Syndedeménos (Connected)

CHAPTER 03

"So the scandal on your sister's birthday was your doing?"

Keenan answered the question of the male student beside him with a small nod. The man beside Keenan was Sean Kentaro, Keenan's best friend since childhood.

Less than twenty percent of Ancient Eagle High School students were spending their lunch break in the private lounge on the fifth floor. This private lounge can only be enjoyed if they have a VIP card sign on their school identity card like those of Keenan and Sean. Some of the students were passing by in a room the size of a basketball court or sitting on the scattered sofas. The rest were talking on the balcony. However, not many people spend their resting time in the mezzanine because there is only a multi-purpose room which is usually only used when there are special VIP member events.

Currently Keenan and Sean were propping themselves up on the mezzanine guardrail on the sixth floor while looking down. A male student accidentally looked up at where Keenan was, then quickly looked away.

"Isn't that Brian's brother? Brian who poured wine on the hotel maid?"

Again Keenan nodded slightly to answer Sean's question. Just as Keenan opened his mouth to continue speaking, a group of female students walked out of the sixth floor toilet. Keenan was silent and waited for the group of students to descend the stairs. Keenan and Sean's conversation resumed when no one else around could hear their conversation.

"My father's company invested a lot in their father's company. By reminding our company's kindness to their company and a little in return, they would certainly be willing to do a small act and keep their mouths shut," said Keenan, still watching the movements of the students on the fifth floor.

Hearing Keenan's answer, Sean whistled in admiration while looking at Keenan in disbelief. Then Sean fiddled his cellphone while still interviewing Keenan with a passionate intonation.

"Then what about that hotel maid? Was it part of your plan also?"

"Of course. I didn't even have to step in to talk to the maid. Just by being given the cash in stages, he agreed right away."

Sean nodded while still staring at his cellphone screen. Once the information he was looking for was found, Sean looked at Keenan with wide eyes.

"That's cool, Keenan! Even your father's company stock has skyrocketed since yesterday. Your strategy to expose the wine brand in a scandal was really paying off," said Sean excitedly.

"Not as cool as you think. I'm just doing what I have to do. I've given you all the information you're curious about, right? Let's get back to class."

Although Sean praised what his best friend had done, at that time Keenan didn't feel proud at all. Keenan was just looking for a way to make the board of directors of his father's company see the results of his work. Everything was purely just for work. While Sean was still babbling along the way from the private lounge to class, Keenan's thought was no longer connected to his senses of hearing. Keenan's mind was traveling to another dimension.

At the age of sixteen, Keenan had been introduced to several employees at his father's company as the youngest staff member to work behind the scenes. At that time Keenan had been fôrced to accept the responsibility given by his father. George had told Keenan that he had been starting to distrust management. As CEO of his own company, George needed someone he can fully trust in the company, namely his own son.

At first Keenan had been hesitant to accept the offer from his father. But once he had found out that one of the management people his father suspected was Tobias Foxglove, the older brother of his stepmother, Keenan had been sure enough to get involved with the company. Especially after Keenan had found out that his birth mother's departure had been related to Tobias.

During two year in his father's company, Keenan could have concluded that the world of work was not as beautiful as the world of school. Data manipulation can turn a guilty person into an innocent person, and vice versa. Even decisions taken from the wrong data can change the future of a family of employees in the company.

Therefore, Keenan never considered the progress he gave to the company as an achievement. Keenan could only make visible contributions to the board of directors so that he was quickly promoted. After that, Keenan can help his father settle the conflicts that occurred in the company.

Keenan and Sean walked towards the elevator and got in right away when the door opened. In the elevator there was only a male student who was wearing a headset on his ears.

"By the way... I want to give a gift to Karen. What do you think she needs?"

"Just being accompanied for a walk can make her happy."

Keenan answered Sean's question while imagining his sister's very simple wish. Karen just needs attention.

"Ah… but maybe she can only be invited to go two weeks later," continued Keenan when he realized his sister's schedule.

"Oh? Why?"

"Because there will be a study trip for grade ten."

Keenan was surprised to hear a strange voice answering Sean's question. Sean also felt Keenan's voice was not like what he has just heard. Keenan and Sean immediately turned around to check the direction of the voice.

The male student wearing the headset smiled. Proving that he has been listening to Keenan and Sean's conversation all along.

The elevator door opened, making neither Keenan nor Sean free to question the motives of the students following their conversation. Students wearing headsets got up from their place to get out of the elevator. Leaving Keenan and Sean still unmoved.

When the elevator door was about to close again, Keenan rushed to press the button to open the elevator door again.

"Sorry, we're out on this floor too," said Keenan to the girl who had just entered and blocked the exit.

When he was in the corridor on the third floor, Keenan squinted to find a student wearing a headset. That student has mingled with the flow of other disciples. Even though he was still able to catch up to the figure that bothered him, Keenan chose not to.

"If I'm not mistaken his name is Nathan, grade twelve. You will chase him, won't you?" asked Sean while patting Keenan's shoulder.

"I'll meet him somewhere quieter."

After knowing the name of the person being addressed, Keenan couldn't focus on the two hours of lessons left after the lunch break. Keenan even sent his personal secretary to find information about Nathan.

Nathan Wêed. His parents opened a small restaurant on the outskirts of town. Had entered Ancient Eagle High School through a scholarship.

The information obtained regarding Nathan Wêed was too normal to bother Keenan's mind. But being too normal was what made Keenan even more curious.

Keenan questioned why a student without a case like Nathan would deliberately interfere in other people's conversations like earlier. Moreover, the information discussed in the elevator was about his sister. It was as if he deliberately wanted to make Keenan wonder about Karen and the study trip that Nathan knew about.

Keenan immediately sent a message to Nathan Wêed's number which his secretary had just told him. Keenan told Nathan to meet him at the bridge connecting the Ancient Eagle Middle and High School buildings.