A Cup of Coffee

Laura had just closed the curtains of her house, shielding herself from the sunlight that was too bright and distracting as she stared at her laptop screen.

Her beautiful face, still framed by thick glasses, was reflected on the flat screen. Even though she was home, safe within her own walls, her appearance hadn't changed—still nerdy! But never trust the mind beneath that innocent exterior—one filled with calculations, intrigue, and cunning strategies.

Her expression grew tense again as she focused on the laptop screen, but her fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard. Laura accessed the school's social media account using a secure network she had designed herself.

Harrow Elite International High School's official account had just posted a photo of the new counseling room—an inviting space with plush sofas, soft carpets, and a warm atmosphere that seemed incredibly comfortable. The caption read:

[Harrow Elite's New Counseling Room! Dedicated to helping students feel more at ease when consulting with our counselor, Mrs. Marni.]

Laura smirked. Her fingers moved quickly as she opened the comment section. She began typing a fake comment—but this time, she used the account of another student whose name she had found in The Dark Game organization records.

Meyshi. Laura used Meyshi's account to leave a trail. Meyshi was a second-year student, someone Laura had never interacted with before.

"You're such a pretty girl, Mey. But it's a shame that beauty is being misused," Laura muttered to herself as she examined Meyshi's mesmerizing profile picture.

She resumed typing. A comment from Meyshi's account now appeared on the screen, ready to be posted.

[The room looks nice, sure. But what's the point if it's all just empty talk? I once came here to share my dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but I was told to stop dreaming. Mrs. Marni said I'd be better off becoming a sugar baby if I wanted an easy life. She said there are plenty of rich men who could 'help' me.]

Laura grinned, her heart pounding with anticipation for the chaos about to unfold. She knew that this sharp comment was the key to unlocking the massive uproar that would shake Mrs. Marni's world.

With her reputation as an untouchable, saint-like figure, the accusations in this comment were nothing short of a ticking time bomb—one that would obliterate everything Mrs. Marni had built.

Click!

Without hesitation, with her breath held, Laura pressed 'send,' unleashing the words that would ignite a storm.

Leaning back in her chair, she reached for a cup of coffee. Twirling the cup in her hand, she refreshed the page. The comment had begun attracting reactions from other students.

— "Oh my God, is this for real?"

— "Sugar baby? What kind of counselor says that?"

— "This is hard to believe!"

— "Wait, she offered that to me too! I thought she was just joking, so I didn't take it seriously."

— "Is this a hoax?"

— "Mrs. Marni? Honestly, she does give off a pimp vibe."

More and more comments flooded in, each carrying its own speculation. Debate, division—nothing new, right?

Slowly, Laura rose from her seat, taking the still-warm cup of coffee with her, as if unwilling to part from its distinct aroma. She took a sip of the dark liquid while making her way toward the window.

Without looking, her hand reached for the binoculars on the side shelf, bringing them up to focus on the grand structure of Harrow Elite—the very school where all this drama was unfolding.

With sharp eyes, she gazed at the school as if plotting its downfall.

"This is just the beginning, Mrs. Marni," she whispered, her voice laced with quiet vengeance. "Tomorrow, you'll suffer even more."

A sudden knock on the door broke her focus. Laura turned, pulling her gaze away from the grand building. Her eyebrow lifted slightly—no need to guess who it was.

"Mr. Calvin," Laura whispered.

A small smile unconsciously graced her lips. But it vanished the moment she reached the door.

Calvin was about to knock again when Laura opened the door—just a little, just enough to make sure that the person in front of her was indeed Calvin and not someone else. After confirming the situation was safe, she opened the door wider, allowing him to enter.

The man stood at the doorway with a wide grin. "Wow, this is progress. Unlike this morning when I was greeted with a knife, this time... it's a cup of coffee?" he remarked, pointing at the cup in Laura's hand.

Laura let out a small scoff and pulled her cup away from his reach. "This is my coffee, sir. If you want one, feel free to make it yourself in the kitchen," she replied flatly before striding back to her seat.

With a slight smirk, Calvin followed her inside, carrying his personal laptop and a large yellow folder in his arms. He looked completely at ease as he pulled up a chair next to Laura and sat down. Without asking, he reached for her cup and took a sip.

"Sir..." Laura hissed, her eyes narrowing in clear disapproval.

Calvin placed the cup back on the table, completely unfazed. "Anything that belongs to you is mine now, too," he stated casually, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen in front of her.

Laura let out an exasperated huff before responding with a sharp tone. "So, what exactly are you here for? To discuss something important, or just to steal my coffee?"

"To spend my life with you," Calvin replied smoothly, flashing a sweet smile. Before Laura could snap back, he quickly shifted the conversation, pointing at the screen. "Is this the data on The Dark Game?"

Laura gave a curt nod. "Yeah, this is everything I've found. Some teachers and a bunch of pretty students are involved. I don't know exactly what they did before that wretched night happened. But I'm sure those girls participated voluntarily—not like me, who..." She trailed off, swallowing the bitterness that threatened to rise.

Calvin nodded, turning the laptop toward him for a clearer look at the hacked data. "Hmm, so they were willing participants? That means... it was a silent agreement. No one feels victimized. In that case, we can put this organization on hold for now."

"What? Put it on hold? What do you mean? Just let them run wild?" Laura fired back, frustration evident in her voice.

"The Dark Game is not our priority right now, Laura. There's something more urgent."

"Does this have anything to do with your meeting earlier with Mr. Wirya?" she asked after a brief silence.

Calvin finally tore his gaze away from the screen, his expression turning serious. "I have to kill you, Laura."

The girl stiffened, her eyes widening in shock. "W-what do you mean, sir? Are you saying..."

"Shh, don't be ridiculous," Calvin cut in swiftly. "You need to disappear—from everyone's eyes. But not from my heart," he added with a teasing smile.

Laura let out a deep sigh, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Can you be serious for once, sir?"

"Hey," Calvin looked at her with unwavering sincerity. "I've never once been anything but serious, sweetheart. But right now, I need to figure out a way to make them believe that you're... dead."

Laura stared at him with uncertainty. "How?"

"Hmm, I already have a plan. But it's going to take time," he answered while opening his laptop. He started typing rapidly, creating some distance between them as he sat on the floor, finding a more comfortable position.

Laura only glanced at him briefly before returning her focus to her own screen. She knew that in their world, there was no room for mistakes. One wrong move, and they could both end up in even greater danger.

Without interrupting him, she let Calvin immerse himself in his work. She understood that right now, he needed full concentration, precision, and calculated steps.

Still, she couldn't deny it—his presence here gave her a strange sense of warmth. Occasionally, she stole glances at him, watching how serious he looked while working. Behind his playful demeanor, he radiated a quiet confidence that, oddly enough, made her feel safe.

Though she would never admit it, she knew that in this mission, she was no longer alone.

And perhaps... just perhaps... the world wasn't as cruel as she once believed.

The same world that once shattered her now seemed to be making amends—by sending her Calvin.

Pletak!

Laura placed a cup of coffee on the table with a firm motion, right in front of Calvin. Thin wisps of steam curled up from the dark liquid, signaling just how hot it was, freshly brewed.

"Just say it if you need something," Laura said bluntly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Calvin, sitting cross-legged on the floor with his laptop on his lap, didn't even glance up from the screen. Still, he wasn't about to let her small gesture go to waste.

"Thank you, Laura," he murmured. "I do need something right now… to help me focus."

Laura leaned in slightly, arching an eyebrow. "What is it, sir?"

Calvin paused his typing for a moment, then said casually, "Hmm… maybe a kiss."

Silence.

Laura took a long, deep breath, summoning every ounce of patience she had. If Calvin weren't a teacher, she would've smacked him upside the head without hesitation.

"Don't call me next time if you need something!" she snapped, quickly taking back her offer and striding back to her chair.

Calvin remained fixated on his laptop screen, never once looking in her direction throughout the entire exchange. But the corner of his lips curled up into a small smile, followed by a soft chuckle he could no longer suppress.

From where she sat, Laura rolled her eyes. Yet, despite herself, a faint smile played on her lips.

Something warm, something odd yet familiar, lingered in the air between them.

Without another word, they both returned to their tasks.

But the warmth remained, hanging in the space between them, filling the small room with an unspoken feeling that words could never quite capture.

. . .

To be continued.