The War of Differences

Cj started to walk towards the circle. Everyone who’s on his way stepped aside. He only stopped when he finally reached the middle where Lorenzo and Cheska can be found.

Thanks to Brittany who called him after hearing Cheska’s yells. She knew right away she’s in a tight situation.

And also, thanks to Cheska for mentioning the president’s existence to her. If she didn’t do that, she might be still suffering from Lorenzo’s presence.

“Causing a scene on the first day…” he said nonchalantly and smirked. “Why am I not surprised, Lorenzo?”

“Please, Cj. Don’t ruin my first day.” he stood up properly and turned to him. “Please.”

“But you’re ruining someone else’s first day. Why not taste your own medicine?”

Lorenzo only stared at him. Then he sighed sharply, he can't believe he’s going to let this one go. He glanced at the girl, still looking away from him.

“Thank the world because your guardian angel has arrived.” and he walked away. “We’re not yet done. I’ll come back to you.”

Cj only followed him using his eyes. Lorenzo stopped beside him only to whisper, “Satisfied, Mr. President?”

He didn’t answer. It wasn’t meant to be answered anyway. It’s obviously a mock.

When he’s finally out of his radar, his eyes went to Cheska. She’s clenching her uniform and her shoulders are going up and down quickly. He looked at the students around her.

“Where are your brains? Can’t you see can’t breathe?”

When she’s finally getting more air, she bought another water. Cj walked closer.

“Did he scare—”

She turned to him with her annoyed face. He remained the distance between the two of them.

“I am not scared of him.”

“Then why are you…” he paused, observing her. “…panicking?”

“It’s because of my illness.”

She walked away, ignoring Cj’s pause.

“What’s your name?”

He didn’t turn to her but he knows…he knows she’s still there. He can still feel her presence. Before answering, she threw the empty bottles to where it belongs.

“Cheska,” she said. “Cheska Park.”

That’s when he only turned his head, unfortunately, Cheska’s gone. She already left the cafeteria.

“It can’t be…”

As they take their steps back to their classroom, Brittany relentlessly asked Cheska how she’s doing and if she wants to go to the clinic. Like before, she refused that idea. She really is not going to that place. It’s decided.

Before reaching their classroom, some students went to them. It’s the kind of students who care for their fellow students.

They immediately filled her with some information she needs to know so there will be no round two between her and Lorenzo.

“He’s the famous Mr. Young! Why? Because he’s the youngest master that the Mafia World has! He’s the master of Young organization. The second strongest mafia organization,” one of them said. “Since he’s a Mafia…and not just a mafia, he’s naturally dangerous. Everyone loves him at the same time scared of him and not just him but also his friends! Everyone respects him too. To be honest, it’s like he owns this place, this university. He has the exalted rank among the Mafias here!"

Cheska is still silent, processing what she just heard. Now she understands why he acted like that though it’s not justifiable. It’s still not enough reason to disrespect someone like that.

If Cj didn’t come? She might be in the worst-case scenario now. What would he do about it if that happens? She doubts he would do something.

He didn’t even falter earlier. Or he’s just numb? And…dumb?

“What is...mafia organization?”

They looked at her, confused. “They are groups from the Mafia World—wait, do you know what that world is?”

She slowly shook her head. Their jaws dropped.

“Do you even know that we have three different worlds?”

“I only know that…we have 8 planets…”

“Oh my god…” she covered her mouth in surprise. “Are you an alien? Even kids know that!”

She knows she’s outdated. There’s no need to mention it and smack it on her face.

But since they didn’t know her story, she just let it go and didn’t bother to explain why. Even Brittany didn’t mention anything to her before because her mother forbade her to do so.

“The first world is our world, the Outside World. It’s where most of the general population lives. Just simple civilians with a simple lifestyle. It’s the largest world too. We pay taxes, we have president, vice president, we have laws and we go to jail if we disobey them—not unless we're already old enough.

“The next one is the Underground World. They don’t like us, they’re completely different from us. They don’t pay taxes since they live literally under us. That’s where the gangsters live too. They don’t have a president. They call their leader boss. They have rankings and only to be on top, they have to hurt or worse kill each other. Of course, there’s no jail for them but a coffin.

“The last one is the Mafia world. They’re dominant! They’re more powerful than the two worlds—than all of us. They’re like gods—some people see them like that but not everyone is as delusional as them. All weapons we use for wars come from them. All drugs. They’re the richest! They cannot be easily killed. They’re gifted. They’re not just strong but also smart. Their leader is called mistress or master. Right now, their leader is a woman so she’s called mistress. She’s above everyone else!

“And if you’re confused about why they are the highest it’s because they’re actually the ones who made the three worlds. It’s the generation before them. The mistress’ parents. They’re respected because if not because of them, the world is still in chaos. Wars to determine who’s the strongest and who is the weakest will never stop—the war of differences. And since the three worlds are finally existing, it miraculously stopped. The three worlds promised each other not to lay a single finger to each one of us. If they do, another war will start."

Cheska is staring at nowhere while in her seat. Break time is finally over but still, no a single soul of a teacher.

She’s just playing her fingers as she recalls everything she heard earlier. It keeps ringing to her ears like music on repeat.

She couldn’t believe such worlds exist. She literally didn’t know anything about them. Her mother did take care of her innocence.

And also on televisions, not even once she saw any news about them. Perhaps it’s because they only spread news about their so-called world?

Indeed, three worlds aren’t really allowed to collide then.

“So, because they created the different worlds…thinking it’s the best way to dismiss the war of differences…they think they’re above everyone else…” she muttered as if she’s analyzing a very complex mathematical problem. “They’re using that accomplishment to look down to others…?”

She only scoffed at it. What an absurd reason.

Right after she learned about the worlds, she instantly felt disappointed about the Mafia World.

Sure, everyone should thank them because they ‘saved’ all of them from killing and hurting each other. But they should just leave it like that.

“If the Young organization is only the second…who’s the first?”

“It’s the Lees!”

Her head tilted to one side. That’s like three times hearing that name today. She never heard that name before until she stepped foot inside the university.

Just what is with them? Who are they?

“The president is a Lee…that means?”

They shook their head repeatedly, dismissing the confusing idea. “No way! Lee is a common surname so it’s not that surprising and suspicious. Our president is just like us, a simple civilian who also pays taxes. It’s too impossible for him to be one of them. Lees don’t show themselves to the public. I mean literally. They literally don’t show themselves.”

“How about this university?”

“No one knows about the history of this school. No one knows who’s the owner either. But since this university is strange…that it is the only university who can hold different students in one place, some thinks this is owned by a Lee.”

“Some think? Isn’t it obvious? It’s all over the name.”

“Just like what I said earlier, Lee is a common surname. It’s hard to assume. You’ll never know. Maybe they’re just using the name ‘Lee’ to gather more students? To earn more money? Honestly speaking, as a student here for not so long, peace is not consistent in this place. Just like what happened to you earlier. Discrimination is all over the place! Commoners are always at the lowest! Maybe they’re just using that idea to make it look like this is owned by a Lee. I’m thinking this is owned by a businessman. You know…they don’t miss opportunities…in fact, they make one!”

Cheska let out a sigh and placed her chin at the palm of her hand. Brittany had to take a glance to make sure she’s fine.

For sure, she’s still thinking about the worlds. For a girl like her who just learned the reality of the world today, it’s hard to process.

A day might not be enough to believe in those things. It just really hard to believe that the world you believed was normal…has never been normal at all.