ALAB University (Full)

13 GRIEF OF ELITES

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A/N: Warning! Triggering content!

Year 2014

"Julian! He's here. Your real father,"said a nun at the orphanage where Julian grew up.

Julian's eyes are filled with excitement because he will finally be able to be with his real father. Julian grew up with his mother, but when he was ten years old, his mother passed away due to a serious illness.

Julian's mother never told him who his father was, which is why he became an orphan. But now, he finally has a parent to call his own.

Since he started living in his father's house, there hasn't been a moment when Chairman De Dios hasn't impressed on him that he should be the best of all.

Julian, afraid of being kidnapped again, unwaveringly obeys his father's every command.

Even being a guinea pig in his father's experiment.

"You don't know how proud I am of you, Julian. You haven't let me down again,"the Chairman said to Julian after examining him.

His father made him sing and dance all night for the test. No one could handle the torture his father put him through, but Julian thought of nothing else but to earn his father's praise.

"The serum worked again, Chairman," Prof. Rabedee said and then showed the test results to Julian.

The serum that enhances a person's stamina has worked after a year of testing it on Julian. That's why Julian hardly feels tired even after dancing and singing all day.

For the first time, Chairman De Dios hugged Julian out of sheer joy. For Julian, this was the only way he could experience the care of a father.

Chairman De Dios is conducting serums, machines, artificial intelligence, and other experiments on his son Julian, and not once has his son rejected him.

And Julian endured all of this out of fear that his father would get angry and abandon him.

Present

"Now that you have done torturing Nase, don't you feel satisfaction Julian?" Chairman De Dios asked.

"I don't feel anything at all," Julian thought instead of answering his father.

"You have always make me proud Julian. You won't let yourself get swayed by useless emotions, right?" Chairman De Dios said while shooting a sharp glance at Julian, but Julian could only nod.

"That's my son. Go take a rest. Daddy is just going to win this petty battle for a while," Chairman De Dios said as a sign that Julian can now leave his office.

Julian felt numb, despite the fact that his right cheek is still aching from the chairman's slap.

"You didn't even bother apologizing to me for hurting me, Dad. Do you really treat me as a son or am I just your guinea pig like the first ALAB Elites?" Julian said while walking towards somewhere that he, himself, doesn't even know where.

His feet brought him to a room that has been truly significant to his father.

"I did everything you wanted Dad. But you have never asked me what I want," Julian thought while standing in front of that room.

"All I want is freedom," Julian finally thought and entered the room.

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Meanwhile, Josh's scream almost shaken the room where Stell was imprisoned and tied down.

Josh immediately pinned down his two fingers to Stell's neck and check his pulse.

But he felt nothing...

"Stell, come on! Don't leave us!" Josh pleaded in tears while reviving him.

"Wake up Stellvester! Fuck! Stop kidding me!" Josh shouted while pumping Stell's chest.

After a few minutes, Josh felt his arms weakened.

"No...this can't be. I can't give up!" Josh thought and braced himself again to do another round of rescucitation.

"Josh...stop it," A'tin said and held Josh's arms.

"Let go of me! Stell is still alive!" Josh said.

"Josh, when we become famous worldwide as performers, I might pursue my passion for cooking. And when that happens, you'll be the first to taste the recipe I invent!"

"Alam mo Josh, rapping is your passion. Playing games is also your passion. Who says you can't do both?"

"I should be your best man at your wedding, right?"

Josh's thoughts was suddenly filled with his memories with Stell. He has been his long-time friend and he treats him like a brother.

As he was drowned with these memories, Josh finally vented a loud cry while caressing Stell's purplish face.

"This is just a nightmare, right Stell? Fuck no..." Josh pleaded with tears.

This is the scenario that welcomed Ken upon entering the room. He was so confused why Stell is lying down inside Josh's tight hug.

"What's going on, Josh?"Ken asked innocently even though he knew to himself that what was happening was not good.

He received no answer from Josh even though their eyes met. Upon seeing Josh's tearful eyes, Ken's knees became weak that made him fall to the ground.

Prof. Hong immediately went to Ken and help him stood up but Ken shoved her away as he crawled towards Stell's lifeless body.

"Stell. Hey, wake up..."Ken said softly and grabbed her arm.

"What happened Josh? W-why is this happening? Why Stell?"none of Ken's own questions.

Grief filled the four corners of the room where Stell took her last breath.

"I will make sure that you won't die in vain, Stell," Josh thought with utmost fury.

"You betrayed me. You betrayed us." Ken thought with clenched fist, pertaining to Justin.

The three elites were still unaware of Julian's existence, thus, their rage were driven to Justin.

"President Hood, I will entrust you with Stell's body. Please...get him out of this hell. He...doesn't deserve to be here," Ken said pleadingly.

"We will finish this mess once and for all," Josh said.

"Don't forget to tag me along," a familiar voice spoke in front of the doorsteps of the room.

It's Paulo, full of bruises and wounds.

Upon seeing Paulo's state, Josh and Ken instantly concluded that the reason why Paulo didn't appear during their mission is because he was captured ahead of them.

"Stellvester is an honorable ALAB Elite. Thus, his death should be valuable," Paulo said while walking towards Stell's lifeless body.

"I'm sorry for being too late, Stell. Please guide us throughout this battle," Paulo silently prayed while caressing Stell's face.

It was not easy for him to escape from the monster's dungeon. When Paulo woke up a few minutes ago, a familiar figure welcomed him.

"Sejun, wake up."

Upon hearing that gentle voice, Paulo immediately recognized it. And he was not wrong this time.

It's Justin.

"Justin, what are you doing here? How come you---" Paulo asked but Justin interrupted him.

"I really miss your constant questions. I would love to answer everything you want to know but we need to hurry up,"Justin said and his face became gloomy.

"What's wrong?" Paulo asked.

"Sejun...Stell gave..."Justin couldn't continue what he was saying as his tears fell.

"What is it, Stell? What happened?"Paulo asked confusedly.

Justin braced himself by wiping his tears but it won't stop from falling down.

"Stell is dead," Justin said and bawled in tears.

Paulo couldn't register what Justin told him. He is too confused, and he is hoping that he heard the wrong things.

"Hah...hahahaha. It's really you. We just met again and you're already making a joke. Justin, that's not a good joke!"Paulo shouted.

But Justin only responded in tears.

"Stell died because of my father. Sejun...si Stell..." Justin couldn't continue his words anymore as he was too overwhelmed.

Paulo only hugged Justin tightly to comfort him. But at the same time, he is also comforting himself through Justin. Both of them remained silent and only crying could be heard in the room. Paulo couldn't shed a tear because he had to be strong to comfort Justin well.

Justin broke the hug and faced Paulo.

"I want to end this. Let's end this, Paulo." Justin said with a cold voice.

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