Heiress (Hanazono Series #2)

Heiress 21: Well Played

Chelsea’s POV

Irene didn’t tell us what happened yesterday but Lavalee told us that Irene can handle it. I’m lucky enough because I’m not the successor to the L Mafia, unlike Lavalee and Irene. The pressure and the wieght of the crown’s damn heavy, as we can see from the two.

The Collins, Jess’ family and my cousin, Neith’s, maternal family are working under L Mafia so Jess doesn’t have to worry either. I think our parents don’t even give a damn about it either and I think they’d give it to one us if any of is willing that is.

We’re currently in class and the lessons being discussed are already taught to us back in the States but Lavalee doesn’t allow us to get accelerated because according to her, we still need to study. I think she just want to fulfill their promise to their parents which I admire the most.

If I was the one who lost my parents on my first year of being teenager, tingin ko hindi ko kakayanin tulad ni Lavalee. She managed to get herself together within a month, she stood strong alongside Frost for their little sisters and brothers not to mention the weigh of the Empire and crowns they have to keep and protect. It was damn unbelievable, so no wonder the Palace punishment didn’t bother Lavalee.

She’s been through the heaviest torment and she conquered and lived with it. The Palace punishments are mere child’s play to her now. Physical pain no longer matter her.

“Class are you aware of the upcoming Foundation Week of our school? It’s in two weeks so I’m counting on all of you to work on your section’s booth.” Our homeroom adviser said

“Sir!” they all contradicted

Wait if my calculation’s correct, Frostwood Academy would be celebrating it’s foundation day a week from now so only a week interval between the two Academies then. Lavalee surely have a lot on her plate right now. I wonder if she needs help.

“The owner would be there too, don’t you want to meet the person beside this institution?” he taunted and that took the attention of the students.

Wait. What? Lavalee’s going to reveal herself?

‘Of course not.’ A hologram appeared before me and I saw that it came from Lavalee’s direction. I guess she knew what I was thingking.

I typed ‘What are you planning?’ on my desk and swiped it back to her

‘What do you think?’ she replied

‘What are you guys talking about?’ a hologram from Jess appeared in front of me so I guessed that she manipulated it to arrive to me

‘The anouncement.’ I replied to Jess and dissolved the holograms in front of me.

Pasalamat nalang kami at hindi kami nahuhuli ng professor. Hologram conversations are really handy when it comes to this. May biglang nag-appear na message sa harap ko and it came from somewhere else.

FROST?!

‘Keep an eye on Flamelinne. Don’t tell her I contacted you, Chelsea.’

My heart suddenly pounded when I read it. Frosts wants me to keep an eye on Lavalee, he knew I knew that Lavalee is undergoing the Palace punishments.

Akala ko ba tapos na ang parusa ni Lavalee? Nakabalik na siya at malaya na ulit siyang gumagalaw. Wait.

Lavalee was never bothered and even before she undergo the Palace punishment, Lavalee’s carefree and lay back. It only meant one thing; she managed to keep it from us, she fooled us. Dammit.

“Ms. Kan, what are the advantages of a matrix organization?” our professor asked Lavalee.

I didn’t notice that our Accounting professor had already entered the room.

“Resources can be used efficiently, since experts and equipment can be shared across projects. Products and projects are formally coordinated across functional departments. Information flows both across and up through the organization. Employees are in contact with many people, which helps with sharing of information and can speed the decision process. Staffers have to work autonomously and do some self-management between their competing bosses; this can enhance motivation and decision making in employees who enjoy it.” She asnwered boredly like it’s nothing

“Good. Now, who do you want to answer the next question?” The professor said

“Blare.” She said and smirked

Lavalee surely knows how to distract us. She’s teasing and playing with us like nothing’s bothering her, that’ why we never suspected. SO smart, Lavalee. Well played, Lav. You played us well.

I won’t tell Irene and Jess because the lesser people to know, the safer Lavalee would be. We’re gambling right now and Lavalee’s life is at stake, her well being. No one can dethrone an Ayazaki Hanzono off her throne but they can t*****e and give them a slow painful death through punishments. That’s why Frost contracted me, it makes sense.

I’m the brain and hacker of the group, I can protect and monitor Lavalee without anyone knowing and tracing, just like what Frost is doing.

“Ms. Jang, what are the disadvantages?” he asked Irene

“The overlapping. The overlaps can lead to turf battles and difficulty in determining accountability.” She replied

*KRIING

We stood up and went to our next class which is economics. As we walked the halls the students are still turning their heads on us. Probably still because of the things that happened during the Callous exam.

May mga kunai, shuriken at dagger na lumilipad patungo sa direksyon namin pero nasasalag at naibabalik nina Jess at Irene ang mga yun. This is not new to us, Irene and Jess are always the ones to protect and shield us, that makes all our tactics work. They underestimate Lavalee and I being the one behind Irene and Jess, little did they know Jess and Irene are actually protecting them from Lavalee’s manipulation.

A manipulation that would never let them have peace, a manipulation that would take away their sanity. We witnessed how deadly Lavalee’s manipulation game was like so as much as possible, I would be the one to play, I pity those who choose to play with Lavalee.

When we entered our class, we’re the first ones to arrive. We sat down beside each other because the class looks like a small auditorium. The chairs are arranged in circle and the only entrance is from the door in front. The classroom was soon filled, I think there are about 50 studentts currently, including the eight of us.

“Good Morning, class.” Our Economics professor, Mrs. Conchia beamed at us when she entered

“Everyone knows that economics is the dismal science. And almost everyone knows that it was given this description by Thomas Carlyle, who was inspired to coin the phrase by T. R. Malthus’s gloomy prediction that population would always grow faster than food, dooming mankind to unending poverty and hardship. Right?” she said and flashed the slideshow on the big black screen.

All the classrooms are like this; airconditioned, the walls are made of concrete, soundproofed to avoid distraction from the outside, and there are black curtains to dim the room and for us to see the presentations clearly.

“Isn’t economics nicknamed the ‘dismal science’ because it is all about running out of resources and the inevitable decline of life as we know it? Who coined the phrase ‘the dismal science’?” she continued

‘The Secret History of the Dismal Science: Economics, Religion, and Race in the 19th Century, by David M. Levy and Sandra J. Peart. Econlib, January 22, 2001.’

That’s what is flashed on the screen.

“Now, since I discussed this already last time, I want you all to pull out your yellow pad and get ready for a 60 item quiz.” She said and pulled the rope

The curtains were pulled aside and the lights were turned on. This would really be a quiz then. This should be easy.

“I will give you one and a half hour to answer.” She said and started distributing the test sheets.

The rule about our tests is that, we can’t flip the test paper until our professor say begin. That helps keep the fairness because if we flip the papers before the test begin we can already analyze it and the would be the disadvantage of those who receives the paper last.

“Begin.” We flipped the test paper and I began reading the test.

Enumeration and Identification test. Now I know why Lavalee didn’t agree on getting us accelerated. The test on our current level are already hard what more if we did get accelerated? We’d just get deaccelerated and that would be so shameful. I thought the test would be a piece of cake for me but I was wrong.

1. Diane Coyle talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her new book, which is?

______________________________________________

2. What are the subsequent topic discussed during the talk?

______________________________________________

I massaged my temple the moment I skimmed the test. These are tests made for the final exam not for quizzes, dammit. I did my best to answer the tests, it’s a great help that the questionaires are connected to each other which makes it a little bit easier but still.

The first set was about the show that the professor asked us to watch and take note of. ‘Diane Coyle on the Soulful Science, EconTalk podcast.’ That was the title if I’m not mistaken.

After the timer on the professor’s hand rang she raised her hand and we exchanged paper with the one on our back. There are six rows here but on the sides there are only four because of the size of the classroom.

I have Ethan’s paper and he has mine. The guys are seated behind us and I’m sure Lavalee’s going to ace this damn quiz. She handled a business meeting all by herself at the age of 16 so no doubt if she’d ace this test.

As the teacher dictates the correct answer the tension in the classroom goes up. I never imagined that a test like this could pressure me like studying codes and deciphering them. This is not basic to me anymore.

I must’ve overestimated myself, it’s embarassing I know. I’m very ashamed of myself because I asked Lavalee if we could accelerate back then. Jess and Irene agreed and I’m pretty sure they’re regretting it now.

It’s just the first week of the second semester, our semestral break was the Callous Exam. That’s unfair, right? This is just a recall exam and I don’t know how our finals would be like in case.

“Now, count the numbers of correct and I’d call you alphabetically. Don’t return it to the owners just yet.” Ms. Conchia said and the buzzing sound began.

After a few minutes, she opened her log book and began calling our last names.

“Delta, Ethan.” She called Ethan

“20.” I said

33.3% isn’t low anymore after hearing the scores

“Domingo, Fredericko.”

“13.” 21.7%

After more lastnames and numbers she called Elijah’s.

“Luar, Elijah.”

“19.” Irene said

31.7% then

“Sandoval, Caspian.”

“19.” Jess said

Same percentage as Elijah’s.

“Santiago, Jace.”

“25.” Lavalee said

41.7%, that’s the highest score percentage from the guys.

Wow. Just wow.

I glanced at Jace, that was unexpected since he’s not really suppose to study and studying isn’t his priority right now. He aced it, I can tell that he didn’t review or anything but dang 25 is no joke.

“Go Tal Ya.” She called my name

“26.” I heard Ethan said

43.3% on the test? That would be my lowest in the record.

“Han Ji Ra.” She called Jess

“25.” Caspian said

41.7% then, damn none of would make it past 50%.

“Jang Blare.” It’s Irene’s turn this time

“24.” I heard Elijah said

“Kan Vale Ri.” The professor called Lavalee and and we all looked at her

“36.” She aced it. That was not easy. It’s more than 50%, it was 60%.

“The one with the highest score is Valerie Kan! Let’s give her a round of applause.” Ms. Conchia announced and we all clapped out hands.

Our classmates looked at Lavalee with envy and admiration, Lavalee’s definitely going to top on the rankings.

“Class, I must’ve forgot to mention that starting tomorrow, you would be having your midterm exams.” Lahat kami ay napabagsak ang balikat.

Bukas. Bukas pa ang simula ng midterm exams pero ngayon palang napiga na ang utak namin sa pagsagot ng test.

“Your schedule would be posted on the school’s page. Good luck students.” Sabi ni Mra. Conchia at lumabas na ng classroom

“What’s with the long face, guys?” tanong ni Lavalee

“Ang galing mo kanina Val. Paano mo nasagot lahat ng yun?” tanong ni Caspian kay Lavalee

“My brother asked someone to review me last week.” Sagot niya kaya napatingin kami sa kanya

Last week? Pero nasa Palace – Oh my gosh!

Hindi lang siya pinarusahan gamit ang traditional underground punishment instead she was tortured mentally with business meetings and business conversations. They tried to make her shut down both physically and mentally.

“Are you alright?” tanong ko sa kanya

“I’m fine. I’ve rest enough.” Sabi niya

“Aren’t you tired?” tanong ni Jess

“I’m fine.” Sabi niya at nauna na

What’s new? There’s no point in asking that question, she’ll never say she’s tired anyway.