I don't always talk to him.

I tried to research on Samaniego's but they were only few results and I bet it has nothing to do with that Jaden guy. Is he a ghost or something? My last resort is the school's student records but how could I enter that well locked room? It's been consistently watched on by both CCTV cameras and a guard. Or course it would have a tight security because it's the records of the students whose parents are famous politicians and businessmen.

What if I befriend him? Or at least be civil with him and to Daniel. I don't have a hard time being close to Daniel because we knew each other since we're kids even though we don't always talk during occasions. I can feel he's easy to hang out with because of his welcoming personality unlike that Jaden.

"My brother's right,I'm going to have fun on this year's school year."