"You have disappointed me again, Justin." Chairman De Dios said as soon as he saw Justin sat on the sofa in his office.
Justin couldn't utter a word. He knows that his father is in fury as he couldn't do what the chairman wants. And that is for him to be the top elite, instead of John Paulo.
"Aren't you going to say something to save yourself?" Chairman De Dios coldly said that instantly made Justin's heart in rumble.
"He is not going to do that, right?" Justin anxiously thought.
"C-chairman, I...I did my best. I'm sorry if I couldn't beat Sej---John Paulo but I really did my best this time, Chairman!" Justin said while stuttering.
The chairman slowly moved towards Justin and gave him a hard slap. Justin could only hold his aching cheek and didn't dare to meet his father's eyes.
"I don't need you to do your best. Being the best is the only thing that I ask for you. I have given you everything, but you kept on being a disgrace to me!" Chairman De Dios furiously said.
"You know what's the consequence of being a failure right? You have already consumed my patience," Chairman De Dios said.
As soon as Justin heard these words, he automatically knelt in front of his father and gripped his father's right leg.
"Chairman, no. Please. Give me another chance!" Justin said pleadingly.
"Guards!" Chairman shouted that summoned his bodyguards.
"You know where to bring him," the chairman coldly said.
The guards forcefully remove Justin's grip and apprehended him.
"Chairman, please. No! I'm begging you!" Justin said while being dragged out.
"Dad!" Justin screamed.
But the chairman lend no ears...
Meanwhile, the rest of the elites are waiting for Justin outside the science laboratory.
"Ang tagal ni Justin," Stell said in worry.
They are aware how strict Justin's father is. As much as they want to help Justin to be on the top elite, Justin insisted that he must be fair to Paulo as well. After all, an achievement is not fulfilling if you didn't get it fair and square.
John Paulo is too much worried that he didn't even uttered a word ever since Justin left to see his father. He was too much in guilt, but he knows very well that his feelings can't help Justin either.
"Nag-aalala ako. Puntahan na kaya natin sya?" sabi ni Josh sa tatlo.
Nagsipagtanguan naman si Stell at Paulo. Akmang maglalakad na sila paalis nang magsalita si Ken.
"Nakalimutan niyo na ba ang sinabi ni Justin?" malamig nyang sabi na nakapagpatigil sa tatlo.
"Hindi gusto ng chairman na makitang kasundo natin si Justin dahil ayaw nyang maging pabaya siya kapag naging malapit sya sating lahat. I don't think na bubuti ang sitwasyon kapag nakita ni Chairman na ipagtanggol natin sya," mahabang lintanya ni Ken.
Sa sobrang inis ay napasuntok sa dingding si Paulo. Hindi nya maatim na wala syang magawa para tulungan ang kaibigan.
"P-paulo," nag-aalalang sabi ni Josh pero hindi siya nilingon ni Paulo.
"Paulo! Ano ka ba naman?!" singhal ni Stell at agad na pinuntahan si Paulo para tingnan ang kamao nya.
Namumula na ito at paniguradong mamaga rin ito maya-maya.
"Sumama ka sakin sa clinic!" sabi ni Stell at hinawakan ang braso ni Paulo pero agad na tumanggi siya.
"Kaya ko nang mag-isa," maikling sabi nya at naglakad paalis.
Pero bago pa man makalayo si Paulo ay nagsalita si Ken.
"Magtiwala tayo kay Justin. Hindi nya pababayaan ang sarili nya, Paulo."
Walang imik na tumango si Paulo at tuluyang naglakad palayo.
Malalim na buntung-hininga lang ang naririnig sa labas ng science laboratory.
Habang papunta si Paulo ay napadaan sya sa labas ng office ng chairman at agad napatago nang may nakitang lumabas sa office nito.
"Chairman, please. No! I'm begging you!" rinig nyang sigaw ni Justin. Kitang-kita nyang kinakaladkad si Justin papalabas ng office.
Pinigilan nya ang sarili na magpakita dahil alam nyang hindi ito makakabuti. Pero hindi sya nagdalawang isip na sundan nang palihim si Justin at ang mga gwardyang kumakaladkad sa kanya.
Pero napakuyom ang kamao ni Paulo nang nakita nyang pumasok sila sa restricted building. Ang building na yun ay hindi pwedeng puntahan ng kahit sinong estudyante. Kapag nahuli kang pumunta doon nang walang pahintulot ay agad kang patatalsikin sa unibersidad.
Agad na umalis si Paulo pero hindi pa rin matahimik ang loob nya. Punung-puno ng tanong ang isipan nya.
Bakit labis na lang ang galit ng chairman dahil lang sa hindi sya matalo ni Justin?
Bakit kinakailangan siyang dalhin sa restricted building?
At bakit hindi pinapapunta ang mga estudyante sa restricted building na yun?
Sa kabila ng mga katanungan ay isang bagay lang ang sinisigurado ni Paulo.
"I will save you Justin. Just wait for me."
Author's Survey:
What will happen to Justin?